Name
Charlie Thurley
17 May1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/09/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203338
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 4 and 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford, All Saints Church Memorial(s), Hockerill
Pre War
Charles (Charlie) Thurley was born in Hockerill, Bishops Stortford on 17 May 1898 (baptised 30 Jun 1898, Hockerill) to Emily Thurley, and Charles Loveday.
On the 1901 Census he is listed as the son of John Thurley, a bricklayer, and Mary (nee Sapsford) and is living with them, Emily (born 1881), and Annie (born 1901).They were living at Ethel Terrace, Dunmow Road Bishop Stortford. On the 1911 Census, he was a schoolboy, living with his grandparents John and Mary Thurley, at 19 East Road, Bishop's Stortford with Mother Emily (listed as Emily Lovelace) and Annie (listed as a granddaughter). CWGC records his parents as Charles and Emily Loveday. His mother Emily Thurley married Charles Loveday in 1901, there would be another daughter Florence Loveday (born 1904).
Wartime Service
No Service Records were found for Charlie, he enlisted in Hertford probably in 1916 and and served in the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Private 203338.
In early Sept 1918 the 2nd Battalion were positioned near Combles resting and training following having taken part in the 2nd Battle of Bapaume (31 Aug 1918). On 16 Sep they moved into positions near Ronssoy. On 18 Sep 1918 the Battalion were in action in the Battle of Epehy (18 Sep 1918) on the Hindenburg Line and took part in an attack on Ronssoy. Walter was killed in this action and his body was not recovered for burial. He is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
Additional Information
His mother Emily Loveday received a War Gratuity of £7 plus arrears of £11 2s 3d.
N.B. Some records wrongly transcribed Herts Regt as Herefordshire Rgt, Thurley as Thornley and the Reg No. as 20338 when it should be 203338.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
