Fred Ormerod

Lance Corporal 34355
9th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

Fred died on 19 August 1918 and is buried in Aire Communal Cemetery (Grave Ref. IV. B. 16).

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register records that he was the son of Lucas and Mary Ann Ormerod, of Blackburn, and the husband of Ellen Ormerod of 17, Hickory St, Blackburn.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Fred was living with his parents and siblings at 9 Hickory St, Blackburn. The details from the Census are as follows.

From 25 September 1917 - when the 9th Battalion absorbed the 2nd/1st Northumberland Yeomanry - it became known as the 9th (Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry).

On 26 May 1918 the 9th Battalion transferred to 183rd Brigade, 61st Division, and on the date of Fred's death the 61st Division were involved in the advance in Flanders, as part of the Fifth Army.

Aire-sur-la-Lys is a town about 14 kilometres south-south-east of St. Omer. The burials in plots II, III and IV (rows A to F) relate to the fighting of 1918, when the 54th Casualty Clearing Station came to Aire and the town was, for a while, within 13 kilometres of the German lines.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that Fred died of wounds on 19 August 1918. The Database also notes that Fred was born and enlisted in the Army in Blackburn.