Early years
Raymond Faulk was the son of Thomas Henry Faulk, a baker and confectioner and his wife Rhoda Catherine Faulk. In 1911 the family were running the Somers Park Bakery on Somers Park Avenue, Malvern.
Out the outbreak of war, Raymond’s mother kept the shop at 4 Brompton Terrace, Newtown Road, which is today Roberts’ Electrical Supplies on Newtown Road.
First World War
Raymond Faulk joined the Worcestershire Regiment at the beginning of the war and after training, was sent to the 4th Battalion in the Dardanelles. He landed at Gallipoli on 4th June 1915 as a reinforcement to the battalion and was posted to ‘Y’ Company.
Battle of Krithia Vineyard
The 4th Worcestershire Regiment moved to Gully Beach on 28th July and spent some time in reserve, labouring and bathing in the sea whenever enemy shelling allowed. News of a new battle filtered down to the Battalion – the 29th Division, with the 4th Worcester’s Brigade (88th) in the lead, attacking the Krithia Nullah and the Gully Ravine. The enemy defences were know to be formidable, but with additional artillery support, hopes were high.
At 4am on 6th August 1915 the attacking troops left the beach and moved forward to the assembly trenches. The attack was planned in the cool of the evening. The British artillery bombardment, beginning at 2.20pm, resulted in heavy counter fire, with shrapnel bursting over the heads of the waiting troops.
At 3.50pm, officers whistles signalled the attack and wave after wave moved forward. Fifty yards beyond the start line, each of the advancing platoons came under heavy and deadly fire. Very few made it to the enemy trenches, those that did were met with bitter hand-to-hand fighting.
At one point around 30 men of the 4th Worcestershire forced their way into a trench and found themselves isolated in the midst of the enemy. They swiftly erected barricades and organised defence. They held on for three hours, but, with grenades exhausted, and twenty men casualties, Sgt Stevens made the decision to retreat. Twelve men made it back to British front line. As the Regimental History recorded:
“Sixteen strong platoons had advanced to the attack; only this little party returned.”
By dawn, around 300 wounded men had been brought back in, and what was left of the battalion was relieved, and returned to Gully Beach. If was found that the casualties numbered 16 officers (5 killed, 4 wounded, 6 missing) and 752 men (killed, wounded and missing).
Pte Raymond Faulk was posted as wounded and missing as part of the destruction of the battalion; his death was not confirmed until the following spring. His body was never recovered and today he is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Commemoration
His memorial plaque, sent to his parents is held in the Malvern Museum at the Priory Gateway in Great Malvern. His parents later moved to 2 Hillside, Newtown Road, Malvern.
1911 Census
Stevens Annual for 1914 Malvern 1914
Mrs F Renger 2007
