No.14859, Corporal, Frederick William WEBB
Aged 27
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This combination of data appears to be of the same man. The only definite is that he is on the memorial as Frederick Webb, Suffolk Regiment, a Frederick WEBB, born in Kent, was living at the Hall, Livermere in 1911. From CWGC data he is our man. The only doubt is his earlier civilian identity, unfortunately CWGC did not have the forenames of his parents. Frederick William Webb is believed to have been born in 1888 (Maidstone Q2-1888 2A:694), son of Henry Thomas and Mary Ann WEBB (née HADAWAY). 1891 census...Aged 3, he was at 12 Sunnyside, Edenbridge, Kent with his father Henry T WEBB [31]railway platelayer; his mother Mary A [28]; brother Harry Herbert [6]; sisters Ada S [4] and Lilian E [9 months] born Edenbridge. All except Lilian were born in Marden. 1901 census...Aged 13, he was at St Helens Lane, West Farleigh, Kent with his parents (father railway signalman); sisters Ada, Lilian, Elizabeth [4] and Isabel Fanny [1]; brothers George Albert [8] and James Henry [6]. The new siblings all born in Westerham. 1911 census...Aged 24, domestic gardener, he was at The Hall, Little Livermere living with 3 other servants. (East Farleigh, Kent). His parents were at St Helens Cottages, West Farleigh with his brothers George Albert (farm labour), James Henry (gardener), Arthur John [8] born West Farleigh; sisters Elizabeth, Isabella Fanny, Edith Florence [5] and Phyllis Anny [3] both born in West Farleigh. Also there was his uncle James Henry WEBB [57] farm labourer born Marden. Probably it was Mary Edna ROBINSON [30-4-1891] he married in September 1915 in Colchester (Colchester Q3-1915 4A:2169). The pension card has her at 42 Dilwyn Sreet, Ipswich. CWGC have his parents at East Farleigh and his widow (now Mary Edna CRAIG at Clyde House, Warwick Road, Ashford, Middx. She appears to have married William CRAIG in 1922. |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds in August 1914.
Possibly Frederick was killed in a mine explosion, as at 02:15 on 22nd January 1916 the Germans exploded a mine under the trenches in front of The Bluff, creating a crater 60 x 40 yards. About 100 men were either killed, buried alive or injured in the explosion. 34 were reported missing in the war diary CWGC records 45 of the 2nd Suffolks killed, 24 of these being commemorated on the Menin Gate. Frederick's body was found (shown below) and identified by his title, disc, watch, 2 medals and match box. He was interred in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, near Wjtshaete in March 1926.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
