Sgt. F. Waite
| First name(s): |
Fred |
| Rank: |
Sergeant |
| Number: |
13942 |
| Regiment etc. |
11th Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regiment |
| Date Died: |
7th August 1916 |
| Cemetery/Memorial |
Becourt Military Cemetery
|
Fred was the son of Mr & Mrs W. Waite of 115 The Avenue, Starbeck.
He was employed in the Electricity Department of Harrogate Corporation, before joining the army in September 1914.
Fred was killed during the battle of the Somme.
On 6th August 1916, the 11th West Yorks relieved the 8th Green Howards in Munster Alley, a trench near the village of Pozieres, which they had captured earlier that day. In defending the trench despite severe wounds, a Private William Short, of the Green Howards, was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died before he could be carried from the trench when they were relieved by the West Yorks.
The Germans continued to shell the trench and launched a number of counter attacks throughout the night, which were repulsed by the West Yorks.
Fred was killed by a shell at around 4.15am. His commanding officer wrote to his parents to tell them what had happened:
My Dear Mr & Mrs Waite,
It is with the utmost sorrow that I have to write to tell you that your son, Fred, was killed this morning, Monday Aug. 7th, about 4.15.
We were holding a trench and at dawn the Germans began to shell us. Fred was commanding a platoon, and fine boy that he was, got up from the bottom of the trench to see that his men were safe.
A big shell pitched near him and pieces struck him on the arm and temple, and he fell without a moment's pain. His comrades, in their sympathy, volunteered to carry his body down to the cemetery, and he was buried that night by our chaplain, in the presence of his best friends.
He was a gallant boy, whom I trusted to the utmost and his brave and cheerful face will be much missed by officers and men. Please accept our deepest sympathy in your loss, and my own assurance that I will look after his brother as much as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Cyril L. Armstrong
Captain, O.C. C Company.
Fred's brother, Company Sergeant Major Charles Waite, was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, but it is not known if the recommendation was confirmed.