Name
Charles Talbot
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/11/1914
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
6951
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Berkhamsted War Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Charles Talbot was born in Northchurch in 1879, the son of John and Mary Ann Talbot (nee Hayward) and one of three children. He was baptised on 29 June 1879.
On the 1881 Census the family were living in High Street, Northchurch where his father was working as a general labourer. They had moved to New Road, Northchurch by 1891 and his father was working as a brushboard sorter.
Charles enlisted on 4 February 1901 and served as Private 6951 with the 4th Battalion (Special Reserve) Bedfordshire Regiment.
He married Annie Julia Wooley in 1910 in Great Berkhamsted and in 1911 they were living at 4 Unity Cottages, Northchurch, and his occupation was then given as warehouseman. They do not appear to have had any children.
Wartime Service
As a reservist, having served with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Charles would have been recalled at the outbreak of war. He then joined the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment which was deployed to France on 16 August 1914.
Charles was sent to France on 30 August 1914, possibly joining the Battalion at St Quentin in a draft of reinforcements. He would have taken part in the Battles of the Aisne and La Bassee in October 1914.
The 1st Battalion were in the trenches at Ypres in early November 1914 and under attack by the enemy, pressing to take Ypres. Hand to hand fighting on 14 November resulted in 11 men being killed or wounded as well as an equal number ‘missing’.
Charles died on 16 November 1914, aged 35. Despite records suggesting he died from wounds received in action at the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £7 0s 7d. She also received a pension of 12s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
