Name
Charles Wells
17 Jul 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/04/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
6502
Bedfordshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. PAUL'S WALDEN (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Whitwell Village Memorial, Whitwell,
All Saints Church Memorial , St Paul's Walden
Pre War
Charles Wells was born in Whitwell on 17 Jul 1893, the son of Louisa Wells, and was one of nine children. He was baptised on 17 Apr 1898 at St Paul's Walden, Herts at the same time as his older brother Arthur.
On the 1901 Census Charles was living with his single mother, George (born 1887), Arthur (born 1881), John (born 1896), Bertie (born 1898) and Dorothy (born 1901), at The Gravel, St Paul's Walden. His mother was working at home as a straw plaiter. The family of mother, Arthur, Charlie, John, Bertie, Dorothy, Mary (born 1903), Edith (born 1905) and Ernest (born 1908) remained in Whitwell on the 1911 Census. Although no occupation is given for his mother, Arthur, Charles and John were all working as farm labourers.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted as Private 6502 in the Bedfordshire Regiment on enlisted in Bedford and served as a Territorial Force soldier with the 5th Battalion, Essex Regiment. No Service records were found for Charles5th Battalion was designated for Home Service in East Anglian in 1914, and in in 1915 was warned for Foreign Service being landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 11 Aug 1915. It seems the Charles did not accompany them.
He died from pneumonia on 11 Apr 1916 in Aylesbury, Bucks, probably at the Military Hospital. He is buried in the Churchyard of All Saints Church, St Paul's Walden, Herts.
Additional Information
A War Gratuity was not admissible (indicative of no Foreign Service) and his mother received arrears of £3 10s 4d. Pension cards exist but give no indication if a pension was paid.
Brother to Bertie Wells, Private 35606, who served with the Essex Regiment and was killed in action on 22 May 1917. They are both named on the Whitwell Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
