Frederick William Tuffrey

Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment Aug 1915 - Apr 1916; American Expeditionary Force Nov 1917 - Mar 1919.

Frederick William Tuffrey was a pupil at Alleyn’s from 1909 until 1915, living first at 198B Peckham Rye Road, then at 217 Croxted Road and finally at 45 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill. He was born in New York on 25 Nov 1899 to his parents Frederick Tuffrey and Ella nee Ella McKennan Trinder. His early education was in America, and there exists a record of an entry to Britain at Liverpool in 1908. It is likely that Alleyn’s was his parents’ choice of school as Frederick’s father, another Frederick William also attended Alleyn’s from 1883-1888.

Upon leaving Alleyn’s in March 1915 Frederick’s school record indicates that he became an apprentice in the American Mercantile Navy. However, family stories believe that Frederick signed up to the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment in August 1915, claiming to be 19 years 9 months old.

His claims about his age were presumably found out as he was discharged in April the following year. American records show that he signed up again, serving in the American Expeditionary Force from Nov 1917 to Mar 1919.

He then married and eventually moved to Canada. During WW2 he served as provincial commissioner of the Red Cross in British Columbia and records also showing various fundraising efforts eg Wings for Britain. He died in 19 Jan 1979 in Vancouver having run an insurance brokerage business there for many years.

With thanks to Frederick's cousin, Michael Tuffrey, for some of this information