ORBELL, Frederick


No.18034, Private, Frederick ORBELL
Aged 25


7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Monday, 3rd July 1916


Frederick Orbell was born in Stoke by Clare on 8th September 1891 (Risbridge Q4:1891 4A:685), baptised in St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare on 1st November 1891, son of Thomas and Emma ORBELL (née TURNER).


Admitted to Stoke by Clare National/Voluntary School in November 1894.

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Lower Green, Stoke by Clare with his father Thomas ORBELL [34] farm labourer; his mother Emma [36]; brothers Herbert [15] (under stockman) and Ernest [6 months]; sister Beatrice [4]. All were born in Stoke by Clare. <

1911 census...Aged 19, a farm labourer, he was at The Green, Stoke by Clare with his parents, sister Beatrice and brother Ernest. His brother Herbert appears to have married Ada INCE and was living at Mill Green. The census return does however record that Emma had born 4 children and one had died, but that death is certainly not Herbert as no credible death is registered in that period.

Brother Ernest was conscripted in October 1918, into the London Regiment and served 120 days in the Army.


He enlisted in Clare.
The 1st Battle of the Somme started in 1st July 1916, the worst day in British military history, 60,000 casualties of which around 20,000 were killed. The 7th Suffolks were not involved that day, their horror came on the 3rd. They moved into support trenches from Henencourt Wood early in the morning and then, together with the 5th R. Berkshires attacked Ovillers. Under heavy fire they reached the enemy's third line, some of them actually entering the village. Then, with all company commanders killed, they were brought to a standstill and forced to retire, with over 450 casualties. CWGC puts the deaths at 155, of which 111 have no known grave.



photo courtesy Philip Orbell




Frederick Orbell is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, pier/face 1C/2A

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


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