Walter George Fryer (abt. 1885 - 1905)

Born about 1885 in Fategarh, India

Ancestors

Died 26 Oct 1905 at about age 20 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Biography

Walter Fryer was born in India to parents of British citizenship.

Walter George Fryer was born at Fategarh in India in 1885, the son of Sergeant James Fryer of the Durham Light Infantry and his wife, Sarah Jane Hobson. Sometime between the birth of his sister, Adelaide Matilda in 1886, and his brother, Victor in 1890, the family moved to Leeds in England. His father's life was transformed from Sergeant to labourer. They lived at 50 Ascot St.[1]. ^[1] James had little in the way of family to keep him in Leeds and, before 1896, they had moved to Middlesbrough, where James found work as a wharf labourer.

James died in 1898 ^[2] and Sarah Jane moved her family to Lincoln where she had a few relatives. By 1901 Walter was a boy soldier at The Cavalry Barracks, South Manchester ^[3] and then on 29 July he formally joined the Durham Light Infantry for an engagement of 12 years. [2]

HIs medical record shows him to have been not quite 5ft 2ins at 16, but regarded as well developed. He had been vaccinated in infancy. [3]. He landed in India on 11 November 1902.

Walter died of enteric fever at Lucknow on 26 October 1905 having been in India for less than 3 years. He had nothing to leave except the gratuities paid to his mother, £5 6s 7d and £2 13s 3d for each of his surviving siblings, Ethel, Tilly, Victor and Trixie. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ 1891 Census of England & Wales
   50 Ascot St, Leeds, Yorkshire, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   James	Fryer	Head	Married	Male	38	Labourer, timber yard	Leeds, Yorks
   Sarah J	Fryer	Wife	Married	Female	24	-	India, British Subject
   Ethel M E	Fryer	Daughter	-	Female	7	Scholar	India, British Subject
   Walter G	Fryer	Son	-	Male	6	Scholar	India, British Subject
   Adelaide M	Fryer	Daughter	-	Female	4	Scholar	India, British Subject
   Victor C L	Fryer	Son	-	Male	4 mo	-	Leeds, Yorkshire

2. ↑ England and Wales death index (Registered Middlesbrough 1898 3rd qu James Fryer aged 44)
3. ↑ 1901 Census of England & Wales
   The Cavalry Barracks, South Manchester, Lancashire, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   Walter George	Fryer	-	single	Male	16	Boy	Fategarh, India

4. ↑ UK Army Register of Soldier' Effects