Frederick William Gardiner

Fred Gardiner was born on 5 March 1891 in Oakridge and baptised in Oakridge Church. He was the son of Eli Gardiner and Charlotte Gardiner. Eli Gardiner was a hedger and thatcher and lived at Woodside, Oakridge Lynch. Fred was the youngest of 7 children. He continued to live with his parents working as a mill hand in 1911. Fred was engaged to Mildred Young of Chalford when he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and served as a private. Mildred later lived at Saratoga, High Street, Chalford and never married.

Fred was captured near Merville on 13 April 1918 during the battle of Nieppe Wood whilst serving with the 4th Battalion and was sent to Gardelegen Prisoner of War camp.

We do not know when he was repatriated and when he died although  his name appears on the POW list of 11 September 1918 and on the memorial in Oakridge Church.