Name
Charles William. Jarvis
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
5433
Rifle Brigade
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Essendon War Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Essendon, Family grave headstone
Pre War
Charles was born on the 6th March 1896, at Camfield Place, Essendon, Herts. The son of William and Sarah Ann Jarvis. Both his parents came from Norfolk. Charles was Baptised on the 10th April 1896, in Essendon, Herts. He was the eldest of 7 children.
The 1901 Census shows Charles aged 5 years and living with his parents, brother and sister at Keepers Cottage, Essendon, Herts. and the 1911 Census shows Charles aged 15 years and living with his parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters at Keepers Cottage, Carnfield Place, Essendon, Herts. His occupation it given as a Gamekeeper/ Domestic and his father is a head gamekeeper.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in Hatfield in 1914, Initially into the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, with the service number 5433, then the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, with the same service number. He disembarked in France in October 1914.
First recorded and missing, then Charles was recorded as Killed in Action at the Battle of Auber’s Ridge in the area of Rouges Bancs. On the 9th May 1915. The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade was part of 8th Division, 25th Brigade. The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade suffered a very high casualty rate in that Battle. Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegstreert Memorial.
Additional Information
His personal inscription on the headstone reads: “Son of William and Sarah Ann Jarvis, of Keeper’s Cottage, Carnfield Place, Essendon, Hatfield, Herts. Proceeded overseas in October 1914”. In the August 1915, issue of The Essendon Parish Magazine: “Mrs Jarvis received news that Charles was in a Military Hospital progressing favourably”. Official intelligence: “Wounded and missing”.
Charles is also commemorated on his sister's headstone (Nancy) in Essendon (St Mary) Churchyard. His inscription reads:
ALSO OF CHARLES WILLIAM ELDEST SON OF W. AND S JARVIS
2ND BATTN. RIFLE BRIGADE
WHO WAS MISSING AT ROUGES BANCS, MAY 9TH 1915 AGED 19 YEARS
2ND BATTN. RIFLE BRIGADE
WHO WAS MISSING AT ROUGES BANCS, MAY 9TH 1915 AGED 19 YEARS
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Sue and Colin Rees, Stuart Osborne.
