Name
Charles William Frederick Rich
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/05/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/6470
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 49 and 51.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, St Clemence Church Memorial, Turnford
Pre War
Charles William Frederick Rich was born in Ponders End, Middlesex, in 1891, son of Henry Isaac Rich a, Plumber & Decorator and Emily Rich (nee Hyde). One of four children.
1901 Census records Charles aged 9, living with his parents, brothers Albert (11) and Arthur (6) at, 13 New Road, Enfield, Middx. His father’s uncle Charles H Rich a retired Watchmaker was living with the family.
1911 Census, Charles (19), is working as a Machine Hand, living with his parents, brothers Albert, Arthur and sister Florence (4), still at 13 New Road, Enfield.
Charles married Ada Florence Charters the daughter of John Charles and Fanny Louisa Charters on 25th December 1913, at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Lansdown Road, Tottenham, Middx. They went on to have one daughter Rose Florence Ada Rich, born in October 1914.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted at Mill Hill, Middx, posted to the Duke of Cambridges Own (Middlesex Regiment) and issued with the service number G/6470.
On completion of his training, he was sent to France, arriving on 24th March 1915, seeing action on the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 2nd May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, (22nd April – 25th May 1915), he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
Additional Information
Ada received a widow’s pension of 15/- a week from 22nd November 1915, it was reduced to 5/- a week for her child, when she married Francis David Bradford in June 1916. Ada also received his effects of 6/10, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
