Name
Charles John Reed
09 June 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/06/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3353
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SAWBRIDGEWORTH (GREAT ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Old. 4. 37.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Rest in Peace
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial,
Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Charles was born on 9 June 1891 and was baptised in August that year. He was the son of Charles and Elsie Reed, of 46, Cambridge Rd., Sawbridgeworth.
After leaving school he worked as a Bricklayer and enlisted in Hertfordshire Regiment on 1 October 1914.
Wartime Service
Charles was posted to France on 9 July 1915, and was attached to "A" Company, No.4 Entrenching Battalion. He was engaged in trench digging during the Autumn and Winter of that year, all the time suffering with considerable chest pain and a persistent cough. On the 25 April 1916, after being admitted to No.32 Field Ambulance, he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis of the left lung. He collapsed on 1 May 1916 and was taken to 39th Divisional Hospital, and from there was transferred to Rouen. He was then evacuated to the UK on the Hospital Ship "St. Andrew" and transferred to the Southwark Military Hospital, East Dulwich, on 6 May 1916. Following an examination by a medical board, he was given a permanent discharge from the Army. His service was due to terminate on the 7 July 1916, but he sadly died from the effects of his condition before he could be discharged. He was buried in the Great St. Mary Churchyard, Sawbridgeworth, on the day the British Army suffered its great ever number of casualties in one day, 1 July 1916. He was aged 25.
He was described as an Honest and trustworthy soldier. A good worker who was always keen to learn.
By the time the CWGC recorded his details his parents were living at 2 West Road, Sawbridgeworth.
Additional Information
His father, Mr Charles Reed, 46 Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "Rest In Peace".
His Pension Card shows that his Regimental Number was amended in 1917 from 3353 to 266927.
His brother Ernest and cousin Albert Reed also died.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson, Douglas Coe
