Private Frederick Tuckwell, 1st Essex, Monchy 1917

Frederick is remembered on his wifes’ headstone in the churchyard. One face of the plinth reads:-

 

Also of

her beloved husband

FREDk JOHN TUCKWELL

Killed In Action France April 14 1917

Aged 32 years

 

Another face remembers a daughter Florence Beatrice born 23rd April 1913 and only relatively recently deceased.

 

But sadly also remembered is Fredericks’ wife Florence Beatrice Tuckwell, who passed away April 24, 1913, aged 28 years. This was the day after her daughters birth.

 

Private TUCKWELL, FREDERICK JOHN

Service Number:………………….. 30792

Died:……………………………………… 14/04/1917

Unit:…………………………………….….1st Bn. Essex Regiment

Commemorated: ……………….….Arras Memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/777994/tuckwell,-fred...

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Private 30792 Frederick John Tuckwell was Killed in Action on the 14th April 1917 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. He was born Brantham, resident Manningtree, Essex and enlisted Ipswich.

 

The Medal Index Card for Private 30792 F J Tuckwell is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/20/90050

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5632080

 

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army service records were stored.

 

The International Red Cross received a report on the 24th September 1917 from the German High Command. Even Google translate struggles with the reports heading, but I believe it refers to soldiers effects received up to the 21st August 1917. It states the soldiers they belong to could not be found and probably in most cases are among the dead. On report page reference P.A. 14886 there is a No. 30702 F.J. Tuckwell, 1st Essex.

grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/4864781/3/2/

 

There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

 

He is also remembered on the Brantham War Memorial.

 

 

1885 – Birth………………………..

 

The birth of a Frederick John Tuckwell was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Samford, in Suffolk, in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1885. Samford Registration District included the Civil Parish of Brantham.

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The 5 year old “Fred Jno” Tuckwell, born Brantham, was recorded living at a dwelling on the High Street, Manningtree. This was the household of his parents, Charles, (aged 45, Engine Driver at Saw Mill, born Raydon, Suffolk) and Eliza Ann, (aged 46, born East Bergholt, Suffolk). As well as Fred their other children still single and living at home are:-

Mary Ann……aged 16….born East Bergholt….Domestic Servant

Anna Ada……aged 11….born Brantham

Blanche R……aged 7……born Brantham

Lucy Jane……aged 4……born Brantham

The family also have two boarders staying with them.

 

The death of an Eliza Ann Tuckwell, aged 52, was recorded in the Tendring District of Essex in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1896.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The 15 year old “Fredric” took some tracking down – he was no longer living with his father and his mother was dead. The transcriber on the Genealogy source I use for basic census looks ups had shown the surname as “McKwell”, but looking at the census takers handwriting its easy to see that it could be either. His occupation is given as “Boots at Hotel” and he was born Brantham. He was recorded as the brother-in-law of the householder, a George Aldous, (aged 34, a Journeyman Tailor, born ????, Suffolk) living in a household at South Hill, Manningtree. Georges’ wife, (and presumably Freds’ sister) is the 26 year old Mary A., born East Bergholt. The couple already have three children. Also in the household is Georges’ sister-in-law, the 17 year old Blanche R. Tuckwell, (a General Domestic Servant, born Brantham – transcribed as “McKwell”. Completing the household on the night of the census was a visitor.

 

Father Charles appears to have remarried, and was living at a dwelling on the Harwich Road, Mistley, Essex with his new wife and four of her children. Charles, born “Roydon”, Suffolk was working as a Stationary Engine Driver. His new wife was Susanna, aged 51 and born Bradfield Essex.

 

1909 – Marriage…………………….

 

The marriage of a Frederick John Tuckwell to a Florence Beatrice Jackson was recorded in the Samford District in the October to December, (Q4), of 1909.

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The 25 year old Frederick Tuckwell, a Paper Dryer at the Xylonite Factory was recorded as the married head of the household at Myrtle Villa, Brantham. He lives there with his wife of 1 year, Florence Tuckwell, born Hackney, London. So far the couple have had no children.

 

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows just the one likely child of Frederick and Florence. The birth of a Florence B. Tuckwell, mothers maiden name Jackson, was recorded in the Samford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1913.

 

 

On the day…………………………

 

This horrendous battle cost the 1st Battalion a vast number of casualties, 17 officers and 644 other ranks were either killed, wounded or went missing. Later it was established that 203 soldiers were made prisoners of war, most of them were wounded and 16 of them died in captivity in Germany.

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...8&hl=monchy

 

Thu., Apr 12, 1917

 

The Bn. marched from billets at FOSSEUX to ARRAS (abt 10 miles) and on arrival was at once ordered to proceed with the remainder of the 88th Bde to relieve the 37th Bde near MONCHY-LE-PREUX. The Bn arrived at ARRAS at 3pm and left to carry out the relief 4 miles off at 6.30pm. Owing to intense congestion on the road and other delays the relief was not completed until 3am on 13th.

 

Prior to leaving ARRAS orders had been issued for an attack on the German line in company with the 1st NFLD to be made on the 13th at an hour to be notified later.

The attack was to be made from an Assembly trench which was to be dug on the night of the 12/13 by 2nd Hants, 4th Worcs were in support to the attack.

Owing to the late hour at which the Brigade relief was completed & consequent impossibility of making adequate preparation for the attack the operation was postponed.

 

At daylight therefore on the 13th the Brigade was situated as shown in the attached map.

At 11am orders were received to make the attack at 2pm. These orders also were cancelled a few minutes before Zero.

 

During the night 13/14 the 2nd Hants dug the required assembly trench and operation orders were issued to the Bn. by Lt. Col. Halaham. App. B.

 

At 5.30am on 14th the barrage fell and the battalion left the trench & carried out the assault.

 

In spite of a certain weakness of the barrage the objective was gained and by 6.30am all companies had reported that they were busy digging in.

 

In the mean time "X" Coy detailed to form a flank guard to the thence attacking Coys had at once come in contact with the enemy.

 

Therefore acting under Capt. Foster's orders No. 5 Platoon got into shell holes at about 0 1b 8.1 and opened fire. No. 8 Platoon being checked by machine gun fire from ARROW COPSE No 7 was directed to outflank this copse with the result that No 8 could again get forward , capturing the 2 machine guns & driving the enemy out of the copse. The small wood at O 2a 7.5 was also in hostile occupation but was cleared by Lewis Guns & Rifle Grenades. The Company then moved forward to the N. end of the copses where all platoons came under fire from a line of hidden machine guns. The company now began to form the chain of strong points as detailed in operation orders.

 

From this point no further definitive news could be gathered as to the fate of this company. A few men eventually rejoined the battalion & from their statements it is certain that all Platoons their proper positions where they were at once attacked by very superior German forces & were finally overwhelmed in these positions at a time between 6.30 and 7.30 am.

 

The main attack by the remaining 3 Coys having reached their objective by 6.30 am started to dig in and reports were sent back to Bn. Hqrs that large forces of the enemy could be seen in the BOIS du SART & the BOIS des AUBE PINES and that all covering parties were sent forward were at once coming under heavy machine gun & rifle fire.

 

It became apparent rapidly to the Coy commanders that an immediate counter attack was being prepared and this also was reported to Bn. Hqrs. These reports were confirmed by two Coy commanders in person returning wounded from the main attack. [Capt Tomlinson Capt Caroline]

 

Steps had already been taken to get the Artillery on to the points where the enemy was reported to be massing but owing to the destruction of the wires by shell fire it was an hour before the guns opened fire.

 

By 7.30am the counter attack had fully developed in all its strength of at least 9 battalions. The weight of the attack seems to have come from the N. East & thus fell on "X" Coy. This Coy in spite of a stout resistance was gradually overwhelmed. Vide app. C.

 

From 7.30 onwards no reports, messages or wounded men arrived at Bn Hqrs or the Aid Post it is therefore apparent that "X" Coy having been overrun the hostile forces got between MONCHY & the attacking Companies of the Essex & NLFD. No men have returned from these Companies.

As soon as it became clear that MONCHY itself was being attacked patrols were put out from Hqr party to hold street barricades in MONCHY. No German succeeded in entering MONCHY. It must be remembered that during all this time the town was under an intense enemy barrage thus rendering it almost impossible to reinforce or support the two Battalions & making the work of the respective Hqrs parties extremely arduous.

 

Except for a certain amount of support from the 4th Worcester & 2dn Hants they fought on alone & these two battalions broke up a German attack designed not to drive them back but to retake MONCHY itself.

 

Appendix C. contains a copy of the Special Order issued by the G.O.C. 88th Bde.

Of the Officers who went into action the following is killed : 2/Lt. L. Cousins.

The following are wounded :- Capts R.E.G. Caroline, J. Tomlinson, Lieuts ?.W.J. Taylor

R. Eastwood. 2/Lt's H. Ockendon, S. ?. Andrew, F.W. Barker.

The following are missing :- Capt H.J.B. Foster, Lt C.R. Brown, 2/Lts A.L. Piper, S.N.R. Eyre, C.H. Feline H.R. Newth, P.W. Coombs, L.F. Portway; G.W. Turk.

Total casualties 17 officers & 644 OR. out of a strength of 31 officers & 892 O.R.

 

Sun., Apr 15, 1917

The remnants of the Battalion were now withdrawn & went to billets in ARRAS.

 

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=594...

 

Done