Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Wells, a boot trade packer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1848 in Gnosall, Staffordshire and baptised on the 18th June 1848 in All Saint’s Church, Forton, Staffordshire and his wife Sarah Ann Wells (nee Kear, married on the 18th October 1877 in St. Lawrence’s Church, Gnosall, Staffordshire), born in the 1st quarter of 1858 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, who was the daughter of William Henry Kear. Frederick was born in the 3rd quarter of 1883 in Stafford, his siblings were, Albert, a schoolboy, born on the 19th July 1878 and baptised on the 9th August 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Stafford, William, a schoolboy, born on the 3rd September 1879 and baptised on the 23rd September 1879 in St. Mary’s Church, Stafford, Alice, a schoolgirl, born on the 26th March 1886 and baptised on the 27th June 1886 in St. Mary’s Church, Stafford and Ada, born on the 19th May 1887 and baptised on the 9th June 1887 in St. Mary’s Church, Stafford, the latter four siblings were all born in Stafford, and Florence, born in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in South Wigston, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Green Lane, Evington, Leicestershire. In the 4th quarter of 1892 Frederick’s father died in Leicester, aged 44. In March 1901 Frederick was absent from the family home at 155, Green Lane Road, Leicester, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Albert, a boot and shoe trade hand riveter, William, a boot and shoe trade packer, Alice, a boot and shoe trade fitter, Ada, a boot and shoe trade fitter, Florence and Harry, born on the 13th June 1891 in Leicester and baptised on the 27th June 1891 in St. Barnabas’s Church, Leicester. In the 2nd quarter of 1910, Frederick’s mother died in Leicester, aged 50. In April 1911 Frederick was absent from the family home at 76, Mornington Street, Leicester, residing there were his siblings, Albert, a hosiery manufacturer’s goods packer, Alice, a boot and shoe trade fitter and Ada, a boot and shoe trade fitter, Frederick meanwhile was serving as a Colour Sergeant with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was stationed at Gough Barracks, Trimulgherry, Deccan, India.
Frederick enlisted/attested into the Militia on the 10th July 1900 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 7405. He gave his place of birth as Stafford and age as 18 years 1 month. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He gave his present address as 155, Green Lane, Evington, Leicester.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 7½ inches in height, weighed 113 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33 inches, his complexion was described as dark, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/7/00.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/7/00.
Commenced. 49 days drill training. 10/7/00.
Embodied. Stationed at the Curragh. 28/8/00.
Transferred. To the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regt. 3/10/00.
Frederick’s surviving militia record amounts to a total of three pages, of which all pages relate directly to his militia service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of the events that took place during his period of his short period of militia service.
Frederick’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, and was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in Havre, France on the 5th November 1914. Frederick contracted nephritis and died in the Military Hospital in Boulogne, France. Frederick was awarded the 1914 Star, Clasp and Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Saturday November 21st 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER SOLDIER WINS COMMISSION.” – News has been received at school of the promotion to second lieutenant of Colour Sergeant Fred Wells, Notts. and Derby Regiment, E Coy. Lieutenant Wells, who is an old Bridge Road boy, came over with the Indian Expeditionary Force. His steady advancement is highly creditable to him, and he deserves the hearty congratulations sent him from the old boys.
On Tuesday September 21st, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News of the death of LIEUT. FRED WELLS, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, and Old Boy of Bridge-road School, has been received. Lieut. Wells, who was 32 years of age, enlisted as a Private in 1910, and rose from the ranks. At the outbreak of the war he was stationed in India, and was offered a commission, with the further honour of being allowed to remain with his battalion. Early in December he was admitted to a Paris hospital suffering from frost bite. On returning to the trenches he contracted a chill, and was invalided home. He again returned to duty, and last month was granted 96 hours leave. It was evident to his many friends that he was far from well, but he refused medical advice, as he declared he would be delaying the leave of some other officer. On his return he was taken seriously ill, and entered Boulogne Hospital, where the end came. He is laid to rest in the military cemetery at Boulogne.
On Thursday September 23rd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – THE LATE LIEUT. FRED WELLS. – Lieutenant Fred Wells, of the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, who has died in hospital in France was an old boy of Bridge-road School. Leaving that school he went into the boot trade for seven years, and then enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters. He served in India for eleven years, and rose from the ranks to Lance-Corporal, Sergeant, Colour Sergeant, then receiving his commission as Lieutenant. He earned the respect of everyone, and applied himself assiduously to the educative side of a soldier’s training. A high sense of duty animated him, and he returned to his regiment although suffering from physical ailment. His sister – he had lost his father and mother – received a telegram from the King and Queen, stating that their Majesties offered her their deep sympathy on the loss of her brother.