Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | Pier&Face 10C 10D & 11A. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.139 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 29A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Mentioned in Despatches | ||
Family :
Son of Mrs. Wragg, of Swadlincote, Derbyshire, and the late John Downing Wragg, J.P.Education & Career :
Educated at Marlborough College and was a member and Director of the firms of Messrs. T. Wragg & Sons, and Mssrs. James Woodward Ltd. His portrait image appears in the Marlborough Archives.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) |
1/5th Battalion August 1914 : in Derby. Part of Notts. & Derby Brigade in the North Midland Division. Moved on mobilisation to Harpenden and went on in November 1914 to Braintree. 25 February 1915 : landed in France. 12 May 1915 : formation became the 139th Brigade in 46th (North Midland) Division |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
The Gommecourt attack was a diversion intended to distract the Germans whilst the main Somme assault commenced on July 1st 1916. It did not suceed and made little impact on Germans actions on the main front. In his book 'A Lack of Offensive Spirit? The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt', Alan MacDonald describes the action in which Major Frederick WRAGG died. The report of C Company's involvement in the attack was composed by Lt N Howard as the new OC, Major WRAGG having been killed in the German wire early in the attack. 1st Wave; Lost direction going across and were hung up on the German wire but retired to shell holes shortly afterwards as there was nobody on their left or right. 2nd Wave; Was with Maj WRAGG also lost direction but arrived in the German wire with very few casualties. At this point two machine guns were opened on them and the men got down into shell holes by orders of Maj WRAGG. The second wave consisting of No 9 Platoon was led by the OC, C Coy and 2/Lt H F Godfrey the platoon commander. Although they lost their way in the smoke they arrived at the German wire they found it difficult to get through and started taking casualties. Privates Brough, Beresford and Jeffcoate testified to seeing WRAGG hit in the shoulder by a machine gun bullet. Beresford remembers the Major shouting to his men to get down but then, according to Brough, he got up to see what was going on and was caught by a machine gun burst and was killed instantly. Major WRAGG was initially posted as 'missing' but eventually fell to Captain John Kerr to write to WRAGG's father and tell the true story. Major WRAGG lived in Swadlincote Derbyshire and was Commisiioned 2/Lt 1908. He raised the original Swadlincote Company of the Battalion. Mentioned in Despatches Jan 1916. His brother Lt Norman John Wragg, Att 1/South Staffords, died of wounds 18th July 1916. Captain J L GREEN the Medical Officer attached to WRAGG's Battalion (1/5 Sherwood Foresters) was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions on the 1st July 1916.
Citations & Commemorations :
The Brigadier-General wrote: It will be, I am sure, some small comfort to you to know that he fell gallantly leading his men after he was wounded. He was a very gallant officer, and set a wonderful example by his cheerfulness under difficulties and discomfort to the younger officers and men," and his Commanding Officer: " The only news I have of him is that he was gallantly leading his men when he was shot down by machine gun. He served with me from the commencement of the war, and a braver more useful officer I never had the privilege of serving with". The Chaplain also wrote: " He has been so splendid all through, beloved and respected by mean of all ranks," and Sergt.Major Maddocks, in a letter signed by the remnant of the company who survived the action, wrote: "Many times have members of H Company said they would follow Old Freddie through fire. He died leading what was left of us through fire. It is the death we know he would have preferred and he died gloriously".Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Carnarvon No. 1739 E.C. | Derbyshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
5th December 1905 | 12th January 1906 | 9th February 1906 |
Twice Past Master of the Carnarvon Lodge No. 1739.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley