WEST MIDLANDS POLICE GREAT WAR MEMORIAL SITE
FREDERICK WILLIAM FRYER
Frederick
was born in 1890, the third child of David and Hannah Fryer, and had an older
sister and brother, Ada and Harry and a younger sister Dorothy. In the 1891
census they are residing at 4 Kings Place, Marylebone when his father was
working as a valet/domestic servant, by 1901 they were residing at 21 Mill Lane,
Carshalton Surrey. His father was now working as a house painter and his mother
was taking in laundry. By 1911 Frederick had joined the army, serving with
the Shropshire Light Infantry until 1913 when he joined Birmingham City Police
6th Nov 1913 aged 23. He served on the ‘C’ Division, with Warrant number 8397.
He was called up on reserve 4th August 1914 returning to his battalion and went
to France on 20 September 1914. In November 1916 Frederick was reported to
have been injured, but subsequently returned to the Front.
On 28th April 1917 Frederick's battalion moved into Niger Trench near Wancourt
in the Arras sector. On 3rd May 1917 orders were given for an attack to be made
on the German held Ape Trench in order to straighten the lines. Frederick's
battalion was detailed to occupy and hold Ape Trench once the initial assaulting
force had captured the position. The attack was a success with Ape Trench being
captured and Frederick's battalion maintaining possession until relieved on the
night of Friday 4th May 1917. Casualties of 12 men killed were taken during the
attack, which included Frederick, whose body was not recovered. He is
commemorated on the Arras Memorial.