Name
Charles Thrale
18 Apr 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/05/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
159009
Royal Engineers
106th Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SOISSONS MEMORIAL
Stone No 3a
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, St Albans Cathedral WW1 Memorial, Not on the Wheathampstead memorials
Pre War
Charles Ralph was born on 18 Apr 1888 (baptised 28 May 1897) in Wheathampstead, he was the son of William Thrale, a labourer, and Sophia Jane (nee McCulloch). On the 1891 census the family consisting of parents (William was a brewery labourer), John (born 1871, an errand boy), Frederick Edward (born 1880), Walter George (born 1881), Lizzie Maud (born 1884), Frank Gordon (born 1887) and Charles Ralph were living at Hatfield Road, Wheathampstead.
On the 1901 Census Charles with his parents, Edward (a house painter), Walter, Frank (a telegraph messenger), Charles, Hermione (born 1892), Alfred (born 1894), Herbert (born 1895) and Jessie (born 1897), were living at Marford, Wheathampstead.
On the 1911 Census the family had moved to the High Street, Wheathampstead, father William was now a house painter, Frank was a plumber, Charles was listed as a bricklayer, Herbert was an errand boy : also listed was Jessie and a lodger, Ivy Avery. He married Edith May Curl in 1914 and made a home in 74, Cravells Road Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers as Sapper 159009. No Service Records were found for Charles.
He served with 106 Field Company, Royal Engineers, in 25 Division (probably from some time in 1917. The division were positioned in the Ypres Sector and were engaged in the Battles of Messines and Pilckem in 1917 and in 1918 the Division had moved to the Bapaume area of the Somme and were defending against the German Spring Offensive during the battles of St Quentin and Bapaume. Another move back to take part in the Battle of Messines 1918 where on the 10 May 1918, 75 Brigade, Royal Engineers, Machine Gun Battalion and other elements counter attacked a German thrust along the Ypres Road. Following this period and to allow for reinforcements to make up the losses sustained in recent heavy fighting. On 9 May 1918 the Division moved to the Soissons area of the Western Front to relieve French Troops and although a quiet sector,
Intelligence suggested a German attack was imminent. This occurred on 27 May 1918 and was overwhelming causing disruption and confusion. In this fighting Charles was report Misssing and he was presumed killed in action on 28 May 1918. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Soissons Memorial as one of the Missing (2511 in total).
Additional Information
His widow received a grant of £5 and a pension of 30s 8d from 3 Feb 1919. No War gratuity was found but the grant mentioned may represent this. Brother Herbert served with Royal Engineers going to France on 9 mar 1915 and survived the Great War. Brother Walter served with Middlesex Regiment and Labouer Corps being discharged Medically Unfit in Sept 1918.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
