Not remembered on the war memorial
In unfading memory of
ELLEN, dearly loved wife of
Daniel Last Gooch
Who fell asleep July 28th 1916
Aged 62 years
Also FREDERICK eldest son of the above
Who was killed in France May 24th 1917
Aged 41 years
Also GEORGE ISAAC FENN
Eldest grandson of the above
Also killed in France October 21st 19??
Aged 19 years
SDGW records a Private 242626 Frederick Gooch who was Killed in Action on the 25th May 1917 whilst serving with the 1/6th Battalion Prince of Wales’s (North Staffordshire Regiment). He was born Woodton, Norfolk. No place of residence is recorded but he enlisted Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
GOOCH, FREDERICK
Rank:………………………………………………….Private
Service No:…………………………………………242626
Date of Death:…………………………………….25/05/1917
Age:…………………………………………………….42
Regiment:…………………………………………..North Staffordshire Regiment, 1st/6th Bn.
Panel Reference:………………………………..Bay 7 and 8.
Memorial:
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Daniel Gooch, of Wootton, Norfolk; husband of Temperance Amelia Gooch, of 12, Newton St., Burton-on-Trent.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/636611/GOOCH,%20FREDE...
No match on Picture Norfolk
There is a Medal Index Card for Private 242626 Frederick Gooch, North Staffordshire Regiment, held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/8/53900. He had previously been 20564 in the same regiment.
Baptism
The baptism of a Frederick William Gooch, born 3rd May 1877, took place on the 15th July 1877 at All Saints, Woodton. Parents were Daniel, a Labourer, and Ellen. The family resided in Woodton.
Other family baptisms in the same church I could track down:-
Daniel Last…………..born 8th August 1880……………baptised 19th September 1880
Robert George…….born 24th April 1883………………baptised 8th July 1883
Edith Mary…………..born 31st December 1884…….baptised 1st March 1885
Charles Harry………born 7th October 1886………….baptised 21st November 1886
George Herbert Arthur…born 24th May 1891…….baptised 29th June 1891
Census
The 4 year old “Fredk W, born “Pulham Mary”, Norfolk, was recorded on the 1881 census at a dwelling on Norwich Road, Woodton. This was the household of his parents, Daniel L, (aged 25 and an Agricultural labourer from Woodton) and Ellen, (aged 27 and from Alburgh, Norfolk). As well as Frederick, their other children are:-
Emma A……………….aged 7……………..born Alburgh
Ellen E…………………aged 3……………..born Woodton
Daniel L……………….aged 8 months….born Woodton
By the time of the 1891 census the family are recorded at a dwelling on the Woodton & Seething Road, Kirstead, Norfolk. The 14 year old Frederick was working as an Agricultural Laboure, like his 34 year old father, Daniel. Frederick is now shown as born Pulham St Mary, Norfolk. Also still at home are Ellen, (13) and Daniel, (10), while the family has expanded with the addition of Robert, (7), Edith, (6) and Charlie, (4), all born Woodton.
By the time of the 1901 census, the 24 year old Frederick, still single and working as a Maltster, was recorded as a boarder at 87 Byrkley Street, Horninglow, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.
On the 1911 census the 34 year old Frederick William is recorded as the married head of the household at 141 Station Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.He works as a Maltsters Labourer for a Brewer. He lives there with his wife of 9 years, Temperance Amelia, (aged 31 and from Norwich, Norfolk). The couple have had four children, of which three were then still alive.
Frederick William……………..aged 6……………….born Burton, Staffs
Arthur Edward………………….aged 5……………….born Burton, Staffs
Edith Mirian……………………..aged 4………………..born Burton, Staffs
Marriage
The marriage of a Temperance Amelia Land to a Frederick William Gooch was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter of 1901. (Strangely I couldn’t find the wedding by searching for Frederick.). To complicate matters – the marriage of a Temperance Amelia Laud to a Frederick William Gooch was also recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter of 1901. Both appear in the official General Registrars Office Index of marriages for England and Wales.I suspect one is a typo.
Other family records
From August 1911 onwards the mothers maiden name was recorded whenever a birth was recorded in England and Wales. While Temperance could have been pregnant at the time of the census and had her child before the new rules came into force, its likely that in most cases it should be possible to identify additional children, (if they were born in those countries). Fortunately there do not appear to be any likely candidates for a child registered with the family name Gooch, mothers maiden name Land or Laud.
The census is inconclusive. There is what appears to be an 11 year old Amelia Temperance Laud recorded in some kind of institution in the centre of Norwich on the night of the 1891 census where she is described as a patient. This was the city of her birth. The page she is on is all Woman Patients. There are pages and pages of bother patients and Hospital Staff, so I suspect this is the Norfolk&Norwich Hospital and that Amelia was on a Womans Ward.
Going back to the 1881 census there is a 1 year old Temperance A recorded at Hawthorn Row, Heigham, Norwich, but thanks to the Census takers handwriting it could be Land or Laud. Parents were William E, (aged 40 and a “Laborer” in Leather Warehouse from Caston, Norfolk) and Amelia, (aged 32 and from Norwich). As well as Temperance they have a daughter Sarah, (aged 13 and born Norwich)
On the day
24th May 1917
On 24th May, the 1/6th North Staffords made an assault on a German trench known as Nash Alley. The whole operation was supported with Heavy artillery, which shelled the positions before the assault began. The Battalion War Diary recorded the course of the attack:
"7 p.m. Intense barrage opens which was followed by the attack which resulted in most of the objective being gained and subsequently consolidated. Several bombing encounters during the night all of which were repulsed.
During these operations 30 prisoners were taken, five of whom had been wounded.
25TH MAY Nash Alley - Completed consolidation of captured ground.
11.30 a.m. - Enemy opened a very heavy barrage on the new line which lasted half an hour, when he launched a strong counter-attack by which he regained the position lost on the previous night. This minor operation was the cause of a great deal above average artillery fire used in this particular sector. After the evacuation of Nash Alley, the Corps Heavy Artillery got to work on it with good effect which considerably eased the situation. 10 p.m. Relief of the Battalion commenced, the 1/6th South Staffords taking over the line, and this unit going into Brigade Reserve, with dispositions as follows -
HQ - ELVASTON and HARRISON CRATER A & D - OLD GERMAN FRONTLINE B & C - QUEEN ST"
Further information came from a booklet entitled "The 46th (North Midland) Division at Lens in 1917", by Lieutenant Campbell-Johnson M.C.:
"On Thursday 24th May, the 137th Brigade (Cambell) Was ordered to attack and capture NASH ALLEY from N1 a 98.40 to N1 78.90 and NETLEY TRENCH between NASH and NOVEL ALLEYS. For this the 6th North Staffords (Stoney) were detailed. At 7p.m. this battalion launched its attack. It was Empire Day. This proved to be a good omen, for all the objectives were gained with slight loss and 28 prisoners secured. These belonged to the 153rd Regiment of the 8th Division (German). It is an accepted fact that given sufficient artillery support, enemy trenches and strongholds can almost always be penetrated. The holding of the position is the difficulty and quite another matter. So it turned out to be the case. During the night the work on consolidation was energetically carried out and several local bombing attacks were successfully repulsed.
By this time all the officers had become casualties and the Second in Command, Major Macnamara, had been sent forward to take charge. Subjected to artillery fire since their occupation, the captured trenches had been badly damaged. During the morning of the 25th May, every available German gun was brought to bear on this small front and under cover of this heavy barrage the enemy deployed from his communications trenches and counter - attacked about noon.
The Germans came in close formation across the open into NASH and NETLEY Trenches. His strength was estimated at one battalion.
Shaken though they were by this hellish artillery fire, the remnants of the companies involved fought a splendid rearguard action and retired to the trenches from which they had started the previous evening. Unfortunately, Major G. Macnamara, Wiltshire Regiment, attached as Second in Command of the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment, was hit during this retirement and died of his wounds. No further attempt was made to retake the lost ground and the battalion after relief was withdrawn to Noeux - Les - Mines for a few days rest."
An account of the action that (was) found in an edition of the "Burton Mail" that was published sometime during the 1920's:
THE ATTACK ON "NASH" ALLEY
A Meritorious Raid
Normal trench life continued until 22nd May when the battalion went back into the line and made preparations for an attack, which was to be made on 24th May. The objective was about 300 yards of enemy trench on a hill, which was a commanding position and dominated the country NW of Lens. The enemy trench was known as "Nash Alley".
During the previous days the plan and formations were carefully worked out and every man taking part in the attack was detailed to a particular duty.
The communications trenches were deepened and the front line trench "Novel Alley" was improved so that it could be used as an assembly trench.
The improvements were important because the attack was to be carried out in daylight and consequently it simplified matters if the troops could assemble in daylight.
Dumps of ammunition, bombs, water, wire and everything necessary for consolidation were made near the front line in convenient positions for taking forward to Nash Alley which was about 800 yards from the front line. The artillery cut the wire and bombarded all M.G. posts, which had been located.
During the night before the operation, part of the battalion front was taken over by "D" Company of the 6th South and the battalion was left with the front of attack only.
This piece of front was divided between "C" Company (Captain McGowan) and "D" Company (Captain Wragg). These two companies were to lead the attack. "B" Company (Captain Shedding) was in support and "A" Company (Captain Hogarth) in reserve.
OBJECTIVE GAINED
The attack was carried out at 7 p.m. on May 24th under an excellent barrage of artillery and machine-guns. The objective with the exception of a trench junction on the right was gained and consolidated.
Great credit is due to Regimental Sergeant-Major Sloane for the wonderful way in which he got the necessary ammunition up. During the night the enemy made several minor counterattacks down the communications trenches, particularly on the left where "C" Company was.
Captain McGowan played a great part in helping to repulse these attacks and was indefatigable. Later he was wounded but he continued and made certain that the enemy was not to be allowed to regain the trench.
Unfortunately in a later attack he was killed and the battalion lost a gallant officer who had no thought for his safety. He was a great loss and was much mourned by all ranks.
Thirty prisoners were taken in this operation, five of whom were wounded. At this time, this was a record number of prisoners and the battalion was very proud.
Next morning, Major Macnamara was sent up to make arrangements to capture the piece of trench which the battalion had failed to take on the previous day.
A little later in the morning - about 10 a.m. - from the battalion headquarters which were located in a crater near Hart's Crater it was noticed that some of the enemy's heavy artillery was registering on the principal points on the line.
THE COUNTER-ATTACK
At 11.30 a.m. the enemy opened a barrage with heavy artillery on Nash Alley and other points in the Staffordshire front. He continued this for half-an-hour, and at noon launched a heavy counter attack. It was very well executed.
The enemy assembled in a communication trench on the flank and wheeled round into a line to the attack. Before he had appeared our artillery had opened fire onto those trenches and the machine-gun fired in enfilade, but this failed to stop him, and he regained possession of Nash Alley and any of the 1st/6th who were left alive were overwhelmed and taken prisoners.
Major Macnamara was hit by a shell on the way back and was rendered unconscious. He died about half an hour afterwards while he was being brought back to the aid post.
The battalion's total casualties in this operation were:
Captain McGowan, O.C. "C" Company, killed
Major Macnamara, died of wounds
Second-Lieutenant Plant, missing, (believed killed)
Four officers wounded.
Twenty men killed.
110 men wounded; and 37 missing.
It was a heavy casualty list, but not more serious than had been inflicted on the Boche. The object of the attack was to make the enemy think the Battalion was about to attack him and thus prevent him taking away his reserves. According to intelligence this result was achieved, and in mourning those brave men, the survivors were consoled by that thought.
TAILS UP!
The battalion was relieved the next night, and after a night in support, they marched out to Nouex-les-Mines for a few days rest. "C" Company were the leading company, as they had had the most difficult task; the whole Battalion was proud, and marched in with heads in the air and a cheery song on their lips.
On May 29th, Major-General Thwaites inspected the Battalion, and congratulated them on their success. On the 31st the Battalion went back into the same part of the line and resumed it's normal life.
WELL-EARNED DISTINCTIONS.
It was learned that C.S.M. Thompson, Lance-Corporals Washington, Freeman and Horne had been awarded the Military Medal for their gallantry in the Nash Valley attack. Captain N. Hannah, Lieutenant J.H.M. Yeomans, and Second-Lieutenant C.E. Hedges were awarded the Military Cross and Sergeant J. Rose the D.C.M. for the same operation.
www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/mc.htm
************************
SDGW also records a Private G/15280 George Isaac Fenn who was Killed in Action on the 21st October 1916 whilst serving with the 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. He was born Seething, Norfolk, and while no place of residence is recorded, he did enlist at East Dereham, Norfolk.
FENN, GEORGE ISAAC
Rank:………………………………………………Private
Service No:……………………………………..G/15280
Date of Death:………………………………..21/10/1916
Regiment:……………………………………….Royal Sussex Regiment, 11th Bn.
Panel Reference:…………………………….Pier and Face 7 C.
Memorial:
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/751500/FENN,%20GEORGE...
No match on Picture Norfolk
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for a 15280 George Isaac Fenn.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Fenn&Surna...
Baptism
The baptism of George Isaac Fenn, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Margaret and St Remigius, Seething, on the 2nd March 1897. Parents were Isaac, a Labourer, and Emma Alice. The mothers maiden name was Nobbs. The family resided in the parish of Seething.
Census
The four year old George Isaac, born Seething, was recorded on the 1901 census at a dwelling on Crostwick Road, Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk. This was the household of his parents, Isaac, (aged 30 and a Teamster on Farm from Woodton, Norfolk) and Emma Alice, (aged 27 and from Alburgh, Norfolk). As well as George Isaac, their other children are:-
Ethel Maria…………………aged 7……………..born Kirstead, Norfolk
Florence Mary…………….aged 6……………..born Kirstead, Norfolk
Daisy Elizabeth……………aged 2………………born Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk
Herbert Harry……………..aged 7 months….born Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk
By the time of the 1911 census the family were recorded at Brandon Parva, Wymondham, Norfolk. Isaac and Emma Alice have been married for 18 years and have had 8 children, of which 7 were then still alive. George Isaac, (14) is now working as a Yardboy. As well as Daisy Elisabeth, (12) and Herbert Harry (10) the family has grown with the addition of Evelyn Muriel (5, born Brooke, Norfolk) and Leslie Ronald, (?) (1 and born Downham, Wymondham).
Isaac was either much in demand for his labouring skills, or more likely the frequently changing birthplaces of successive children reflected the harsh reality of uncertain job security.
George is also possibly remembered on the War Memorial at Colton, Norfolk.
breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/colton.html
On the day
21st October 1916
From Edward Blundens “Undertones of War”
(Edward served with this battalion and his postwar memoirs are one of the classics on the subject.)
(Page 128). The clear autumn day was a mixed blessing for Harrison, who, in his determination to send over the companies to take Stuff Trench after as much "rest" as could be found in that Golgotha, had
arranged that they should advance from the reserve trench direct to the assault. And by way of novelty
the assault was to be made soon after noon; the men would therefore have to move forward in broad day
and over a sufficiently long approach—liable to the air's jealous eyes. Watches were synchronized and
reconsigned to the officers, the watch hands slipped round as they do at a dance or a prize distribution;
then all the anxiety came to a height and piercing extreme, and the companies moving in "artillery
formation"—groups presenting a kind of diamond diagram—passed by Harrison's headquarters in foul
Zollern Trench. He stood on the mound roof of his dugout, a sturdy, simple, and martial figure, calling
out to those as they went in terms of faith and love. Lapworth went by at the rear of his company, a
youth with curling golden hair and drawing-room manners, sweetly swinging his most subalternish cane
from its leather thong; and he was the last to go by.
Orders had been admirably obeyed; the waves extended, the artillery gave tongue at the exact moment. The barrage was heavy, but its uproar was diffused in this open region. Harrison had nothing to do but wait, and I with him, for I was acting as his right-hand man in this operation. News of the attack always seems to take years in reaching headquarters,and it almost always gets worse as it is supplemented. At last some messages, wildly scribbled,as may be imagined, but with a clearness of expression that may not be so readily imagined, came to Zollern Trench. One was from Doogan; Stuff Trench was taken, there were few men left,and he had "established bombing blocks." G. Salter had sent back some forty prisoners. A message was brought with some profanity by my old friend C. S.M. Lee, whose ripped shirt was bloody, and who could not frankly recommend Stuff Trench. The concrete emplacement halfway thither, looking so dangerous on the maps, had not been found dangerous,and the gunner's preparation there had been adequate; but, he said, we were being blown out of Stuff Trench. Should we be able to hold it ? We—ll, we was 'olding it when I got this; and so departed Lee, tall,blasphemous, and brave.
Looking about in the now hazier October light, I saw some German prisoners drifting along, and I
stopped them. One elderly gentleman had a jaw which seemed insecurely suspended; which I bound up with more will than skill, and obtained the deep reward of a look so fatherly and hopeful as seldom comes again; others, not wounded, sourly and hesitatingly observed my directions down the communication
trench. As they went, heavy German shells were searching thoroughly there, and I do not think they
ever got through. Their countrymen lay thick in these parts. Even the great shell hole which we hazardously used as a latrine was overlooked by the sprawling corpses of two of them.
Our regimental sergeant major was by this time in disgrace. This man, so swift in spirit and intelligence,
had lifted his water bottle too often in the business of getting the battalion into action; and he had not unreasonably filled the bottle with rum. In the horrid candlelight of the deep dugout he had endeavoured to keep going and with piteous resolution answered what he thought the substance of his colonel's questions; but it would not do, and Sergeant Ashford, the bright and clever signaller, took his place. Again
the night came on; and in the captured trench the remnant who had primed themselves with the spirituous hope of being relieved had to hear that no relief was yet forthcoming. Their experience was to be gauged from the fact that even the company held in support in our original front line, employed on incidental
tasks, was reported to be exhausted, and its commander appealed to Harrison for relief in ultimatory
terms.
Another day arrived, and the men in Stuff Trench had to eat their "iron rations," for we could not supply
them. We had also lost touch with our battalion doctor, who was somewhere toward Thiepval, that
slight protuberance on rising ground westward; and the bearers of the wounded had to find another way
out; yet, we were in possession of Stuff Trench, and the Australians southward held its continuation,
Regina. That evening, gloomy and vast, lit up with savage glares all around, a relieving battalion arrived,
one disposed to quarrel with us as readily as with the Germans. "Take the companies over to Stuff Trench," said Harrison to me, "and see them settled in there." Cassells came with me. We were
lucky, the night being black, to find our way through that unholy Schwaben Redoubt, but by this stage our
polarity sense was awakened and we knew how little to expect of local identifications. At last, after many
doubts, we had passed (in the darkness) a fragment of road metalling which assured me that all was right; the grumbling relief followed our slow steps, which we could not hasten even though one of many shells crashing into our neighbourhood caught a section of the incomers and the moaning cries might have distracted more seasoned tacticians
It was Geoffrey Salter speaking out firmly in the darkness. Stuff Trench—this was Stuff Trench; three
feet deep, corpses under foot, corpses on the parapet. He told us, while still shell after shell slipped in
crescendo wailing into the vibrating ground, that his brother had been killed, and he had buried him;
Doogan had been wounded, gone downstairs into one of the dugout shafts after hours of sweat, and a shell had come downstairs to finish him; "and," says he,"you can get a marvellous view of Grandcourt from this trench. We've been looking at it all day. Where's these men? Let me put 'em into the posts. No, I'll see to it. That the sergeant major?"
(Page 133) If I was weary, what of Salter and his men? Still I hear their slouching feet on the footbridge over the Ancre by Aveluy, where a sad guard of trees dripping with the dankness of autumn had nothing to say but sempiternal syllables, of which we had our own interpretation. The shadows on the water were so profound and unnavigable that one felt them as the environment of a grief of gods, silent and bowed,
unvisitable by breeze or star; and then we were past, and soon asleep in the lee of Aveluy Wood.
The action at Stuff Trench on October 21st and 22d had been the first in which our battalion had
seized and held any of the German area, and the cost had been enormous; a certain amount of pride glowed among the survivors, but that natural vanity was held in check by the fact that we were not yet off
the battlefield.
archive.org/details/undertonesofwar00edmu
Saturday 21st October 1916. Day 113 (Battle of the Ancre Heights).
Thiepval
Zero Hour was set for 12.06pm but the Germans set the ball rolling at 5am with an attack on Schwaben Redoubt, still occupied by 39th Div. 17th King’s Royal Rifle Cops and 14th Hampshires drove the Germans back with grenades.
The division attacked at Zero with 116 Bde assaulting Stuff Trench with a company of 14th Hampshires on the left, 11th Royal Sussex in the centre and 13th Royal Sussex on the right. 117 Bde attacked the Pope’s Nose with 17th Sherwood Foresters and 16th Rifle Brigade with little success
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?9058-The-Som...
Summary of Battalion Casualties
3 Officers Killed
3 Officers Wounded
Others Ranks
Battalion War Diary
11 Killed
186 Wounded
77 Missing
(SDGW, prepared after the war, has 73 men recorded as Killed in Action on this day).
battlefields1418.50megs.com/11sussex.htm
