Rifleman Frederick Horace Rookwood

Title (Mr/ Mrs/ Capt/ Rev etc): 

First name(s): 

Frederick Horace

Surname only: 

Rookwood

 

Rifleman Frederick Horace Rookwood, 3253, 17th Battalion London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), was killed in action on the Somme on October 1st, 1916. He was aged 27.

Widow Kate and parents James and Clara, of 14 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street], Luton, heard the news first from Frederick's brother-in-law, who said he had seen Frederick's grave, "which is very nicely laid out". [The grave was probably lost as Frederick is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial for soldiers with no known grave].

Before enlistment, Rifleman Rookwood was employed as a wire-shape maker at Mr W. R. Jeakings' factory in Collingdon Street, Luton. He joined the Army soon after war broke out and went to France in March 1915,where he was wounded by being smashed on his face by a periscope.

He had been well known in junior football circles in Luton at one time, having played for Ivy United and Cliftondale.

Frederick married Kate Simmons in 1911 and they had one child, named Horace, who died shortly after being born in 1912.

 

Service or Civilian?: 

Service Number: 

3253

Regiment: 

Medals Awarded: 

Employer: 

Mr W. R. Jeakings, Collingdon Street, Luton

War time / or Pre War occupation: 

Wire-shape maker

Place of Birth: 

Luton
United Kingdom

Place of Death: 

Somme
France

War Memorial Location: 

Grave Location: 

France

World War I Address: 

14 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street]
Luton
United Kingdom

Individual Location: 

Classifications: 

Images: 

Rifleman Frederick Horace Rookwood

Connects to: 

Year of Birth: 

1 889

Year of Death: 

1 916

Month of Death: 

Oct

Day of Death: 

1

Keywords: 

Most Relevant Date: 

Sunday, October 1, 1916

Source: 

Source Date: 

Saturday, October 14, 1916