Conrad Percy Catchpole

A Lance Corporal with the 10th Battalion, Conrad died on 11th of August 1917 at the age of 20. 

Conrad was born at Kessingland in 1897, a son of John and Emma Catchpole. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 16 May 1897 and his family lived at Zulu Cottages, Kessingland. By 1911 they were living at 7 Broad View Villas, Oulton Broad.

Conrad volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Essex Regiment, service number 14646, and was posted to the 10th Battalion. Conrad arrived in France with the 10th Battalion on 25 July 1915. 

Conrad was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 10 November 1916) and this would have been for his part in the 10th Battalion’s activities during the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916.  

On 11 August 1917 the 10th Battalion were holding front line positions near a feature known as Stirling Castle. During the day a patrol, under Second Lieutenant Heup, went out to reconnoitre and occupy and enemy strong point and they succeeded in this task. It seems that Conrad was killed in action during the patrol action.  

Conrad’s sole legatee was his sister Martha Oldman.