Biography of Private Fred Archer (94875)
16th Battalion Tank Corps Regiment
Formerly 3090, Lincolnshire Regiment
Died 29th September 1918

Soldier

  • Name: Fred Archer
  • Date of birth: 1897
  • Place of Birth: Sempringham, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: October – December 1897
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Father

  • Name: Arthur Archer
  • DOB: 8th May 1874
  • Place of Birth: Horbling, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Carter and carrier
Mother

  • Name: Gertrude Elizabeth Ann Wilson
  • DOB: 16th July 1874
  • Place Of Birth: Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 1894 Sleaford District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • May Archer, 1895, Horbling
  • Herbert Archer, 1896, Horbling
  • Fred Archer, 1897, Sempringham
  • Edwin Archer, 1899, Sempringham
  • Lily Archer, 1904, Pointon
  • Arthur Reginald Archer, 1915, Horbling
Census

  • 1901: Fred is living with his parents in Nuthall, Nottinghamshire.
  • 1911: Fred is living with his parents at Walcot, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 13 and he is listed as being at school.

Relatives in services

Marriage

  • No marriage for Fred has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 21st September 1918
    HORBLING
    PTE. H. ARCHER, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Archer, has been home on leave after fourteen months service in France. The first four days of his leave were spent at Grimsby, during which he was married to Miss Gertrude Warriner, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Warriner, of Cromwell road, Grimsby. Mr. and Mrs. Archer have another son who returned to France on September 8th, after several months training for service with the Tanks.

 

  • Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 15th October 1918
    Mr and Mrs A Archer, of Horbling, have received the distressing news that their son, Gunner F. Archer, has been killed during recent fighting on the Western front. He only returned to France on Sept 8th, after several months training for service with the Tanks.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 19th October 1918
    HORBLING
    SAD NEWS- Mr. and Mrs. A. Archer on Friday received the distressing news that their son, Ptr. F. Archer had been killed in action on the Western Front. He only returned to France on Sept. 8th after several months training for service with the Tanks. Much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved parents in their lose.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 27th September 1919
    ARCHER – In ever loving memory of our darling son, Fred Archer, of Horbling, who was killed whilst with the Tanks, September 29th, 1918, after serving four years, aged 21 years.
    It’s only the distance divides us, dear Fred-
    In thought you are  always near us.
    How we prayed for your safe return,
    How we longed to clasp your dear hand:
    But your name is written in words of love
    In the hearts you left at home:
    For there is a link death cannot sever-
    Love and remembrance live for ever.
    Unknown to the world, he stands by my side,
    And whispers, “Dear mother, death cannot divide.”
    From his ever-loving MOTHER and FATHER, BROTHERS and SISTERS, and ESTHER )Horbling, near Billingborough).

 

  • Weekly Casualty List Tuesday 19th November 1918
    KILLED
    TANK CORPS
    Archer 94875 F. (Billingborough)

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • None found
Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private Fred Archer, 94875, Royal Tank Corps was killed in action on 29th September 1918 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Father Arthur

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Horbling, Roll of Honour in St Andrews Church

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Private Fred Archer, 94875, 16th Bn., Tank Corps who died on 29 September 1918 Age 21
  • Son of Arthur and Gertie Archer, of Donington, Northorpe, Spalding.
  • Remembered with honour, Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile
  • Grave IV. C. 25.

© Amanda Fitzaden-Gray

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • Enlisted in Grantham, Lincolnshire

 

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office