Private 16220 Frederick James Carpenter

11th Essex Regiment

Killed in Action 15th October 1916

Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 10 D.

Born: Boxmoor, Herts

Enlisted: Clacton-on-Sea

Residence: Clacton-on-Sea

Frederick James Carpenter was a Private in the 11th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. He was born on the 11th of August 1879 in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead. He married Mabel Emily Line on the 28th of September 1901. They had five children. He fought in WW1 and died among 13 others on the 15th of October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. For his service he won the 1914 (Mons) Star issued to British forces who had served in France or Belgium, and Victory Medals.

Background of 11th Battalion

The 11th Battalion was formed at Warley in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of the 71st Brigade in the 24th division. On the 30th of August 1915 they landed at Boulogne.On the 11th of October 1915 they transferred with Brigade to the 6th division.

Summary of Events

On the 11th of October Fredrick James Carpenter and his battalion bivouacked in Trones Wood. Then, on the 13th they relieved the 14th Durham Light Infantry in the trenches. The 14th of October was spent digging assembly trenches in preparation for the next morning. The German soldiers bombed down the trench on the 15th of October, which was on the first objective, and in the second objective they were surrounded, 9 were not seen again.  Their casualties consisted of 3 officers killed, 2 missing, 14 wounded O.R 13 men were killed, Frederick potentially being one of them, 76 were wounded, 13 were wounded and missing and 62 were missing.  Frederick James Carpenter was killed in action on the 15th of October 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France along with 72332 other casualties from the First World War.

Sources:

• 11th Essex Regiment War Diary, catalogue reference WO 95/1616
• Herts at War - a community led project to commemorate the diverse experiences of Hertfordshire during the First World War
• Essex Regiment - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)
• The Bedfords at Trones Wood | Great War Stories (worldwar1luton.com)
• Private Fredrick James Carpenter | War Casualty Details 49043 | CWGC

By Lucy Fidler, Leeya Karavadra and Holly Stewart 

4th July 2024