Name
Charles Edward Wykes
12 December 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Air Force
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (HEATH LANE) CEMETERY
MA. 12.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, St Paul's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead (now lost), Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Charles Edgar Wykes was born on 12 December 1886 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Thomas and Alice Wykes (nee WELLS), and one of six children, although brothers Sydney and Arthur died from measles in early childhood, and brother Ernest died in Canada in 1917 aged 31. Charles was baptised on 20 March 1887 at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead.
His parents married 25 December 1882 at St Paul’s, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. Thomas died 18 December 1932 in Hemel Hempstead aged 72, and was buried 21 December in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead; Alice died 1946 in the Lewisham, London, district aged 83, and was buried 13 February, also in Heath Lane Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at West View Road, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Carpenter and Joiner. They remained at the same address in 1901 but both his parents were listed as dressmakers (later creating a draper business). Charles was a 14 year old schoolboy. He attended Watford Grammar School from February 1900 to April 1905, when he went to the University of London to train as an Accountant. He was awarded the Accountancy Prize and graduated in 1908, then joining the National Bank of India, Bishopsgate, London, where he stayed there until he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1917.
In 1911, his parents were living at Iddlesleigh House, West View Road, Hemel Hempstead and Charles was living there with one sibling and working as a bank clerk.
He married Mabel Christine Parsons, originally of Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead but then living at West Norwood, Surrey, at St Pancras Parish Church on 22 May 1915. Charles was working as a Bankers Clerk, and living at 34 Gower Place, London.
His father later became a local Councillor and died in 1932, aged 72. His mother died in Lewisham, London, aged 83. Both were buried in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He was selected on probation as Equipment Officer in the Royal Flying Corps on 28 February 1917 and was appointed Lieutenant on 1 April 1918.
He died of burns at 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle from injuries sustained in a fire on 13 August 1918 whilst serving as a Clerk (Stores) at No. 2 Distributing Park Camp, at Newcastle Upon Tyne.
He was 31 years old and was buried on 19 August 1918 at Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
Additional Information
His widow received pay owing of £165 15s 6d. She was granted probate in London on 12 November with effects of £300, Mabel remarried in 1923 to Herbert Paine (widower) who had a son Aubrey Paine (born in 1904) who later worked at the Bank of England. He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“WYKES, CHARLES EDGAR. School period: February, 1900, to April, 1901. Lieutenant, R.A.F. Killed in action in France, 13th August, 1918.”
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com., Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
