Person

Frederick, or Fred, was born in Hartlepool on 18 September 1893, the elder of two sons born to John George Forcer and Jennie Forcer. Both Frederick’s parents were from Hartlepool with his father employed as a brass finisher at an engineering works. In 1901 the Forcer family were living at 8 St Hilda Street in Hartlepool. John was seemingly doing well in his job as by 1911 the family had moved to a house with 10 rooms at 1 McDonald Place, also in Hartlepool. Fred, now aged 17, was working as a pupil teacher.

The following year in 1912, Fred began two years of teacher training at St Bede’s College in Durham. Fred was living in Barrow-in-Furness when he joined the army. The exact date of his enlistment is unclear but it was early in the war as he is listed as serving in the December 1914 edition of the ‘Bede Magazine’. He was serving with the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI), at this point stationed in Gateshead, as a sergeant with the service number 300140. He first entered the theatre of war in France on 10 January 1916, at some point transferring to serve with the Northumberland Fusiliers as a 2nd lieutenant. The December 1916 edition of the Bede Magazine lists him as serving for this regiment but as having been wounded, suffering with shell shock. He remains listed as wounded with shell shock in the August 1917 edition of the magazine.

It is unclear what happened to Fred during the next few years but records show him returning to teaching in 1919 when he began to teach at Easington Colliery Council Senior Boys’ School. He remained teaching there till 1921 when he moved to work in Barrow-in-Furness. From 1925 he began working as a head teacher. The same year as returning to teaching, Fred married Helen Winstanley in Lancashire. The couple had at least two children during their marriage.

At the time of the 1939 Register, Frederick is living at 15 Roxboro. Avenue in Middlesex with his wife Helen and is working as a head teacher. Records suggest Helen died in 1941 and Fred remarried in 1944, marrying Mary G Scully in Middlesex. Fred was still living in Middlesex at the time of his death in 1964.

Civil Parish: Durham Elvet

Birth date: 18-Sep-1893

Death date: 1964

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 8 St Hilda Street, Hartlepool (1901 census)
1 McDonald Place, Hartlepool (1911 census)
111 Westmorland Avenue, Barrow-in-Furness (Medal Roll Card)
15 Roxboro. Avenue, Middlesex (1939 Register)

Education: St Bede’s College, Durham 1912-1914

Employment: Assistant Master: Easington Colliery Council Senior Boys’ School 1919-1921
St Mary’s Boys’ School, Barrow-in-Furness 1921-1925
Head Master: St Begh’s Boys’ School, Whitehaven 1926
St Anselm’s RC School, Roxborough Park, Harrow

Family: Parents: John George Forster, Jennie Forster
Siblings: Robert Forcer
Wife: 1) Helen Forcer nee Winstanley 2) Mary G Forcer nee Scully
Children: Charles Forcer, Thomas A Forcer

Military service:

8th Battalion DLI
Sergeant
Service Number 300140
Northumberland Fusiliers
2nd Lieutenant

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham