Frank Cullingford

A Lance Corporal with the 1/1st Battalion, Frank died on 8th of August 1918 at the age of 23. 

Frank was born at Lowestoft on 2 January 1895, a son of Charles and Jane Cullingford. On 7 June 1898, Frank became a pupil at Kirkley School, and his family lived at 173 London Road, and this was still their home in 1901. By 1911 they were living at Fernleigh, Carlton Road, and Frank was a shop assistant at a grocer’s. Later, after his father’s death, Frank’s mother lived at 13 Orchard Street, Dereham Road, Norwich.    

Frank enlisted in the Army at Saxmundham. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 2382 and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion in France and was subsequently posted to the 7th Battalion with service number 43287. On 9 May 1918, 11 officers and 408 men of the 7th Battalion transferred to the 1/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment.

At 4.20 a.m. on 8 August a barrage began and at 6.20 a.m. A and B Companies began an assault on a trench to the west of Morlancourt. Initially it was reported that the objectives had been taken, but soon afterwards both companies were back in the old front line having sustained heavy casualties. At 10.15 a.m. C and D Companies were ordered to assemble in order to make afresh attack. A supportive barrage was laid down at 12.15 p.m. and C and D Companies left their assembly positions. At 12.28 the attacking waves charged the position and at 12.35 the second wave advanced to the second objective. From the two objectives 316 prisoners were captured along with 14 machine-guns and 10 trench mortars. By 12.50 the battalion were able to begin consolidation work.

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: two killed, three wounded
Other ranks: 16 killed, 167 wounded

Frank was killed in action on 8 August.