Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Grant, a stone quarry engine driver, born 1866 in Shangton, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Jane Grant (nee Follows, married in the 4th quarter of 1889 in the Lutterworth, Leicestershire district), born 1865 in Sutton in the Elms, Leicestershire. Fred William was born in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in Enderby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Sidney Edward, born 1893, Elsie May, born 1896 and Harold Charles, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Cliffe Hill, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Stone Quarry Lodges, Main Road, Stanton under Bardon, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Fred was employed as an iron foundry moulder and was residing in the family home at 24, Grange Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire together with his father an electricity works stationary engine driver, his mother and siblings Sidney, a hosiery trade trimmer, Elsie, an elastic trade winder, Harold, a schoolboy and Ivy Harriett, a schoolgirl born 1903 in Shaw Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was Fred’s maternal cousin, Mary Jane Crane, born 1909 in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. Fred enlisted into the Army as a Special Reservist to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 29th December 1909 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Enderby, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 5 months, and his trade or calling as core maker. He confirmed that he was presently serving with the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force). He gave his father, Edward Grant, his mother Mary Jane Grant, his brothers Sydney and Harold Grant and his sisters, Elsie May and Ivy Grant, all of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¾ inches in height, he weighed 108 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches. His hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a large mole between his shoulder blades. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for service with the Special Reserve. His record of service began when he joined the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at the Depot as a Private, service number 10554 on the 29/1/09. Awarded a 3rd Class Certificate of Education on the 16/3/10. Attended a Musketry course on the 12/8/10 – 11/9/10. Annual Training on the 12/9/10 – 26/9/10. Appointed Lance Corporal on the 5/6/11. Annual Training on the 5/6/11 – 1/7/11. Annual Training, 1912. Annual Training, 1913. Mobilised on the 5/8/14. Promoted Corporal on the 8/8/14. Appointed Lance Sergeant paid on the 4/9/14. Appointed Acting Sergeant on the 8/9/14. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 16/11/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/12/14. Deprived of Acting rank of Sergeant for misconduct on the 4/2/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment as Corporal on the 19/3/15. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/3/15. Landed in France on the 20/3/15. Reported missing after operations in the field on the 15/5/15. Regarded for official purposes as having died on the 15/5/15. The following information was provided on the 29th April 1919 by Fred’s father Edward on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, Edward Grant, of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough. Mother of soldier, Mary Jane Grant, of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough. Full blood brothers of soldier, Sydney Edward, age 25 of Peggs Green, Nr. Leicester, Harold Charles, age 20 of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Elsie May, age 23 of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough, Ivy Harriett, age 16 of 24, Grange Street, Loughborough.
The War Diary for today records. Battn rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battn took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Coy’s were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battn front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Coy’s were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus the whole Battn was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Coy Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
On Friday July 30th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES. – The following casualties in the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 9th July.
KILLED. Withers, 11848, Private F.
WOUNDED. Bailey, 12000, Lance Corporal G. Barrett, 16424, Private C. Bartlett, 15860, Private E. Colbourne, 11399, Lance Corporal A.J. Corby, 9536, Private A. Escott, 11402, Private R. Fawcett, 16749, Private J.J. Fielding, 8898, Lance Corporal E.E. Gilbert, 8336, Private F. Goodmon, 16325, Private A.H. Goodger, 9338, Lance Corporal H. Johnson, 5035, Company Q.M.S. G. Moore, 6140, Lance Corporal H. Newton, 12004, Lance Corporal W. O’Brian, 9818, Private W. Wall, 7886, Private J.
MISSING. Ashcroft, 8307, Lance Corporal F. Burton, 11969, Private F. B. Copley, 9333, Private H. Grant, 10554, Corporal F.W. MacDonnell, 7901, Private G. Sharp, 10175, Private T.W. Simpson, 8916, Lance Sergeant C.W. Smith, 11490, Private I. Stowe, 10180, Private W. Whittington, 15875, Private A.E.