Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of the William Henry Branston a farm waggoner, born 1876 in Stainby, Lincolnshire and his wife Mary Ann Branston (nee Roe, married in the 4th quarter of 1898 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district)), born 1877 in Stainby. Frederick William was born in the 1st quarter of 1899 in Stonesby, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, Kathleen Mary, born 1901 in Stonesby, and a half blood sibling, Ethel May Roe, born 1897 in Stonesby, in March 1901 the family home was at 1, Stonesby Church Street, Stonesby. In the 1st quarter of 1908 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, Frederick’s father died aged 32. In April 1911 Frederick was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home in Stonesby, together with his widowed mother a lace embroiderer and his siblings, Ethel, Kathleen, Cecil Edward, born 1902, Charles, born 1903 and Walter, born 1904, the latter three siblings were all born in Stonesby. Frederick was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
On Friday July 14th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – WALTHAM. – PRO PATRIA MORI. – We greatly regret to record the death from wounds on July 1st of Private F. Branston, 46th Machine Gun Corps. The sad news was received by his mother at Stonesby from the War Office, accompanied by a message of sympathy from the King and Queen. By the same post Mrs. Branston had a letter from Lieutenant Gardiner notifying her of his severe wounds received by a shell blowing up his dug out, and speaking of his bravery. On Monday last she received a letter from Captain Monagh stating that he died as soon as he got to hospital, that he died like a soldier, and that all would miss him. He was the eldest son. His mother is a widow, and much sympathy is felt for her. Before enlisting July 1915, he worked for Mr. R. Mount, Waltham. He was at Waltham school six years and when the news of his death was received the school flag was hoisted to half-mast. On Sunday the vicar, Rev. B. H. Smith, referred to his devotion to duty and sacrifice in his sermon, a half muffled peal was rung, and suitable hymns were sung. We also regret that Pte. Ed Osborne, of the Canadian Mounted Rifles is missing. Pte. Harry Osborne, 8th Leicesters is in hospital with pleurisy, and Pte. E. J. Bridge, 8th Leicesters, is in France with nervous disorder, all being old Waltham schoolboys.
On Friday July 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The following casualties were officially reported on Saturday. The town shown against each soldier’s name is the home of his next of kin. Wounded: East Surrey Regiment, 698 Sergt. H. Lee (Melton Mowbray); King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 13019 Private C. M. Goodman (Melton Mowbray). The following were among the casualties reported in Tuesday’s list:- Killed: Sherwood Foresters, 3577 Private F. Parks (Melton Mowbray). Wounded: Leicestershire Regiment, 12277 Private G. H. Clow (Oakham). 12957 Sergeant A. Jordan (Barrow). The casualties reported on Wednesday included:- 3322 Private F. Branston (Melton Mowbray). Yesterday’s list included:- Wounded: Royal Sussex Regt., 2910 Furmidge Lance Corpl. J. S. (Melton Mowbray).