Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, who died during the two World Wars.

SECOND LIEUT. W. B. FRYER
-------------------------
Only 2/lt W Fryer on CWGC is William Basil [below]. There are four other 2/Lt Fryers incl 2 with second initial w: Charles William and James Whalley.


FRYER, 2nd Lt. William Basil. 3rd/5th Bn.
S. Staffordshire Regt., attd. Royal Flying
Corps (E.E.F.). Killed whilst flying 26th Dec.,
1916. Age 22. Son of Frank and Annie Fryer,
of 107, High St., Bloxwich, Walsall. B. 7. [not there in 1911]

Born: Q2 1894 Walsall

FRYER, WILLIAM BASIL
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 26/12/1916
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps (E.E.F.). and 3rd/5th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Grave Reference B. 7.
Cemetery ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Frank and Annie Fryer, of 107, High St., Bloxwich, Walsall.

Historical Information
In March 1915, the base of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was transferred to Alexandria from Mudros and the city became a camp and hospital centre for Commonwealth and French troops. Among the medical units established there were the 17th, 19th, 21st, 78th and 87th General Hospitals and No 5 Indian Hospital. After the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, Alexandria remained an important hospital centre during later operations in Egypt and Palestine and the port was much used by hospital ships and troop transports bringing reinforcements and carrying the sick and wounded out of the theatres of war.
This cemetery was begun in April 1916 when it was realised that the cemetery at Chatby would not be large enough. Most of the burials were made from the Alexandria hospitals, but a number of graves of December 1917 were due to the loss of the troop transports "Aragon" and "Osmanieh" which were sunk by torpedo and mine as they entered the port. The cemetery continued in use until December 1919 but later, some graves were brought in from small burial grounds in the western desert, Maadia and Rosetta. 
During the Second World War, Alexandria was again an important hospital centre, taking casualties from campaigns in the Western Desert, Greece, Crete, the Aegean Islands and the Mediterranean. Rest camps and hostels were also established there together with a powerful anti-aircraft base. Alexandria was also the communications centre for the middle and near east and became the headquarters of the Military Police. The cemetery at Hadra was extended for Second World War burials and was used from 1941.
There are now 1,700 First World War burials in the cemetery and 1,305 from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains war graves of other nationalities and some non war burials.

[From http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=82038]
2Lt W B Fryer of No 22 Reserve Squadron was killed when flying in Curtiss JN-3 7331. Lt N R S Humphrey was also on board the aeroplane, but was uninjured.

7311 was one of the Canadian-built JN3s that were transferred from the RNAS to the RFC. The RNAS didn't rate them as highly as American-built JN3s, considering them to be of inferior construction - possibly the reason for their tranfer. Four of those received by the RFC went to Egypt as training machines. 7311's known history is given below - I have the passenger injured.
7311	Allotted to Middle East 29.10.1915. 14 Sqn Ismailia. 1 Sqn AFC Heliopolis dd ex 14 Sqn 4.6.1916. X AP Kantara ex 1 Sqn AFC 13.6.1916. 22 TS Aboukir and crashed 26.12.1916 (2Lt WB Fryer KIFA/Lt NRS Humphrey IIFA). 

The only son of Frank and Annie Fryer of 107, High Street, Bloxwich, William was educated at the Bloxwich National School and obtained a scholarship to Queen Mary’s School where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. Upon completing his education he was articled to Mr G.F. Cornhill, a chemist in Stafford Street and later employed by a firm of chemists in Wolverhampton.
At the outbreak of war he was employed by Deighton and Smith, Chemist of Bridgnorth, and enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment. At the time of his death he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.
William was ‘accidentally killed’ when the aircraft he was flying had an engine failure and fell to earth. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Cemetery in Grave B.7. William is also commemorated on Bloxwich and Queen Mary’s School rolls of honour.

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about William Basil Fryer
Name:	William Basil Fryer
Death Date:	26 Dec 1916
Rank:	2/Lieutenant
Regiment:	South Staffordshire Regiment
Battalion:	5th Battalion (Territorial)
Type of Casualty:	Killed
Comments:	And R F C

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about William Basil Fryer
Name:	William Basil Fryer
Death Date:	26 Dec 1916
Rank:	2/Lieutenant
Regiment:	Royal Flying Corps
Type of Casualty:	Killed
Comments:	[Territorial] (5/S Staffs Reg

[Medal Card] FRYER Wm Basil: S Staffs R attd RFC 2/Lieut V&B. Killed 26/12/16 Theatre first entred: Egypt [no date] Fiancee - Miss E G Walker, Kingsley Farm, Tasley, Bridgnorth.


This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg. For news of updates follow @BridgnorthHeros on Twitter.