Biography:
The Hon. Frederick Ivor Thesiger was born 17 October 1896, the eldest son of Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921 (B 1881-1887, fellow of Winchester College 1921-1933, Warden of Winchester College 1930-1932), and the Hon. Frances Charlotte Guest, daughter of 1st Baron Wimborne and sister of The Hon. F E Guest (F 1888-1891). His brother, the Hon. Andrew Thesiger, also attended Winchester (F 1916-1919). The family home was 116 Eaton Square, London.
Frederick camed to Winchester College from Mr MJ Dauglish's school at Cothill, near Abingdon, in September 1910. He was in G House, Sergeant's. He rowed and played soccer for his house.
He left Winchester in December 1914 for RMA Woolwich and from there obtained a commission in the Royal Field Artillery in April 1915. He served from June to December 1915 in France and was twice wounded and mentioned in Despatches. In late April 1917 he participated in the Battle of the Boot, as it was known, at Band-i-Adhaim. This was the final action of the British Samarrah Offensive of 1917 which followed the capture of Baghdad on 11 March. The Turkish commander had occupied positions in the foothills either side of the Tigris where a boot shaped piece of ground there gave its name to the action. Early on 30 April the British attacked with three brigades and quickly succeeded in taking three hundred prisoners and two lines of trenches. A sandstorn brought the attack to a halt and a Turkish counter attack pushed the British back with the loss of 350 men.
Thesiger fell, mortally wounded, that day while acting as forward observing officer. He died on 1 May 1917 and is buried in grave XV.L.12 of the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery. His brother Andrew succeeded him as heir to the barony of Chelmsford.