Name
Charles R Atkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
G/17462
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial
Biography
Charles Atkins was first reported in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in October 1914, where he was listed serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment. By April 1915 he was listed with the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, and he remained with this unit for most of the War.
In the October 1916 Parish Magazine he was reported wounded. Remarkably in the 21st October 1916 edition of the Hertfordshire Advertiser, he was reported “Killed in Action”, but the report confused him with Leonard Atkins, another Abbots Langley man who died on 26th September 1916.
Whilst recovering from his wounds Charles was posted to the 3rd Bedfordshire’s. He was reported sick/wounded again in the July 1917 Parish Magazine, and once again was posted to the 3rd Bedfordshire’s. By January 1918 he was back with the 8th Bedfordshire’s, but by March 1918 the Parish Magazine reported that he had been discharged wounded. Neither of his Service or Pensions Records have survived, so no further details have been identified as to the circumstances of his discharge.
Charles was born in 1897 at Abbots Langley. He was one of nine children of Richard and Emmiline Atkins. In 1891 Richard was employed as an Attendant at the Asylum, but in the 1901 and 1911 Census he is recorded working as a General Labourer, and living at 5 Adrian Road, Abbots Langley. In the 1911 Census Charles lived at the family address in Adrian Road, and worked as a Garden Boy.
His brother Frederick also served in the Great War and returned after service. However his Brother in Law, Samuel Haylock, also from Abbots Langley, was killed in action on 1st February 1917.
Charles Atkins was discharged wounded, and survived the War.
Additional Information
Discharged Wounded
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
