No.GS/48116, Private Frederick Charles DURRANT
Aged 20
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Frederick Charles Durrant was born in Haverhill [Risbridge Q2-1897 4a:738], son of Jabez and Annie DURRANT (née BARKER). 1901 census...Aged 4, he was at 46 Queens Street, Haverhill with his father Jabez DURRANT [29] a master baker born Mellis, Suffolk; his mother Annie [35] born Castle Camps; brothers Emil Jabez [8] and Donald H. [6] both born in Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm worker, he was in Sturmer with his parents (father now beer retailer and farmer; brothers Donald H (shop assistant) and Bertram [8] born Halstead and a visitor, Julia Barker [21] born Castle Camps. Of the 8 siblings, 4 had died |
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Arthur enlisted in Colchester, seemingly the same day as Thomas Ford.
The 11th Royal Fusiliers war diary for the 10th August is too detailed for this project, but in summary they were involved in one of those minor operations that tend to take place after great battles, in this instance the 3rd Battle of Ypres. They were the right flank of 54th Brigade, with their right flank of the Ypres-Menin road. At 4:30 am they advanced toward Glencorse Wood but came under machine gun fire from Inverness Copse. This forced the right flank to the left. On the left they did penetrate Glencorse Wood, but a gap had opened up between them and the neighbouring Brigade. In less than two hours all their officers were casualties. A skilful counter attack by bombers made it impossible to maintain their position. Germans coming out of Inverness Copse almost got behind them and they had to retire and establish themselves just east of Clapham Junction. Many men were cut off then when they were relieved at 4 am on the 11th and went back to Dickebusch huts they had lost 17 officers and 328 other ranks. CWGC records show that of the 112 killed, only 19 have known graves. |
photo courtesy Robert Mason
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details