HILL, Frederick

Frederick Hill was the second son of Mrs J. Hill of 'The Willows', Witton Street, Stourbridge. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and was a boy chorister at St. Mary's church and later a member of Mrs Owen's Bible class. He worked as a grocer's assistant for Messrs. Moyle and Taylor at Old Hill. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials in 1914 and enlisted in the 1/7th Battalion. They went overseas in March 1915, had front line service in quiet sectors of the Western Front and in June 1916 were ready for the big attack on the Somme. They were in reserve for the first day of the battle on the 1st July and then took over near Serre from the units which had suffered from that devastating first day. The fighting had died down but there were still casualties and Private Frederick Hill, together with Corporal William Bingham, died on the 6th July. He was aged 22 and is buried in Sucrerie Cemetery (1 I 58) near Colincamps and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Oldswinford church, St. Thomas's church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.