Name
Charles Maurice Berlein
4 May 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VLAMERTINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot II. Row A. Grave 2
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THE SOULS 0F THE JUST ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted, Charterhouse School Memorial, Berkhamsted School Memorial, Sunningdale School Memorial, Berks., New College Oxford Memorial
Pre War
Charles Maurice Berlein was born at Kimberley, South Africa on 4 May 1888, the son of Julius and Elizabeth Berlein and one of four children. His father was born in Germany but became a naturalised British subject in 1902.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 12 Elsham Road, Kensington, London when his father was described as a slate dealer. They had moved to 29 Portman Street, Marylebone, London in 1901 but Charles was at boarding school .
Charles was educated at Charterhouse School, Surrey and New College, Oxford, gaining a BA in 1910. Subsequently he was engaged in chemical research and was in charge of a laboratory.
The family were listed on the 1911 Census as living at Cross Oak, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Herts, and employed seven servants. His father was recorded as a retired share dealer and had moved from South Africa with his Irish wife Elizabeth, to London in 1889/90, Julius had built his wealth on dealing in stone and slate, then stocks and shares. Charles and his siblings were raised in a wealthy and privileged environment.
At the end of the war his parents, Julius and Elizabeth, and siblings Walter and Renee returned to South Africa but regularly came back to England.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Charles obtained a temporary commission as a Lieutenant on 22 August 1914 with the 5th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1914.
He was killed in action on 16 June 1915, aged 27 whilst leading his men in an attack through heavy shrapnel fire, a few paces from the enemy trenches near Hooge.
He is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
His entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour reads: "Lieut., 5th (Service) Battn. Oxford and Buckingham L.I., eldest son of Julius Berlein, of Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, co. Herts, J.P.; born Kimberley, South Africa, 4 May, 1888; educ Charterhouse and New College , Oxford (B.A. 1910); was engaged in chemical research and was in charge of a laboratory, but on the outbreak of war received a commission as a temporary Lieut. in the Oxford and Buckingham L.I., 22 Aug 1914, and fell in action near Hooge, 16 June 1915, leading his men through a heavy shrapnel fire a few paces from the enemy trenches; unmarried."
Additional Information
His father received pay owing of £70 13s 4d. He was also granted probate of his son's estate in London on 28 August 1915. with effects of £5624 10s 9d.
His younger brother, Leslie Herman Berlein, was killed on 29 September 1915 and is buried in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France.
His sister Renee married Allan Walden in 1921. Allan was a graduate from Oxford like Charles, and was a lecturer in chemistry.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley, www.iwm.org.uk
