Pte 401616 Frederick Milsom Flack

• Age: 23
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: LABOUR CORPS
• Died on Thursday 6th February 1919
• Commemorated at: Bootle
  Panel Ref: II.CE.362

Frederick Milsom Flack was born in the second quarter of 1895, his birth was registered in the West Derby district in Liverpool. He was the son of Henry Flack and his wife Alice (nee Price). His parents married in Liverpool in the third quarter of 1883.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 326 Westminster Road, Kirkdale. Frederick is 5 years of age and lives with his parents and five siblings. His father, Henry is a 40 year old shipyard storekeeper, born in Ireland, whilst his mother Alice is 41 years of age and was born in Oswestry.  His siblings are shown as; Henry R. a 16 year old sheet metal worker, Lottie is 15, Maud 14, Minnie 11 and Ivy is 1. 

He was educated at Bedford Road School.

The 1911 Census finds the family have moved and are now living at 88 Downing Road, Bootle. His father is now shown as being 49 years of age, and is an engineers storekeeper born in Cavan, Ireland, his mother is shown as 52 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 27 years and have had 9 children, three of whom have sadly died. Frederick is now 15 and is a clerk at a cotton brokers, he has two siblings also listed in the household; Maud is 24 and shown as "at home", Bertram Cecil is 7 years of age and is at school. 

Prior to the war he worked for Messrs Mellor and Fenton Cotton Merchants.

Frederick enlisted in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16778. He gave his age as 19 years and 211 days and his occupation as a Clerk. He was described as being 5'5 and 3/4 inches tall and weighed 114lbs.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He arrived in France on 07th November 1915.

On 01st September 1916 he recieved his good conduct medal for two years service.

He attended Lewis Gun School from 24th February 1917 - 02nd March 1917.

He was badly wounded on 18th April 1917 when he received Gunshot Wounds to his back. He returned to the UK for treatment onboard the S.S. Aberdonian and was an inpatient at Western General Hospital in Torquay from 03rd May until 02nd June 1917.

He remained at home until 03rd September 1917 when he returned to France. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 25th September 1917 where his service number became 401616.

Frederick was discharged from service and his papers dated 23rd January 1919 show the discharge was due to a spinal injury leading to stiffness in his back and refers to a scar in mid line over upper spine. He returned to the UK on 30th January 1919 and sadly died at Press Heath Camp, Shropshire on 06th February 1919, aged 23.

Frederick now rests at Bootle Cemetery where his headstone bears the Pals service number 16778 and the King's Liverpool Regiment cap badge, the White Horse of Hanover.

There are 199 First World War burials at the Cemetery. 

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road School, Bootle

Cotton Association now housed at Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on Frederick Milsom Flack. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.