No.17504, Private, Walter MURFET
Aged 22
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Frederick Murfet was born in Soham on 18th September 1893,(Newmarket Q4-1893 3B:551), baptised in Soham on 24th December 1893, son of Alfred and Mary MURFET
(née STITTLE) of Hall Street, Soham.
1901 census...In this census they are "Murfit". Aged 7, he was at Thorn Street, Soham with his father Alfred MURFET [45]a farm labourer) born Soham; his mother Mary [48] born Soham; brothers Albert [18], saddler's apprentice, Burton [17], farm labourer, William [16], farm labourer, and Arthur [9] all born Fordham; his twin brother John born Soham and Robert [5], born Soham; sister Ethel [14] born Fordham. 1911 census... Aged 17 a farm labourer, he was at Towns End, Soham with his parents, the twin brother John, and Robert (all farm labourers). Apparently brother Fred Murfett [20](farm worker), boarding at Station Road, Fordham with George and Elizabeth SNARE. Brother Arthur a farm labourer was boarding with John and Maria PAYNE at 17 Crosby's Row, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. His brothers Arthur and Walter died in the war . None of the three brothers has an identified grave. Arthur Murfet died of his wounds on 21st October 1917 see here and Frederick Murfet was killed on 20th October 1916 see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket.
The worst day in British military history, 60,000 casualties, around 20,000 of them dead. The 11th Suffolks were part of 34th Division, as yet untried in battle, in the front of the attack opposite La Boiselle. At 7.28 a mine containing 60,000 lbs of ammonal was blown, creating a crater (Lochnagar crater) 55 feet deep and 220 feet across. 2 minutes later the attack began, the 11 Suffolks following the 10th Lincolns advancing on a line through the centre of Bailiff Wood. The Germans however were in great strength in La Boiselle and as the Suffolks advanced they immediately came under heavy machine gun fire. The lines of men were quickly reduced to groups of 3 and four and by 8 am the battle was decided. Hundreds lay wounded, a pitiful few had managed to reach the German wire. Occasionally a man rose and tried to get forward, only to fall again. Even those few who did reach the parapet were quickly despatched by flame throwers. Of all the battalions in the battle of Albert, the 11th Suffolks fared worst, with very nearly 700 casualties (a battalion is nominally just over 1,000 men). The 11th Suffolk suffered 188 killed on the 1st July, 147 of them have no known grave. More than 20 Newmarket area men in the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment died on the infamous 1st day of the Somme. yet another variation on the spelling of his name click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
