Francis Alfred Gouldby

A Private with 1/4th Bn., Frank died on 12th of March 1915 at the age of 19.

Frank was born at Lowestoft on 8 January 1896, a son of Robert and Henrietta Gouldby. His given names were Francis Alfred, but he was often known as Frank and this is the name he used when he joined the Army. He was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 5 April 1896. Throughout Frank's life his family lived at 51 Stanley Street, Lowestoft.  

Frank was a pupil at Hervey Street School before attending Saint John's School, Lowestoft, from 2 February 1903. In 1911 he worked as a house boy - domestic. 

In 1914 Frank worked for Jewson and Co., at Lowestoft. He volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 1/4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, which was the local territorial infantry unit. He enlisted in late August/early September 1914. 

Frank arrived in Frank with the Battalion on 8 November 1914. 

On 11 March 1915 the Battalion received orders to move up to Nueve Chapelle to support the troops ahead occupying the German trenches. The Battalion advanced, toward Bois du Biez, in three lines. The advance was delayed and, at the end of the day, the Battalion was withdrawn to billets at Rue des Berceaux. During the day the Battalion had 20 officers men killed and 102 wounded. Overnight one man was killed and three wounded due to enemy shelling.

On 12 March the Battalion were ordered to advance on Nueve Chapelle but this order was cancelled, and they were again instructed to advance on Bois du Biez. By this time the Battalion had been reduced to 173 men. The attack was delayed and the Battalion remained in their start positions throughout the day. During 12 March 1 officer was killed, and 5 wounded; 7 N.C.O.s and men were killed and 84 wounded; and 3 men reported missing. 

Frank was reported missing on 12 March 1915. By May 1916 it had been concluded that he must have been killed in action on that date. 

Interestingly a note in the Lowestoft Journal of 10 July 1915, page 8, states that Frank had died of wounds at Nueve Chappelle. Presumably his family had received that information, possibly from one of Frank's comrades.  

Frank's sister, Marguerite Rand, died in an air raid in 1942.