Name
Charles Aylett
1 May 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/03/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201293
Essex Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY
Panels 33 to 39.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, Standon War Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon, Puckeridge Memorial Plaque, Standon Village Hall, Standon
Pre War
Charles Aylett was born 1 May 1890 in Bishops Stortford to William Aylett and Mary Ann (nee Brazier and born in Bishops Stortford) of 6 Bartholomew Road, Bishop’s Stortford, previously of Basbow Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. He was baptised on 26 October 1890 at St Michaels, Bishop's Stortford and one of nine children, seven of whom survived.
His father is described in the 1891 census as a Coachman/Groom originally from Great Bardfield, Essex.
On the 1911 Census he was living at 1 Basbow Lane, Bishop's Stortford with his family and working as a Grocers' Porter. He married Maude Warner in late 1912. They had 3 children, Dorothy, Beatrice and Doiran Bruce.
He married Maude R.M. Warner in 1912, and between then and his death in 1917, they had 4 children. On the baptism record for Dorothy Aylett (1913) and Beatrice Aylett (1915) the family are found living in Cheshunt and Charles is described as a Nurseryhand. Their last child, a boy, Doiran Bruce Aylett was baptised on 21st January 1917 in Standon, the family living at Old Hall Green at that stage. It would be nice to speculate that the date was arranged so that Charles could attend the service before once again being sent overseas (see text of article referenced below).
Wartime Service
He also served under reg. No. 3980.
A short article in the Herts & Essex Observer dated 28th April 1917 says:
“Stortfordian Posted as Missing - Private Charles Aylett, posted as missing as from March 27th while serving with the Egyptian Force. The third son of Mr & Mrs William Aylett, of Basbow Lane, Bishop’s Stortford. Private Aylett joined the Army about a year ago and was sent to France last September, where he remained but a few days, being invalided home. After ten weeks in hospital he sailed for Egypt in January. His wife, who lives in Puckeridge, has 4 young children.”
Given the date that Charles Aylett was posted missing and the fact that the first Battle of Gaza started on 26th March 1917, it is probably safe to assume that this was the action in which he was killed. The coastal city of Gaza was the heart of the main Turkish defensive position in southern Palestine. Three major battles were launched in 1917 by British & dominion forces to capture Gaza – only the third succeeded.
The attack initially went well, with cavalry and infantry taking part, however, towards the end of that day, with a victory in Gaza in sight, the British command decided to call off the attack, a decision attributed to the failing light and mounting casualties among the infantry troops. This decision was nonetheless controversial. Other Officers believed the Turks had been on the verge of capitulation. Though the infantry resumed their attack next morning, the overnight delay had given the German commanded Turkish force, time to reinforce the permanent garrison at Gaza, with 4,000 new troops. After confronting a renewed Turkish counter attack aided significantly by German reconnaissance aircraft from above, the British commander was forced to call off the attack. His forces suffered 4,000 casualties in the battle compared to 2,400 on the Turkish side.
The following information, taken from the Commonwealth War Graves website, may be of interest:
Location information: The Jerusalem Memorial stands in Jerusalem War Cemetery, 4.5 kms north of the walled city and is situated on the neck of land at the north end of the Mount of Olives.
The Jerusalem Memorial commemorates 3,300 Commonwealth servicemen who died during the First World War in operations in Egypt or Palestine and who have no known grave.
Additional Information
His widow Maude received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £1 19s 6d. In 1924, she married Mark Wren, hence the Commonwealth War Graves Commission names Mrs Maude R M Wren (formerly Aylett) of Bank Cottages, Puckeridge on the website entry for Charles Aylett. In 1924, his widow, Maude married Mark Wren, hence the Commonwealth War Graves Commission names Mrs Maude R M Wren (formerly Aylett) of Bank Cottages, Puckeridge on the website entry for Charles Aylett.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Stuart Osborne
Di Vanderson, Jonty Wild
