DAKIN, Frederick T

Frederick Dakin was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Dakin and was born in 1894 at Wollaston. He attended Wollaston C. of E. School and was keen on sports, playing both football and cricket with local teams. He was living in 1914 at 167 Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, and was employed in the office of Thomas Webb and Sons at the Dennis Glassworks. He volunteered in 1914 and joined the Army Ordnance Corps at Woolwich. He went to France in July 1915 and within 3 years he had reached the rank of Warrant Officer in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Supplies for the 23rd Division. This Division was engaged on the Somme in 1916 and at Third Ypres in 1917. On the 17th August Warrant Officer Frederick Dakin was seriously wounded by a shell which destroyed his hut and killed an Australian N.C.O. at the same time. His C.O. wrote to his mother, 'While I lose a very efficient Warrant Officer, his comrades will miss a good friend and an excellent fellow.' He was 23 years of age and is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, (III B 19) and is commemorated on the Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials and on his parents' grave in Wollaston churchyard.