Frank Victor Burwood

A Sergeant with the 9th Battalion, Frank died on 16th of September 1916 at the age of 19. 

Frank was born at Oulton Broad on 29 January 1897, a son of Robert and Ellen Burwood. In 1901 his family lived at 95 Clemence Street, Lowestoft, and Frank attended Roman Hill School. In 1904 his family moved to 30 Kimberley Road, Lowestoft, Between 18 April 1904 and 15 December 1904 Frank attended Saint John's School, Lowestoft. By 1911 Frank and his family were living at 12 Pakefield Street and Frank worked as a coal carter. Later his parents' address was 12 Coronation Terrace, Pakefield, South Lowestoft.

Frank enlisted in the Army, at Lowestoft, during the early stages of World War One. The Lowestoft Journal of 2 January 1915 lists him among those who have volunteered for Kitchener's Army. Frank arrived in France, as part of the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, on 31 August 1915 and by that time he was already a Lance Corporal.  

On 13 September 1916 the 9th Battalion were in trenches near Guinchy on the Somme. At 6.20 a.m. they attacked the German lines and were able to capture two lines of German trenches, however, the enemy artillery and machine-gun fire inflicted heavy casualties. The situation could not be cleared up and so, at 7.30 a.m. A Company made an attack on the German strongpoint known as The Quadrilateral, but they failed to reach their objective due to enemy machine-gun fire. By the end of the day two officers and 15 men had been killed and 10 officers and 185 men wounded. 

On 15 September the Battalion made an attack on the enemy trenches with a final objective between Lesbouchs and Morval. The Battalion were to advance at 7.50 a.m. There was heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire and half of C Company could not even leave the trench. The rest of the Battalion were held up by heavy machine-gun fire from The Quadrilateral. There were many casualties, including Lieutenant-Colonel Mack. During the day the Battalion lost four officers and 35 men killed, seven officers and 99 men wounded, and two officers and 93 men missing. 

The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that Frank was killed in action on 16 September 1916. But the 9th Battalion war diary states that there were no casualties on 16 September, and it can be inferred that he died between 13 and 15 September.

In 1928 Frank's body was discovered at map reference 57c.T.14.d.1.4. He was identified by his uniform, boots, and an identity disc. Frank was exhumed and reburied at Serre Road Cemetery No.2.