Name
Charles Henry Wilkinson
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/10/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30902
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48-50 and 162A
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Goff's Oak Village Memorial, Goff's Oak Street Name, Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt, We are not aware of any memorial in Flamstead End
Pre War
Charles Henry Wilkinson was born in Flamstead End, Hertfordshire, in 1896, the son of Charles Wilkinson a, Farm Labourer and Alice Sarah Wilkinson (nee Chandler). The eldest of ten children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 26th April 1896, at St James Church, Goffs Oak, Herts.
1901 Census records Charles Jr. aged 5, living with his parents, sister Edith (3) and brother Frederick (1) in, Cromwell Road, Flamstead End, Herts. The family had a Boarder James Nichols (17) a Farm Carman.
1911 Census, Charles Jr. (15) had left school and was working as a Farm Labourer, living with his parents, four sisters and two brothers, still in Cromwell Road, Flamstead End, Herts. The family had a Boarder Henry Gallier a Farm Labourer.
Wartime Service
Charles Jr. enlisted in Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 30902. On completion of his training he was sent to France, serving on the Western Front, Charles Jr. was killed in Action on 9th October 1917, aged 21. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
Battalion War Diary
9th October 1917, The Third Battle of Ypres – The Battle of Poelcapelle; 15th Brigade attacked Polderhoek Château with 1st Norfolk’s and 16th Royal Warwickshire. The attack failed, and they withdrew to their jumping off positions about 250 yards West of the Chateau.
Additional Information
His mother Alice Wilkinson of Baytree Farm, Hammond Street, Cheshunt, received a Dependents Pension of 10/- a week from 30th April 1918. His effects of 12/9, pay owing and his war gratuity of £4-10s-00d, went to his farther Charles Wilkinson
In June 1997 Broxbourne Borough Council received a suggestion from the Chairman of Goff's Oak Community Association to name roads to commemorate the men who lost their lives in the two world wars who are displayed on the Goff's Oak War Memorial. It was decided that these names should be used for the large development in Hammond Street Road, this soldier has one of the surnames chosen: "Wilkinson Close" – the reason for the names selected (as opposed to others) is not known.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
