Fred Eric Warburton

Fred was born at Sturton on 1st April 1896 and was the son of William a farmer and Annie Rebekah Warburton, of Manor House, Sturton. In the 1911 census his mother Ann is shown as a widow and he is 15 years of age and a scholar and he is living with 3 siblings, He was educated at the King Edward VI school at Retford, then went on to Sheffield University and then onto Exeter College at Oxford where he became a member of the Officer training Corps.

Fred was gazetted as Second Lieutenant on 19th February 1916 and served with the British Expeditionary Forces in France and Flanders from 23rd June 1916 .He was wounded once in early 1917 He also served with the 49th battery Royal Field Artillery and was killed at Zonnebeke on the night of 14th October 1917, by a shell as he was inspecting his guns. He is buried in Vlamertinghe new military cemetery, Belgium

The following article is taken from the 'In memoriam' section of the 'Retfordian' magazine which was an in house publication of the King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford :- Fred Eric Warburton, Lieutenant R.F.A was killed by a shell as he was inspecting his guns on the night of October 14th. He joined the University O.T.C. at Oxford immediately on his arrival from school, and during the long vacation joined the Nottingham O.T.C from which Corps he obtained to the R.F.A He was at the front from June 1916, and he was wounded in 1917. His Chaplain speaks of him as a regular communicant, and a strict but sympathetic officer. The battalion put up a special cross on his grave in the Military Cemetery close to the wagon lines. (This cross is now on display at St Peters Church Sturton le Steeple - see photo on this page ) Second Lieutenant F E Warburton Retford Times 26 Oct 1917 It is not long for that we are suffered to forget the awful war in which our strongest and brightest are nobly bearing their part. Twice already in the present week, news has reached the village of Sturton le Steeple that two of its noble lads have been stricken – one killed and the other heavily wounded. Notice was received on Monday morning by Mrs Warburton of Manor Farm, that her youngest son, Second Lieut F E Warburton, RFA, was killed in action in Belgium on Oct 14th. From the Parochial School he gained an open scholarship at Retford Grammar School where he had a most successful career. From there he proceeded to Oxford and at once joined the University OTC. During the Long Vacation he joined the Nottingham OTC and from this body, he was gazetted to the RFA and went o the front in June 1916. He was just over 21 years of age when he was killed. Young as he was, he had gained the affection and respect of all and the whole village will sympathise with his relatives in their heavy bereavement. Another brother, Second Lieut. J F Warburton, Sherwood Foresters is serving in Egypt.