Name
Charles Henry Coles
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/07/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13036
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN
A. 38. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE WAS FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP OF LIFE
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Heath Village Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell
Pre War
Charles Henry was born in Little Amwell on 12 Dec 1888 (baptised 11 Jan 1889) to Frederick Coles, a gamekeeper, and Harriet (nee Saville).
On the 1891 Census Charles was living with his parents, elder brother Frederick J, and younger brother Alfred at Goat Row, Little Amwell. On the 1901 Census the family now consisted of parents, Frederick J (employed as a house boy), Charles, Alfred with the further additions of younger brothers Thomas and George together with sisters Daisy, Lily and Rose at 20 London Road, Little Amwell. Charles father died in 1903. On the 1911 Census, still at 20 London Road, Charles was employed as butler/college manservant (as was Alfred, Frederick J was a labourer, Thomas was a butcher’s assistant, George was working as a farm labourer, Daisy was a housemaid with Lily and Rose were at school.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted at Hertford as Private 13036 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. No Service Records could be found. His serial number indicates an enlistment date in August /Sep 1914.
Following his training he went to France on 11 Aug 1915 joining 6th Battalion, who had preceded him on 31 July 1915, in the St Omer area before deployment to Hazebrouck in Flanders. In 1916 the battalion was engaged on the Somme in an attack on Pozieres during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge. The attack was made at night on 14 July 1916 and during this action Charles was wounded. He was evacuated but died of his wounds in 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen on 25 Jul 1916.
Additional Information
Mr H Coles 20 London Road Hertford Heath, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "HE WAS FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP OF LIFE". War Gratuity of £8 10s, arrears of £5 16s 6d paid to his mother and 16s 9d to Alfred (brother). Brother Frederick served with 7th Battalion Bedfordshires and was killed in action on 24 March 1918. Brother George served with Hertfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 3 Feb 1915.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
