Name
Charles John Hearn
8th August 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20915
West Yorkshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Leonard's Church Lychgate (Survivors), Sandridge,
Pre War
Charles was born in the parish of St. Albans Abbey on 8th August 1897, and christened on the 19th September 1897.
His parents Charles and Ellen nee Rolfe were, they had married in St. Albans in the January quarter of 1895, and by the 1901 census shows the couple living at 31, Albert Street in St. Albans, with three children Charles at that time a middle child, aged 4, along with his sisters, Edith, and Ellen. His father was working as a coachman.
The 1911 census show the family had moved house to Sandridge village. Charles was at home now with nine siblings. Edith (16) and Ellen (12), Edward (10 twin) Grace (10 twin) Frank (8) Dorothy (6) George (5) John (3) Harry (3 months).
His father was still a coachman.
A further three children were born to the couple in Sandridge, Winfred b 1911, James b 1915 and Herbert b 1917.
In all Charles had 12 siblings.
Wartime Service
Information from military records – some partially damaged the following info was obtained.
Charles attested in St. Albans on 10th November 1914, aged 18 years, and 3 months. His occupation then was a gardener. He was 5ft 7 inches, 126ibs and had blue eyes and dark brown hair with a pale complexion.
On 10.11.14 he was initially assigned to the Army Veterinary Corps, 2nd London division as a horse keeper, with rank of Private with military number 97.
On 17.3.15 he transferred, still a horse keeper, as other documents show him to be part of the Royal Veterinary Hospital, St. Albans.
On 1st December 1916 he was posted to regular forces and was transferred on 17 May 1917 to the 4th “A” Reserve Brigade of Royal Field Artillery, at Woolwich and was given the rank of Gunner.
On 18th August 1917, he transferred to the Royal Tank Corp and the Royal Field Artillery. Wareham in Dorset was noted on his papers.
On 26th August 1917 he was transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment as a Gunner with service number 20915
On 7th November 1917 he was posted as Private with the 10th Battalion of West Yorkshire Regiment to Etaples, France and on 11.11.17 joined the 2/8 Battalions.
His records show 12 Field Ambulance support on 6.12.1917 and he re-joined his Unit on 17 .12.1917.
He was posted again to the 8th Yorkshire on 29.1.1918.
On 19.3.18 the 2/2 West York’s Field Ambulance noted again and the 2/3 L.F.A on the 25.3.1918, he re-joined his unit on 11.4.1918.
He received a gunshot wound to the right elbow and back on 23rd July 1918.
In all he served 4 years and 124 days. He was finally discharged as no longer fit for war service on 12th March 1919 with a Silver War Badge number B159573 and Kings Certificate 3439. At this point he was recorded as Private 20915 in the West Yorkshire Regiment.
He received the British War medal, Victory medal.
Other documents show the return of personal items from the Central Military Hospital at Sutton Veny in Wiltshire – maybe he was there recovering from his wounds.
Additional Information
In the 1921 census his parents and the eight youngest of his siblings were living at a house in Church End, Sandridge, which was close to the parish church of St. Leonard’s. His father then working as a coachman for Mr. Goodchild the Undertaker.
Charles has not yet been found on this census. However, two years later in 1923, he married Kathleen S. Bland known as ‘Kit’, they did not have any children. Kathleen in 1921 is recorded as working as a nurse in Plaistow Hospital.
Some of Charles’ siblings remained in the St. Albans area like he and Kathleen. His youngest brother Herbert died young, aged 18 in 1935, from appendicitis and was buried in the church yard at St. Leonards, Sandridge close to the family home.
On the 1939 register Charles and Kathleen lived at ‘The Corner House’ of Offa Road and Abbey View Road, in the parish of St. Michaels Manor, in St Albans. Charles is recorded as doing heavy work as an Estates Carpenter. His father-in-law William Bland was also living with the couple at that time.
He died in 1963 in Aylesbury. Family reports are that he died at work, as a gardener, and was found trowel in hand.
Acknowledgments
Sarah Burns
