SPALDING, Frederick Archie


No.2106, Private, Frederick SPALDING
Aged 24


5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on/since Saturday, 21st August 1915


Born in 1891 (4th qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:736) son of Frederick James and Charlotte Ellen SPALDING (née CLAXTON)

His father apparently died in 1900/1901 but the registration has not been found (Boer War ?)

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 25 Cemetery Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his widowed mother Charlotte [33] born Kings Lynn; sister Evay (Evelyn Ellen)[7] and brother Sidney [1]. All the children were born in Bury St.Edmunds.

His mother married Amos Thompson in 1904

1911 census...Aged 19, railway company pageboy, he was at 14 St Andrews Street South, Bury St.Edmunds with his stepfather Amos THOMPSON [43] farm labourer born Lawshall; his mother; brother Sidney; sisters Ruby Tompson [7] and Nellie Tompson [6]; half sister Ethel J THOMPSON. Ruby and Nellie were registered with mother's maiden name as CLAXTON

His mother was at 3 St Andrews Street South, Bury St.Edmunds on the pension card.


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.

According to Lt Col. Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment", the Battalion from 18th to 27th August were in local reserve trenches, working hard and constantly harassed by snipers and shrapnel.
CWGC records show however that on the 21st they had 53 die,only one with a known grave. However no roll call had been taken for some days and it is firmly believed that many of these 53 had in fact died in a fierce action on the 12th.





Frederick Spalding is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli panels 46,47

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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