Early Life :

Family :

Education & Career :

Educated at Highgate School from 1986.

Entered Pembroke as a Classical Scholar in 1901. In 1904 was placed in the 1st Division of the 1st Class of the Classical Tripos. In the following year he took a First Class in Part II of the Historical Tripos. A Chancellor's Medallist in Classics. As an undergraduate was prominent as an oarsman. In 1914 was Sixth Form master at Marlborough College. (Bibliographical notes by Miss Jayne Ringrose, Honorary Archivist, Pembroke College)

M.A. in 1909 when he joined Freemasonry and by 1911 was recorded as an Assistant Master at Marlborough College.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

Captain Atkey and the 9th battalion were not involved during the infamous first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1st 1916. On July 2nd they moved up to Albert and on the 3rd passed through Albert and into the front line before La Boiselle, the vital village fortress astride the Bapaume Road which had been a centre of resolute German defence since 1st July. The weather which until 4th July had been fine, changed to heavy rain culminating in a thunderstorm in the afternoon of the 4th July. Conditions in the trenches became bad as they filled with water and mud clogged rifles. The weather prevented any reconnaissance by the Royal Flying Corps. As part of III Corps the 23rd Division was ordered to assist the left flank of XV Corps whilst immproving its positions in front of Contalmaison. At 0400hrs the 69th Brigade of 23rd Division attacked with bombing parties of 9/Yorkshires and other battalions. Fighting in Horseshoe Trench continued until 1000hrs when most of the ground that had been gained was lost to a strong German coiunter attack. In the afternoon the counter attack developed further and it took the resources of the whole Brigade to stem it. (It was at this time that Donald Bell of the 9/Yorkshires won his VC, the only won by a professional footballer). Soon after 1800hrs the 9/Yorkshires together with 10/Duke of Wellingtons and 8/Yorkshires were sent on a frontal attack over open ground which succeeded in retaking Horseshoe Trench and also taking the Lincoln Redoubt and about 270 German prisoners. Captain Atkey commanded A company of the 9th battalion and was shot by a sniper as he was observing the progress of the attack. Captain Freeman Archibald Atkey was killed in this action on July 5th 1916 aged 33. His grave can be found in Becourt Military Cemetery two miles east of Albert. Sources; http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/pdf-files/officers-died-ww1(coulson).pdf Official History, Military Operations France & Belgium 1916 Vol II The Battle of the Somme; A Topographical History- Gliddon

Commemorated at Wimbledon Parish Church, Merton, on the Pembroke College (Cambridge University) memorial and at the War Memorial for Marlborough in Wiltshire.

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley