218727 Pte. Frederick John Timbury British Army 12th Btn. C Coy. Kings Liverpool Regiment from:London Fred Timbury was my grandfather who never talked much about his experiences during the Great War. I understand that he went over to France in 1915 with the 12th Btn Kings Liverpool Regiment. He originally came from Battersea in London and had four sisters, Lizzie, Emma, Rose and Bett. After a family disagreement, he moved up to Wakefield in Yorkshire to work in the coal mines. In 1915 he joined the army and was sent to Bisley training camp. I have a photograph of him there. He was then sent to France. At a place called Lesboeufs in 1916, Fred had a lucky escape when his prayer book, which he was carrying in his breast pocket, was struck by a bullet. My mother told me that Fred had a wound in his arm, undoubtedly caused by the deflected bullet. I attach photos of the book, along with a picture of the first pages with a comment written by Fred as to where and when it happened. At some point later in the conflict, Fred was captured by the Germans and became a prisoner of war for the remainder of the War. I have several photographs of his sisters taken at Boyd's Photographic Studios in Battersea which were sent to him in the prison camp. The reverse side clearly shows the purple coloured camp stamp.
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