Name
Benjamin Charles Feltham
20 January 1876
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
S/5257
Rifle Brigade
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GEZAINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
II. A. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN, THAN HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
UK & Other Memorials
Radlett Town Memorial, Christchurch Memorial, Radlett
Pre War
Benjamin Charles Feltham was born in 20 January 1876 in Norwich, Norfolk, the son of Benjamin and Ann Feltham. He was baptised on 17 November 1878 at St Pancras, Camden, London with his older sister Mary Jane. The family were living at 37 Drummond Street, Camden at the time. By the 1881 Census they had moved to 18 Bridgewater Road, St Pancras and he had a one year old brother, Charles. His father was working as a plasterer.
He married Charlotte Mara Goldfinch in 1903 at Blean, Kent. By the time of the 1911 Census, they were living at 5 The Terrace, Watling Street, Radlett. They had four children, and Benjamin was working as a plasterer. They later had two more children, however, the last, Charles, born in March 1916 died a year later.
Wartime Service
Benjamin enlisted in London and served with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade in France from 29 July 1915.
He was wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died of his wounds at the 29th Casualty Clearing Station on 15 July 1916, aged 41. He is buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs C Feltham, 5 The Terrace, Watling Street, Radlett, ordered his headstone inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN, THAN HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS", His widow received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £2 0s 5d. She initially received a pension of £1 8s 6d a week from 28 January 1917, however this was later reduced by 2s a week because of the death of baby son Charles in March 1917.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
