Fred Lloyd...

Fred can remember as a small boy listening to an old man of 70 boasting about killing people in the Boer War.

Fred served as a private in the Royal Veterinary Corps on the Western Front during the First World War (1914-18) for over two years. The start of his active service was delayed when he caught meningitis in the army barracks in England before leaving for France and he went into a coma. He and only one other made a full recovery.

He was only 18 when he joined the Veterinary Wing of the military. His memories are of lice in the trenches, severe cold and hunger, and moments of being able to write letters home for his illierate colleagues in the trenches, and the moment they were told the war was over.

He went to Le Havre and looked after the army horses. He helped to train new horses coming off the boats from Southampton and then led them up to the Western Front. He would bring back injured horses back to base. He had joined the army to find his brothers William and Tom but never met them in France. Both died at the Western Front during that war.

After the war, Fred returned to Uckfield where he still lives. He went back to his work as a gardener, eventually becoming head gardener. He married Alice who had lost her only brother during the War. They had one son. He never talked about his War experiences until well into his 100th year. He still lives in Uckfield and on February 23rd will be celebrating his 107th birthday with his family and friends including his six great-grandchildren.