Personal Details
Born: 7 May 1891 in Islington, London and baptised on 4 October the same year in St. Michael’s Church, Islington.
Family: He was the eldest of three children born to Alfred, a porter, and his wife Annie Mary. Annie Mary remarried to William Edwin Sands in 1901 and Charles had two step siblings from this marriage. Charles married Lizzie de Bank in 1912 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and together they had three children – Sydney, George T and Charles D. Lizzie sadly died in 1920. He married Martha A Ashley (nee Evanson) in 1922 in Wem, Shropshire and together they had a child – Frances M. Charles also had a step child (from Martha’s first marriage) – Arthur J Ashley.
Residence: When Charles was baptised the family were living at 105 Bingfield Street, Islington, Middlesex. By 1901 they had moved to Coton, Shropshire; in 1911 he was boarding at 41 Wrexham Road, Whitchurch. The 1919 Absent Voters’ Register shows him living at 4 Cambrian View, Whitchurch where he lived until his death in 1952.
Employment: In 1911 he was a coal carter; in 1939 he was a lorry driver for a haulage contractor.
Died: In 1952 at Whitchurch Cottage Hospital, aged 60, and was buried 28 January the same year in Whitchurch cemetery.
Military Details
Regiment: Border Regiment
Rank: Private
Service Number: 28740
Date of Enlistment: Not known
Date of Discharge: Not known
Reason for Discharge: Not known
Other Information: Charles’ brother Sydney also served in WW1.
Charles was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War Medal, and Victory Medal)
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.