Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Tookey, a wine merchant’s porter, born 1853 in Ayston, Rutland and baptised on the 25th December 1853 in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Ayston and his wife Sarah Jane Tookey (nee Page, married in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), born in the 4th quarter of 1852 in Ridlington, Rutland. Frederick Thomas was born on the 12th December 1889 in Uppingham his siblings were, Sarah Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 26th December 1879 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham, Arthur Samuel, a schoolboy, born on the 8th April 1881 and baptised on the 6th November 1881 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham, John George, a schoolboy, born on the 15th January 1883 and baptised on the 3rd June 1883 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham and Alice Mary, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1885, all his siblings were born in Uppingham, in April 1891 the family home was at Rope Walk, North Street, Uppingham. In March 1901 Frederick was residing in the family home at 5, North Street, Rope Walk, Uppingham together with his father, a wine merchant’s porter, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a stonemason, John an engine and machine fitter, Francis William, born in the 3rd quarter of 1891 and Kate May, born on the 20th April 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Uppingham. In April 1911 Frederick was absent from the family home at Orange Lane, Uppingham, residing there was his father, a jobbing gardener, his mother and sister Sarah, a domestic help, Frederick was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing as a boarder at Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire. Frederick married Ellen Jane Tebbutt in the 2nd quarter of 1912 in the Northamptonshire district, Ellen was born on the 2nd December 1888 in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, they resided at Park Street, Earls Barton. Frederick and Ellen had two children, Robert Francis, born 24th December 1912 in Buckinghamshire and Frederick Arthur, born on the 5th January 1916 inn Northamptonshire.
Frederick’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Oxford into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry being allotted the service number 17884, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 5th Battalion. It cannot be confirmed that this was the Battalion with which he embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the on the 22nd July 1915 because he was at some point in his service transferred to the 6th Battalion of the same Regiment. Nothing in official documents records what occurred during his military service, but an account taken from the 1920 publication, Rutland and the Great War, compiled by G. Phillips states that. “He went on foreign service in July 1915, taking part in the fighting on the La Bassee - Ypres salient, and was wounded during the taking of Guillemont on the Somme in September 1916. He was again wounded during the third Battle of Ypres when attacking a German position, and was presumably killed in trying to reach an advanced dressing station, the date given as the 20th September 1917 and the location being Langemarck, Belgium.” His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing near Zonnebeke in Belgium. Frederick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Frederick’s widow Ellen was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and her children of twenty six shillings and eight pence, to commence on the 3rd June 1918. His older brother Arthur Samuel was killed in action at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on the 6th August 1915.
The War Diary records: 20 Sept-17 – BROMBEEK. 2.00am. The position of Companies when they reached their assaulting positions was as follows:- “A” left, “C” centre, “B” right, with “D” in reserve. Each of these leading Companies formed up in their trench, one platoon in each of the first two and Company Headquarters and 4th Lewis Gun and 3rd platoon in small columns in 3rd line. Each had a covering party 150 yards in front. “D” Company in reserve were formed in columns of ½ platoons and in two lines. 2 platoons in front line Battalion Headquarters at DOUBLE COTTS. 5.00am. 2nd Lieutenant WILLES, Intelligence officer and eight scouts took up positions with “B” Company, 2 scouts being sent to each of the three attacking Companies. Touch was attained with the 12th RIFLE BRIGADE on the right, but no touch could be got with the 59th Brigade on the left and there was a gap of at least 150 yards in between. 2nd Lieutenant WILLES laid out tapes on the pegs already provided by the ROYAL ENGINEERS and led Companies to assembly positions. 5.40am. Zero was at 5.40am it was then still dark, dawn just breaking. At 5.41am oil drums were discharged at CEMETERY (U.24.c.o.o.) These lit up the sky and showed our men up to the enemy. As soon as the leading lines came over the ridge in view of EAGLE TRENCH they came under heavy machine gun fire from 5 concrete houses in the trench. “B” Company, on right, caught the worst of this soon lost all their officers and most of “B” Company. “C” Company in the centre, gallantly led by Captain BROOKS and 2nd Lieutenant BEVINGTON tried to get on and were within 50 yards of the trench when finally held up, Captain BROOKS being killed on German wire, 2nd Lieutenant BEVINGTON and 3 or 4 men succeeded in getting into the trench but he was wounded and could do no more. “A” Company got within 70 yards and were then held up. Captain PRINCE was wounded. “D” Company tried to get forward to reinforce and push on, but were unable to do this, and at 6.30am all Companies were in shell holes West of EAGLE TRENCH digging in. It was impossible to get orderlies back to Headquarters and it was not till 7.00am that the situation was known there. The 59th Brigade on the left was held up on the same line, and the 12th RIFLE BRIGADE on our immediate right. The situation remained thus during the day, all movement being observed by the enemy whose snipers were very active. 6.00pm. A fresh attack was ordered for 6.30pm, the 6th KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY sending one Company to help us to get on and another to work round to the right with the 12th RIFLE BRIGADE. The B.O. were able to get orders to this effect to “D” Company (2nd Lieutenant COOK), but could get no other officer. 5.00pm. The enemy put down a very heavy barrage on line U.23.d.1.4. – U.29.b.2.9. but did not attack opposite us. 6.30pm. Our barrage came down on EAGLE TRENCH and Lieutenant COOK collected all men near him and with 2nd Lieutenant TAPPER went forward. Enemy surrendered to him. Lieutenant COOK then took a party and bombed along EAGLE TRENCH, meeting with little opposition till about U.23.b.8.05. when his bombs gave out and enemy bombed him back. He then sent forward riflemen to right flank and held enemy while he collected all German stick bombs and formed a block in the trench, which he held. 2nd Lieutenant TAPPER seeing that this attack was succeeding pushed forward to LOUIS FARM taking with him about 20 men of “B” Company under Sergeant WALKER. There they linked up with the 6th KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and 12th RIFLE BRIGADE. A line of posts was then dug from EAGLE TRENCH, EAST along edge of CEMETERY and South of -?- to LOUIS FARM with another line running around East of CEMETERY back to EAGLE TRENCH. 2nd Lieutenant TAPPER was ordered to withdraw from LOUIS FARM and with Lieutenant COOK to hold the CEMETERY WITH “D” Company, “B” Company remaining at LOUIS FARM. 12 Midnight 20/21st. “A” Company (2nd Lieutenant SCOGINGS) held block in EAGLE TRENCH. “C” Company were still West of trench. This was the situation at Midnight Sept 20/21st.