FREDERICK ALTHAM

Field of Honour

Frederick is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.

Born: 29th April 1874, Lanercost, Cumberland.

Baptised on the 21st May 1874, at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Lanercost, Cumberland – family home at Lanercost.

Died: 23rd November 1917; age: 43; died of Bronchiectasis – 6 months & 17 days and Cardiac Failure, at the Military Hospital, Ranelagh Road, Ipswich.

Frederick was admitted to the Military Hospital, Ranelagh Road, from Foxhall Heath Camp, Woodbridge.

Residence: Islington, Middlesex.

Occupation: a Labourer with Gutta Percha Company, Wharf Road, Islington.

Royal Navy Enlistment: Date: 29th April 1892 – 12 years; Occupation: Pot Boy. Height: 5ft 2 1/2ins, fair complexion, brown eyes & light brown hair. Tattooed on both arms: LOVE, ship, cross, stars, flags and various other marks.

Service Number: 151896.

Service:

H.M.S. ‘Boscawen’ – B2C – 13th November 1889.

H.M.S. ‘Boscawen’ – B2C – 27th November 1890 – 21st July 1891 – Run Portsmouth.

Character – Very Good.

Enlistment Location: Islington, Middlesex.

Date of Entry Therein: 1st October 1915 – Balkans.

Served in the South African Campaign.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 55105.

Regiment: Northumberland Fusiliers, 35th Battalion – Territorial.

Formerly 6895, East Yorkshire Regiment.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.

Grave Reference:

BA.IA.25.

Ipswich Old Cemetery,

Ipswich.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the late Robert & Ellen Altham.

CENSUS

1881   4, Margaret Street, Marylebone, London.

Frederick was 7 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

Robert Altham, 35, an Ironmonger, born Wray, Lancaster.

Ellen Altham (nee Fortay), 32, born Saxremore, Cumberland.

Arthur Thompson Altham, 8, born Walworth, Surrey.

Edith Jane Altham, 5, born Lanercost, Cumberland.

William Altham, 2, born Pooley Bridge, Westmorland.

1891   Portland, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Frederick was 16 years old; he was ranked a Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy, aboard H.M.S. Boscawen, a training ship. Commander: George Anson Primrose.

Frederick’s father, Robert Altham, died in May 1887, after a long illness at Westminster Hospital, St. George’s Hanover Square, London.

Frederick’s mother, Ellen Altham, died in 1908, in Hackney, London.

Soldiers’ Effects to Ellen Rosaline Peddington (nee Altham) – sister.

E.A.D.T. – Thursday, 29^th November 1917 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – The funeral took place at Ipswich Cemetery on Tuesday of Private Frederick Altham, Northumberland Fusiliers. The deceased, who died at the local Military Hospital, had seen service in the South African War in Gallipoli, in the present campaign. The coffin was borne to the Cemetery on a gun carriage drawn by six black horses, supplied by the R.F.A., in charge of Sergeant Gibling. The firing party, buglers, and bearers under Sergeant Hirst were drawn from the Northumberland Fusiliers. The interment took place in the Field of Honour, the service being performed by the Reverend J.C. Lloyd, Chaplain to the Forces. At the conclusion, three volleys were fired, and the buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The mourners present were two brothers of the deceased soldier, one of whom is over here with the Canadian Forces. The coffin was of polished elm, with brass fittings. Messrs. Hastings and Son, the Government contractors, carried out the funeral arrangements.