THE grave of a Kirkpatrick Fleming man who died in France during World War I has this week been rededicated.
Private Frederick Little was killed on the Western Front, aged just 19. His final resting place was finally marked with a named headstone during a service yesterday organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and attended by serving soldiers.
He is buried at Raperie British Cemetery where the rededication service was conducted by the Reverend Tim Clarke-Wood CF, chaplain to 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Rosie Barron was the JCCC case lead and she said: “Pte Little paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country, but his grave was lost in the fog of war. It has been an honour to play a part in rectifying this and to work with The Royal Regiment of Scotland to organise their rededication services.”
Pte Frederick Little was born in Carlisle in 1899, but grew up in Dumfriesshire. Before enlisting into the Army on April 18 1917, he worked as a labourer for a fellmonger, producing hides and skins. He embarked for the Western Front on 31 March 1918, initially serving with 12th Battalion The Highland Light Infantry. He transferred to 9th Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) on 25 April 1918. On 1 August 1918, the battalion was located near Villemontoire, near Soissons. They attacked but came under heavy enemy machine gun fire, only managing to advance 100 yards from their initial jumping off positions. Pte Little was wounded and having had his wounds dressed, he was later killed by a shell.
He is also commemorated on the CWGC Soissons Memorial.
