Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Fred Onion was born in Bishopswood in 1894. He was the son of James Onion and his wife Annie. James had worked as a roadman for the County Council and in 1911 he was manager of a sewage farm.
After Fred left school he also worked for the County Council (he was a steam roller flagman in 1911) but in 1912 he enlisted in the Army, joining the Grenadier Guards.
Fred went to Belgium with the 1st Battalion of his regiment on 6th October, 1914. He went missing a few days later on the 29th October while his division was engaged in action at Gheluvelt (part of the First Battle of Ypres). He was later 'presumed dead' and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Lance Corporal Fred Onion was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1914 Star with Clasp. Fred's brother James also died during the war.
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.