No. 16680, Lance Corporal, Alfred FLACK
Aged 31
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Born in Lakenheath, registered Mildenhall Q1-1892 [4A:781]
1901 census...Aged 9, he was living at Undley, Lakenheath with his father- Thomas[50] ordinary agricultural labourer; mother- Betsy (née BROWN)[45]; brothers- Fred[18] ordinary farm labourer; Turrell- [16] ordinary farm labourer; Mayes [13]; Ebenezer [10] and Nelson [4]. All were born in Lakenheath. 1911 census...Aged 19, a farm labourer, he was living at Undley Road, Lakenheath with his father, now recorded as a farmer, his mother and brothers Mayes (farm labourer); Nelson (farm labourer) and scholar Thomas. There were 11 children in the marriage.
The pension card for the brothers has their mother at Lindley ? Road, Lakenheath. It incorrectly records them killed on the same day
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He enlisted in Brandon. On the 8th May 1915 the Germans launched a terrific artillery barrage against Ypres, including a gas attack.The ferocity of the attack exceeded all that had gone before. Communications were cut, supply lines were severely restricted, Ypres was in flames. Before mid day the Germans had broken through on the right of the battalion. The Suffolks suffered over 400 casualties that day.The few survivors were collected at Balloon Wood the following day to be reinforced by a draft fresh out from Felixstowe. The Suffolks lost 95 men killed that day and not one has a known grave. The Bury Free Press of 5th June 1915 stated that "Mr.Thomas Flack, The Common, on Wednesday received in reply to a letter to the War Office, a notice stating their son Private Alfred Flack is, as far as is known, still in the fighting line" The Bury Free Press of 22nd July 1916 reported his death, he had been reported missing on 8th May 1915. |
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