BORN HULL 14/02/1892. SON OF JOSEPH MOULD (1862-1917) & ANNE ELIZA MOULD (1861-1933), 15 HAWORTH STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). ONE OF 15 CHILDREN. HUSBAND OF MARTHA BOYDON (Pattie) (1888-1963), AND DAUGHTER ENA MOULD (1915-1978) LIVED AT 78 WHARNCLIFFE STREET, CHANTERLANDS AVENUE, HULL.
A FORMER BLUNDELL’S PAINT WORKER. FRED ENLISTED IN HULL. JOINING THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON THE SOMME, ON 15/09/1916, AGED 24. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, MARTHA. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE THIEPVAL The Mould Family c 1911MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING. HE SERVED WITH HIS FIVE BROTHERS, WHO WERE PICTURED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. FRED IS SEATED ON THE LEFT.
NOTE: FRED IS LISTED AS PRIVATE, FREDERICK MOULDS, 200818, EYR, IN ‘SOLDIERS DIED’ RECORDS. HOWEVER, HE WAS CHRISTENED, MARRIED AND HIS ARMY EFFECTS ARE IN THE NAME OF ‘MOULD’.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE WITHERNSEA WW1 MEMORIAL.
“After training, 50th (Northumbrian) Division moved into the line on 9/10 September ready to participate in the Battle of Flers–Courcelette on 15 September; however, the 1/4th East Yorkshires lost 11 killed and 51 wounded to enemy shellfire between 9 and 13 September. During the night of 14/15 September the battalion moved into Swansea Trench. The artillery had been bombarding the enemy lines for three days; at Zero hour the guns would commence firing a Creeping barrage, which 150th Bde would follow. 1/4th East Yorkshires was the right-hand battalion of the brigade, tasked with seizing and holding the Starfish Line. The battalion formed up in four lines of three platoons from B, C and D Companies, while A Company provided carrying parties in the rear. The attack was preceded by two Mark I tanks, making their first appearance on the battlefield. The tanks, D24 and D25, crossed Swansea Trench at 06.03 and began making their forward through lanes left in the barrage. At 06.15 they crossed the rise over which the East Yorkshires were to attack, and at 06.20 (Zero) the battalion began its advance. D24 (‘Male’, equipped with two 6-pounder guns) straddled the first objective (Switch Trench) and subjected the defenders to enfilade fire, while D25 (‘Female’, with four Vickers machine guns) moved on to do the same at Hook Trench, causing the Germans to flee. 150th Brigade sent many frightened prisoners back to the British lines without escort. 1/4th East Yorkshires reached Switch trench without difficulty in 10 minutes, and B and D Companies advanced to Hook Trench. The tanks moved on again at Zero + 40 minutes (07.00). D24 was then hit by two shells, one of which disabled a track, so the crew disembarked with their Hotchkiss light machine guns and joined the infantry. D25 continued to a sunken road, and after another pause resumed its advance along the edge of Martinpuich, silencing German machine guns, before returning to refuel. However, 149th (Northumberland) Bde to the right had been less successful, and with its flank exposed 1/4th East Yorkshires had been unable to get beyond Martin Trench, reporting the Starfish Line to be full of German troops. Next morning 150th Bde made another attempt on the Starfish Line, with B and D Companies attacking, but with their flank still open they were pinned down between Martin and Starfish, and the whole brigade was shelled all day. 1/4th East Yorkshires were withdrawn during the night of 16/17 September. The battalion had losses of 32 killed, 205 wounded and 13 missing, leaving a front line strength of just 14 officers and 373 other ranks. Even when the companies rejoined the rest I Male tank, preparing to advance at Flers–Courcelette.of the battalion in the transport lines, it only amounted to 18 officers and 457 other ranks.”
Centre row left to right. Annie Mould, Joseph Francis Mould, Edna Mould, Anne Eliza Mould, Joseph Mould, Beatrice Emily Mould and Hilda Mould. Front row left to right. Amy Mould, Eric Mould, Ethel Mould and Harry Mould.
Many thanks to Neill Potts – neillrpotts@gmail.com for the family information and photographs sent on 09/11/2017. http://ancstry.me/2hh27Pf
