Frederick George Stratford

Born 7 Feb 1892 - Died 7 Sept 1918

Service number: WWI 4/1849 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW1 Sapper AWMM New Zealand Engineers AWMM
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Frederick George Stratford — Portrait, Sapper F.G. Stratford - No known copyright restrictions No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

Australian born 4/1849 Sapper Frederick George Stratford served in the New Zealand Engineers, 1NZEF, during the First World War, from October, 1915, to September, 1918. He served in both Egypt (1916) and France (1916 - 1918). Stratford was killed in action on 7 September 1918.

Sapper Stratford disembarked at Suez on 8 February 1916 and then embarked in Alaunia to France on 9 April 1916.

Admitted to hospital at Rouen France on 6 November 1917

Text on the front of his memorial card,

In Loving Memory of

Sapper F. G. Stratford

9th Reinforcements,

Beloved son of George and Edith Stratford

Killed in Action in France on September 6th, 1918

AGED 23 YEARS

Text on the back of his memorial card "Killed in Action", said the cables,

That is all the tale they tell

Of the brave young lad who loved us

Of the lad we loved so well.

How the life was sped we know not,

What the last word, look or thought,

Only that he did his duty

Died as bravely as he fought.

The letter below dated 1 May 1918 to his mother 'France Dear Mater. I received your looked for letter to-day & am more than pleased to hear you are improving & sincerely trust that you will have recovered your former self long before you receive this. You are wise if you stop the winter at the sea-side because you will not notice it so severe being down there. You will be surprised to hear little Charlie has been wounded again so is in England so he is fairly lucky. Bert Butler [(4/1898)] was killed instantaneously on the 28th March. He was asleep at the time & a shell struck the billet. I have written to his Mother giving full particulars. I am pleased you were satisfied with the photos for that is more than I can say but perhaps better luck next time. Well Ma I cannot promise Mrs Shaw to go & see her people mext time I go across as you will understand I have promised to go to Wales again so just make apologies for me. I was surprised to hear Young Noel is in hospital again & by what I could hear he will most likely be there for a few months which no doubt will be hard for him. I am very sorry to hear of Poor Scottie's untimely end which is indeed sad.

Next time you write Mrs Price remember me kindly to her & tell her I think she owes me a letter by nearly or over two years now. I hope it never enters Harry's Head to join the other Band not that they are any different to the others only I would sooner see him stand by the Y.C.B.. --just to keep your eye on my clothes now that he has decided on a man's suit and I suppose Father will have to keep his eye on things also. Tell Bud one duck will be ample for my first dinner home so she had better turn the other one out for the year after. Well you will have read long before this of old Fritz trying to turn the tables on us but so far he has far from succeeded & I am confident whatever he does of what the ultimate result will be. I see where the age limited has been raised to fifty & also where N.Z. is going to send more men yet well it would not do for me to put in pencil what I think of that lot; I am picking there will be some from over Paddy Webb before long & I hope he comes off best. I have not seen or heard of Chuc for some time. Charlie Jones is still going strong. Well Ma news has me beat so you must excuse me this time as I can hear a very heated argument which I am sure will benefit from my presence so I must close now with best love to all and accept very best for yourself. Fred

P.S. If you would not mind doing me a favour see if you can get a photo of Jock Hunter as a lady whom was a friend of his is very anxious to have one so if you ask Mrs or Mr Hunter they will oblige you & send it to the following address Miss E.R. Brownlie, Whitebank, Newmains, Lanarkshire, Scotland'

The letter refers to 'Little Charlie' who was his brother. Charlie remained in Melbourne when the family moved to NZ, and he joined the Australian Forces and was also killed in action. 'Harry' was his younger brother and too young to join up. 'Bud' was the nickname of his sister, Mrs Irene Cameron; the youngest Stratford child. A photocopy of this letter is in the Auckland War Memorial Museum Manuscript Collection (MS 99/36).

Embarked Wellington, 8 January 1916; disembarked Suez, 8 February 1916.
Joined unit, Moascar, 9 March 1916.
Embarked Alexandria for France, 7 April 1916.
On leave to United Kingdom, 13 August 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 26 August 1917.

Detached to No 3 Pontoon Park, Royal Engineers, 4 May 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 13 July 1918.
Killed in action, 7 September 1918.

Parents: George and Edith Stratford AWMM

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Frederick George Stratford