Private Frederick Walter Upcraft, (Feltwell) Queen Royal West Surreys KiA 1916

There is a family headstone in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Feltwell, with the following inscription.

In loving memory of
CHARLOTTE ANN
the beloved wife of
LEVI UPCRAFT
who died 30th Nov, 1930(?)
Aged 67 years

Also their son,
FREDERICK WALTER,
Killed in Action in France
3rd Sept. 1916.
Aged 25 years.

Also of LEVI
her beloved husband
Died 1st July 1938
Aged 75 years.

On the Feltwell War Memorial he is recorded as F.W. Upcraft, Queens Royal W.S.
On the Church Roll of Honour in St Mary he is also recorded as F.W. Upcraft.

Private UPCRAFT, FREDERICK WALTER
Service Number:…………………… G/9151
Died:……………………………….. 04/09/1916
Aged:……………………………... 25
Unit:………………………………."A" Coy. 2nd Bn.
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Son of Mr. L. and Mrs. C. A. Upcraft, of Oak St., Feltwell, Norfolk.
Commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/817717/upcraft,-frede...

SDGW records that Private Frederick Walter Upcroft was Killed in Action on the 4th September 1916 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 2nd Battalion Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was born and resident Feltwell, Norfolk, and enlisted Norwich.

(Note date discrepancy on CWGC and SDGW from that shown on the headstone).

The Medal Index Card for Private G/9151 Frederick W. Upcraft, The Queen’s Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/20/127558
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5664748
He qualified for the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. The related Medal Roll shows in only serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal West Surreys.

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

No match on Picture Norfolk, the county image archive.

No obvious Missing Person enquiry received by the International Red Cross.

The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 9151 Frederick Walter Upcraft who died on the 4th September 1916.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Upcraft&Su...

The Army Register of Soldiers Effects records that Frederick was killed in action on the 4th September 1916. The balance of his pay was sent to his sole legatee, his mother Charlotte A., in January 1917. His War Gratuity was also subsequently sent to Charlotte in August 1919.

1890/91 – Birth and baptism…………………

The birth of a Frederick Walter Upcraft was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Thetford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1891. The, as now, you had 42 days after the event to register the birth with the Civil Authorities without facing prosecution and a fine. A child registered at the start of January could therefore have been born as early as the middle of the preceding November.

The baptism of a Frederick Walter Upcraft, no date of birth recorded, took place in the Parish of St Mary and St Nicholas, Feltwell on the 25th February 1891. His parents were Levi, a Shoemaker, and Charlotte. The family live in the parish.
Source: www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818f8fde93790eca32d25f...

The most likely marriage of his parents took place in the Mildenhall District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4) of 1889. This was when a Levi Upcraft married a Charlotte Ann Fyson

1891 Census of England and Wales

The 3 month old ‘Fredrick’ W. Upcraft, born Feltwell, was recorded living in a dwelling at Feltwell. This was the household of his parents, Levi, (aged 28, a Shoemaker, born Feltwell) and Charlotte A, (aged 28 born Cavenham, Suffolk). There is only the three of them in the household.

1901 Census of England and Wales

The Upcraft family were now recorded living on Oak Street, Feltwell. Along with father Levi, (38, Shoemake & Postman) and mother Charlotte Ann, (38) are children Frederick Walter, (10), Arthur Charles, (9) and Florence Lucy, (3) – all born Feltwell.

1911 Census of England and Wales

The Upcraft family were still living on Oak Street. Parents Levi, (48, Shoemaker) and Charlotte Ann, (48), have been married for 21 years and have had 4 children, of which 3 were then still alive, Still single and living with them are ’Fredrick’ Walter, (20), a Farm Labourer, , Arthur Charles, (17, Shoemaker) and Florence Lucy, (13).

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers’ maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows no likely additional children of Levi and Charlotte.

On the day………………………….

From the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated September 21 1916.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Upcraft, of Feltwell, received on Tuesday official notification that their son, Private Frederick Walter Upcraft, Royal West Kent Regt., was killed in action on September 4th.

Note Unit discrepancy

At first glance the Battalion War Diary for the 2nd Battalion, The Queens Own (Royal West Surreys), holds no likely explanation for Fredericks’ death or that he was even serving with them. These are entries for the day of his death and the day before.

3rd September 1916

Battalion War Diary

3.40 a.m. 1st R.W. Fus. had taken over the line; although one Coy 2nd Qns, (“C”) remains in the line until 8.30 a.m. owing to a mistake in not being informed when the relieving Regt. were in position.
Off. 25. O.R. 724. 2 Lieut. J. INNES.
Bn. moved to F.20.a via MONTAUBAN & went into camp here =

4th September 1916.

Battalion War Diary

Bn. resting all day.
Off.25 O.R.725. Rejoined 1.
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/QW00219160902.pdf

The daily counts would seem to indicate that it’s unlikely a casualty would slip through. That leads to another possibility – the 2nd Battalion appear to have been in action on the 30th September during which time they suffered
Officers – 1 Killed, 4 Wounded, 1 Missing
Other Ranks – 28 Killed, 74 Wounded, 11 Missing

They were relieved from the front line and went into a rest area on the 3rd. The 4th was the first day a proper count could have been taken rather than a tally of various returns. Frederick could then have been recorded as Missing at that point and subsequently that date has become his official date of death.

Note – this is (informed) speculation and there could be many other explanations.

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Feltwell (show map)

Taken on: June 13, 2018

Tags:

Feltwell

Feltwell St Nicholas

England

In memoria

Dulce et decorum est

Old Soldiers rest in peace

Remember them

The Norfolk Dead

Frederick Upcraft

Frederick Walter Upcraft

2nd Battalion The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment

04/09/1916

4th September 1916

Charlotte Ann Upcraft

Levi Upcraft « less

Sets appears in: • In memoria • Dulce et Decorum Est..Pro Patria Mori more » • Feltwell « less

Groups appears in: • Church Graveyard UK and Ireland • The Great War 1914 - 1918 more » • Old Soldiers (rest in peace) • The Norfolk Dead « less

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