Frederick Masters was born in the London Borough of Newham in 1878. His father worked on the railways, so the family moved around. In 1901 they were living at a level crossing in Cambridgeshire and Frederick was an unemployed clerk.
By 1907 Frederick was living in Sawley and working as a porter for the Midland Railway, based at Toton Sidings. The following year he married Annie Elizabeth Adams at Eggington (near Willington). By 1911 the couple were living at 23 Hey Street. They had 4 children
- Thomas Edwin (1909-1980)
- Lilian Violet (1911-1911)
- John Frederick (1913-1942)
- Bessie Ellen (1914-1971)
By 1912 Frederick was a railway lampman (looking after the oil and gas lamps on stations and trains). In Feb 1915 when (aged 36) he was a railway clerk/storeman and they’d moved to 61 Hey Street.
He signed up for the Army Ordnance Corps but was soon transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment (infantry). After completing training, he joined their 7th Battalion in France in January 1917. In June that year he was sent back to England with jaundice and spent 6 weeks in Lincoln Hospital. He spent another few months in England before being sent back to 7th Battalion in France in November 1917. They were part of 110th Brigade – known as The Tigers, as it consisted of 4 Leicestershire battalions.
In March 1918 the Germans launched their huge spring offensive, pushing the allies back and away from the complex trench systems both sides had built up. The fighting became much more mobile. In early May 1918 7th Leicestershires were transferred to reinforce the French on the River Aisne, Northeast of Reims. At first it was very quiet, but there were signs of a coming attack. On the night of 26th the 7th Battalion was due to be relieved, but prisoners had warned of an attack, so the battalion stayed on the front line.
What became known as the Third Battle of Aisne began at 1am on 27th May when the Germans started an artillery bombardment with a mixture of high explosive, shrapnel and poison gas. There was a thick mist and, with all telephone lines cut, communications with the brigade were lost. At some point in the early morning the Germans began advancing. By mid-morning, elements of the battalion were still holding out, although several units were cut off. By mid afternoon the survivors were holding a sunken road at Cormicy. Over the next 2 days they made a fighting retreat, until relieved by the French. In 3 days, the battalion lost 17 officers and men confirmed dead, 62 wounded and 433 missing – over half of their entire strength.
Private Frederick Masters was reported missing on 27th. He was later deemed to have died on 31st. His body was never recovered, and his name is listed on the Vis-En-Artois war memorial, between Arras and Cambrai. After the war his widow was sent his British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Annie stayed at 61 Hey Street until her death in 1942.