Thurgood, Frederick John

Frederick was the only son of Edwin John and Fanny (nee Hall) Thurgood, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 7 October 1888. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Frederick enlisted with the Army Service Corps on 9 November 1914, Regimental Number 90442 as a shoeing smith. He transferred to the Royal Field Artillery, Regimental Number 4410 on 21 December 1914 where he served with the 2^nd Reserve Battalion and the 4^th Reserve Battalion. On 12 January 1915 he joined the RFA Expeditionary Force and was sent to the Western Front, France and Flanders with the 7^th Division Divisional Ammunition Column. There is also reference in his military records to Italy but nothing is known about this. Frederick survived the War.

He was awarded the 14/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting Frederick was a blacksmith.

Frederick married Nellie Keturah Lucas in the 3^rd quarter 1917 at the Parish Church in Newnham. It is not known if they had children.

The 1939 census shows them living at Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Frederick a coal hoist labourer.

Frederick’s father’s probate record in 1942 shows Frederick as a lorry driver.

Frederick died on 21 May 1951 at The Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital Welwyn, Hertfordshire.