Frederick Edmund Crake

A Private with the 9th Battalion, Frederick died on 12th of September 1917 at the age of 27. 

Frederick, also known as Freddie, was born at Pakefield on 5 April 1890, a son of Benjamin and Ada Crake. In 1891 his family lived at 86 Pakefield Street, where his father kept a butcher’s shop. This was his parents’ home throughout Frederick’s life. On 1 July 1895 Frederick became a pupil at Kirkley School and, on 13 April 1904, he became a pupil at Lowestoft School of Science. In 1911 Frederick was a butcher’s assistant and believed to have worked with his father. 

In 1916 Frederick married Sarah Phyllis Savory: this was registered in the Mutford district. By June 1917 Sarah, often known as Phyllis, was living at 54 Wilson Road, and in 1921 she lived at 125 Worthing Road. In 1930 Sarah married Alan Cook. 

Frederick enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 32052, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France. Subsequently he was posted to the 9th Battalion.  

In September 1917 the 9th Battalion spent time in support, and then front line, trenches in the vicinity of Bracquemont, near Noeux-les-Mines, and Mazingarbe.  

It is not possible to state exactly when, or how, Frederick was wounded. He died of wounds on 12 September and is buried at Chocques. For several years Chocques was the base of No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, hence it is likely that he died at that Clearing Station. Chocques is just a few miles north-east of Noeux-les-Mines. 

Note, in some sources Frederick’s middle name is incorrectly given as Edward.