CRACK, Frederick


No.9619, Rifleman, Frederick CRACK
Aged 30


1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Killed in Action on 9th November 1914


Frederick CRACK was born in Barrow (2nd qtr 1884 Thingoe 4a:650) son of George and Harriet CRACK (née FULLER)

1891 census...Aged 7, he was at 1 Hargrave Road, Barrow with his father George CRACK [43] railway labourer; his mother Harriet [32]; sisters Minnie F [10] and Louisa [1]; brother George [4]. All were born in Barrow.

1901 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at Barrow Green with his parents (father now a platelayer); sisters Minnie and L,ouisa; brother George (farm labourer)

1911 census...Aged 26, a farm labourer, he was still at Barrow Green with his parents and brother George.



He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 12th January 1903. This seems to have been a short service term and he was transferred to the Reserves and mobilised on the outbreak of war..
The battalion were by the River Lys at Le Touquet and Frelinghien. On 9th November 1914 it seemed quiet, the war diary only recorded:-
The daily improvements to trenches and repairs to wire and parapets rendered necessary by hostile shell fire were continued. No further aggressive movemnet was nade by the enemy".


The battalion did lose 4 men that day, none has an identified grave.



photo Rodney Gibson

Frederick Crack is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium panel 10

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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