Person

One of the sons of certified elementary school master John Storey from Newcastle and his Staffordshire born wife Catherine, Fred was born in the spring of 1885 in Meadowfield, Durham. He had an older brother and sister and three younger brothers. His father John died in 1905 and Catherine married pit deputy George Allison in 1910. By the time of the 1911 census, Fred was working at the colliery as a pipe maker, and his three younger brothers were living with their mother and stepfather. At some time Fred also spent two years as a member of 4th Durham Light Infantry as a volunteer, and at the end of 1912 married Ada Mary Allan.

On 9 July 1914 Fred sailed to Canada on board the Calgarian, making for Calgary and seeking work as a pipemaker, while Ada returned to live with her parents in Carlisle. Fred got as far as Ottawa and stopped there to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 24 August, just six weeks after he had left home, perhaps inspired by the newly formed regiment’s first formal parade in Ottawa the previous day. With his flat feet and a squint in his left eye he became Private 1546 of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) which left Ottawa on 28 August, but didn’t depart from Canada until the end of September. After crossing the Atlantic on board the SS Royal George with the rest of the first Canadian contingent, Frederick was were billeted in Bustard Camp on Salisbury Plain.

The PPCLI left Southampton for France on 20 December 1914 to be the first Canadian unit on the battlefield. However, in Boulogne Fred went before a Medical Board. Because of his defective sight he was classified as fit for non combatant service only and remained at the Canadian Base Depot. He did make it to the front line though and on 8 May during the fighting at Bellewaerde Lake during the Battle of Frezenberg he was reported missing and presumed to have died of wounds received.

Private 1546 Fred Storey has no known grave and it remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial, with a plaque in the Royal British Legion Club, Meadowfield, and on the chancel screen at St. John’s Church, Meadowfield.

Civil Parish: Brandon and Byshottles

Birth date: 1885

Death date: 8-May-1915

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 7 West Street, Meadowfield (1891 census)
7 Co-operative Terrace, Meadowfield (1901/1911 census)

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Pipemaker at Colliery (1911 census)

Family: Parents: John Storey, Catherine Storey
Siblings: John Storey, Esther H Storey, Harry Storey, Herbert Storey, Arthur Storey
Wife: Ada Mary Storey, nee Allan

Military service:

4th Durham Light Infantry (pre-war militia)
1546
Private
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
1914/15 Star

Memorial(s): Menin Gate Memorial
Plaque at Royal British legion Club, Meadowfield
Chancel Screen at St. John’s Church, Meadowfield

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham