Name
Charles Joseph Guthrie
19 December 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/05/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/8162
King's Royal Rifle Corps
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 32-33
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Charles was the son of Mrs Henry (Harry) and Elizabeth Jane Guthrie. He was born in Isleworth in Middlesex (Brentford in the census) and baptised at St Lawrence Church, New Brentford on 18 March 1894, at which time the family were living at 196 High Street, New Brentford.
In 1891 the family were living at 14 Windmill Road, Brentford, Middlesex. Present were both parents: Harry (31) and Elizabeth (31), with Harry and working as a coachman and domestic service. Their children were: Catherine (4), William (3), Francis (2) and Charles at three months.
By 1901 the family were living at 7 Grove Road, Brentford, Middx.. Present were both parents, with Harry now working as a carman in a stone yard. All their children above were present plus Walter (7), Ernest (5) and Reginald (1). Also present were boarders George and Ellen Lambert and a ‘visitor’ Gladys Lambert (3).
By 1911 the family were living at 26 Oxford Gardens, Chiswick, although Harry was not present, presumably absent working. The census recorded they had been married for 26 years with 10 children, of whom 2 had died. The children listed in 1901 were all present except Charles, and they had been joined by Elsie J (9). Charles has note yet been found in this census, but he would have been 20, so was probably independent and working elsewhere.
Charles enlisted on 14 December 1914. At that time he was 24, living at Ben Venue, Brampton Park Road, Hitchin and working as a footman. He was described as 5’ 6 ½”, 148 pounds
Officially he was recorded as born in Isleworth, Middx. And enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
After enlistment Charles was posted to the 5th Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the 21 December 1914 and given the Corps Number R/8162. Later, 14 April 1915, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, which was part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division of the I Corps of the 1st Army. He landed in France the following day, which is a shorter period of training than the usual 6 months.
He was serving in the K.R.R.C. by December 1914 and may have been a regular soldier. He was killed in action in France.
His death coincides with the Battle of Festubert around Richebourg when violent fighting took place all day. The 1st Battalion of the K.R.R.C. were in trenches about a quarter of a mile north of the infamous ‘Quadrilateral’.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panels 32 & 33 of the Le Touret Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death 13s 8d was authorised to go to his mother on 27 October 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 11 August 1919.
His pension cards record Elizabeth Guthrie, his mother, as his next of kin, living at Ben Venue, Brampton Park Road, Hitchin, but does not record any pension details.
His mother wrote asking about Charles’ personal possessions on 14 September 1915. She received his personal possessions on 2 November 1915, his medals pair of service medals on 19 June 1921 and his 14/15 Star medal on 22 April 1919. His Death Plaque was then sent on 7 July 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
