| The History of Coagh booklet lists Private Fred Sands as having served with 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the war.
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| Fred Sands was the son of William and Ellen / Eleanor Sands. William Sands married Eleanor Marks on 22nd April 1884 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Fred was born on 30th December 1899 in Tamlaght, Coagh, County Tyrone. He was one of ten children.
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| The 1901 census records Fred as age 1, living with the family at house 10 in Aghaveagh, Coagh. Robert’s father, William Sands, was a labourer.
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| The 1911 census lists Fred as age 10, living with the family at house 3 in Urbal, Coagh, Tyrone. His father was a farm labourer, as was his older brother.
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| Family: William Sands, Eleanor Sands, William John Sands (born 29th June 1884), Charlotte Sands (born 19th August 1886), Maggie J Sands (born about 1889), Robert Sands (born about 1893), Sarah E Sands (born 5th September 1894), David Sands (born 2nd January 1897), Fredrick Sands (born 30th December 1899), Harriett E Sands (born 7th December 1902), Samuel Sands (born 14th May 1905), Herbert Sands (born 20th September 1906).
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| A newspaper report from March 1918 states that Fred Sands had joined the Inniskillings. He was the third son of Mr Sands to enlist.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th March 1918: Coagh
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| Two more boys from Coagh, Mr Fred Sands and Mr Bobby Mitchell, have joined the Inniskillings. This is the fifth son of Mr John Mitchell which has joined the colours, and the third son of Mr Sands.
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