Frederick William's Story.
Birkenhead News 21 July 1917
STORY OF A BRAVE MAN’S DEATH
Mr. and Mrs. Jump, of 1, Francis Avenue, Birkenhead, have been bereaved of their eldest son, Pte. Frederick W. Jump, who was killed in action in France on July 2nd. The young lad – he was only 20 years of age – enlisted in the K.L.R. in March, 1916, and went to France in February of this year. He was educated at the Birkenhead Institute, afterwards being employed in the Borough Treasurer’s Department, Town Hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Jump have received numerous letters of sympathy both from France and from friends of their son in England. The chaplain writes :- “It is with the deepest regret that I write to inform you of the death of your son …. He with others undertook a very dangerous enterprise on Friday last. He was one of those who made the supreme sacrifice. I always remember him as one of our communicants, and he one of whom the nation may be justly proud.” Another testimony to the fearlessness and devotion to duty of the late soldier comes from his sergeant, who in the course of a very comforting letter writes :- “No notification can express for us, his comrades, how hard we were hit by his death. Always willing and cheerful, he was as brave a boy as ever left a British trench. He was seen going up the enemy communication trench like the hero he was. Never flinching, he carried on until he had done his job. Men have told me several times that if ever a man earned a V.C. it was him. I was Fred’s instructor when he was a recruit, I can honestly say I never met a better example of an Englishman in all my life.”
The late Pte. Jump’s parents are assured by his friend that their son was buried in a church cemetery, and the burial service was read over him. It was a military funeral with the pipes playing. A very great deal of sympathy will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Jump and their family in their great sorrow.
The above article has been reproduced word for word from the newspaper and reports Frederick’s death as 2nd July, however, Frederick’s actual death is the 29th June as confirmed by military records.