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Frederick Lake Dyball

A Broadland World War I Story

Frederick’s family was one of the many whose lives were devastated by events during WWI. By the time war broke out in 1914, Frederick was married to Lily Green from Fleggburgh and the family were living in Hickling with their son, Albert.

Originally a Private in the Norfolk Regiment, Frederick volunteered to join the 1st Battalion, the Essex Regiment. In the summer of 1915 these Norfolk men marched from Alexandria to join HMT Royal Edward, which was transporting the Essex troops to Gallipoli. On the 13th August the ship was heading towards the Turkish coast. The German submarine UB-14 spotted the unescorted Royal Edward and launched a torpedo, which hit the stern of the ship.

An SOS was sent and the British hospital ship, Soudan, responded, along with French destroyers. However, the Royal Edward sank within six minutes, and although 600 – 700 troops were rescued, 1,000 died. Sadly, Frederick lost his life at sea that night. His memorial is in the Helles Memorial Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

Frederick’s effects, including £1.4s.9d, were returned to his widow after the end of the war. In the autumn of 1918 Lily married again and the family continued to live in the Broads area.