Frederick James Pluck

A Private with 11th Company, Frederick died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 26. 

Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 1 March 1890, a son of Ernest and Caroline Pluck. In 1891 his family lived at Lake Lothing Terrace, 2 Laundry Lane, Lowestoft. By 18918 his family were living at 12 Beckham Road and this was Frederick’s home for the rest of his life. Frederick attended Hervey Street School and, on 7 February 1898, became a pupil at Saint John’s School. On 4 February 1904 he joined Roman Hill School. 

Frederick began working for the Great Eastern Railway in 1908. Initially he was a greaser. In 1909 he became a cleaner and, from July 1912, an assistant fireman. 

Frederick volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 18937. In 1916 he went to France and was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, service number 8991, and joined 11 Company. 

On 1 July 1916 11 Company provided machine-gun support for the attack of 11th Brigade 4 Division on the Redan Ridge and Beaumont-Hamel, Somme. Frederick’s company lost three officers killed, one died of wounds, and seven other ranks killed, 63 wounded, and nine missing.

Frederick was reported wounded and missing on 1 July. His body was found, possibly as early as May 1917, and he was buried at Serre No 2 Cemetery.

Frederick's brother-in-law, Edward Albrow, died in an air raid in 1943.