JOBSON, Frederick


No.24833, Private, Frederick JOBSON
Aged 31


1st Garrison Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
formerly 16492, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Illness on Tuesday, 17th July 1917


Frederick JOBSON was born in Burton End, Haverhill on 24th February 1886 (Risbridge Q1-1886 4A:649), baptised in St Mary's Haverill on 19th February 1887, son of Frederick and Harriett JOBSON (née SHIP).


1891 census...Aged 4, he was at 84 Burton End, Haverhill with his father Frederick JOBSON [32] labourer; his mother Harriett [32]; brothers Albert [8], Walter [3] and Arthur [5 months]. All were born in Haverhill.

1901 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at 23 Burton End with his parents; brothers Albert and Walter (both farm labourers like their father), Arthur, Stanley [7] and William [1].

1911 census...Aged 25, he was at 116 Burton End with his parents; brothers Arthur, Stanley and William. All six children survived, but the war was to tragically change that, claiming 3 of them.

He married Rose OSBORNE (sister of his brother Arthur's wife Ellen) (Risbridge Q3-1911) and lived at 35 Burton End and later Rose was at 84 Burton End. The pension card has his mother at 156 Burton End. This is unusual, in that the mother is recorded but not the widow, but then a further card was discovered which has his widow Rose (b.2-3-1891), living at 35 Burton End with their son Freddy William (b.2-2-1913)

His brother Arthur was killed in action in France in 1916, see here and brother Stanley died of his wounds in Belgium in 1917, see here





He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. The South West Suffolk Echo reported on 4th August 1917:-
" Mrs. Jobson of 84 Burton End, Haverhill, has been officially notified of the death of her husband, Pte. F.Jobson, of the Bedfordshire Regt. He died from the effects of heat on July 17th in Mesopotamia.Deceased, who was 31 years of age, leaves a widow and one child.He joined up on November 23rd 1914, and in Easter 1915, he went to France.In less than a month he was back in England, having been wounded in the hip and ankle. On February 27th 1916 he sailed for India, being subsequently drafted to Mesopotamia, with the result stated."


and on 22nd December 1917:-
"In August last we announced that Pte. F.Jobson of the Bedfordshire Regiment, had died from the effect of heat in Mesopotamia on July 17th. His widow, who resides at 35 Burton End, wrote for particulars, and has just received the following letter from the Lieut-Col. Commanding the 3rd British General Hospital, Basrah, Mesopotamia:-
"With regard to your enquiry dated September 24th, 1917, your husband was admitted to this hospital on the 10th. July suffering from sandfly fever; after being here a few days he made great progress towards recovery, but on the 16th, owing to weakness and the Summer heat, he had a relapse, and despite all the treatment he remained in this condition throughout the day and at 5 am the following morning he passed peacefully away from the effects of the heat. The funeral took place at the Makina Masus Cemetery."


Makina Masus old and new cemeteries became part of the Basra War Cemetery. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Garrison Battalions were used to employ the "walking wounded", those not fit enough for fighting but could usefully be employed as prison camp guards and such duties. Sending them to the warmer parts of the world was of course not the greatest benefit to their health, but it did release fitter men for actual fighting work.



renovations now being attempted - 2017
A two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced.
These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view.



Frederick Jobson is buried in Basra War Cemetery, grave 4:F:1

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


BACK to Haverhill home page