Name
Charles Henry Wilson
10 May 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/07/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25639
East Surrey Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore,
St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street,
Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Charles Henry was born on 10 May 1882 (baptised 6 Jan 1884) to William Henry Blackmore Wilson, a painter, and Eileen Mary (nee Javelean), a hat finisher. On the 1881 Census William and Ellen with son Percy (born 1881) were living at Inkerman Road, St Peters, St Albans. No record of the family was found on the 1891 Census.
William Henry Blackmore Wilson died on 4 Oct 1894. His widow Eileen Mary married William Stockley in 1897.
On the 1901 census Charles Henry (a journeyman butcher) was living with his stepfather William, mother Eileen Mary, Percy Wilson (born 1881), William H Wilson (born 1892), Walter Wilson (born 1894), Frederick G Wilson (born 1896) together with Florence Stockley (born1898) and Susannah (born 1900) at Branch Road, Park Street.
Charles married Edith Hawes in 1905 there would be two children Muriel Olive (born 17 Dec 1906) and Henry Edward (born 27 Jun 1910).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Charles. Charles was enlisted in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment as Private 3245 (probably in early 1916).
At some time he was transferred to 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, a unit in 55 Brigade, 18 (Eastern) Division. In July 1917 the 8th Battalion were in the Zillebeek area, Ypres preparatory to 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). On 20 – 23 Jul 1917 enemy Artillery fire increased considerably and on 23 Jul 1917 the Battalion War Diary records 2 Killed and 3 wounded other Ranks. It is assumed that Charles was one of those killed.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity £4 and arrears of 11s 5d was paid to his widow Edith.
Charles is also commemorated on his parents' headstone in Frogmore (Holy Trinity) Burial Ground. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO SON OF THE ABOVE [William Henry Blackmore Wilson]
PTE CHARLES HENRY WILSON 8TH BATT EAST SURREYS KILLED IN ACTION AT MACHINES RIDGE YPRES
JULY 23RD 1917 AGED 34 YEARS
PTE CHARLES HENRY WILSON 8TH BATT EAST SURREYS KILLED IN ACTION AT MACHINES RIDGE YPRES
JULY 23RD 1917 AGED 34 YEARS
KILLED IN ACTION AT MACHINES RIDGE YPRES JULY 23RD 1917 AGED 34 YEARS
SLEEP ON DEAR BOY IN A FAR OFF LAND
IN A GRAVE WE MAY NEVER SEE
BUT AS LONG AS LIFE AND MEMORY
LAST WE WILL REMEMBER THEE
ERECTED BY HIS LOVING MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes
