No.1959, Corporal, Frederick COBBOLD
Aged 35
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The photo here is recorded as of Freddy Cobbold, but I have an uneasy feeling I have have seen it elsewhere as another man Freddy Cobbold was born in Bradfield St George (1st qtr 1881 Thingoe 4a:587) son of William and Sarah Elizabeth COBBOLD (née GILL). Baptised on 17th January 1881 in Bradfield St George 1881 census...Aged 3 months he was at Free Wood Street, Bradfield St George with his father William COBBOLD [34] farm ;labourer; his mother Sarah [37] born Rougham; brothers Charlie [9] born Hessett, William [5] and Alfred [3] both born Bradfield St George; sister Elizabeth [7] born Bradfield St George and half sister Emma GILL [14] born Rougham before Sarah married William. 1891 census...Aged 10, he was still at Free Wood Street with his parents; brothers William, Alfred and Arthur [2]; sisters Annie [7] and Lillie [5] 1897... He enlisted in Rifle Brigade. 1901 census...Aged 20 he was in the Army in South Africa On 9th September 1905 in Rougham, he married Rosina COCKSEDGE [11-7-1884] 1911 census...Aged 30, a farm labourer, he was at Kingshall Lane, Rougham with his wife Rosina [26] born Rougham and thier daughter Lily Violet [5] born Bradfield st George His widow later married George J BALDRY of Oak Lane, Rougham. His eldest brother Charles died from fever in the the Boer War in 1900 see here brother Arthur died in Greece in 1916. see here and brother William was killed, also in Belgium, in May 1915. see here |
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He enlisted on 4th February in 1897, in Bury St.Edmunds, in the Rifle Brigade (probably together with his brother Charlie). He gave his age as 18 years 2 months, a farm labourer,
born Bradfield St George. 5 feet 7.2 inches tall, weighing 129 lbs , chest 33.5 to 35.5 inches blue eyes, brown hair, C of E. Joined at Gosport and posted to depot on 23-9-1897.
Transferred to 2nd Battalion 15-2-1898
No.4998, he was posted to the 1st Battalion and served
in the S African Wars. Queen's South Africa medal clasps for Cape Colony, Belmont, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and
Laings Nek, and the King's South Africa medal with clasps for S.Africa 1901 and S.Africa 1902.
Promoted to Acting Corporal 16-6-1903, transferred to Army Reserve on 4th February 1904 and completed his engagement on 3rd February 1909. He was in South Africa from 29th October 1899 to 29th October 1902 Re enlisted in 1914 in the East Surrey Regiment and was in the BEF in Flanders on 7th April 1915 The battalion at Zonnebekke, the war diary has:- At 5 am enemy opened fire with shrapnel which continued until 9 am when trenches were heavily bombarded. The fumes from the shells agan affected men and in some cases rendered them unconcious. Casualties to noon four killed and eighteen wounded. At about 1 pm the enemy attacked the whole line held by the battalion. They broke through trench 23 and some occupied a small trench in rear but were dislodged and eight captured.The remainder made for the railway but the company in dug-outs attacked them and captured an officer and twenty eight men. This company (A) reached trench 23 and left one officer and twenty men as reinforcements. The enemy succeeded in occupying a portion of trench 24 (centre) but were speedily driven out by the 8th Middlesex at the point of a bayonet. Trench 23 (left) was also pierced by a force of the enemy who gained possession of the centre of the trench and resisted all attempts to turn them out. The enemy in attacking were careful not to mask the loopholes of their own trenches and the fire from these loopholes caused heavy casualties amongst the men who were obliged to fire over the parapet. Two companies of the Shropshire Ligjht Infantry arrived at 9:15 pm to try and drive the enemy out of the trench and a platoon was sent to both 23 and 25 trench to reinforce owing to casualties. An attack was made at 12:30am but was unsuccessful. Another attack was made at 3:30 am which was again unsuccessful..Casualties 3 officers and eighty two other ranks, died of wounds two, wounded one hundred and nine, missing forty three CWGC recorded 107 killed on 25th, only 9 have identified graves.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
