Private Frederick Gant Kings Royal Rifle Corps Died of Wounds 1917

The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday May 25, 1918 had a photo gallery which included this picture. The associated caption read “Pte. Frederick Gant, son of Mrs. E, Gant, 67, West End Street, Norwich, died of wounds in France”.

 

Rifleman GANT, F T

Service Number R/15481

Died:………….. 25/09/1917

Aged:…………. 35

Unit…………….11th Bn.

..............………King's Royal Rifle Corps

Son of Emma and the late Benjamin Gant, of 67, West End St., Norwich, Norfolk.

Buried at WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Cemetery/memorial reference: VI. B. 11A

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/508460/gant,-/

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Rifleman R/15481 Frederick Thomas Gant Died of Wounds on the 26th September 1917 while serving in France & Flanders with the 11th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He was born North Heigham, Norfolk and enlisted Norwich. No place of residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index Card for Private R/15481 Frederick Gant, King’s Royal Rifle Corps is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/7/198741

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2284405

He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. There is no additional information on the card. To receive only this combination of service medals would mean he first landed in a Theatre of War after the 31st December 1915.

 

The associated Service Medal Roll shows that he only served overseas with the 11th Battalion.

 

Some of his Service Records appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

 

Frederick Thomas Gant, aged 33 years and 1 month, was living at No.67, West End Street, Norwich when he enlisted in the Army on the 13th September 1915. Still single, he worked as a Painter and Paper Hanger. He was born North Heigham, Norfolk. He had no previous military experience.

 

(Given the information on the civil records it should be noted here that the questions abou him being married and previous military experience are on a slip of paper that has been struck on the form in the relevant area, covering any original entries.)

 

He was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 139lbs. At his enlistment medical he was found fit for the army subject to dental treatment.

 

His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Emma Gant, of the same address.

 

Initially sent to the K.R.R.C. Depot at Winchester and given number R/15481, on the 24th September 1915 he was posted to No.1. Company, 15th Battalion. As part of a draft he was sent out to France to join the 11th Battalion on the 10th February 1916. He joined up with the Battalion in the field on the 26th February 1916.

 

His Casualty Form – Active Service, which is the nearest thing there is for most soldiers of their major organisational moves is blotched and heavily faded, making it very difficult to read. In September 1916 he was admitted to 14 C.R.S. with what was possibly influenza. A note has then been added that on the 4th October 1916 he joined th M.G.C. (usually means Machine Gun Corps) from hospital. There is a subsequent entry that he was admitted “2 ConD” (probably means 2nd Convalesence Depot) in late September 1916.

 

There are more blotched entries including one that might reference an Infantry Base Depot in January 1917.

 

The next clear line is that he rejoined his Battalion, (doesn’t say which one), in the Field on the 26th April 1917. He had leave to the UK from the 17th to the 26th August 1917. On the 20th?? September he was noted as wounded – Gun Shot Wound Left Leg and ????. On the 26th September 1917 he died from these wounds at 2 Australian General Hospital.

 

In January 1919 his mother applied for a dependants pension. The application was witnessed by the then Vicar of St Barnabas. The form she had was actually for a Guardian of a soldiers children which had, according to the subsequent memos, been sent out in March 1918 and had caused her great confusion and had led her to involve the local War Pensions Committee. Eventually it seems she just filled the form in anyway.

 

Post-war and as part of issuing medals and paying out War Gratuities, the Army sent Form W.5080 to the last known next of kin. The form asked for details of the surviving family members and was laid out in an order that followed the order of precedence for inheritance as it then applied.

 

This confirms there was no widow or children of the soldier.

The father of the soldier is deceased.

The mother of the soldier was Mrs Emma Gant, of 67 West End Street, Norwich.

 

Brothers of the soldier.

Full Blood: Benjamin Oscar Gant, aged 30, living at 67 West End Street, Norwich.

Half Blood: None.

 

Sisters of the soldier.

Full Blood; Mrs Alice Lake, aged 34, Near the Post Office, Lingwood, Norwich.

Mrs Bessie Curtis, aged 32, 87 Devonshire Street, Norwich.

Half Blood: None.

 

The form was actually completed by the brother, Benjamin Gant at some point in 1919 and witnessed by a Clerk in Holy orders, but many of the key details are obscured by what looks to be soot marks.

 

He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His medals were actually signed for by a Benjamin Gant in 1921. Benjamin also received Fredericks’ personal effects in December 1919.

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

 

No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man. The Army Register of Soldiers Effects records that Private R/15481 Frederick Thomas Gant, 11th (S) Battalion, K.R.R.C., died on the 26th September 1917 at 2 Australian General Hospital, Boulogne. The balance of his pay was sent to his brother and sole legatee Benjamin in March 1918. Fredericks’ War Gratuity was sent to his mother Emma in October 1919.

 

His death plaque was sold at auction in 2018.

www.the-saleroom.com/zh-cn/auction-catalogues/lockdales/c...

 

According to a locally published booklet from the early 1920’s documenting the newly unveiled war memorials, the name of a Frederick T. “Grant” appears on the one in St Bartholomew, Heigham, Norwich. Unfortunately that church was gutted by firebombs in 1942 and all that now remains is the shell of the tower, which has been filled with concrete to keep it stable. It is very likely the memorial went up in flames.

 

 

1882 – Birth……………………….

 

The birth of a Frederick Thomas Gant was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Norwich District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1882.

 

North Heigham and South Heigham were small hamlets to the west of Norwich and within sight of the old medieval city walls. Even in the later Victorian period they could still be seen as independent, but with the rapid expension of the city in the 1870’s both were rapidly subsumed. The good councillors of Norwich, (with many a property developer in their midst) were regular petitoners to Parliament to get the city boundaries extended. Most residents of Norwich now wouldn’t even know of the existence of the Heighams let alone where they were.

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

At first Frederick and his family were difficult to find on this census, but using the information from the 1901 Census it proved possible to find them recorded with the surname “Gants” and living at 7 Langley Street, Heigham, Norwich. As well as parents Benjamin, (aged 33, a Painter and paper Hanger, born Reedham, Norfolk) and Emma, (aged 34, born Norwich), there were children:-

George K…..aged 12….born Norwich

Ethel E……..aged 10….born Norwich

Frederick T..aged 8…….born Norwich

Alice E……..aged 6……born Norwich

Bessie G…..aged 4……born Norwich

Benjamin C..aged 1……born Norwich

Also in the household was Emmas’ father George Beart, a 74 year old widower, a Retired Drayman, born Hemblington, Norfolk.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The 19 year old Frederick Gant, a Carpenter, born Norwich, was recorded living at 30 Old Palace Road, Norwich. This was the household of his parents Benjamin, (aged 42, a House Builder, born Reedham, Norfolk) and Emma, (aged 50, born Norwich). As well as Frederick the couples other children still living with them were:-

Ethel……….aged 20…..born Norwich….Tailoress

Alice………..aged 17….born Norwich…..Dressmaker

Benjamin…..aged 13….born Norwich

Ralph……….aged 7…..born Norwich

There is also a boarder in the household.

 

The death of a Benjamin Gant, aged 48, was recorded in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1907. There is no obvious civil probate for that man.

 

On the 1901-02 Norfolk Register of Electors, a Benjamin Gant was recorded as entitled to vote in Parliamentary and City Council elections as he was the (male) head of the household at 30, Old Palace Road, Norwich.

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8B-H3Z1

On the 1905-06 edition he was recorded moving from 30 Old Palace Road to 75 Heigham Road, Norwich.

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2C9L-5BD

He appears on the 1906-07 edition at the Heigham Road address but doesn’t show up after that.

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The mostly likely match on this census is a 30 year old “married” boarder, Frederick T Gant, a House Painter born Norwich, who was recorded at the Brickmakers Arms, Riverside, Reedham, Norfolk. He is stated to have been married 6 years but in answer to the question about how many children the marriage had produced, the answer is a cross. There are no other boarders in the household. Given that this information came from the householder it should be treated with caution.

 

(Frederick is not on the War Memorial at Reedham).

 

Pre August 1911 the quarterly index of marriages in England & Wales did not cross reference who marriage who. While a lot of work has gone on subsequently on genealogy sources to establish this information. However, as each page of each District normaly contained two marriages, the most widely available information consists of two bridegrooms and two brides. In this case a Frederick Thomas Gant married either a Lucy May Fulcher or a Florence Louisa Bracey in the Norwich District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1904. The other bridegroom was a Frederick Thomas Smith.

 

I could not find a likely match for any of those individuals on the 1911 Census, nor a likely death in England & Wales between 1904 & 1911 of a Lucy Gant or a Florence Gant.

 

It may be a co-incidence but the birth of a Vera Grace Gant, mothers’ maiden name Fulcher was registered in the Norwich District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1906. Vera however also doesn’t appear to be on the 1911 Census of England & Wales.

 

If it was Lucy May Fulcher who married Frederick, then the only likely birth record I could find was was of a Lucy May Fulcher, mothers’ maiden name Houghton, whose birth was registered with the Civil Authorities in Norwich in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1884. The 6 year old L.M. Fulcher, (female) born Norwich, was recorded on the 1891 Census living with parents Robert and Hannah at “White Rose”, Lower Westwick Road, Norwich, although father Robert was then a Boot Finisher. The 1901 Census has the family living at 107 Dereham Road, Norwich, with Lucy, aged 17 shown as “Helping at Home” and father Robert as a Licensed Victualler. On the 1911 Census Robert, Hannah and some of their children are shown at the “Beaufort”, No.1 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, where Robert is the Licensed Victualler – but there is no Lucy or grand-daughter Vera.

 

As I couldn’t find a likely death of a Lucy May Gant, I then looked to see if she might have remarried. There is indeed a marriage of a Lucy M Gant recorded in the Norwich District – it took place in the Norwich District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917, so in the months after her husbands death. Lucys’ second husband was an Edwin G. Towler.

 

Now it may be just a co-incidence, but on the 1911 Census of England & Wales there is a 35 year old Edwin Gale Towler, a Machine Compositor in the Printing Industry, born Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, who was recorded as the married head of the household at 21 Ferndale Road, South Tottenham. His wife of 3 years was the 25 year old Lucy May, born Norwich. The couple have had just the one child, Doris May Towler, aged 1 and born South Tottenham.

 

Had Lucy left her husband to live with another man? I can find no likely marriage for Edwin in England & Wales in the period 1906 – 1911. In the records available to me I couldn’t find a mothers’ maiden name associated with the Birth Registration of Doris May Towler. So for now the jury is out.

 

The widowed mother of Frederick, Emma, was now shown as aged “51” and born Norwich, was recorded as the head of the household at 67 West End Street, Norwich. She doesn’t say how long she was married, but does say she has had 7 children, of which 6 were then still alive. Those children still single and living with her were:-

Alice………aged 26….born Norwich…Dressmaker

Bessie……aged 24….born Norwich…Restaurant Waitress

Benjamin…aged 21….born Norwich…Surveyors Clerk

Ralph……..aged 17….born Norwich

 

Also in the household is her 7 year old grand-daughter Gladys Gant, born Norwich.

 

 

Family in the Great War………………………….

 

Another brother, Ralph Victor Gant, would died serving with the 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment on the 21st March 1918.

 

He is remembered on the War Memorial at St Augustine, Norwich.

www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/5304079074

 

Also in the same photo galley in edition of the Norfolk Mercury dated Saturday May 25, 1918 was a picture of Ralph – see photo link in the comments box below

 

 

On the day…………………………………

 

Eagle Trench, 20th September (1917)

The 10th and 11th Battalions took part in an attack north-east of Langemarck. The first objective was taken and held; fighting was severe and somewhat confused. Casualties were heavy, and though further progress was made in places, at dusk most of the small parties left-out withdrew.

Losses: Officers: killed 10, wounded 6; Other Ranks 351

www.krrcassociation.com/history/wf1917.htm

 

Day 46 (Third Ypres aka Passchendaele).

 

Rainfall 2 mm

 

Today marks the beginning of the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, lasting until September 25th.

 

Zero Hour was 5.40 am.

 

Langemarck

 

20th Div

 

At Zero Hour the division fired oil drums at Eagle Trench. The drums unfortunately fell beyond the target and served to illuminate the attacking troops.

 

59 Bde

 

The brigade attacked with 10th and 11th Bns, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 11th Bn, Rifle Brigade was in support and 10th Bn, Rifle Brigade in reserve. 10th KRRC captured the German First Line and advanced as far as ‘t Goed Ter Vesten Farm under cover of smoke. 11th, Rifle Brigade took over from 11th KRRC and advanced on Eagle Trench. Their smoke screen was ineffective however and they lost 2/3 of the engaged troops, taking only part of the objective. A German counter-attack at 8.30am was driven off.

 

60 Bde

 

60 Bde attacked with 12th Bn, Rifle Brigade and 6th Bn, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. In support was 6th Bn, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The Oxs & Bucks was held up by MG fire from Eagle Farm and consequently only the southern part of Eagle Trench was occupied east of Schreiboom Crossroads. After a hasty re-org and a rescheduling of the barrage, the attack was re-started at 6.30am. This time all of Eagle Trench was occupied.

Source:forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?11535-The-Ba...

 

 

WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY

 

Location Information

Wimereux is a small town situated approximately 5 kilometres north of Boulogne.

 

History Information

Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves.

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/8200/wimereux-commu...

 

Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage present on the original image.

Done