Name
Charles Albert Preece
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/10/1916
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
6675
London Regiment *1
1st/9th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot VII, Row F, Grave 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Son of Robert and Annie (nee MOSS) PREECE; husband of 1) Minnie (nee HILL) PREECE; 2) Alice M (nee DICKERSON) PREECE of Watford.
His parents married 29 April 1876 at Holy Trinity, Coldhurst, Lancs. Annie died 1916 aged 66; Robert died 1926 aged 72; both in the Oldham, Lancs, district.
Charles was born 1877 in Oldham, and married firstly c1903, though the marriage is proving elusive, as is a death for Minnie; they had three children. He remarried ? 1915 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district.
On the 1881 Census, aged 3 he lived in Oldham, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1891 Census, a cotton piecer aged 13, he still lived in Oldham, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1901 Census, a cotton operative aged 23, he still lived in Oldham, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, he may be the blower at cotton mill aged 33, who lived in Royton, Lancs, with his wife and three children.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Chelmsford, Essex, and was formerly 2265 Essex Regiment. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died at No. 22 General Hospital of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Charles’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn.
London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
