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Frederick William CORKE 10 Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
1883-10th April 1918

Born in Wrotham, Kent, Frederick Corke’s home was now Cray Bank, North Cray. Previously his
family had been in the grocery business in Sussex. By 1911, Frederick Corke earned his living as a
grocer, as well as being the proprietor of the Crayford Sand & Gravel Pits. He was very well known in
Sidcup, especially as he was a Deacon of Foots Cray Baptist Church in Sidcup Hill. He married Mable
in 1910 and the couple had four children.

Feeling increasingly pressured to play his part in the country’s struggle, Frederick Corke enlisted and
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on 23 June 1917 was gazetted to 2 Temporary Lieutenant in the Labour Corp. Five days later he
went to France where he joined the Chinese Labour Corps. On being transferred from the Chinese
Labour Corps, his men gave Lt. Corke a special letter of thanks, written in Chinese, showing their
appreciation of his leadership.

Frederick Corke came home on leave in November 1917 and shortly after returning to France he was
transferred to the Infantry. Later, with the urgent need to provide men for the battle zone, he was given
only five weeks training before joining his Artillery Company in France.
In February 1918, he was posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment and the same evening was sent up to the
trenches where he was soon having to take part against the great German offensive. From the
Lincolnshire Regiment Frederick Corke was attached to the Field Engineers.

The Lincolnshire Regiment’s position bordered the Fifth Army and although not directly attacked,
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they were quickly in danger of being outflanked. On the afternoon of 10 April, 1918, 2 Lt
Frederick Corke was returning to his platoon when he was killed. It was reported that he was shot
through the head, death being instantaneous, but this was rarely the case. It was thought kinder that
the families should feel that their loved one didn't suffer unnecessarily. An accompanying officer
reported that a machine gun was turned on Frederick Corke at close range, which made it impossible
to get any of his personal belongings. His body was never recovered for burial.

In Memoriam: No known grave. Remembered o the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

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William HARRIS 6 Battalion, East Kent Regt
1892- 13th October 1915

William was the son of Henry Harris, who in 1911 was a self-employed watercress grower.
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During the early part of the 20 century large areas of Foots Cray were ideal for growing
watercress, which would be sold at the London markets. The families lived in close proximity to the
crops, causing much illness, especially amongst the children, and the watercress beds were eventually
closed down for health reasons.

William Harris had grown up next door to Alfred Taylor, a regular soldier, who was two years
younger. The boys had gone to school together. Although he was employed as a carpenter, William
made up his mind to enlist in the Army almost immediately war was declared, rushing down to the
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Woolwich recruitment office on 19 August 1914. He requested the Buffs, East Kent Regiment and was
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placed in the 6 Battalion.

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On 13 October 1915, the 6th Battalion, East Kent Regiment took part in the Battle of Loose. which
was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front that year. Unfortunately,
William Harris was one of the many thousands of casualties to fall.

In Memoriam: No known grave. Remembered on the Loos Memorial, Belgium.