Frederick Feek

• Born: 19 Feb 1891 (from Service Record)
• Where: Tharston, Norfolk
• Enlisted: 9 Sep 1914
• Rank: Private
• Service No.: 15565
• Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
• Service : 9th Battalion
• Date of Death: 26 Sep 1915
• Cemetery: Loos Memorial (CWGC link)
• Grave Ref.: Panel 30 and 31

References sources:

• CWGC - including some cemetery documents
• Forces War Records - subscription site
• FindMyPast - subscription site

Further Info:

• Son of Henry and Susan Maria (nee Ludkins) Feek
• 1891 Census: Stratton St. Michael, Norfolk age 0 (RG12 Piece 1545 Folio 111 Page 8)
• 1891: baptism Stratton St. Michael, Norfolk on 28 June - from FamilySearch (link)
• 1901 Census: Hardwick, Norfolk, age 9 (RG13 Piece 1860 Folio 61 Page 6)
• 1911 Census: Stratton St. Mary, Norfolk, age 20, shepherd on farm (RG14 PN11466 RD230 SD3 ED12 SN50)

Private 15565, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 26 September 1915. Born Garston, Norfolk, enlisted Norwich. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 30 and 31.

FREDERICK FEEK - Private in the 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment*; Service No. [CWGC] 15565 Killed 26 September 1915; Commemorated on Panel 30 and 31, Loos Memorial - The Loos Memorial forms the side and back of Dud Corner Cemetery and commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay. The village of Loos en Gohelle is 5 km n.w. of Lens

[Information from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 on FindMyPast]

Frederick Feek born Garston [sic - should be Tharston]; Service No.15565; Enlisted Norwich; 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, formed at Norwich Sept 1914 - K3 - to Shoreham in 71st Brigade, 24th Division; January 1915 billets in Brighton; February 1915 Shoreham; June 1915 Blackdown, Aldershot; 30 August 1915 landed at Boulogne; 11 Oct 1915 71st Brigade to 6th Division; 11 November 1918 71st Brigade 6th Division France; Bohain. Killed in action 26 September 1915; theatre of war France and Flanders

Medal Rolls - Killed in Action 26 September 1915. Awarded Victory and British Medals and 1915 Star. Theatre of War France - entered 30 August 1915.

Some family history for the Feek family: Frederick Feek was born on 19 February 1891 and baptised at Stratton St Michael on 28 June 1891, the son of Henry and Maria Feek. The family had lived there since c. 1883. Henry and Maria Feek had a son William Henry born 12 July 1883, three daughters born and buried there between 1884 and 1888, and a third son Arthur Edward born and baptised there in 1893. At 1891 they lived at Rays Green, Brick Kiln Lane, Stratton St Michael.

At 1901 Census Frederick was with his parents and two brothers in Chapel Lane, Hardwick and at 1911 Census, he was aged 20, still with his parents, living at Wood Green, Stratton St Mary (Long Stratton). Frederick worked as a Shepherd. Between 1914 and 1920 Henry and Maria Feek lived in Fundenhall, with sons Frederick and Arthur Edward as they were both unmarried. This is presumably the reason Frederick Feek's name appears on the Fundenhall War Memorial.

So, although Frederick Feek appears to have been born in Stratton St Michael (1891 Census) and baptised there (Stratton St Michael Baptism registers), the 1901 and 1911 Census returns both state he was born in Tharston as do his attestation papers of 9 September 1914.

Henry and Maria Feek were both born in Tharston. Henry was baptised on 2 January 1860 at St Mary , Tharston (parish register) to George and Hannah Feek, and probably had older half-brothers George and William and older half-sisters Sarah and Matilda.

Henry married Maria Ludkin(s) between January and March 1883 In Depwade Reg. Dist. (marriage certificate NOT seen). At the 1881 Census, Henry Feek was aged 20, unmarried, worked as a groom, and lived with his parents George and Hannah at Stratton Road, Tharston. At 1861 and 1871 Censuses, Henry Feek was with his parents in Tharston and at High Common, Tharston respectively.

Henry Feek's wife Maria Ludkin was probably born Susan Maria between July and September 1862 in Tharston to Robert and Martha Ludkin who, in 1871, was a Team Man and lived with his wife and family also at High Common, Tharston. Robert Ludkin had been born in Tharston c. 1833 and his wife Martha in New Buckenham c. 1832. At the 1881 Census, Maria Ludkin was aged 19, unmarried, worked as a Housemaid, in the Snowdon Drapery establishment at St George Colegate, Norwich.

George and Hannah Feek were born in Tharston and Tasburgh respectively. Hannah nee Steward was George Feek's second wife and they had probably married between October and December 1854 Depwade Reg. Dist. (Marriage Certificate NOT seen). Hannah Steward had a son John born on 12 February and baptised on 17 February 1853 at the Depwade Union Workhouse, Pulham Market. At 1861 and 1871 Censuses, George and Hannah Feek lived in Tharston and at High Common, Tharston respectively and they had two daughters Elizabeth and Georgeanna; and at 1881 Census George and Hanah with family, lived at Stratton Road, Tharston.

By 1891 Census George and Hannah lived in Wacton Road, Tharston, with unmarried daughter Georgeanna. It is probable that George Feek died aged 82, between January and March 1898 - presumably in Tharston - (Death Certificate not seen) and widow Hannah lived with her married daughter Georgeanna (wife of Ephraim Womack) in Plump Road, Tharston. At 1911 Census, Hannah Feek was still in Tharston and in the Electoral Registers for 1913 to 1915, she lived at Highfield Cottages, Tharston. She probably died aged 84 and probably in Tharston, between January and March 1917 (Death Certificate not seen).

George Feek's first marriage had been to Rachel Pearce in the first Quarter of 1845 in Depwade Registration District (Marriage Certificate not seen) and they had daughters Sarah Ann (baptised 25 June 1845) and Matilda (baptised 1 July 1849) both at St Mary the Virgin, Tharston. They may well have had other sons George and William born in Tharston c. 1852 and 1853 respectively. At 1851 Census, George and Rachel Feek lived in Tharston. Rachel Feek died between July and September 1853 (Death Certificate not seen)

John and Ann Feeke lived in Tharston at 1841 Census with their ages given as 60 (perhaps rounded down), so a birthdate of c. 1781 might be appropriate, perhaps also in Tharston. They had George with age given as 20 (?rounded down), Charles (25) and Elizabeth (15) living with them. It is probable that John Feek died between July and September 1847 - Depwade Registration District. (Death Certificate not seen). Not known when Ann Feeke died.