21544 Sergeant Fred Needham in Naours

23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment

The initial starting point for this identification was the database transcription only:

A search of the 23rd Manchesters database for a soldier’s name containing the letters “eed” revealed 5 possibilities, but only one of the 5 was a Sergeant and that was 21544 Sergeant Fred Needham.  

A photograph of the inscription was obtained after the first assessment and this confirms the original assessment, that the signature was indeed Sergeant Fred Needham 23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

The inscription on the walls at Naours was printed rather than signed but the formation of the “N” has similarities to Fred Needham’s actual signature (his army service record has survived, see later).

23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment in Naours

Inspection of the War Diary of the 23rd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment confirms that the battalion were present in Naours from 8 February 1917 to 17 February 1917.

During this period in Naours, on 13 February Private James Alfred Johnson (39943) 23rd Manchesters from Salford (Manchester) was accidentally killed during bombing practice. He was later buried at St. Pierre Cemetery in Amiens. 

Three days later on 16 February there was another accident during bombing practice. Second Lieutenant Barker was wounded and Private Henry Dixon Lytham (46484) 23rd Manchesters, from Southport was killed. He is buried at Naours Churchyard alongside Sergeant Wilfred Horace Pennal (80550), Essex Yeomanry and Private S. Franks (722) 4th Division Train., Australian Army Service Corps. 

Manchester City Battalions, Book of Honour

Fred Needham will be one of the 3 Sergeants in the photo.

Military Records

The military records for Fred have survived. He attested to the 23rd Manchesters on 26th November 1914. He was a “clockmaker” who lived at 7 Kay Street, West Gorton. He was 22 years and 5 months old and un-married.

He was rapidly promoted to Corporal on 26th November 1914 and to Acting Sergeant on 1st May 1915.

Relative Locations

7 Kay Street, West Gorton is marked on the map below. The street still exists, but the houses have since been demolished. The relative locations of some of the other soldiers have also been indicated. 

1911 Census Check 

The 1911 census confirms that Fred lived at 7 Kay Street, West Gorton as per the address in his army records. In 1911 he was 18 years old, single, a clock repairer, living with his father James (56), his mother Elizabeth Anne (51) and siblings Charles (24), James (23), Harry (21) and Lizzy (15).

1901 Census Check

In the 1901 census the Needham family were living at 23 Chapel Street, Levenshulme marked on the map above.

1891 Census Check

In the 1891 census (2 years before Fred was born) the Needham family were living in Ardwick marked on the map above.

Birth / Baptism Record – Fred Needham

Fred was baptized on 6 July 1892 at St. Selia’s Ardwick Manchester, the son of James and Elizabeth Ann Needham.

Marriage Record – Fred Needham

Fred (28) was married after the war to Agnes May Kirkham (24) on 2 August 1920 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hyde Road, West Gorton, Manchester.

1939 Register

In 1939 Fred who was still a clock repairer, was living at 21 Dernford Avenue, Burnage, Manchester (marked on map above) with his wife Agnes May, an unpaid domestic and their son Donald (born 4 October 1924), an office boy. 

Family member trees on ancestory.co.uk

There are family member trees of Fred and the Needham family on ancestory.co.uk

Timeline for Fred from ancestory.co.uk