Name
Frederick George Elbourne
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/10/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12212
Norfolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 30 and 31
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green, All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mill, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
Pre War
Frederick Elbourne had been one of the Croxley Church Lads who enlisted early.
He was the son of Joseph and Louisa Elizabeth Elbourne of 34 Scots Hill (previously, of Croxley Hall cottages). He was born in Croxley on 2 April 1895 and baptised at All Saints’ church on 6th October 1895. His father was a ploughman and farm labourer and Frederick worked at Croxley Mill as a lad. He was the eldest of five children and only 20 when he died.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Frederick disembarked in France on 30th May 1915 and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos on 13th October 1915. On that day the bombardment to be followed by the attack commenced at noon. The Germans immediately retaliated. The smoke screen cleared away too quickly and as it lifted the enemy observed the approaching troops and manned his trenches and stood ready. The 35th Brigade had been allotted the capture of the Quarries. In the attack on the south-western face the 7th Norfolk’s right company failed to gain the enemy’s trench owing to heavy fire, but Captain Ottar and about 60 men entered it further to the left and established themselves there. The 5th Berkshires with half a company of the 7th Norfolks advanced to reinforce the attack and regain touch with Captain Ottar, but were unable to reach the position, although a little later some men succeeded in crawling under the barricade and joined in the fighting.
The losses on that day fell heavily on the 5th Berkshires and the 7th Norfolks.
Acknowledgments
Tanya Britton, Brian Thomson Croxley Green in the First World War Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014
