Name
Charles William Bigg
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4144
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRIN MILITARY CEMETERY
G. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, The Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Batford Methodist Church Memorial, Batford, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Charles William was born in Harpenden in 1896, the eldest son of Mr Thomas Bigg, who worked for Vauxhall as a bricklayers labourer, and Rhoda Rebecca (nee Dawbin). Charles was living with family at Cold Harbour, Harpenden in 1901. By 1911 Charles aged 14 was a Butcher's Assistant living with the family at Batford Road, Harpenden. He had a sister and 3 younger brothers. At some time he worked in the Almagam Rubber Works on the Lower Luton Road.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 4144.
He was wounded in France (Festubert) when a bomb he was about to throw exploded in his hand. He was carried to the dressing station, where he died when a shell exploded nearby, on 14 July 1916. He was 19 years old.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £7 and arrears of £3 11s 9d paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk), Jonty Wild
