Name
Charles Edward Driver
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
26543
Labour Corps
433rd Agricultural Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Charles Driver was born in the Winter of 1883 at Watford. He was one of four children (two sons and two daughters) born to Charles (senior) and Sarah Driver. Charles (senior) worked as a Gardener, but by the time of the 1901 Census, Sarah was the “Head of the Household”, and working as a Needleworker and was bringing up the family on her own. The family lived at Horseshoe Lane Cottages, Leavesden, and at this time Charles worked as a Bricklayer’s Labourer.
On Christmas Day 1907 Charles married Mary Ann Newton at St Paul’s Church, Langleybury, on 14th January 1909 the couple’s first child, Irene was born at Hunton Bridge.
Charles attested on 11th January 1916, and was mobilised on 5th June. He gave his occupation as a Gardener, and indicated that he had two years’ experience with the Royal Garrison Artillery, gained before the War. He spent the next few months at Home. Initially, on 6th June 1916, he was posted to the 8th Northampton Battalion, and was transferred to the 6th Northampton’s on 1st September, before being transferred again, this time to the 3rd Royal Lancaster’s on 20th October. He was then posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 4th November 1916, and moved to that Theatre of War.
On 25th November 1916 he was posted to the 9th Royal Lancaster’s, and remained in the Mediterranean Theatre until 17th May 1917, when he arrived back in England suffering from Enteric Fever. He was granted leave on 7th July 1917, which he took between 10th and 19th July at an address at High Street, Bedmond, arriving from the Enteric Depot Hospital at Preston.
He remained in England until 22nd August 1917 when he was sent to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. He remained in France until 20th December 1917 and then returned home and was posted to the Royal Lancaster’s.
On 12th November 1918 he was transferred to No 433 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, having been classified Medical Category 2, due to Enteric Fever. Charles was demobilised to 3 Lancing Street, Euston Road, on 21st February 1919, having been included in the Absent Voter Records in Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, and indicating a home address at Bedmond. In February 1923 he attempted to claim a War Pension due to suffering from Pleurisies and Enteric Fever, but his application was dismissed as both conditions were not considered to be attributable to War Service.
Charles Driver survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 6th & 8th Battalions Northamptonshire Regiment; 3rd & 9th Kings Own Royal Lancasters
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
