This photograph was taken on 29 April 1917 and shows Fred Stow playing football somewhere in France. Fred was enlisted into the Army Service Corps as a Driver (of horses) within the 35th Division. Fred had previously served an apprenticeship as a Farrier. After initial training without equipment or uniform, at billets close to home, the 35th Division were established at their HQ at Masham, Yorkshire by June 1915. After some further movement within England (Aug 1915, Salisbury Plain; 14 Sep 1915 - Chiseldon; 11 Oct 1915 - Cholderton) in late 1915, the division received orders to prepare to move to Egypt, but there was a greater need for men in France, and these orders were soon changed. By February 1916 the Division had all moved to France. They fought on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, notably at:

• The Battle of Albert (Somme 1916)
• The German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
• The Second Battle of Passchendaele (Ypres)
• The First Battle of Bapaume (Somme 1918)
• The Battle of Ypres 1918
• The Battle of Courtrai
• The Battle of Tieghem (Nov 1918)

The 35th Division ceased to exist by the end of April 1919, having suffered casualties (killed, wounded and missing) of 23,915 during the war.

This photograph shows Fred recovering from wounds whilst he was staying at Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding (Lincolnshire). The Hall was used as a convalescent hospital. Fred had been shot in the chest and leg.

Fred brought home some photographs of Arras and Albert (Somme) after the bombardment. To see the pictures please click the following link:

• Fred's photographs

Fred's wife, Al's Grandmother, was Violet Stow (nee Barker). When War broke out, Violet and her friends all went to work in Marshalls, Gainsborough. This picture was taken in 1914. Over 5,000 people worked in the production of munitions in Marshalls "Britannia Iron Works" during the War years.