Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Sewell, born in the April quarter of 1849 in Silverstone, Northamptonshire (son of Emma Sewell, 1820) and his wife Susanna Sewell (nee Williams, married on the 28th February 1872 in St. Michael’s Church, Silverstone), born in the July quarter of 1847 in Silverstone and baptised on the 10th October 1847 in St. Michael’s Church, Silverstone (daughter of John Williams, 1813 and Susanna Wyatt, 1805). Fred was born on the 6th November 1891 in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. Fred’s mother died in January 1900, aged 52 years and was interred in Congerstone Cemetery, Leicestershire on the 31st January. In March 1901 Fred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home in Congerstone, together with his widowed father, a sawyer and his siblings, Margaret Daisy, born on the 26th November 1879 in Silverstone and baptised on the 1st February 1880 in St. Michael’s Church, Silverstone and Bertie, a brickyard labourer, born on the 5th April 1885 in Staverton, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 7th June 1885 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Staverton. In April 1911 Fred was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home in Congerstone, together with his widowed father, a general labourer. Fred also had the following siblings, John Thomas, born on the 12th July 1874 and baptised on the 2nd September 1874 in St. Michael’s Church, Silverstone, George, born on the 22nd September 1876 and baptised on the 4th February 1877 in St. Michael’s Church, Silverstone and Emily Ethel, born in the October quarter of 1882, the latter three siblings were all born in Silverstone and Violet, born in the January quarter of 1888 in Staverton and baptised on the 25th January 1888 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Staverton. Fred’s father died on the 28th March 1917, aged 67 years in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
Fred enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 1st September 1914 in Nottingham, and was allotted the regimental service number 12320. He gave his place of birth as Market Bosworth, Leicestershire and age as 22 years 300 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as iron foundry labourer.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Nottingham on the 1st September 1914 and recorded his birthplace as Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, declared age as 22 years 300 days, trade or occupation as iron foundry labourer, that he was 5-feet 8 inches in height, weighed 139 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 36 inches, his vision was described as R.E.9/6 L.E. 9/6 his physical development was described as good. Enlisted at Nottingham on the 1st September 1914. Joined on enlistment Leicestershire Regt.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 22 years 300 days, height 5-feet 8 inches weight 139 lbs, chest measurement of between 33½ and 36 inches his complexion was described as fresh, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar right cheek, scar back of left arm, scar back of right arm. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He was certified as fit for the Army. Date 1st September 1914. Place Nottingham.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Thomas, Congerstone, Atherstone, Leicestershire, brother, George, 70, -?- Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 1/9/14.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 1/9/14.
Posted. To 8th Bn. Leicestershire Regt., Aldershot. Pte. 26/9/14.
Posted. To Folkestone. 28/2/15.
Posted. To Perham Down. 8/4/15.
Embarked. From Folkestone. 29/7/15.
Admitted. To 48th Field Ambulance, grenade wounds. In the Field. 31/8/15.
Deprived of 21 days’ pay for disobedience of orders. In the Field. 20/10/15.
Admitted. To 23rd Field Ambulance, gunshot wound left thigh. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Admitted. To 45th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Admitted. To 11th Stationary Hospital. 17/7/16.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship Marama. 17/7/16.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 18/7/16.
Posted. To Command Depot, Ripon. Pte. 2/10/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. -?-.
Embarked. From Folkestone. 28/2/17.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire regt. Pte. 1/3/17.
Posted. To 3rd Entrenching Bn. In the Field. 17/3/17.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 6/4/17.
Joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 17/4/17.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 9/10/17.
Admitted. To 54th Field Ambulance, gunshot wound chin. In the Field. 9/10/17.
Admitted. To 41st Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 10/10/17.
Admitted. To 12th General Hospital, Rouen. 11/10/17.
Joined. 9th Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais. 9/11/17.
Posted. To 11th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 8/2/18.
Joined. 11th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 22/2/18.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 22/3/18.
Death presumed on or since. 22/3/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 1/9/14 – 28/7/15. 331 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 17/7/16. 354 days.
Home Service. 18/7/16 – 28/2/17. 227 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 1/3/17 – 22/3/18. 1 year 21 days
Total Service. 3 years 203 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - FREMICOURT. At 9:30am Transport moved back to about H.13.c Sheet 57c. Two platoons of “C” Company withdrawn in the morning to the Army Line about J.8 and 9 Sheet 57c and the remaining two in the afternoon. At 6:00pm All Headquarters details moved up and dug in and occupied a line just behind the Army Line about J.14.b. At 4:00pm Transport moved to PIONEER CAMP, LOGEAST WOOD G.1.b Sheet 57c. 1 man of the transport was killed by shell fire. What remained of the Companies were withdrawn to the new line J.14.b. Total casualties of the operations: - 2nd Lieutenant A. ASHTON, 2nd Lieutenant C. MILLWARD and 2nd Lieutenant W. BAXTER were killed in action. Captain R. BENTLEY, Lieutenant H. H. GRUNDTVIG M.C., Lieutenant F. J. MEGGITT, 2nd Lieutenant R. J. NAYLOR, 2nd Lieutenant O. H. SEWELL, 2nd Lieutenant E. BEDSON, 2nd Lieutenant C. O. R. STEVISON were wounded. Captain J. C. SPENCER, Lieutenant A. L. HICKS, 2nd Lieutenant N. H. STEVENSON, 2nd Lieutenant A. SUMMERS are missing. 30 other ranks were killed, 106 wounded and 81 missing.