No.242519, Private, Frederick HENSBY
Aged 33
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Frederick Hensby was born in 1881 in Pakenham or Ixworth,(Thingoe Q2-1881 4A:612), son of William Alfred and Mary Frances HENSBY (née POTTER). 1891 census...Aged 9, he was at Park House Cottages, Ixworth with his father William Alfred HENSBY [48], farmer born Herringswell; his mother Mary Frances [35] born Ixworth, sisters Mary [13], Annie [7] and Ethel [4]; brothers William [12], Frank [11] and Harry [2]. All the children were born in Pakenheam. 1901 census...Aged 17, a coal carter, he was at 32 St Giles Lane Thetford with his grandparents, William and Mary Ann, his aunt Flory and his brother William (doubts here as age given as 5) His widowed mother was at High Street, Leiston with his brother Harry and sister Ethel ( both now recorded as born Barton) and sister May [9] born Ixworth. Sister Annie was a servant in Harborne, Birmingham. His father had died in 1899. His mother died in 1904 and in 1906 he married Harriett MERRISON in 1910 in Thetford (b.1-3-1880). 1911 census...not found in this census. His widow later married Robert KENT in 1919 and moved to Aerodrome Cottages, Feltwell. Somewhere along the lines his age has been changed as most records show 1883 as the year whereas his birth seems to have been registered in 1881
The pension card has four children: Frederick William (16-7-1912); Charles William (6-10-1913); Hilda (1-4-1915) and Arthur (12-2-1917) and their address was 24 George Street, Brandon.
Fred with Harriett with seemingly Fred junior and Charles. (courtesy Brandon at War)
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click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
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He enlisted in Norwich. A report in a local newspaper had :- "... left home on the outbreak of the war and was one of Kitchener's Army. While a resident of Thetford he was a member of the old Volunteers, and at Brandon he joined the Territorial Force. He saw active service in France, and was invalided home, and after convalescence he was sent to Egypt, leaving England on February 12th (1917). So he must have fallen shortly after his arrival there. He celebrated his 34th birthday three days before he died. A family of four young children is left. The case is a sad one, and sympathy is felt for the widow." His age and number of children is doubtful. He was in France in the 7th Norfolks and would have been transferred on his return to duty after wounding, to the depleted 1st/5th Battalion in Palestine. The second battle for Gaza saw his battalion attack and take the Sheikh Abbas ridge on the 17th April, then orders arrived late on the 18th to continue the attack. These orders arrive only just before midnight on the 18th, thus instead of sleeping, the men spent the night readying themselves for battle. The advance started at &:30 am and it was soon evident that the barrage had done little harm to the Turks.The barrage was inadequate as they were short of shells and the range was excessive. Thus the troops had to advance over 1,700 yards of open undulating country in full view of the enemy, who were waiting in trenches and well wired redoubts beyond the Gaza-Beersheba road. "B" Company did take TANK redoubt but ran out of ammunition, no support arrived and the sixty or so left were captured. The scattered Norfolks dug in where ever they could and tried top hold out, assisted later in the afternoon by the arrival of the 5th Suffolks. They were ordered to withdraw during the night. Reports at the time put the casualties at all bar one of the officers and over 600 men. CWGC records show 211 killed, 99 buried in Gaza War Cemetery, the rest commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial. The 1st/4th battalion fighting along side them had 148 killed. MISSING BRANDON SOLDIER NOW REPORTED KILLED Last May, Mrs.Hensby of George Street, Brandon received the official news that her husband, Prvt Frederick Hensby, Norfolk Regiment, was missing on April 19th. Nothing further was heard of him until last Saturday, when official notification was received by Mrs.Hensby, that her husband was killed on April 19th at a place not stated. Deceased was invalided home from France and sent to Egypt in February. He was 34 years of age, and leaves his widow with four children under five years.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
