Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Key, a farmer and grazier, born 1844 in Leicester and his wife Elizabeth Waldren Key (nee Catchside, married on the 15th May 1877 in the parish church Enderby, Leicestershire) , born 1856 in Enderby, Leicestershire. Frederick Arthur, a schoolboy, was born on the 27th October 1886 in Enderby and was baptised on the 21st November 1886 in the parish church, Enderby, his siblings were, Agnes Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 3rd February 1878, Florence Muriel, a schoolgirl, born 27th March 1882, Evelyn Mary, a schoolgirl, born September 1883, William Henry, a schoolboy, born June 1885, the latter four siblings were all born in Enderby, and Gertrude Marian, born 20th March 1891 in Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at The Grange, Narborough Road, Enderby. In October 1891 in Enderby, Frederick’s mother died aged 36. In March 1901 Frederick was residing in the family home at Long Fosse House, Narborough, Leicestershire together with his siblings, Agnes, Florence, Evelyn, William and Gertrude, also residing in the family home was Frederick’s Aunt, Marian Christie, born 1853 in Leicester. On the 16th November 1909 in Bakewell, Derbyshire, Frederick’s father died aged 65. After 1911 no further information exists as to Frederick’s place of residence, however the Probate granted on the 21st February 1918 to his Brother in Law, Arthur Burton, clearly records Frederick’s residence at the time of his death as The Lodge Farm, Stoughton, Leicestershire. Frederick died from wounds he received in action in the 41st Casualty Clearing Station, he was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Reproduced are details from Frederick’s Will and the subsequent Grant of Probate.
This is the Last Will and Testament of me Frederick Arthur Key, until recently residing at Narborough Wood Farm in the Parish of Narborough in the County of Leicester and now at Narborough in the County of Leicester. I appoint my Brother – in – Law Arthur Langley Burton of the Cross Roads, Narborough in the County of Leicester (hereinafter called my Trustee) to be the Executor and Trustee of this my Will I devise all my Real Estate and I bequeath all my Personal Estate unto my Trustee upon trust that my Trustee or his Assigns shall sell and convert into money the said real and personal Estate at such time or times as my Trustee shall think fit In trust to divide the same unto and equally between my four Sisters Agnes Elizabeth Burton, Florence Muriel Key, Evelyn Mary Key and Gertrude Marian Key and should any of my Sisters have died during my lifetime leaving issue living at my death the share which such Sister would have taken shall be equally divided between such issue. In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand this eight day of June (One thousand nine hundred and ten).
Frederick Arthur Key
Signed the said Testator Frederick Arthur Key in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses the day and year first above written
William Burton
Halford Street, Leicester
A. F. Ingold
33, Norman St., Leicester
On the twenty first day of February 1918 Probate of this Will was granted at Leicester to Arthur Langley Burton the Sole Executor.
GRANT OF PROBATE:
BE IT KNOWN that Frederick Arthur Key of The Lodge Farm, Stoughton in the County of Leicester, Gunner, R.G.A.; formerly of Narborough Wood Farm, Narborough in the same County who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at The Lodge Farm aforesaid, within the District of Leicester, died on the 24th day of September 1917 in France on active ‘Military Service.’ AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Leicester; and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Arthur Langley Burton of Narborough aforesaid, Auctioneer, the sole Executor named in the said Will.
Dated the 21st day of February 1918
Gross value of Estate £3288 : 17 : 3.
Net value of Personal Estate £3288 : 17 : 3.
Extracted by Edward J. Holyoak, Solr., Leicester.