Frederick James Willgoss

A Private with 1st Bn., Frederick died on 4th of May 1915 at the age of 22. 

Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 12 August 1892, a son of Charles and Hannah Harriet Willgoss. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 31 August 1892 and his family lived at 19 Christchurch Square. By 1911 his family were living at 9 Spurgeon's Score and Frederick was a herring fisherman. Later his mother lived at 12 Waveney Terrace, Whapload Road, Lowestoft.

Frederick married Clara Jane Hitter at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 13 August 1913. At that time Frederick lived at 9 Spurgeon's Score, and Clara at 13 Milton Road, and Frederick worked as a fisherman. Clara died in 1914.

Frederick volunteered and joined the Army at Lowestoft. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. He arrived in France on 14 April 1915 to join the 1st Battalion. 

On the 29 April the Battalion was heavily shelled while digging new trenches, which they occupied on May 2. The intervening days were miserably spent as the dugouts were half full of water and the hostile aircraft and artillery continually busy. On May 2 “A” Company, parading to occupy the new trenches, sustained thirteen casualties. On the 4th the Battalion was bombarded with trench mortars, and one officer and twelve men were killed.

Frederick was reported missing on May 4 1915 and by January 1917 it was concluded that he had been killed in action on that date.