Name
Robert Fulks
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
45650
Suffolk Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panels 40 to 41 and 162 to 162A
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Wigginton Village Memorial,
Not on the Heronsgate memorial,
Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Robert was born in Tring in 1887 the son of James and Dorcas Louisa (nee Eggleton) Fulks.
On the 1891 census James is described as a Farmer’s son and he and Dorcas were living Hastoe, Tring with their four children. In 1901 they were in Fox Road, Wigginton now with seven children including Robert age 13, a Poultry Boy on Farm. The 1911 census has Robert age 23, a Parcel Porter, boarding with Charles Anderson and family at 109 Wells House Road, Acton.
Robert married Emma Hudson in 1914 in Stockton and their daughter Mabel was born in 1915 in Willesden. Records of Railwaymen who died in the Great War name Robert as the son of James and Louisa Fulks of Egremont, Alberta, Canada (so presumably they emigrated) and husband of Emma Fulks of Beaumont House, Heronsgate.
Emma did not remarry and in 1939 was living 34 Harold Road, Acton with her daughter Mabel and her husband Charles Everett.
Wartime Service
The 4th Battalion was formed August 1914 in Ipswich part of the Norfolk and Suffolk Brigade East Anglian Division.
They landed Le Havre 9th of November 1914 coming under the command of Jullundur Brigade 3rd (Lahore) Division. On the 15th of November 1915 the Battalion transferred to 46th Brigade 15th (Scottish) Division and on the 22nd of February 1916 to 98th Brigade 33rd Division.
During 1916 the 4th saw action during the Battle of the Somme and in 1917 the Arras Offensive, Actions on the Hindenberg Line and Operations on the Flanders Coast. Robert was killed during the 3rd Battle of Ypres which lasted from July to November 1917. On the 26th of September 1917 the 4th was in action in the trenches in the vicinity of Reninghelst. They suffered heavy casualties early in the day under intense shellfire, but later made some progress capturing two machine guns and thirteen prisoners. Total battalion casualties on the 25th/26th were 45 killed, 157 wounded, 63 missing.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £1-16s-8d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity which went to his widow Emma.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Stuart Osborne
Mike Collins, Gareth Hughes
