Volkers, FCS

2nd Lieutenant Frederick Cyril Stowell Volkers

Frederick was born on the 16^th of June 1896, in Haryana, India, the son of Robert Volkers, who served in the Public Works Department, and his wife Ellen. During his time at the College he and his brother Gilbert, who would also go on to serve in the war, were both boarders in The Orchard. Whilst at Dulwich Frederick was a prominent rugby player, serving as a member of the 1^st XV for the 1913-14 season – one of six members of that team who would go on to lose their life in the conflict. Ten days after leaving school he enlisted in the London Rifle Brigade, and went overseas with them to France in November 1914. He was invalided home in April 1915 but returned to the front that August. In November 1915 he entered the Cadet school at St Omer, in Northern France, and the following month was gazetted temporary 2^nd Lieutenant in the 1^st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade. Frederick was killed in action on the first day of the Somme, July 1^st 1916, one of seven OAs to die that day, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.