Frederick Ernest Styles was killed in action on this day in 1914

Frederick Ernest Styles was born on 27 January 1884 in Brighton. 

His father was Frederick Styles, a wealthy East India Cotton Merchant.

His mother was Helena Alice Wellington née Brophey. She was the widow of Captain Leonard Ball Anderson Poynter of the 7th Hussars, whom she had married in 1880. Her husband died in 1881 and, in 1883, she remarried to Frederick Styles.

Young Frederick had three younger siblings - William, Herbert and Kathleen. There was a second sister, Constance, but she died young.

In 1891, the family was living at 48 Pevensey Road in Hastings. with 6 live-in servants.

In 1895, Frederick's father died.

He was educated at Harrow and then Sandhurst.

On 13 May 1903, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Munster Fusiliers and, on 9 January 1906, promoted to Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion.

He retired from the Army in April 1914 but rejoined his regiment just before the outbreak of war in August. 

On 27 August 1914, he was killed in action at Étreux.

A letter, written in December 1914 by Captain Gower of the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, recounts events of the 27th August. The battalion was providing rear guard cover for the Brigade's retreat South. They were shelled and attacked by both infantry and cavalry and withdrew towards Étreux. They took up position in an orchard and a sunken lane near to the railway station at Étreux. Very soon, they were attacked from three sides simultaneously. By the evening, with ammunition almost gone and no relief on its way, they were encircled and forced to surrender. His letter records that the Battalion had 159 officers and men killed, 106 wounded, and 444 taken prisoner.

The adjutant of his regiment wrote to his mother:-

"You will already have heard that poor Fred was shot on Thursday 27th inst. At the time, he was gallantly leading his men under a heavy fire and, had he survived, would certainly have been mentioned in Despatches. I was not actually present when he was hit, but I have been told, by those who were on the spot, that his death was painless and instantaneous. When I saw him, a few minutes later, he was lying peacefully as though asleep. As this letter will be censored by the German authorities, I am unable to give you any details as to the action or the situation of the battlefield. All the officers who fell were buried in one grave and a service was conducted by a German clergyman".

Alongside the grave of the officers, the NCOs and men were buried in another single grave. Crosses were erected over each grave to mark the spot.

Frederick now lies in Etreux British Cemetery.

Lieutenant Frederick Ernest Styles  2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers