Name
Charles James Mardell
20/01/1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/09/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
18669
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MILL ROAD CEMETERY, THIEPVAL
I. F. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
NEVER WILL HIS MEMORY FADE FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney War Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, We are not aware of any memorial in Tyttenhanger Green, Not on the Wormley memorials
Pre War
Charles James MARDELL/MARDEL (depending on the document) was born in Wormley, Hertfordshire, on 20th January 1884, son of Samuel Mardell a Farm Stockman and Fanny Maria Mardell (nee Ansell). One of their fifteen Children although five died in infancy.
He was Baptised Charles James Mardell, on 16th March 1884, in the Parish of Wormley, Herts.
1891 Census records Charles aged 7, at school, living with his parents, two sisters, Sarah (15), Helen (2 months), and five brothers, at The Fard Yard, Welwyn, Herts.
1901 Census, Charles aged 16, has left school and is working as an Agricultural labourer, living with his parents, four brothers and two sisters, Emily (4) and Daisy (3) at Bramfieldbury Cottage, Bramfield, Herts.
His father Samuel Mardel died in late 1910, aged 61, the death was Registered in St Albans.
1911 Census, Charles (27) is single, working at the Local Gravel Pit, living with his eldest sister Sarah and her husband John Stratton and their family, at Flint Cottage, Hedges Farm, Nr. St Albans, Herts. His youngest sister Cecilia Daisy (13) is also living with then. His widowed mother Fanny, brother Edward (22) and sister Edith (3), are living with her eldest son Henry and his family at 1 Thornton Street, Hertford, Herts.
Charles Married Mary Ann Fitzgerald, the daughter of John and Ellen Fitzgerald, in April 1912, the marriage was Registered in St Albans, Herts. They went on to have one daughter Mary Fanny Alice Mardel, born on 28th July 1913.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted at Bedford, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment and issued with the service number 18669. On completion of his training he was sent to the Western Front, serving with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was Killed in action on 28th September 1916, aged 33, at the Schwaben Redoubt, during the Battle of the Somme, (Battle of The Somme 1st July – 18th November 1916) he is buried in Milll Road Cemetery, Thiepval, Somme, France. Grave Ref: I. F. 1.
His Medal Index Card (MID) records him as Acting Sergeant, awarded the British War and Victory Medals.
Additional Information
Mary was awarded a widow’s pension of 18/9 a week from 21st May 1917, and his effect of £4-07s-03d, pay Owing and his war gratuity of £7-10s-00d.
His Headstone inscription “NEVER WILL HIS MEMORY FADE FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS” was requested by his widow Mary Mardel on Tyttenhanger Green, Herts.
His older brother Private 37353 Albert Edward Mardel of the Suffolk Regiment was Killed in Action on 21st April 1918.
The Colney Heath Admissions Register shows that Charles’ nieces and nephews attended the school (his brother Samuel’s children): Caroline Mardel (pupil no 113) attended the school from 5th April 1910 until 19th December 1919 (B 22/10/05), Frederick Mardel (pupil no 164) attended the school from 10th June 1912 until 20th July 1921 (B 03/08/07). Francis Hilda Mardel (pupil no 338) attended the school from 2nd May 1916 until 31st July 1925 (B 07/06/11).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
