No.16660, Private, Fred PEACOCK
Aged 24
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Fred Peacock was born in Stuntney (Ely Q1-1893 3B:528) son of William and Rachel PEACOCK(née WATSON).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Nornea Farm, Stuntney with his father William PEACOCK [39] engine driver on farm, born Soham; his mother Rachel [38] born London; sisters Eunice [18], Eliza [15] and Gladys M.[10 months]; twin brothers George and William [12],and John R.[3]. All the children were born in Stuntney. 1911 census...Aged 18, he was at The Shade, Soham, with his parents; brothers George, William and John; sister Gladys May. All the men were farm labourers He married Jane REEVE [3-4-1890] (Newmarket Q1-1914 3B:736). They had two daughters, Gladys May (27-5-1914) and Jeanie (24-6-1917) at Waterside, Soham. His sister married John Robert Salisbury NUNN- see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket.
Without his Army records we cannot be 100% sure, but it seems that Fred was wounded on 31st July, the day the 3rd battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) started. Lt.Col.Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" tells us the 8th Suffolks were in position between the Menin Road and the Zillebeke-Zanvoorde Road, their objective being to pass through the 30th Division as soon as they had reached Black Line. The 8th Suffolks reached its assembly area by 2 am and set up HQ at Wellington Crescent. Once the attack was under way the 30th Division by mistake wheeled left and attacked Chateau Wood instead of Glencorse Wood. This resulted in a messenger telling the 8th Suffolk that Glencorse had been taken. They were very quickly to find out this was in error. The Suffolks reached the Menin Road and got several hundred yards beyond it before heavy fire from Glencorse checked them and they had to take up a line of shell holes. Before they actually dug in a battalion legend began. As Major Fache was crawling up the Menin road with a runner, a cock pheasant landed just on front of them, promptly shot by the runner who carried the bird out of action on the end of his rifle, possibly, it was remarked, not the first time he had killed game without a licence. That was the end of the Battle for Pilckem Ridge as far as the 8th Suffolks were concerned, sustaining 177 casualties. Fred died on the hospital train on the way to Boulogne. They had only been involved in training for a couple of weeks.before the 31st July. CWGC have 65 of the 8th Suffolks dying on 31st July, but only Fred Peacock on 1st August. Local press report:- Information was received from the War Office last week by Mrs. Frank Peacock, of Waterside, to the effect that her husband Pte.Fredk.Peacock, Suffolk Regt., died of wounds on Aug.1st 1917. The late Pte.Peacock enlisted in November, 1914, with the (Cambs.)Suffolks and was in training until January 1916, when he was sent with his regiment to France. He was severely wounded in the big "push" of that year on July 1st, and only a few days later was admitted into an hospital at Bethnal Green, and subsequently into a Convalescent Home at Walthamstow until the following October. He then went into further training, and on March 28th last was again sent out to France. From an official account he was wounded on July 31 and died of wounds the following day in an ambulance train. The deceased soldier leaves a widow and two little children. His Captain, writing to the bereaved widow, says:-"He was wounded in the neck on July 31st, in the third battle of Ypres, and died on Aug.1 in the Casualty Clearing Station, where he is buried. He was a good, willing soldier and has done his work well, and paid the full price of service. We mourn with you in this sorrow, and may God comfort you and time heal your wounds, and the memory of an honourable life and death be a constant source of consolation.." His Platoon Officer writes:-"I am speaking for all who knew him, that his loss is keenly felt by all. He was always cheerful, and his excellent work had already made him a man above his fellow men."
commemorated on the family grave in Soham photo:Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
