Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Frederick William Roadhouse was born on 1 January 1895, to parents William and Lucy who lived at 172 Eccleshall Road, Sheffield. His father was a silver rolling mill engineer and on the 1911 Census, Frederick was listed as an insurance office clerk. In 1914, he moved employment to William Cooke and Co Metalworks in Sheffield. He left in October 1914, probably to enlist into the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).

Posted to the 2/3 West Riding Field Ambulance, Frederick was moved around the UK until June 1916 when he was posted to Bungay Camp, Norfolk. The following month he passed through Peterborough just two weeks before his division was inspected by King George V on 26 July 1916. In October 1916, the unit embarked for France.  http://bit.ly/2od1U43

In late 1916, Frederick began Officer Training and is recorded as a Cadet with the RAMC. In May 1917, the London Gazette published his promotion from Cadet to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment, 14th Battalion (also known as the Barnsley Pals). With this unit he would have seen action at the Somme before the Battalion was disbanded in France in February 1918.  http://bit.ly/2od1U43

In another twist to his service career, Frederick joined the Royal Flying Corps and attended Number 1 School of Aerial Gunnery in Hythe. In May 1918, Frederick was promoted to full 2nd Lt (Observer) and flew in France until being admitted to No 30 General Hospital in October 1918, prior to being invalided back to England. By January 1919, Frederick is declared fit for general duties but his health fluctuates over the following months and he is discharged in May 1919.  He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

In 1926 Frederick married Ida Walkland in Sheffield and their son, Edward, was born in 1929.  In 1939 Frederick was a clerk at a fish and game merchant, living at 39 Donnington Road, Sheffield.  He died in Sheffield on 13 October 1951.