Name
Charles John Alexander
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/06/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40971
Essex Regiment
11th Bn.
"D" Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESQUELBECQ MILITARY CEMETERY
II. E. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
"TILL THE DAY BREAKS"
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the Bushey memorials
Biography
Charles Alexander was born in Bushey in the spring of 1891, the eldest of six children of Charles and Emma Alexander. Charles (senior) was a Brickmaker/Labourer. The family of four sons and three daughters lived at 32 Upper Paddock Road, Oxhey at the time of the 1901 Census. By 1911 Charles (junior) was still living at the family house and was working as a House Painter.
His parents married 24 December 1887 at St Nicholas’, Harpenden, Herts. Charles died 1950 in Oxhey, Herts, aged 90, and was buried 18 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Emma died 1951 in Oxhey aged 85, and was buried 8 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 month he lived in Oxhey, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house painter aged 20, he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and five siblings.
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 1919 Royal Field Artillery and Private 26797 Northamptonshire Regiment.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first listed Charles serving with the 3rd Battalion Northampton Regiment in March 1917. However, he had been with this battalion for some time as at the time of his marriage to Florence Matilda Thatcher on 26th September 1916, at Abbots Langley, he was registered as a Private with the 3rd Northampton’s. The Thatcher family lived at 8 Adrian Road, and three of Florence’s brothers served during the Great War.
In the January 1918 Parish Magazine Charles was listed serving with 11th Essex, and it is not known when he transferred to this battalion. Charles’ Service record does not survive so it has not been possible to identify the circumstances of his death. He was recorded dying from his wounds on 1st June 1918.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine of July 1918 recorded his death.
“We regret to have to add another name to our Roll of Honour of those who have laid down their lives in the cause of Liberty, Freedom and Honour. Charles John Alexander of the Essex Regiment, died of wounds received in action on June 1st. He was married in Abbots Langley Church in September 1916 to Miss Florence Thatcher, and to her, together with his other relatives and friends, we offer our deepest sympathy”.
Charles Alexander was buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. F.M. Alexander, 8, Adrian Road, Abbotts Langley, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: ""TILL THE DAY BREAKS".
Unfortunately, Charles’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There are Death announcements for Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 June 1918 and 22 June 1918; plus In memoriams in the issues dated 31 May 1919 and 7 June 1919. The value of his effects were £12-15s-10d, Pay Owing and £9, War Gratuity which went to his Widow Florence. She never remarried, and possibly died 1965 in the Fulham, London, district aged 72.
Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
