Name
Bertie Charge
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/10/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13013
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BULLS ROAD CEMETERY, FLERS
III. D. 30.
France
Headstone Inscription
IT WAS HARD TO PART WITH ONE WE ALL LOVED SO DEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Bertie Charge was born in 1892 at Hoblett's Orchard, Hemel Hempstead, the son of David and Lydia Charge, and baptised at St Paul's Hemel Hempstead on 6 March 1892. He was one of ten child, five of whom died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Hobletts Orchard, Hemel Hempstead where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer. He was employed in the brickworks behind Maylands Wood, a short walk from home.
Bertie left school in 1905 and started work for John Dickinson & Co as a bookbinder at Apsley Mills., where he remained until enlistment.
The family remained at Hobletts Orchard in 1911 but his parents later gave their address as High Street Green which was nearby.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford at the beginning of September 1914 and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, being sent to Bedford for basic training. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion before being sent to France, arriving at Le Havre on 17 March 1915. He was one of over 100 men sent as reinforcements after heavy losses at the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, and joined the Battalion on 20 March.
Soon after arriving in France he unexpectedly met his brother Thomas who he had not seen for seven years as he had been serving overseas as a regular soldier. This meeting was reported in the local Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser.
A few months later, Bertie was wounded at the Battle of Festubert in May and repatriated back to hospital in England to recover, with some home leave in Hemel Hempstead. He returned to France in August 1916
He was wounded during the Battle of Transloy and died of his wounds on 18 October 1916, aged 24. He is buried at Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His parents, Mr and Mrs D Charge, High Street Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "IT WAS HARD TO PART WITH ONE WE ALL LOVED SO DEAR".
His sister Winifred received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £7 10s 3d. His mother received a pension of 9s 7d a week.
It was reported in the Hemel Hempstead Gazette of 11 November 1916 that a memorial service was held at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead for Bertie Charge and four other soldiers from the parish.
His brother Thomas was a regular soldier and served as a Driver in the Royal Horse Artillery . He survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org.
