Skelsey, Frederick

According to the parish register, Frederick’s parents, John and Annie Skelsey were married in 1882 at St John the Baptist in Leamington Spa although the CWGC record for Thiepval gives his mother’s name as Rhoda. At the time of the construction of the memorial, both of his parents were dead.

Frederick was baptised at Cubbington on 25th September 1887.
In 1891, the family was living at 14 Hill Street, Warwick – both parents and their four children, John (7), Edward (5), Frederick (3) and Alice (9 months).  John Jnr was born in Leamington but the other three children were all born in Cubbington.

Frederick’s mother, Annie, died in 1897 and in the 1901 census, his father, John, is living at Church Terrace, Cubbington with his widowed mother  Ann (Frederick’s grandmother), and four children – Edward (15), Frederick (13), Annie (8), Ada (5). He is working as a bricklayer’s labourer.

At the time of the 1911 census, John Snr is living in Cubbington as a lodger on Queen Street whereas Frederick is listed in the army returns for soldiers serving in Ceylon and India.

Frederick had a partner, Emily May Townsend and, although the couple never married, they went on to have 2 children, Emmie May (1914-1918)) and Rhoda (1916-2004).  It seems that Emily had 4 other children before meeting Frederick.  After the war, Emily married William Peter Davis and they had four sons.  Emily died in Banbury in 1953.

John Snr, died in Warwick Infirmary on 5th February 1916.