Frederick Anstee (b 1877)

by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.

See ‘Anstey: A Complete History From the Norman Invasion to World War One‘ for much more on the Marylebone Anstees. In addition to biographies of various Anstey individuals who make up this sub-branch, the book contains a plethora of Anstey research and statistics, including an analysis of how the Marylebone Anstees fit into the pedigree descendent from Hubert de Anesti, the 12th century originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.

MB 10: Frederick Anstee (later known as ‘Anstey’): He was born in q1 1877 in Marylebone to parents John Edward Anstee (MB 4) and Margaret Costello. Once he was old enough, he was sent to the “training ship Exmouth, Grays, Essex” for two years, a form of floating ‘Children’s Home‘ for poor and/or orphaned boys, providing him with marine training as well as accommodation.

[Note: the Exmouth Training ship only took boys from the age of 12 until they were 16 or entered the Navy, so presumably he entered in c1890 and left in c1892.]

As a result of this experience he became a sailor, and this profession eventually brought him to Australia, probably by c1910. On 15 February 1916, as World War One was raging, Frederick (as ‘Anstey’) signed up to join the Australian Imperial Force at Goulburn in New South Wales, Australia. On his Attestation Form he noted that he was born in Marylebone, London and that he was “35 years and 2 months” old at time of enlistment. He also noted that his profession was “sailor man“; he was unmarried; his next of kin was “Margaret Anstey, 134 Bethnal Green Road, London“; and he was Roman Catholic.

He also stated that his previous military training consisted of “2 years training ship Exmouth, Grays, Essex” and from this we can assume that he was a sailor with commercial ships rather than for example the Royal Navy.

He was attached to “C Company AIF Camp Goulburn” (SERN Depot Regimental Number: 1360) as a Private, but a month later on 20 March 1916 he was discharged from Goulburn Camp “unlikely to become an efficient soldier, not due to misconduct“. In that short time he had managed to commit the offence of “arriving back at camp 11.25pm with no papers“

We lose track of him completely after this – anybody who knows what became of him, or would like to add anything to this biography, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.