Inky's Tale
Private Frederick Bryan Royal Artillery
The Man Frederick Bryan (Inky) was born during the last quarter of 1897 at 5 Eagle Street, Royal Leamington Spa, youngest son of James a Gardener at a local nursery and Priscilla Jane nee Woodward. He was one of eight children, Sarah A born in 1884, Ethel 1885, Walter George 1887- and killed in action on 15th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, William I 1889, Arthur 1892, Florence Amelia 1893 and Alice 1895. Frederick’s religion was Church of England and he was baptised at St John’s Church, Leamington on 6th February 1898 by the Vicar, S H Baker.
Following his education Frederick worked in the print trade, following on from Walter who in 1901 had been a Printer’s Errand Boy. Here he acquired his nickname ‘Inky’.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Frederick was aged 16 and too young to enlist, but did so in March 1915 aged 17 into the 3rd Regiment Duke of Cornwall’s light Infantry as a Private with service number 18873. He was later posted to the Western Front and in September 1916 hospitalised for 38 days with an incised wound on his neck that had been self-inflicted. He was released back into service 9th October and later transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, posted to the 3rd London Regiment, 3 Signals section with a new number L/17637.
Frederick was subsequently wounded twice during the war and in the War Office Daily List No. 5699 of 18th October 1918, listed as missing in action. The Daily List No. 5755 of 23rd December 1918 confirmed he had been killed in action on 1st September aged just 20 and most likely at the second Battle of Bapaume and just 10 weeks 1 day before the Armistice on 11th November.
Frederick now joined Walter and the only remaining son of James and Priscilla, was Arthur who was serving in the Army Service Corps in Salonika, he survived the war. Frederick’s death was reported in the Royal Leamington Spa Courier and Warwickshire Observer of 13th December 1918.
Frederick was buried in Plot X1 D.8 Sailly-Saillisel Commonwealth War Grave British Cemetery in France. He was also commemorated, together with Walter on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial and was posthumously awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Following his education Frederick worked in the print trade, following on from Walter who in 1901 had been a Printer’s Errand Boy. Here he acquired his nickname ‘Inky’.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Frederick was aged 16 and too young to enlist, but did so in March 1915 aged 17 into the 3rd Regiment Duke of Cornwall’s light Infantry as a Private with service number 18873. He was later posted to the Western Front and in September 1916 hospitalised for 38 days with an incised wound on his neck that had been self-inflicted. He was released back into service 9th October and later transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, posted to the 3rd London Regiment, 3 Signals section with a new number L/17637.
Frederick was subsequently wounded twice during the war and in the War Office Daily List No. 5699 of 18th October 1918, listed as missing in action. The Daily List No. 5755 of 23rd December 1918 confirmed he had been killed in action on 1st September aged just 20 and most likely at the second Battle of Bapaume and just 10 weeks 1 day before the Armistice on 11th November.
Frederick now joined Walter and the only remaining son of James and Priscilla, was Arthur who was serving in the Army Service Corps in Salonika, he survived the war. Frederick’s death was reported in the Royal Leamington Spa Courier and Warwickshire Observer of 13th December 1918.
Frederick was buried in Plot X1 D.8 Sailly-Saillisel Commonwealth War Grave British Cemetery in France. He was also commemorated, together with Walter on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial and was posthumously awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Sailly-Saillisel Commonwealth War Grave British Cemetery, France
Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial, showing Frederick and Walter George
The Story The single British War Medal awarded to Frederick Bryan was acquired from E-Bay on 1st February 2024 and of immediate interest as he was a World War I casualty from Royal Leamington Spa and appears on the war memorial. Sadly his Victory Medal is missing.
Commonwealth War Graves, Ancestry.UK and the Newspaper Archives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and it was also revealed that Frederick’s brother, Walter George had also been killed in action in 1916 and listed below Frederick on the same War Memorial.
Two brave lads from Leamington Spa who paid the ultimate price are now remembered for posterity and a poppy cross will be laid at the memorial every November in their memory.
This is one of three soldiers in this collection who are commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial, Herbert Henry Bennett and Horace Edgar Maxwell.
Commonwealth War Graves, Ancestry.UK and the Newspaper Archives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and it was also revealed that Frederick’s brother, Walter George had also been killed in action in 1916 and listed below Frederick on the same War Memorial.
Two brave lads from Leamington Spa who paid the ultimate price are now remembered for posterity and a poppy cross will be laid at the memorial every November in their memory.
This is one of three soldiers in this collection who are commemorated on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial, Herbert Henry Bennett and Horace Edgar Maxwell.
5 Eagle Street, Leamington Spa. March 2024.
Naming on Frederick Bryan's 1914-18 British War Medal
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 18873 PTE.F.BRYAN. D.C.L.I.
- Victory Medal: Erased.
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This page last updated: 22 Apr 24
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