No.21771, Private, Frederick ARNOLD
Aged 20
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Frederick Arnold was born in Fordham on 3rd February 1896 (according to baptismal records), baptised in Fordham on 25th July 1909, the son of Annie FORDHAM. The nearest registration appears to be Newmarket Q1-1897 3B:518. Given the time lapse between birth and baptism, mother has got her years wrong for both Frederick and Joseph who were baptised on the same day. 1901 census...Aged 4 (recorded as Fridie) he was at Market Street with his widowed grandmother Susan ARNOLD [67], uncle Samuel ARNOLD [35] a soldier with the 3rd Suffolks home on leave, and brother Willie (Joseph W) [3]. His mother Annie [32] was a servant for the Mason family in Burwell. All the Arnold's were born in Fordham. 1911 census...Aged 14, a scholar, he was at Market Street, Fordham with his widowed grandmother Susan, his mother Annie, uncles Samuel [40] and Frederick [32] both farm labourers and Joseph W Arnold [12] who is entered as grandson of Susan. Baptismal records show Joseph was the brother of Frederick. All were born in Fordham |
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He enlisted in Cambridge. On the 20th July, during the Battle of the Somme, the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were assembled and deployed in Pont Street, taking part in the renewed attacks on Longueval and Delville Wood. The artillery barrage lifted while it was still dark and the advance began. Again, from Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" :- The two Suffolk companies in the forward line moved in double lines of platoons with a front of 140 yards each. Much bitter fighting followed, which, though indecisive locally, enabled a footing to be gained in High Wood by a division containing another Suffolk battalion - the 4th, and the British line to be linked up thence with Longueval. The casualties in the 2nd battalion were heavy...." In fact 113 were killed and 88 of these have no known grave. The 4th battalion lost 31.
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