Back home from France

Private Frederick Sydney Hammon, my first cousin 3 times removed, was serving in the Machine Gun Corps and on the 10th October 1918, 100 years ago today, was discharged under Kings regulations paragraph 392 section XVI – No longer physically fit for war service.

Frederick Sydney Hammon, was born in 1884 in Southwark, London. He was the youngest child of John Frederick Hammon and Elizabeth Ann Hammon (Nee Bush). Frederick had five older brothers, Ernest (born 1863), Frederick William (born 1866 but died the same year), Arthur (born 1871), all of whom were born in Wimbledon, Alfred (born 1873 in St.Pancras) and Maurice (born 1879 Chelsea)

Like his father John, Frederick was a bricklayer by trade.

Frederick’s older brother Maurice was serving as a sergeant with the Royal Engineers and had arrived in France in November 1915.

Frederick had married Alice Beatrice Sage on Christmas Day 1906 in Camberwell, Surrey and had four children, John (born 1909), Esther (born 1911), Ronald (born 1914), Hilda (born 1915) all before Frederick left for France. Frederick though was back at home after being discharged from the army for the birth of his fifth child, William Mons Hammon (born 1918) all born in Camberwell.

It is interesting to note his new child's middle name and one wonders what experiences he went through in that area to give his son "Mons" as a middle name. Or maybe it was just to honour those who sacrificed so much at Mons.