No.9927, Drummer, Frank David FINCH
Aged 28
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Frank David Finch was born (2nd qtr 1889 Thingoe 4a:724) son of James Patrick and Rebecca Susannah FINCH (née CAMPIN or CAMPION).
1891 census...1891 census...Aged 1, he was at The Street, Horringer with his mother Rebecca FINCH [42] born Hawstead; brothers John [18] farm labourer, James [16] blacksmith and George (entered as William)[3]; sisters Esther [14], Jane [12], Harriet [9], Ellen [6] and Rebecca [3]. All the children were born in Horringer. His father James FINCH [45] a farm labourer, was a patient in West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St.Edmunds. Very likely this was due to an accident whereby he was blinded 1901 census...Aged 11, he was still at The Street, Horringer with his parents; sister Nellie (Ellen);brothers George and Robert [9] and cousin Frederick [3] born Westley 1911 census...1911 census...Not found in this census. His parents were still in Horringer with his brother Robert (shepherd). Brother George was a footman at Theydon Garnon, Essex. His mother had lost 1 of her 11 children. He married Alice Louisa BOYDEN [27-2-1888] in 1915. Their son Alexander Frank was born on 9th June 1917 (3rd qtr 1917 Mile End old Town 1c:399). His widow on the pension card was at 14 Fair Street, Stepney before moving to 37 Donald Road, Upton Park. His brother George William Finch died a month earlier and is buried in Faubourg d'Amiens, Arras see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
The 4th Worcesters were in trenches south of Monchy le Preux. On 23rd April they formed up to attack and were shelled not only by the Germans but by "shorts" fron our own artillery. They quickly took PICK and SHRAPNEL TRENCHES and captured 80 prisoners. By the time they reached the objective (BLUE LINE) they were very disorganised due to losses of officers and N.C.Os.) About 10 am a counter attack was beaten off by rifle and Lewis gun fire, but some of the advance posts occupied by Z Coy were rounded up. Continuous sniper fire during the day. At 3:45 pm 1 company from 16th Middlesex were detailed to form a defensive flank between Z Coy and 2nd Hants who were now in PICK and SHRAPNEL trenches. At 4 pm another counter attack tried to work round the copse at O.8 central. At 5 pm a third counter attack was tried but an SOS signal was answered by our artillery within 30 seconds and the enemy were broken up. At dusk 1 Coy of Middlesex and 40 2nd Hants tried to re-occupy the part of the BLUE LINE which had been lost, but the defence was too strong. Rations were brought up to FOSSE farm but 2 limbers and 10 horses were lost. Casualties in this operation were 4 officers killed, 2 missing, 2 wounded and missing, 3 wounded. Other ranks 34 killed, 53 missing 325 wounded.
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