Frederick William Kirkland
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Service No: N/A
Place of Birth: Rutherglen
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Rifle Brigade (1st Bn.)
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. C F Kirkland, Islay Cottage, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Father Charles Frederic Kirkland Esq.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour information: Eldest and only surv. s. of Charles Frederick Kirkland of Islay Cottage, 7 Braeside Avenue, Rutherglen. Engineer and spindlemaker and his wife, Edith, dau. of the late William Bottomley of Saddleworth, York; b. Rutherglen aforesaid 21 Sept. 1895; educ. North Eastern County School, Barnard Castle, where he attained position of head monitor and secured school leaving scholarship tenable at of the universities, after which he proceeded to Emmanuel College, Cambridge; was a member of the Cadet Corps while at Barnard Castle School, obtaining Certificate ‘A’ in 1913 and was gazette 2nd Lieut. The Rifle Brigade 28 Nov. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from June 1915; was invalided home in Aug, suffering from an attack of fever; returned to France in Feb 1916 when he was attached to the 1st Battn. was reported missing after the fighting at Mailly Maillet 1 July following, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on that date. A brother officer wrote; “He will be a great loss to our company, he was always so conscientious in every way. I feel that it will be a great thing for you to know that he was recommended for the V.C. two days before, for staying out a long time just in front of the German line with a man wounded while trying to penetrate into their line. He and a sergeant got the man back safely.” And another: “Your boy was not the least of the heroes who fell on that fateful morn.” A Corpl. Also wrote: “Your son was in command of I Coy. after our captain was wounded; he was shot through the head. He was a very good officer and well liked by the men, and the men would go anywhere with him.”
Cambridge University Roll of Honour: College Notes: came up in 1914 to read Mechanical Sciences, but did not graduate. Military Service: 2nd Lieutenant 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 1 July 1916 on the Redan Ridge near Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Last seen leading his company in the attack.
1901 census information:
Address: Islay Cottage, Rutherglen.
Father: Charles F (42) mechanical engineer, born about 1859 in England.
Mother: Edith (28) born about 1873 in England.
Self: Frederic W (5) born about 1896 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Winifred (8 months) born about 1900 in Rutherglen.
1911 census information:
Address: North Eastern County School, Barnard Castle, England.
Frederic William Kirkland (15) school boy, born about 1896 in Rutherglen.
Also commemorated on the memorial at Stonelaw High School, Rutherglen, Stonelaw Parish Church, Rutherglen, Barnard Castle School, Barnard Castle, England and Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, Cambridge.