Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Pepper, a cement works labourer, born in the October quarter of 1858 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire and his wife Rhoda Pepper (nee Wilford, married on the 25th December 1877 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born in the October quarter of 1860 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire (daughter of William Wilford, 1825-1892 and Dinah Ward, 1831-1914). Frederick James, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1885 in Barrow upon Soar, and was baptised on the 4th March 1889 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, his siblings were, William, a farm plough driver, born on the 15th December 1878, John Henry, a schoolboy, born on the 30th July 1882 and Frank, born in the April quarter of 1889 and baptised on the 7th April 1889 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, all his siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar, in April 1891 the family home was at North Street, Barrow upon Soar. In March 1901 Frederick was employed as a lime works labourer and was residing in the family home at North Street, Barrow upon Soar, together with his father, a cement trade labourer, his mother and brother Frank. Frederick married Clara Elizabeth Gardiner in St. Wilfred’s Church, Arley, Warwick on the 3rd August 1908, the marriage was witnessed by Francis Ernest and May Gardiner, Clara’s parents. In April 1911 Frederick was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at 17, St. Wilfrids Cottages, Arley, together with his wife, Clara, born 1891 in Chasetown, Staffordshire and their son, Frederick James, born on the 1st January 1911 in Arley, also residing with the family was Frederick’s sister-in-law, Florence Edith Gardiner, born 1895 in Chasetown. In the April quarter of 1916 in the Nottingham district, Frederick’s widow married John B. Junemann.
Frederick attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement on the 20th September 1904 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 7 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father James and mother Rhoda of Barrow upon Soar, his brother’s William of Granby, Nottinghamshire, John Henry of the R.A.M.C., Cyprus and Frank of Barrow upon Soar as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5-foot 3¾ inches in height, weighed 125 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on the palm of his left hand. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 20th September 1904 in Leicester. A follow up medical examination after six months service and a gymnastics course recorded his height as 5 foot 4 inches, his weight as 126 pounds and his chest measurement between 35½ and 38 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7488 on the 20/9/04. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 9/1/05. Posted to Colchester on the 24/1/05 – 5/7/05. Granted Messing Allowance on the 20/3/05. Posted to the Tower of London on the 5/7/05 – 28/8/06. Posted to Colchester on the 29/8/06. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 21/9/06. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 19/9/07. Mobilised on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 8/9/14. Disembarked at St. Nazaire on the 10/9/14. Wounded in action in the field on the 7/10/15. Died of wounds in the 17th Casualty Clearing Station on the 9/10/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 20/9/04 – 8/9/14, 9 years 354 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/9/14 – 9/10/15, 1 year 31 days. Total service, 11 years 20 days. Frederick was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. Frederick’s widow and son were awarded a weekly pension of 15 shillings to commence on the 24th April 1916. On the 21st November 1919 a letter was sent to his wife, Mrs Clara Elizabeth Pepper of 40, Hooton Street, Carlton Road, Nottingham, relating to the disposal of the Memorial Plaque. The following information was provided by Frederick’s widow Clara Elizabeth Junemann on the 18th June 1921, and was witnessed and signed by J. Gray, Clerk in Holy Orders of Whitwood Rectory, Castleford on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier Clara Elizabeth Pepper (now Junemann) of 87, Nicholson Street, -?-, Castleford. Children of soldier, Frederick James Pepper, born 1st January 1911 of 87, Nicholson Street, -?-, Castleford. Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Rhoda Pepper of North Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Pepper, age 42 of Granby, Nottinghamshire, John Pepper, age 34 address not known and Frank Pepper, age 30 soldier, address not known. Frederick’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 7 Oct-15 - Quiet day, A Coy 1 sick, B Coy 1 accidental bomb wound, C Coy 1 sick, D Coy 1 sick. 1 Officer and 100 other ranks of 7th NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGT. attached to the Battalion for instruction in trenches. Had suffered heavy losses at LOOS a few days before.
The War Diary records: 9 Oct-15 - In billets at Poperinghe. D Coy 3 sick.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR – Mr. and Mrs. Pepper, of North-street, Barrow-on-Soar, have received official news that their son, Private F. J. PEPPER, of the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds on October 9. Private Pepper was a reservist, and joined his old regiment when the war broke out. He leaves a wife and one child, who are at Arley.
On Friday November 5th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – BARROW SOLDIER DIED OF WOUNDS. Mr. and Mrs. Pepper of North-street, Barrow on Soar, have received official news that their son, Private F. J. Pepper, of the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment died of wounds on October 9th. Private Pepper was a reservist, and joined his old regiment when the war broke out. He leaves a wife and one child, who are in Arley.
On Friday, November 5th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN LEICESTERS. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. F. J. PEPPER, 1st Leicester’s, died of wounds. His parents reside at North-street, Barrow-on-Soar.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The photograph of Private Pepper's grave was submitted by J. Thurstance in 2021