Name
Charles Robert Mills
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/03/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
737
East Surrey Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
QUARRY CEMETERY, VERMELLES
F.2
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial
Pre War
Charles Robert Mills was born in 1896 in St Osyth, Essex, the son of (Charles) Robert and Bridget (known as Annie) Mills, and was baptised on 22 March 1896 at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, St Osyth. He was one of eleven children but four died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Mill Street, St Osyth, Essex, where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer. They remained there in 1911 at which time 15 year old Charles was working as a stock lad.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted at Colchester, Essex, and joined the 7th Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment as Private No. 737, serving in France from 1 June 1915.
He was killed in action on 12 March 1916, aged 20 and is buried at Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles, France.
Additional Information
His mother a received a pension of 5 shillings a week. His sister Ivy received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £8 3s 10d.
N.B. This soldier's relationship with Berkhamsted is not known, but there are families with the same surname living in Berkhamsted around the time of the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
