Name
Charles Izzard
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18505
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Charles was born in 1881xx in Hitchin and christened on 4 November 1881 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin. His father seems to have been recorded as Frederick, however all censuses found record him as Alfred Izzard, his mother was Mary Ann Izzard.
In 1891 the family were living at 16 Barnard’s Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Alfred (46) and Mary (36), with Alfred working as a gravedigger. Their children were: Laura (26), Jane (13), Charles (9), Charlotte (6), Frederick (4) and Lilian (2).
By 1901 the family had moved to 6 Chapman’s Yard, Queen’s Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with Aldred now working as a domestic gardener. Laura, Jane and Charlotte were missing from the children listed, Charles, now 18 and working as a general labourer. New siblings were Alice (9) and Herbert (4).
Charles married Lizzie Brown (b 9/7/1917) in 1906 and they had a child, Ernest Charles (b 9/5/1907). By 1911 Charles (29) and Lizzie (27) were living at 6 Gascoignes Yard, Queen Street, with Ernest (3). The census recorded they had been married for 5 years and that Ernest was their only child. Charles was working as a carman.
They had three more children, William George (b 11/6/1911), Douglas Alfred (b 3/3/1915) and Stanley (b 21/2/1917).
He was employed by Mr Chapman of Grove Road, Hitchin and before joining up played for the Union Jack Football Club.
Officially he was recorded as born and living in Hitchin, when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
After he enlisted he was allocated the Regimental Number 18505 and posted to the 4th Battalion of the Regiment. After training he landed in France on 30 September 1915.
On the day of his death, the Battalion took part in an attack towards Beaucourt on the ground between the River Ancre and Beaumont Hamel facing north east. The German trenches were approximately 200 yards distant. There were over 100 casualties in the Battalion on that day. Charles was initially reported as missing. His widow must have lived in the hope that Charles was a prisoner of war, but in December 1917 news reached her that he had been presumed killed in action.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Pier and Face 2C of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £3 12s 4d was authorised to go to his widow, Lizzie, on 22 February 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £8 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 29 November 1919.
His pension cards record Lizzie as his widow and dependant, living at Gascoyne Yard, Queens Street, Hitchin. It also listed their children as Ernest Charles (b 9/5/1907), William George (b 11/6/1911), Douglas Alfred (b 3/3/1915) and Stanley (b 21/2/1917). She was awarded a grant and a pension of 28s 9d a week from 9 July 1917.
His younger brother had served with the Hertfordshire Regiment but was invalided out suffering from shellshock.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
