Frederick George Kirby (Service No. 1122104) died as a result of an accident on 19 July 1945. He was aged 24 and a Private in the Corps of Military Police. He was initially buried at Cemetery De Kleffen, Overloon and subsequently re-interred on 30 January 1946 in grave I. A. 2 at the Overloon Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Overloon. His inscription reads “My darling I loved but could not save lies within this grave. Loving wife Nell.”

No photo of Frederick George Kirby  has yet been found. Should anyone reading this have a photo of him or further information regarding him – or if they are aware of any errors in his biography below can they please contact the Foundation?

Family background

Frederick George Kirby was the son of Frederick George Kirby and Daisy Elizabeth Thomas who had married in Islington, London in 1914. Frederick (Snr) was born on 6/2/1895 and Daisy on 20/2/1894, both in Islington. It is thought that they had children as follows: Frederick G 21/11/1920, William E 28/12/1922, Joan E 10/7/1924 – and possibly Dennis R in 1931. The first three were born in Islington while Dennis was born in Bethnal Green.
 
In 1921, Frederick and Daisy and their son Frederick (Jnr) were living at 329, New North Road, Islington. Frederick was working as a Carboard Box Cutter at Arter Bros. Boxmaker.
 
By September 1939, they were living at 3 Vyner Street, Bethnal Green, London. Frederick (Jnr), William and Joan were also present plus one other unnamed child, possibly Dennis. Frederick (Snr) was now shown as a “Guillotine Cutter – Carboard & Paper”. Frederick (Jnr) was working as a Hardware Packer, William as an Invoice Clerk and Joan in tailoring coats.
 
Frederick (Jnr) married Ellen Patricia Taylor (or Nell or Nellie as she was known) in 1941 in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
 
Nellie P Taylor was the daughter of Arthur George Taylor and Alice Ellen Euesden who had married in Bethnal Green on 23/1/1916. Arthur was born on 22/2/1893 in Nova Scotia, Canada and Alice on 8/9/1895 in Hackney, London. Nellie was one of four children as follows, all born in Bethnal Green: Arthur J B 1/11/1916, Alice E 1918, Nellie Patricia 27/1/1922 and Doris Florence 1929. However, Alice (Jnr) died aged 14 in 1933 in Hackney district. In 1921 and 1939 the family were living at 49 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green. Arthur was working as a Carman (delivery driver) for the Great Eastern Railway in 1921 and was a Lorry Driver in 1939. In 1939 Nellie was working as a Mantle Machinist.
 
Frederick and Nellie Kirby may have had children as follows, both in North Buckinghamshire: Patricia 1943 and Brian E 1945. It is thought that Brian died in Stepney in London shortly after his birth. It isn’t known what happened to Patricia, if indeed she was their child.

Military background

Frederick George Kirby initially enlisted with the Royal Artillery in 1940 but was then transferred to the Corps of Military Police on 28 January 1945. Little more is known of his military career or the circumstances and location of his death.
 
The CWCG shows his wife, Ellen Patricia Kirby, living at Bow, London.
 
After the death of Frederick G Kirby, Nellie went on to marry Samuel Mullem in Bethnal Green in 1947. Samuel had been born in Shoreditch, London, on 27/6/1921 to Nathan Mullen and Katherine Marks who had married in Mile End, London, in 1906. He was one of eight children born to them between 1907 and 1923 in Stepney and Shoreditch. In September 1939 he had been living with his parents, five siblings and his maternal grandfather at 68 Goldsmith’s Row, Bethnal Green and was working as a Mattress Maker’s Apprentice.
 
Samuel Mullem died in 1996 in Canterbury while Ellen Patricia Mullem died in 2000 in Eastbourne. It is not thought that they had any children.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
Probate records for Ellen Patricia Mullem and Doris Florence O’Kane

Research Elaine Gathercole