Name
Charles William Hills
12/04/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/04/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36344
Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 56 and 57.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He in commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, St. Peters Church Memorial, Gustard Wood
Pre War
Charles William was born in Wheathampstead, (probably the postal address for Gustard Wood) Hertfordshire, on 12 Apr 1894, son of Charles Hills, a gravel digger, and Elizabeth Hills (nee Edmonds). He was the e second of seven children. Charles was baptised on 24 Jun 1894, in the Parish Church, Wheathampstead, Herts.
The 1901 Census records Charles aged 6, living with his parents, brothers, George Percy (born 1892), Frederick James (born 1897), and sister, Emily Elizabeth (born 1899) in Gustard Wood, Herts.
On the 1911 Census, Charles is recorded age 17, working as a Golf House Assistant, living with his parents, and George (a farm labourer), Frederick (golf caddie), Emily (at school) together with Annie Rosina (born 1902), Albert Edward (born 1905) and Ethel May (born 1910) in Gustard Wood, Herts.
Wartime Service
Charles travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist in the Hertfordshire Regiment with the service number as Private 5761, probably in Nov/Dec 1915. No Service Records were found for Charles. He was, probably in 1916, transferred to 2nd Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment with the service number 36344.
2nd Battalion, Royal Berks had been stationed in India at the outbreak of the Great War and returned to UK in Oct 1914, were re-equipped and Landed at Le Havre on 5 Nov 1915. In spring 1918 they in Somme area defending against the German Spring Offensive in the First Battles of the Somme 1918 including St Quentin, Somme Crossings and Rosieres. Charles was killed in action on 2 Apr 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing near Albert, France.
Additional Information
His mother Elizabeth received a dependents pension of 4/- a week from 22 October 1918. His effects of £10-15s-6d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £10-10s-0d, went to his father Charles Hills.
Note although the photograph in named to C Hill, we belive that we have identified the correct man.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
