Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of widower John Hilder, a boot trade clicker, born 1853 in Cephalonia, Greece, and his late wife Mary Elizabeth Hilder (nee Willows, married in the 3rd quarter if 1874 in the Leicester district), born 1855 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Frederick’s mother died aged 46 in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. Frederick Archibald was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Glenfield, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John Henry, a boot trade clicker, born 1877, Charles Ernest, a boot trade finisher, born 1886, Edwin Arthur, a brickyard labourer, born 1887, Florence Gertrude, born 1889 and Amos Sidney, born 1891 the latter five siblings were all born in Leicester, Albert Edward, born 1893 and Edwin Francis, born 1896, the latter two siblings were both born in Glenfield, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Pine Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Frederick was employed as a shoe trade machinist and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire together with his widowed father, a boot trade foreman clicker, and his siblings, Charles, a milk salesman and Florence, a shoe trade machinist. Frederick enlisted into the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) to serve and engagement of 4 years on the 13th February 1914 in Anstey, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Glenfield, Leicestershire and his age as 20 years and 1 month. He gave his trade or calling as boots and shoes and his present employer as The Glenfield Progress Society. He gave his present residence as Park Gates, Glenfield. He gave his father John Hilder of 68, Woodgate, later changed to 28, Woodgate, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10¼ inches in height, and he had a chest measurement of between 35½ and 38 inches. His vision was described as good and his physical development as satisfactory. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Territorial service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 1934 on the 13/2/14. Embodied service commenced on the 4/8/14. Embarked with the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 2/3/15. Landed at Le Havre, France on the 3/3/15. Killed in action, in the field on the 1/7/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 13/2/14 – 1/3/15, 1 year 17 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 1/7/15, 122 days. Total service 1 year 139 days. The following information was provided on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) by Frederick’s brother Charles Ernest Hilder on the 3rd December 1919. Father of soldier, John Hilder of 68, Woodgate, Leicester. Mother of soldier, deceased. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Henry Hilder, age 42, Charles Ernest Hilder, age 33, Albert Edward Hilder, age 24 and Amos Sydney Hilder, age 28, the addresses are all illegible. Full blood sisters of soldier, Florence Gertrude Hilder, age 31of 18, Roslyn Street, Leicerster. Frederick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals. 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: 1 July-15 - The Battn were in trenches at Sanctuary Wood. Cloudy and cool, wind mild westerly. At 5.00pm C.O. returned from leave. At 7.00pm A and B Coy’s relieved Coy’s of 5th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT in fire trenches, A taking 5 to 6 and B taking 7 to 8. D Coy garrisoned S.P.D and relieved CHESHIRE REGT in MAPLE COPSE, remainder of D Coy remaining in C2. in SANCTUARY WOOD. Enemy artillery very active between 6.00 and 7.00pm – a large number of gas shells came over north west of SANCTUARY WOOD. The night was quiet. Casualties, other ranks 1 man killed and 2 men wounded.
On Friday August 6th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – CASUALTIES AMONG TERRITORIALS. The following casualties in the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 14th July:-
KILLED.
Ball, 2132, Lance Corporal J. Hilder, 1934, Private F.A. Jayes, 3032, Private A. Lines, 1885, Drummer E. H. Stevenson, 343, Lance Sergeant S.C. Wheeler, 2300, Private S. V. White, 2541, Private E.G.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
Burbidge, 1832, Private H. B. Slater, 2480, Private G.
WOUNDED.
Adams, 1703, Private J. Bonsall, 1744, Sergeant J. T. Bott, 2331, Private J. Chitham, 2417, Sergeant H. P. Elliott, 2537, Private A. Lakin, 2656, Private J. Marshall, 2458, Private W. G. Parker, 3049, Private E. Perkins, 2945, Private G. Skevington, 1850, Private H. Swingler, 2484, Corporal R. A. Tomkins, 3531, Private W. C. Walker, 2039, Private E. H. Worthington, 2509, Lance Corporal T.