FREDERICK+MOORCROFT

__Soldiers died in the Great War 1914 - 1919__

Moorcroft, Fred, Lance Sergeant, 240602, 1st/6th Bn, Notts & Derby Regiment Born Tissington, Derbyshire Enlisted Ashbourne, Derbyshire Resided Parwich, Derbyshire Killed in action France & Flanders 3rd January 1918 __a__ged 22 Son of Thomas and Ellen Moorcroft, of Bank House, Parwich, Ashbourne Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, III, B, 2

__1911 Census__

Fred Moorcroft was a 15 year old market gardener's labourer, residing in Parwich. He was the son of Thomas Moorcroft, a market gardener's labourer, and Ellen Moorcroft.

__Ashbourne News, 25th January 1918__

Fred Moorcroft was killed in action during a German raid. The Germans commenced by heavily shelling the British positions, before attacking towards the left of the lines. Fred was a Lewis Gunner, and was helping to repulse the enemy, when a trench mortar shell landed in the trench nearby, burying him and another man. Both were ‘killed instantly by the concussion and fallen earth’. According to Lieutenant Briggs, his commanding officer, he was due to go on leave the day prior to the attack, but because his mother was ill in hospital, he decided that he would go at another time when she was well again. He enlisted in October, 1914, and had served in France for two and a half years. He trained at Buxton, Luton and Epping, and ‘passed as a Lewis Gunner with considerable credit’. The Ashbourne News of 28th July 1916 mentions that for two years prior to his enlistment, Fred was in the employ of Mr. Clews of Fenny Bentley.


 * Fenny Bentley**
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 * Parwich**
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