Frederick's Story.
1443 Sapper Frederick Ankers of the Royal Engineers, (10th Railway Company) died aged 23 of enteric fever (typhoid) on 25 May 1900, and is buried at the President Brand Cemetery, President Avenue, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He had clasps for service in Cape Colony and Orange Free State. He is commemorated on the Royal Engineers South African Memorial Arch in Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, Kent, and his name is on a plaque in Crewe.
Remembered in the Municipal Building, Crewe
Fred is commemorated on a plaque on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe, along with six local men from the Royal Engineers who did not return to Crewe from the Boer War, Sappers Coops, Darlington, Evans, Foy, Madeley, Roberts, Robinson and Talbot, and Lieutenant Charles Trotter from Polesworth in Warwickshire.
What do we know about Fred?
Frederick Ankers was born at Tattenhall, Cheshire, on 22nd Sept 1876, the son of John Ankers and Hannah nee Cookson. He grew up in Clotton Hoofield with his parents and siblings Sarah, David, Martha, Mary, John, Walter and Herbert. By the age of fifteen was lodging with his uncle in Huxley (1891 census). His address in 1897 was 30 Ridgeway Street, Crewe. He was a platelayer for the London and North Western Railway Company. He joined the Reserves on 15th December 1897, and set sail for South Africa on 21st October 1899.
From his army records, we know that Fred had brown eyes and hair, with a fresh complexion. He was 5 foot 6 inches tall, with two small scars on his right cheek.
He had married Rose Ada Gertrude Buckley (1877 - 1938) on 23rd May 1899, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Uttoxeter. The two sons, Clifford Walter Buckley (1898 - 1986) and Frederick Thomas Ankers (1900 - 1970) were baptised in Sept 1900, four months after Frederick’s death which had occurred two days after his first wedding anniversary.
Sapper Fred Ankers (Regimental Number 1443) died of typhoid on 25th May 1900, aged 23. He was buried in President Brand Cemetery, President Avenue, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Medals list
His widow Rose later married Walter Spencer Foster, an iron moulder, and she had two more sons. Rose Foster died in August 1938, in Frodswell, Staffordshire.
Remembered in the Municipal Building, Crewe
Fred is commemorated on a plaque on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe, along with six local men from the Royal Engineers who did not return to Crewe from the Boer War, Sappers Coops, Darlington, Evans, Foy, Madeley, Roberts, Robinson and Talbot, and Lieutenant Charles Trotter from Polesworth in Warwickshire.
What do we know about Fred?
Frederick Ankers was born at Tattenhall, Cheshire, on 22nd Sept 1876, the son of John Ankers and Hannah nee Cookson. He grew up in Clotton Hoofield with his parents and siblings Sarah, David, Martha, Mary, John, Walter and Herbert. By the age of fifteen was lodging with his uncle in Huxley (1891 census). His address in 1897 was 30 Ridgeway Street, Crewe. He was a platelayer for the London and North Western Railway Company. He joined the Reserves on 15th December 1897, and set sail for South Africa on 21st October 1899.
From his army records, we know that Fred had brown eyes and hair, with a fresh complexion. He was 5 foot 6 inches tall, with two small scars on his right cheek.
He had married Rose Ada Gertrude Buckley (1877 - 1938) on 23rd May 1899, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Uttoxeter. The two sons, Clifford Walter Buckley (1898 - 1986) and Frederick Thomas Ankers (1900 - 1970) were baptised in Sept 1900, four months after Frederick’s death which had occurred two days after his first wedding anniversary.
Sapper Fred Ankers (Regimental Number 1443) died of typhoid on 25th May 1900, aged 23. He was buried in President Brand Cemetery, President Avenue, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Medals list
His widow Rose later married Walter Spencer Foster, an iron moulder, and she had two more sons. Rose Foster died in August 1938, in Frodswell, Staffordshire.
Researched by S.Lewington 2025