Name
Charles Henry Lester
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/5031
Royal Fusiliers *1
4th (City of London) Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 6 and 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Cockfosters Village Memorial, Not on Chipping Barnet memorial
Pre War
Charles Henry was born in 1894 in Chipping Barnet to Gad Lester, a gamekeeper, and Mary Ann (nee Stacey).
On the 1901 Census the family of Parents,3 older sisters – Miriam, Annie and Edit, Charles Henry together with younger brother George and sister Marjorie were Living at 7 , Clayton’s Cottages, Chipping Barnet. On the 1911 Census Charles, a farm worker, and George were living together with their parents at Plumride Farm, Barnet.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in 4th Battalion, City of London (Royal Fusiliers) Regiment as Private G/5031.
He went to France on 27 Dec 1914 to join his Battalion who were positioned Ypres. The first Attack on Bellwaarde Ridge took place on 16 Jun 1915, an attempt to prevent the German Artillery bombarding the Ypres Salient. The attack was unsuccessful and Charles was Missing during this action and his death was presumed to be 16 Jun 1915.
He is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 7s 4d to his father.
*1 More correctly London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
