Person

The 1891 census shows Fred’s father, George (b 1867 in Maldon Essex), and mother, Elisa Ann nee Smaling (b1869 in Leyburn Yorkshire), lived at Chapel Row Eskerdalside, Yorkshire. His father worked as an iron stone miller. Fred was born in 1896 in Middleton, Leeds, he had an older sister, Florence May, who was born 1893.

In the 1901 census the family had moved to Jobson Terrace, Stanley Crook, Durham. He had a younger brother, John (James) Henry born 1898, and his father worked as a coal miner. In 1911 the family were still in Stanley Crook but had moved to 89 Wooley Terrace. He had two more sisters; Mary Ellen born 1902 and Rachel Annie born 1909. Fred was now 15 and his occupation was described in the census as “at Bank top” thought to be part of the Pease family industries.

The Pease family were one of the Quaker industrialist families of the 19th Century. They were associated with Darlington, County Durham and North Yorkshire where they were involved in several industries including the development of the railways and mining.
By the time Fred enlisted, in Newcastle, he was working at the Wooley pit in Stanley Crook, another of the Pease family owned mines. He was a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps serving with the 42nd Field Ambulance part of the 14th Light Division. The 14th Light Division served on the Western Front throughout the whole of the war and saw action as follows:

In 1916: The Battles of Delville Wood and Flers-Courcelette (phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916)
In 1917: The First and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Langemark and the First and Second Battles of Passchendaele (phases of the Third Battles of Ypres)
In 1918: The Battle of St Quentin and the Battle of the Avre (phases of the first battle of the Somme 1918).

They suffered severe casualties losing almost 6,000 troops and the Division was withdrawn from the front line and placed on the construction of a new defensive line in the rear. On 17 June 1918 the Division was moved to England for re-establishment. The division, although short on numbers, moved back to France in the first week of July. (ref: http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk)

Private Fred Lummas was killed in Flanders on 19 September 1918. He is buried in a Commonwealth War grave at Hagle Dump Cemetery in West Vlaanderen, Belgium. The cemetery, which was begun in April 1918, was named after a nearby stores dump. It was used by fighting units and field ambulances until October 1918 and was enlarged after the Armistice when more than 200 graves were brought from the battlefields of Ypres. (ref: Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Fred Lummas was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

A booklet called Pease and Partners Memorial and Record of European War 1914-1918 was produced in 1920. It was “intended to be a permanent memorial of the officials and workmen of Pease and Partners Limited who laid down their lives in the cause of the King and Country. Also, as a record of all who served in His Majesty’s Forces during the great European War 1914-1918.”

Fred Lummas is mentioned in both the memorial section and the record of those who served. (Thank you to the Durham Mining Museum for access to the booklet)

Civil Parish: Crook and Billy Row

Birth date: 1896

Death date: 19-Sep-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Born Middleton Leeds Yorkshire
Jobson Terrace Stanley Crook Durham (1901 census)
89 Wooley Terrace Stanley Crook Durham (1911 census)

Education: Stanley (Crook) British Junior School which became Stanley Crook Council Junior School

Employment: Wooley Pit Crook

Family: Father George b1867 Maldon Essex
Mother Elisa Ann nee Smaling b1869 Leyburn Yorkshire
Sister Florence May b1893 Middleton Leeds Yorkshire
Brother James (John) Henry b1898 Hunslet Leeds Yorkshire
Sister Mary Ellen b 1902 Stanley Crook Durham
Sister Rachel Annie b 1909 Stanley Crook

Military service:

Enlisted in Newcastle
Service number 21702
Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Killed 19th September 1918 at Passchendaele

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Buried at Hagle Dump Cemetery West Vlaanderen Belgium.
He is named in the Pease and Partners Memorial and Record of European War 1914-1918. A book produced in 1920 of their workforce who fought in WW1

Gender: Male

Contributed by Tricia Bailey and Brenda Peppin