Frederick Massey
Date of death: 5.7.1916
Area: Knottingley
Regiment: King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Husband of Beatrice Massey nee Bould
Rank: Private
Service number: 240406
War Service
Frederick Massey joined the 1/5th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light infantry as a Private with the service number 240406.
Pontefract Advertiser 29th July 1916:
“Private Frederick Massey, whose wife resides in West Riding Villas, Ferrybridge, is reported killed and Private Wilfred Blood, son of Mrs Williamson of the same street, wounded. Both belong to the KOYLI. Massey was reservist at the time of mobilisation and Blood, who has been wounded three times, worked for Messrs Poulson.”
Private Massey died on 5th July 1916 and was buried in the A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers.
Pontefract Advertiser 19th May 1917:
“A FERRYBRIDGE HERO
Mrs Frederick Massey of Fishergate, Ferrybridge, has received official information that her husband, who was reported missing on the 1st of July, is now reported as having been killed on that date. He was one of a bombing-party, none of whom returned. Formerly a miner at Ackton Hall Colliery, he had completed his term in the Territorials, but immediately rejoined his old company when war broke out. He was 25 years of age and leaves a widow and one child, with whom every sympathy will be felt.”
Family Life
Frederick married Beatrice Bould in the second quarter of 1909 and their marriage was registered at Pontefract. In the 1911 census he is shown as a Coal Cutter living at Little Lane, Ferrybridge with his wife.
His origins are a little unclear and we need to go back to the 1891 census which records at Rotherham: George Randell (34) and his wife Noah (25) with 5 children, plus Walter Massey (30), a boarder with his wife Annie and daughter Annie J. In the 1901 census, at Ropergate, Pontefract, we then find Walter Massey (42), Noah (35), Frederick (9) and Harriet (5). Frederick is said to have been born at Hockenthorpe, Derbyshire, where all the Randall children were born. I cannot find a marriage of a Walter Massey to Noah Randall (whose maiden name was Wilson). Walter Massey died in the third quarter of 1906 and his death was registered at Pontefract. Noah re-married Samuel Callear in the first quarter of 1908 and this was registered at Pontefract.