Frederick James Dale

F.J.Dale.

91828, Private, Frederick James Dale, 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, formerly, G/80040, Royal Fusiliers.

Born in 1899 at Macclesfield, son of Charles Johnson and Helena, (nee, Redwood), Dale, of, 43, Union Road, Macclesfield, later to move to 27, Park Street, Macclesfield. Frederick was educated at Macclesfield Grammar School (previously at Christ Church). Before enlisting, Frederick formerly served part of an apprenticeship to the silk trade with Messrs J and T Brocklehurst and Son, Hurdsfield Mills. He was also a member of the St Pauls Boy Scout Troop.

Frederick enlisted at Macclesfield in May 1917, and he was drafted to a training unit of the Royal Fusiliers at Edinburgh. From here, he went to Ireland for a short period, then he was drafted to France in March 1918, and was attached to the Durham Light infantry, with which he saw service in Flanders during the heavy fighting of March and April. He was wounded in the head with shrapnel in April, and after three months in hospital at Boulogne, he was placed back into the line in August. The 15th Durham Light Infantry were engaged in the advance through Picardy in August and September 1918. On 9th September, the Battalion advanced on two copses north of Heudicourt, on the edge of the Hindenburg Line. Coming under unexpected fire, they stood their ground and launched an attack on old British trenches occupied by the Germans. Heavy machine gun fire held them up, however, after a short but hard struggle the enemy were driven out, but they counter attacked again when night fell. Casualties were 7 officers and 270 other ranks. Frederick was killed in action, Monday, 9 September 1918, aged 19 years. A year after his brother, Charles.

Medals: British War Medal and Victory.

Private, Frederick James Dale has no known resting place and he is commemorated at Vis-en-Artois, Pas de Calais, France.
C.W.G.C. Ref: – Panel 9

Cheshire Roll Entry doc

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