Frederick Charles Warwick Sweetser was born on the 29th June 1900 and baptised with his sister Jesse Dinah Annie on the 21st December 1904 at St. Mary’s Balham, Parish Registers – London, they were the children of William Charles & Annie Alice SWEETSER, of 1 Culmore Road, Painter. Jesse was 3 years older than Frederick.
They are first seen on the 1901 census where his parents, William & Annie Alice,were living with Williams parents, George W. & Dinah Sweetser at 9, Letchworth Street, Tooting Graveney, Wandsworth, London. George W. Sweetser , 57, was head of the household and was a House Painter he had been born at Stratfield Saye, Hants. His wife Dinah, 54, had been born at Thorpe Thewles, Durham. William Charles, 25, and a House Painter had been born in Sherfield on Loddon, Hants. Annie Alice, 22 had been born in Lambeth, London. Frederick had been born in Streatham, London.
The 1911 census sees the family now in their own home at 21 Byrne Road Balham SW, Wandsworth Borough, London. Head of the household was William Charles, 35 and a Painter Journeyman born in Hampshire. Annie Alice, 30 had been born in Balham, S.W. They tell us that they had been married for 11 years and 3 children had been born to them and were still living. They were Frederick, 10 and George, 6, both born in Balham, S.W. and Jesse, their daughter, age 9, born in Tooting, S.W.
Frederick must have been quite a character as the next time we see Frederick is when he enlists in the East Surrey Regiment on the 22nd September 1915, telling them that he had been born on the 29th June 1897, taking 3 years off his age! He was assigned the Regimental number of L3/11344. He joined at Wandsworth.
His address then was 130, Himley Road, Tooting, S.W. and he had been born in Balham, he states that he was a Plumber’s Mate. He signs his name as Frederick Charles Warick Sweetser. By the 7th February 1916 he was being discharged as “Having made a misstatement as to age on enlistment.” This was after being transferred on the 1st January 1916 and on the 21st January 1916 he was transferred again for discharge.
His next-of-kin was Annie Alice Sweetsey (Mother) of 130, Himley Road, Tooting, S.W. He had served 139 days.
On the Description of Frederick, he said his age was 18 years 2 months, his height was 5 and 4 and ¼ inches , chest measurement was 33 inches, range of expansion- 2 and ½ inches, complexion – Fair, Eyes – Grey and Dark Brown Hair. He was C. of E. He had no descriptive marks.
He had 2 offences on his Conduct Sheet, both being “Dirty on Parade.” The first was on the 23rd October 1915 and the other on the 20th November 1915 at Dover. He had obviously been thrown in the deep end, bless him, it must have been such a shock, all the discipline. He suffered 3 days and 4 days C.B (Confined to Barracks) respectively. By his discharge he was 15 years and 8 months old.
His intended place of residence was “Brightside House, Woodlands, Heather Green Lane, Lewisham. His military Character was described as “Good.”
Not to be deterred, Frederick is seen on the Royal Air Force Muster Roll , where his Regimental Number was 155526 and he is seen as a “Boy” entrant, joining on the 13th October 1917 for the Duration of the War, his pay was 1 shilling.
Then we see him on the British Royal Air Force, Airmen’s Service Records 1912-1939.
155526 SWEETSER, Frederick Charles Warwick Rank T/CPL R.A.F. Trade :- Carpenter. Occupation in Civilian Life :- Handyman, Building Trade. Date of birth 29th June 1900, (his attestation date was the 29th June 1918) Last Enlisted :- 29th October 1938. Current Engagement – 4 years.
Charles was recalled on the 6th August 1939 according to his Airman’s Service Record, his wife Louise was living at Hillview, Sealand Road, Queensferry.
He had last enlisted on the 29th October 1938, where it asks if he was married, it had “S”, then this was crossed out and “M” written. So I am wondering if he had only recently married, his wife was stated as being Mrs. L. Sweetser, one address that was rubbed out, but you can just see it was 42, Welsh Road, Queensferry, Nr. Chester, the other one added later was “Hillview,” Sealand Road, Queensferry.
In the intervening years he had been living in Lewisham, as on the Electoral Registers , he is shown living in 1927 at 10, Woodlands Street with his father William Charles Sweetser and then in 1933, living at 12, Venner Street, then in 1934 at 38, The Parade. In each case, I think as Boarders or Lodgers.
He must have been stationed at Sealand Camp at some time as he met and married Louise G. Taylor in the September quarter of 1940 (Flintshire (Mold) HAW/15/36) in a Civil Ceremony at Hawarden.
His death was registered in Aldershot, Hants but the 511 FR.U. (Forward Repair Unit) where Frederick was transferred on the 23rd February 1944 was in Henlow, Bedfordshire according to the National Archives. (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7161591) – What was he doing in Aldershot? Any help would be much appreciated.
This is where I get stuck, I cannot find Louise, except on a perchance sighting on the 1939 National Register, where it MIGHT be her:-
Is this “Our” Louise? If it is, it was before they married, – 1939 National Register (Taken on the 29th September 1939):-
Sweetser household (1 person)
106 Brook Street, Chester C.B., Cheshire, England
Louise (S G) Sweetser 30 Dec 1896 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 460 1
Ref: RG101/3930H/018/25 Letter Code: LBBG
© Findmypast Ltd
OR
1939 National Register (Taken on the 29th September 1939)
Taylor household 1 person)
14 Cambridge Road, Wallasey C.B., Cheshire, England
Louisa T Taylor 07 Nov 1894 Female Telephone Op Single 151 1
Ref: RG101/3957C/012/34 Letter Code: LDAK
© Findmypast Ltd
Any help to make sure that Frederick’s story is told and he is not forgotten, would be appreciated, he must be remembered. Why was he buried in Hawarden, other than if he died in Sealand Camp, but his death was registered in Aldershot and his family must have said for him to be buried in Hawarden, so is Louise the link to the area, unless the Death certificate was for another Frederick Charles Warwick Sweetser. Highly improbable.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Graves Registration Report Form tells us that his grave was to be maintained by relatives, so they must have lived close by to make that commitment.
Any help would be gratefully received.
