FEAKES, Frank Henry


No.320136, Private, Frank Henry FEAKES
Aged 21


15th (Yeomanry) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 1719 Suffolk Yeomanry
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 31st October 1917


Born in 1896 in Great Barton (2nd qtr Thingoe 4a:799) son of Charles and Kate FEAKES (née CLUTTERHAM)

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at 38 Out Raingate Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Charles FEAKES [33] flour miller; his mother Kate [30] and brother Frederick [8]. All were born in Great Barton

1911 census...Aged 14, telegraph messenger, he was still at 38 Out Raingate with his parents; brother Frederick Richard (cycle mechanic), sister Elsie K. [6] and brother Cecil G [2]. The two youngest born in Bury St.Edmunds

The pension card puts his parents at Drury Lane, Ridgewell, Essex.

His brother Frederick Richard died of wounds on 7th Aug 1916 see here



He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. December 1916 the Suffolk Yeomanry, now an infantry battalion offiallynbecame the 15th (Yeomanry) Battalion.
On 30th October 1917, the 4th Division concentrated south west of Wadi Saba, only moving by night and hidden during the day. To confuse the enemy, the camps around Deir el Belah were left standing although empty. On the night of 30th/3st, the 15th Suffolks were in Brigade Reserve. At dawn the attacking battalions deployed and immediately the Turkish artillery began shelling. Although in Reserve, the 15th Suffolks suffered 48 casualties in a few minutes. By 1 pm all objectives had be reached and in the evening the 15th Suffolks and 16th Royal Sussex advanced, capturing and consolidating the ground along the north of Wadi Saba. Four of the 15th Suffolks died that day, 3 have no known grave.





photo - CWGC
Frank Feakes is commemorated on the Jerusalem memorial panel 15

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


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