PRIVATE F. SUGGETT, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT, KILLED IN ACTION 7/6/1917 DURING THE CAPTURE OF WYTSCHAETE. Two: British War and Victory Medals (officially impressed: 10254 PTE F. SUGGETT. R. IR. REGT.). British War Medal attractively toned, otherwise generally Extremely Fine and virtually as struck, both medals with a length of original ribbon.
Group accompanied by extract 1911 census, WW1 Medal Index card and Commonwealth War Graves details.
Frank Suggett was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk in 1894. He is recorded in the 1911 census as a 27 year old, unmarried, commercial traveller and clerk resident in Lambeth, London. Suggett enlisted at Mill Hill, Middlesex and was killed in action, France and Flanders, 7/6/1917.
Soldiers Died confirms previous service as 146729 Royal Field Artillery.
The British War and Victory Medals were Suggett's sole medal entitlement.
The 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was stationed at Devonport when WW1 broke out on 4/8/1914 and saw service initially with 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, landing in France as a unit at Boulogne on 14/8/1914. The battalion transferred to Army Troops on Lines of Communication, 14/10/1914, to the 12th Brigade, 4th Division, on 14/3/1915, to the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, on 26/7/1915, to 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division, on 14/10/1916, to the 188th Brigade, 63rd Division, on 23/4/1918, and was still serving with the latter brigade/division at Spinnes, south of Mons, when the war ended on 11/11/1918, close by where it had first seen action in August 1914.
At the capture of Wytschaete on 7/6/1917 the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was serving in 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division. The following account of the capture of Wytschaete is taken from the regimental history:
"WYTSCHAETE. On the 6th June we heavily bombarded the enemy's position. At 3.10 a.m. on the 7th, our attack started with the explosion of our land mines under the enemy's position. One mine was said by German prisoners to have killed a whole German company. The 16th Division was distributed with the 47th Brigade as right attack, the 49th as left attack and the 48th in divisional reserve. The 49th Brigade was disposed with the 7/8th Royal Irish Fusiliers on the right and the 7th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on the left. Their objective was the successive capture of the "red and "blue" lines and the consolidation of these when captured. Two hours after the capture of the blue" line the Royal Irish were to advance from it and capture and consolidate the "black" line. The 8th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were to provide moppers up", carrying parties, etc. To each of the attacking battalions two machine guns were attached to protect their flanks from counter-attack during the assault. Two Stokes mortars were also attached to each battalion to assist in overcoming local opposition as required. The Royal Irish were disposedC Company on the right, D Company on the left, B in support and A as moppers up". The staff work in connection with the attack was most careful and detailed. As no reliance could be placed on finding drinkable water behind the enemy's lines, each man carried two full water bottles and arrangements were made to send forward water in petrol tins after the capture of the "black" line. The attack of the brigade proceeded without a hitch and all objectives were captured by the various units at the times laid down. The heat during the day was intense but, owing to a shower during the previous night, there was no dust. The Royal Irish captured over 300 prisoners. Their losses were Captain R.A. Belemore died of wounds, Captain J. L. Cotter and 2nd Lieutenant D. J. Kelleher wounded, 17 men killed, 130 wounded, 2 missing, 3 gassed and 4 shell shockeda total of 3 officers and 156 men. The 16th Division captured the village and wood of Wytschaete and the crest of the hill, which was most valuable for future operations."
