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 February 1895 and Daisy on 20 February 1894, both in Islington. It is thought that they had children as follows: Frederick George 21 November 1920, William E 28 December 1922, Joan E 10 July 1924 – and possibly Dennis R in 1931. The first three were born in Islington while Dennis was born in Bethnal Green.

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 George Kirby enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery on 17 April 1941. He gave his address as 3 Vyner Street, Bethnal Green, London E2. He gave his mother, Daisy Elizabeth Kirby, of the same address as his next of kin. His religion was given as Church of England. His previous occupation was given as a Packer – Export. 

He was described as 5ft 9in tall and weighed 146 lbs. He had grey/green eyes and brown hair. Initially he was considered to be Grade A1 medically.

He was posted initially to the 16th Field Training Regiment of the Royal Artillery in Exeter and then just 5 days later to the 37th Signals Training Regiment of the Royal Artillery in Scarborough. On 29 June 1941 he was appointed as a Driver i/c.
 
He married Ellen Patricia Taylor (or Nell or Nellie as she was known) on 7 June 1941 at St Peter’s Church, Loudwater in Buckinghamshire. 

Nellie P Taylor was the daughter of Arthur George Taylor and Alice Ellen Euesden who had married in Bethnal Green on 23 January 1916. Arthur was born on 22 February 1893 in Nova Scotia, Canada and Alice on 8 September 1895 in Hackney, London. Nellie was one of four children as follows, all born in Bethnal Green: Arthur J B 1 November 1916, Alice E 1918, Nellie Patricia 27 January 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.

On his marriage, Frederick changed his next of kin to his wife. He initially gave her address as 49 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green E2 which was her family home. 

Military background

On 18 August 1941 Frederick was posted to 2nd Res. Field Regiment.

It seems that he was due to embark for service overseas in December but on 19 December 1941 he was posted instead to the 170th Field Regiment Royal Artillery in Nottingham.

His fitness was reassessed on 21 October 1942 when he was declared as only having level B2 fitness. This meant that he was considered unfit for general service abroad but fit for base or garrison service at home and abroad. From then on, he was posted to training regiments in the UK while in the Royal Artillery. On 11 November 1942 he was posted to the 25th Medium and Heavy Training Regiment at Marske by the Sea.

He was awarded the rank of Unpaid Acting Lance Bombardier on 21 November 1942 which was immediately upgraded to Paid Acting Lance Bombardier. On 8 October 1943, however, he relinquished the paid appointment and reverted to the unpaid appointment as he may have been surplus to the war establishment.
 
Just a week later, on 15 October 1943 he was posted to 38 Signals Training Regiment Royal Artillery. This is thought to have been based at Edinburgh.
 
Around this time, on 13 October, his wife was recorded at a new address of 2 Vivian Road, Roman Road, Bow E3.
 
The 38 Signals Training Regiment was disbanded in June 1944. On 30 June 1944 he was posted to 4th Royal Artillery Training Regiment (Field). Just a week or two later, on 11 July he was posted to Depot RA and attached 10 Royal Artillery Training Regiment (Light Anti Aircraft). On 10 November 1944 he was transferred back to his former unit. He seems to have relinquished his Driver i/c appointment on 20 November and reverted to the rank of Gunner.

On 28 January 1945 he was transferred to 46 Company of the Corps of Military Police (TC). His rank was now Private. This was a Traffic Control unit. On 11 April 1945 he was transferred to 41 Company Corps of Military Police (TC), another Traffic Control unit.

Until now, his service had been entirely in the UK.

On 4 May 1945, just as the war in Europe was ending, he was sent to Europe. He and his wife must have been imagining that there would be little danger and looking forward to life after the war.
 
However, on 19 July 1945 it was initially recorded that he had died that day but it was then noted that he had died by accident.
 
His widow was informed of this by the CMP Records Office as follows in a letter dated 23 July:
“It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, which took place on 19 July 1945 whilst serving in Western Europe. The cause of death was a gunshot wound over right superior spire of pelvis. The circumstances of his death are not yet known; an official notification will be sent to you as soon as further information is received.
 
There is little that I can say to comfort you in your bereavement, but I would like to convey to you a personal expression of sympathy in the sad loss that you have sustained.”
 
Mrs Kirby replied as follows :
“With reference to your letter of the 23rd inst informing me of the tragic death of my husband. Is it possible for me to have his body brought home for interment, as it would be the only consolation I find. Do please try your best for me.”
 
Her letter was forwarded to the War Office but it is unclear if she had a reply. It was not the practice in WW2 to return the remains of soldiers who were killed to the UK.
 
On 27 July the circumstances of his death came to light. He had been killed accidentally whilst on duty by a pistol shot fired by a Dutch soldier outside the Company Detachment Billet at Blerick.
 
A certificate was issued to her on 28 July as the circumstances were now known.
 
During August, the bureaucratic machine went on as the War Office and Ministry of Pensions were pressing to receive the results of the Court of Enquiry into his death. They were keen to have the circumstances confirmed and to find out if he had been on duty and was in any way to blame. It seemed to take until 21 September for the War Office to receive the Court of Enquiry proceedings and until 27 September for them to be passed to the Ministry of Pensions.

However, on 12 September the Ministry of Pensions were finally able to tell Mrs Kirby that she would receive £1 a week as a pension from 29 October 1945. They had no children, so there was no allowance for them.
 
She still had to chase them on 14 September regarding his pay as she was aware that he had last drawn it on 17 May 1945. She added “By the way there is just one more thing I must ask you, which is about my Husbands personal belongings. As I haven’t received them yet. I would appreciate & esteem it a great favour if you would help me in this matter.”
 
The Regimental Paymaster dealt with the query about pay but passed the letter on to the relevant departments who could deal with her question about his personal effects, saying he had told her she would receive a reply in the next few days.
 
By 18 September, she wrote in stronger terms as follows:
“My Husband Pte FG Kirby 1122104, who unfortunately was accidentally shot by a Dutch Soldier, July 19 1945. It is now nine weeks since all this happened, & I still haven’t received my Dear Husbands personal belongings. Would you be so kind as to forward me them on as soon as possible. These things of my Dear Husbands are sentimental to me, & I should very much like to have them. By the way my Dear Husbands ‘Captain’ which is ‘Captain Gurr’ has informed me that all my Husband’s personal belongings was sent on to you.”
 
On 11 October most of his personal effects were finally sent to his wife. There was a long list of items including handkerchiefs, a tie, a pair of socks, pen knives, fountain pens, cigarette lighters and a case, shaving and other toiletry items, a comb and a leather pouch. More personal items were a wallet containing 32 photos a bracelet and a letter. 19 Guilders which he had were credited to an account and 29 Dutch 10 cent pieces were returned to her.
 
Finally, on 19 March 1946, a gold dress ring, less the centre stone, was also returned to her.
 
Frederick George Kirby had been in the forces for 4 years and 94 days of which 77 had been in Europe – most of which were after the war ended.
 
He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star and the Defence Medal .
 
After his death his wife went on to marry Samuel Mullem in Bethnal Green in 1947. Samuel had been born in Shoreditch, London, on 27 June 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
Service Record on Frederick George Kirby from National Archives ref WO 423/284615

Research Elaine Gathercole