| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Fred Adkins was born at Long Riston 4 Dec 1879, the oldest son of Thomas Jackson Adkins originally from Hull, and Sarah Levitt from Long Riston who had married in 1879. Thomas was a farm labourer. They had six sons in total. The family relocated to Beverley in the 1890s and for a while Thomas remained a farm worker but by 1911 he was employed at Beverley shipyard as a night watchman. Three of Fred’s brothers also worked as labourers in Beverley: Ben born 1882, George born 1884 and Tom born 1887. The latter worked at the shipyard. Brother William born 1892 was a farm worker at Etton. The family home was in Bogle Lane, later Beaver Road. Fred is not recorded in the 1901 or 1911 census.
Fred enlisted 26 Aug 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war. He served in the Royal Field Artillery as a driver, his photo appeared in the Beverley Guardian in Sep 1916 describing him as a gunner. He arrived in France 2 Jun 1915. He was discharged from the army on 8 Aug 1919 as being unfit for further service and received a Silver Badge. He also received the 1914-15 Star and the War and Victory medals.
After the war Fred returned to farm labouring. In 1939 he is recorded living in a lodging house at 4 Ladygate in the town. He was unmarried. He died at Wolds House in Driffield on 18 Sep1964 at the age of 84 and was buried on the 26 Sep at Driffield Cemetery.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |