No.43832, Corporal, Francis Oscar GREEN
Aged 31
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Born 1st February 1887 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:705 ) son of Francis and Jane Ann GREEN (née SMITH)
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at 10 Out Nortate, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Francis GREEN [49] ralway platelayer born Kentford; his mother Jane Ann [43] born Great Barton; sisters Florence B [23] dressmaker born Kentford and Lilan G [8]; brothers Alfred J [15] light porter and Bertie E [12]. Lilian and asll the brothers were born in Bury St.Edmunds, His father died in 1900 1901 census...Aged 14, a telegraph messenger, he was still at 10 Out Northgate with his widowed mother and sisters Florence and Lilian. 1911 census...Aged 24, a postman,he was now at 13 Out Northgate with his mother and sisters Florence and Lilian. On the pension card his mother was at 41 Bloomfields, Bury St.Edmunds. His "Soldiers Personal Effects" entry shows all siblings still alive, Herbert B, Alfred J, Bertie E, Florence B, Selina A (Mrs Chinery) and Lilian G. |
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He enlisted in Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" has: In April 1918 the 11th Suffolks (often referred to as the "Cambridgeshires") were at La Rolanderie with the 12th Suffolks nearby at Fleurbaix. On the 9th the Germans opened in intensive barrage south of the Lille railway but no attack developed along the 34th Division front. 101st Brigade ( of which 11th Suffolks were part) set off as Corps Reserves to the south of Bac St Maur. An hour later news came that the Germans had broken through the Portuguese front and were entering the 40th Division zone. With that, the 101st Brigade were ordered to cover the flank, but they found Bac St Maur occupied by the Germans and took up position facing west and south west near Fort Rompu and began fighting immediately. A strange occurrence, when the Corps Reserve were actually the first to engage the enemy. Terrific fighting followed and on the 10th the Suffolks formed a defensive flank, beating off attack after attack. Twice the Germans broke through and twice were thrown back. At 3:20 pm they were ordered to withdraw to behind the River Lys. The struggle continued until on the night of 17th/18th when they were relieved, moving back first into reserve trenches and three days later back to Boeschepe. These battles of the Lys cost the battalion nearly 500 casualties, CWGC figures give 116 dead. 64 of these were on the 9th April.
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