yeovil at War
Frederick John Major
Died within weeks of enlisting
Frederick John Major actually appears to have little or no connection with Yeovil.
Nevertheless he was born in 1882 at Batcombe, Dorset, the son of farm labourer John Major (b 1843) and his wife Eliza Jane (b 1843). The 1891 census shows John and Eliza living at Batcombe with their children; 8-year old Frederick, Temperance R (b 1884), Florance EH (b 1886), Maria Julia (b 1889) and William (b 1891).
By 1911 Frederick's father had died and Frederick was living with his mother and younger siblings at Cattistock, Dorset, where he worked as a carter.
Frederick enlisted at Yeovil, most likely in late 1914, and joined the 9th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. The Battalion had been formed in October 1914 at Plymouth as a Service Battalion under the command of 98th Brigade.
The circumstances of Frederick's death are unknown but he died within weeks of enlisting, on 11 January 1915. He was aged 33.
Frederick was buried in Yeovil Cemetery, Grave A2756, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in the Borough.
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Frederick Major's headstone in Yeovil Cemetery.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate in memory of Frederick Major.