Saturday, September 06, 2014

G/24393 Pte Frederick G Woodhams, Royal Sussex Regt


Frederick G Woodhams appears on the 1901 census of England & Wales as a three year old living with his family at Twyford Lodge Cottage, Maresfield, Sussex. The family comprised Thomas Woodhams (head), a widower aged 38 and working from home as a gamekeeper. With him were his four children: Kate Woodhams (aged 15), Thomas Woodhams (aged 13 and attending school), Jesse Woodhams (aged ten) and Frederick. Thomas senior and the two oldest children had been born in Tunbridge Wells. Jesse was born at Chelwood Common, Sussex and Frederick at Twyford, Sussex.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Frederick Woodhams in August 1917 noting: Woodhams, Pte F G, 13th Royal Sussex. Wounded. This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

There is a medal index card which notes two numbers for Frederick Woodhams. The first is his Royal Sussex Regiment number: G/24393 and the second a number for the Royal West Kent Regiment: G/32994. It seems likely that after being wounded, Frederick was transferred from the Royal Sussex Regiment to The Royal West Kent Regiment although, in the absence of further documentary evidence at this point, this is just conjecture. Frederick’s two brothers: Thomas Woodhams and Jesse Woodhams also served their King and Country during the First World War.

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