Private Frederick Monk

Born in Mitcham in 1893, Frederick was the son of William and Amelia Monk. The couple also had six other children – Amelia, Rose, William, Walter, Edith and Nellie. In 1901 William Monk snr was a gas stoker, probably at the Mitcham, Tooting and Wandsworth Gas Works in Western Road, Mitcham – as the family were then living at Rumacre Cottage in the same road. Many of the Monk children were working by this stage - Amelia and Rose were laundresses (possibly at a large laundry firm in Phipps Bridge. ) William jnr was a general labourer and the younger children were still at school.

By 1911, the family was living at 2 Lion Mount, a six room house in Western Road, Mitcham. Frederick was now 18 and working as a Drapery Warehouse Porter. His brother Walter was a Ladies mantle cutter (thought to have involved pattern cutting for cloaks or outer garments worn by women during this period.) Sisters Rose and Edith were laundry workers and their father was working as a Gasman at a local gravel pit.

On 1 September, 1917, Frederick married Jane Stevens at St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Mitcham and the couple set up home at 6 Fountain Place, not far from the Gas Works in Western Road. (His father was listed as a Gasman on the marriage certificate). Frederick had already joined the army at the time of his marriage and was a Private in the Labour Corps. This regiment was responsible for a variety of wartime duties, from haulage and road construction, to transporting munitions and building communication systems.

Sadly little is known of Frederick’s war service. He died on 17 January 1918 from an illness contracted whilst on active service. He is buried at the Mitcham parish churchyard.