Trafford

Born on the 3rd October 1897 during the December quarter 1897 in the
Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/172, the eldest son of John & Lily Babbington
(nee Drinkwater).   Birth registered as FRED Babington.

1901 Census - 7 St Vincents Street, Altrincham.     Son - aged: 3 - born:
Altrincham.   Head of household - John Babington - Married - aged: 26 -
occ: Mechanic Machine Fitter - born: Altrincham.    Also - Lily Babington -
Wife - aged: 22 - born: Northwich, Cheshire.    Plus 2 younger siblings.

Attended St. John's C. of E. School.

1911 Census - 7 St Vincents Street, Altrincham.     Son - aged: 13 - occ:
School and Newsboy - born: Altrincham.   Head of household - John Babington
- Married - aged: 37 - occ: Mechanic Machine Fitter - born: Altrincham.   
Also - Lily Babington - Wife - aged: 33 - born: Northwich, Cheshire.   
Plus 6 younger siblings.

Member of St. Margaret's Church and Boy Scouts.    Employed at Richards
Co.

Enlisted in April 1915 and was drafted to the front in January 1916.

WO363 - Enlisted from 7 Vincent Street, Altrincham into the 5th (Reserve)
Battalion, Cheshire Regiment No. 3236 on the 29th December 1914.  His
medical on the 5th January 1915 stated that he was aged: 18 years 2 months
- Height: 5 feet 2 inches - weight   - Expanded chest: 32 inches with a 2½
inch expansion.   The record has "Not Approved" written across it and
"Discharged" stamped on it, probably because he was considered to be too
small at that time.  The Army was less fussy later on and formed Bantam
Battalions.   His re-enlistment papers have not survived.

Wounded in July 1916, but back at the front by December 1916.

Death reported in the 12/07/1918 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Listed as Fred on the Cenotaph and on St. John's Memorial.   

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in Hale Cemetery that states
that he was Kia at Ploegsteert.

His father, John died 08/02/1926 aged 52 years and his mother, Lily died
20/10/1969 aged 92 years.

Took part in the Battle of the Marne (Chemin des Dames Breakthrough) - At
01.00hrs on the 27th, 4,000 German artillery and mortar pieces, fired 2
million shells at the allied forces along a 30 km stretch of the front
line.

Commemorated on St. John's (Alt) & St. Margaret's (Alt) War Memorials and
the Altrincham & District Roll of Honour under the name FRED.    The CWGC
list him as FREDERICK.

MIC - Victory & BWM - no other details.