Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Snowden, a rope maker, born 1846 in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire and his wife Harriett Snowden (nee Freeman, married in the 2nd quarter of 1875 in the Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire district), born 1850 in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, Frederick Thomas was born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, his siblings were, Nellie Maria, a schoolgirl, born 1877, Elizabeth Sarah, a schoolgirl born 1878 and John Edward, a schoolboy born 1880, the latter three siblings were all born in Newport Pagnell, Harry Christopher, a schoolboy, born 1884, William Oliver, a schoolboy, born 1886, Herbert Arthur, born 1888 and Kate Isabella, born 1891, the latter four siblings were all born in Peterborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Exchange Street, Peterborough. In March 1901 Frederick was employed as a clothier’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Exchange Street, Peterborough, together with his father, a rope maker and seedsman, his mother and siblings, Harriett, Elizabeth, Gertrude Mary, born 1881 in Newport Pagnell, Harry, a rope maker journeyman, William, an iron monger’s apprentice, Herbert, Kate and Cyril, born 1897 in Peterborough. In the 2nd quarter of 1910 in the Peterborough, Northamptonshire district, Frederick’s father died aged 63. In April 1911 Frederick was absent from the family home at 8, Exchange Street, Peterborough, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Elizabeth, a clerk and shop assistant, Gertrude, Harry, a rope maker and seedsman, William, a rope maker and seedsman. Ethel May, born 1887 in Peterborough, Herbert, a furniture salesman and Kate, Frederick was employed as a clothier’s assistant and was residing as a boarder at 20, Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The family home was latterly at Thorpe Lea Road, Peterborough. In the 3rd quarter of 1911 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, Frederick married Mabel Annie Berry, who was born in 1885 in Melton Mowbray. They had a son, Edward J., born 1912 in Melton Mowbray.
The War Diary records: 14 Apr-18 – 4.30 am. Enemy attacked South of 8 Central, where the 9th Battalion NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS were holding very heavily at dawn, but was thrown back by counter-attack – See report Appendix A.
11.00 am. Street fighting going on in NEUVE EGLISE and enemy heavily attacking.
5.00 pm. Enemy attacked again, but was driven off.
APPENDIX A
REPORT ON THE FIGHTING IN WHICH THE 9th BN. NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS TOOK PART BETWEEN APRIL 9th AND 20th 1918.
REFERENCE MAPS. SHEET 36. N.W. – 28.S.W. – 27. S.E. 1/20,000 SCALE.
REPORT PAGE 8, 9 & 10.
April 14th. 4.30 am. Enemy’s barrage started. Enemy attacked at 5.00 am.
Headquarters and Companies in reserve stood to at 4.15 am and moved forward as soon as barrage started.
Enemy gained a footing among the posts round base of hill in a camp on the South side and fought his way up the South slopes.
“A” and “B” Companies left their trenches and counter-attacked the enemy, “B” Company delivering no less than four counter-attacks with three platoons, while the fourth under Captain DAVIES was engaged with another party of the enemy near the INN.
The first two counter-attacks directed against the camp where the enemy had obtained a footing were driven back, the Company Commander Captain PATTEN being killed and all other Officers casualties.
Acting Company Sergeant Major HARDMAN, D.C.M., then took command and led two further counter-attacks, the last one driving the enemy out.
“A” Company drove the enemy back on to a Bayonet fighting ground below South East corner of the hill and ejected him from the trenches.
When the Headquarters and two Companies began to arrive at the hill the situation on the left was obscure, as large parties of British troops were moving back, and it was not clear if the ridge in S.18.b. and T.7.c was still held, by the sounds of musketry it was evident that the enemy was on the Southern slopes of the hill.
“C” Company was therefore ordered to move round the left of the hill and support “A” Company, and “D” Company not having come up, a party of signallers and servants from Battalion Headquarters under 2nd Lieutenant CORNER and Acting Regimental Sergeant Major RICHARDSON were ordered to move over the crest of the hill and counter-attack.
These orders were carried out, Headquarters met the enemy on the hill and drove him down killing several and capturing a Machine Gun.
The other units on the hill were also engaged with the enemy at this time and accounted for a number of them.
The hill was rapidly cleared of the enemy several prisoners being captured.
Lieutenant ROWE Commanding “A” Company and 2nd Lieutenant CORNER were wounded during the fighting. “A” Company was left with one Officer only, 2nd Lieutenant BAKER.
Captain DAVIES “B” Company was severely wounded and died two days later.
2nd Lieutenant YOUNG was wounded and 2nd Lieutenant BURLAND was killed, and Lieutenant SMITH wounded during the fighting.
The dispositions of the troops on the hill was reorganised as far as possible. “C” Company supporting “A” as this Company had suffered severe casualties, “D” Company being held in reserve at S.18.a.3.1 on reverse slope.
The remainder of the morning was fairly quiet and no sign of the enemy could be seen on the plain.
The situation at 11.15 am was notified to be:-
Street fighting still progressing in NEUVE EGLISE.
Enemy heavily attacking MONT DE LILLE – 25th Division sending up reinforcements on our left.
5.00 pm. During the afternoon the enemy shelled the forward posts, and at 5.00 pm put down an intense barrage of heavy artillery on the hill, and fired on the forward posts with field guns.
The enemy was seen advancing in small numbers on our front, and in waves on the front of the 29th Division. The attack was driven off by artillery, Machine Gun and Rifle fire.
The night was quiet.
The Division was relieved – the 9th Battalion being relieved by a Company of the 4th LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT (59th Division) and a Company of the NORFOLK REGIMENT (49th Division).
Considerable difficulty was experienced in the relief owing to the front being taken over by two different Divisions, and the number on units on the ground. – Relieving units did not fully understand that they had to take over an area rather than relieve a unit.
On Friday May 10th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON SOLDIER KILLED. – Mrs. F. Snowden, who lives with her father, Mr. J. R. Berry, at Clawson Villa, Egerton-road, Melton Mowbray, received a notification from the Infantry Record Office, Newcastle, on Saturday morning that her husband, Lce Corpl. Fred Snowden, Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on April 14th. He joined up on June 6th, 1916, and went to France on Christmas Day of the same year, being afterwards transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers. Deceased who was 34 years of age, was a native of Peterborough, and came to Melton about 14 years ago, being with Mr. Tom Manchester, clothier and outfitter, King-street, up to the time of enlistment. He was a prominent member of the Wesleyan Church, and took a keen and active interest in the Wesley Guild and Temperance Society. Much sympathy will be extended to the bereaved widow and young son.
An account taken from the Peterborough Advertiser of the 11th May 1918 states, Lance Corporal Fred Snowden, Northumberland Fusiliers, second son of the late Mr and Mrs E. Snowden of Exchange Street, Peterborough, has been killed in action at Bailleul (Crucifix). His relatives in Peterborough received an official intimation that he was killed on April 14th. Lance Corporal Snowden, who was 34 years of age, was formerly with Messrs. Herbert in Bridge Street, and afterwards went to Melton Mowbray. He joined up two years ago, and had been in France just over 12 months, he leaves a widow and one young son.