Laidler Frederick John L/Cpl Piper 4457026
Personnel Entry
Name Laidler Frederick John
Army number 4457026
Rank L/Cpl Piper
Decorations Service Awards.
Date of birth Born 14/2/1920 at 12, Grey's Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, Durham (possibly while mother was staying with her sisters).
Age 20 at the time of his death.
Unit Joined The Durham Light Infantry, T, no exact enlistment date as yet but probably Summer 1939. Posted to ? 9th Bn DLI. Posted ? 12th Bn DLI - probably 1/9/1939. Transferred to the Black Watch 1/2/1940, and posted to 1st Tyneside Scottish. Served with the British Expeditionary Force in Northern France from April 1940. KILLED in ACTION 20/5/40, Authority:- R. Records.
Company/Battery Battalion Headquarters.
Platoon or other sub-unit Headquarters Company - Battalion Pipes and Drums.
Task or role Piper.
Joined Brigade Probably 1/9/1939.
Promotions
Wounded
Prisoner of War
Died/Killed in action 20-May-40 at Ficheux. Details of initial interment being researched. Re-buried in Memorial Plot 8, headstone positioned at Row E, Grave 6, BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, Ficheux. Headstone inscription reads "TREAD SOFTLY, MY SON LIES NEAR".
Home address Son of Frederick (Cabinet Maker - working at one stage for Harrison and Harrison, Organ Makers, Durham) and Margaret (nee Hann - Dressmaker) Laidler, Gosforth. Parents married at St Barnabas Church, Sandyford, Newcastle 11/7/1915. Father conscripted in 1916 and served in the Royal Engineers. The couple lived in Newcastle and then Durham, before returning to Newcastle. Father - Frederick - was found dead at Prudhoe in June 1932, although the Inquest declared an open verdict. Family then moved to 94, Heaton Road. Freddie attended Framwellgate School while living in Durham and then moved at the age of 11 to Heaton Grammar School when his parents returned to live in Newcastle. He did well in his matriculation exams and then came top in the North East in the Civil Service Examination- probably working at Longbenton from the age of 16. Freddie was a very keen Boy Scout and became a King's Scout, particularly enjoying outdoor activities and camping.
Source table 1TS
Lance-Corporal Piper Laidler is commemorated on the following War Memorials within the archive of the North East War Memorials Project as follows:-
Byker - Roll of Service - St Silas' Church - click [here]
Heaton Grammar School - click [here]
Heaton St Gabriel's Church - click [[1]]
During the Research Visit to Northern France a visit was paid to the BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY on the Anniversary of the Battle for Ficheux and Mercatel (20th May) and the opportunity was taken to play the CD track "Piper to the End" by Mark Knopfler - nephew of L/Cpl Piper Laidler - by his headstone, following which the Lead Researcher (John L Dixon) and the decorated French Historian Msr Andre Coilliot intoned the Ode to the Fallen in English and French.
To see a video of Mark Knopfler in concert, playing "Piper To The End" please click [here]
The help of the relatives of L/Cpl Piper Laidler in providing information, and agreeing to the above ceremony, is gratefully acknowledged.
As a result of the later family history research carried out by the late Ruth Kennedy - who died in 1920 - assisted in the work by her daughter Juliet, this Memorial Page has been able to be enhanced significantly and the deepest appreciation is hereby extended to them, and to Mark Knopfler, for their willingness to share this very personal story.
