Name
Charley (Charles) Denman
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/09/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15750
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot 2. Row C. Grave 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, Horsmonden War Memorial, Kent
Pre War
Charley (Charles) Denman was born in 1891 in Tandridge, Surrey (Godstone registration district), the son of Clement and Annie Denman and one of 10 children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Rose Cottage, Crowhurst End, Tandridge, Surrey where his father was working as a Platelayer and Charley was 1 month old.
By 1901 they had moved to Horsmonden, Kent and were living near the station as his father was a Platelayer on the Railway. They remained at Horsmonden in 1911 and gave their address as 6 Station Cottages, Horsmonden, Kent, His father was still working as a platelayer and Charles was a Gardener (Domestic).
N.B. he was registered as Charley Denman but most military records record his name as Charles.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford and served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, initially as a Private then promoted to Corporal. He went to France on 12 May 1915.
In September 1916 the 1st battalion were involved in operations near Falfemont Farm, Somme, France when trenches were bombed. According to the war diary, 82 NCOs and men were killed between 3rd and 6th September, with a further 7 who died of wounds within days of which Charles was one.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £6 11s 10d. N.B. CWGC gives his rank as Private, but other military records state he was Corporal.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk,
