Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Withers, a general labourer, born 1857 in Billesdon, Leics., and his wife Mary Ann Ellen Withers, born 1858 in Brownhills, Staffordshire. Fred was born in the 4th quarter of 1899 in Leicester, his siblings were, Clara, a shoe trade machinist, born 1887, William Henry, born 1889, Ada, born 1892 and Nellie, born 1895, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 42, Morton Road, Leicester. In April 1911 Fred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 42, Morton Road, Leicester, together with his father, a foundry labourer, his mother, a shop keeper, and his siblings, William, a boot trade laster, Ada, a boot trade machinist and Ellen, a boot trade machinist, also residing with the family was his cousin, Ada Percival, a schoolgirl, born 1905 in Leicester. Fred enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps on the 2nd October 1917 for the duration of the war, and was allocated the service number 138089. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¾ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 31 inches. He gave his year of birth as 1899, and his trade or calling as shoe trade. He gave his father, William Withers of 42, Morton Road, Leicester as his next of kin. His record of service shows that he joined the 16th Training Squadron as an Aircraftsman II on the 27/2/18. He was transferred as a Private I to the newly formed Royal Air Force on the 1/4/18. He was transferred to the 28th Wing on the 27/7/18 – 13/11/18, when he died from pneumonia.