Name
Christopher Wren
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/07/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23378
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Lemsford Village Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Christopher was born in Lemsford around 1896, the son of George and Lizzie (Elizabeth) Wren.
In the 1901 census Christopher was 4 and living Lemsford Village with his parents: George (42) and Lizzie (39) and siblings: Florence (15), John (13), Grace (11), Frederick (8), Augustus (6) and Claud, just 8-months old. His father was working as gravel pit clay labourer. In 1911 they were still living at Lemsford, with his father now working as a watercress labourer.
Officially recorded as born in Lemsford and was living in there when he enlisted in St Albans.
Wartime Service
Private 23378, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire regiment, but was attached to the 9th Essex Regiment at the time of his death.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of August 1916, recorded: “Lemsford News. War notes, since the last issue of the magazine, casualties among our boys have been very heavy......... Chris Wren we are sorry to hear is officially posted as “Missing” not a very cheering announcement, but there is still hope, that we may yet receive news from him.”, in September 1916: “Lemsford News......no news has yet been received of Chris Wren.... “, October 1916: “Lemsford News. ..... Our other loss this month is Private Christopher Wren, who has long been reported “missing”, but is now reported “killed in action”. Our deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs and Miss Wren, in their great loss.”, and finally in April 1917: “Lemsford News – War Notes. Letters have at last been received, giving particulars of Cecil White and Christopher Wren, who lost their lives in the first months of the Somme Battle...........A Corporal from another regiment has written to Mrs Wren about her son; nu some mischance the letter written in July, was only received last month. It says: “ We started in the front line at half past three in the morning; during one of our halts, I was at the head of our section, I met your dear boy, gave him necessary attention until further aid came. I had to go further up the line; about an hour and a half later, we had to retire, and we stayed just where your son was, and I went and saw how he was. Our doctor was there: he was quite cheerful at the time, and our platoon stretcher bearers took him away to a large dressing station. At night I was asked to go to the dressing station, and there your son was laid out. I took his personal belongings and we buried him in a soldier’s cemetery at a place near Albert. I must tell you he was quite prepared to die; and asked me in the early morning to write to you if anything happened to him, if I came through alright. Our Captain gave me permission to write to all the Boys’ people who I had anything for.” It must be a great consolation to those who loved them, to know that these brave young fellows were spared prolonged suffering, and all that was possible was done for them.”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Christopher’s Soldier’s Effects detailed £2 3s 6d to go to his mother on 18th January 1917, along with £3 War Gratuity. Then two lots of 8s 9d to go to his brother Augustus and brother Frederick (Private 12809 of 3rd Beds) but this was cancelled in May and sent to his sister Grace instead.
A pension was of 10 shillings a week from 1st September 1917 to 7th January 1191 and then 5 shillings a week was allocated to his mother
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Wren (Mother) of Lemsford received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), Jonty Wild
