TALBOT, Frederick J.




No. 5836856, Private, Frederick James TALBOT
Aged 27


2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment
formerly Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Tuesday 16th May, 1944
Aged 27

Born on 19th March, 1917, the only the son of Frederick and Ethel TALBOT (nee BOWMAN) of Exning. He had three sisters, Mabel, Elsie and Isabel and they lived at 11 Vine Terrace, Exning. (just to the left of the school). Frederick was a bricklayer, just over 5'-9" tall and of slim build, he enjoyed keeping fit. He enjoyed reading, including all the works of Charles Dickens and instructional books also, such as Ballroom Dancing. Fred was a very good Ballroom Dancer and regularly attracted young ladies who wanted to dance with him.

He volunteered for service despite being in a protected trade at the time.




He enlisted first in Suffolk Regt (left) and then was transferred to the Bedfords and Herts.

He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment in December 1941 and was later transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment. Following his training etc., he spent his last leave at home between October 24th and November 5th 1943. He was then sent to North Africa, prior to going on to Southern Italy, where he was killed at the age of 27, by a German mortar bomb, alongside some of his comrades, as they advanced together in the front lines up towards the German stronghold in the ruins of the Benedictine Monastry at the top of Monte Cassino. There were four main attempts to take Monte Cassino. This last action (May 11-18th) was when the British were closing the ring round Cassino, just two days before the Polish troops succeeded in taking Monte Cassino. British losses in the whole Cassino campaign were put at 55,000.






© Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Frederick is buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy...Ref: XII.G.23


click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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