Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 3rd September 1916. The 16th Battalion war diary entry for 3 Sep 1916 is transcribed, in full, below:

Casement Trench Sept 3:

12.5am: Bttn moved to Casement Trench arriving at 2.45am

10.40am: Message received – Battn to be prepared to move out at moments notice

11.12am: Order to move to Malzhorn Trench received

11.40am: Bttn moved to Malzhorn Trench in following order A.B.C.D arriving at 12.15 midday

1.30pm: Battn ordered to move to trench south of Angle Wood, arrived there at 4pm

Angle Wood Sept 3:

4pm: Arrival reported to 13^th & 15^th Infantry Bde

1.30pm: I was asked to report to 13^th & 15^th Inf Bde on the way up

5.45pm: I gave orders to Capt Dingley to bring his Company to slot trench on reverse slope of hill immediately in front of Angle Wood

6.15pm: I issued operation orders to Capt Dingley OC B Coy to attack in conjunction with one Coy 1^st Cheshire Regt German front line trench from B.2.b.0.3 to B.2.d.4.7 ref Longueval trench map 57C 1/10,000 at 6.30pm

6.30pm: I ordered Capt J de R Phillip OC D coy to occupy trench vacated by B Coy

6.31pm: Intense enemy machine gun fire

6.42pm: O.C. 1^st Cheshire Regt reports that his Coy failed to reach their objective

6.50pm: Message received from 13^th Inf Bde that the Battn was in Div Reserve & not at disposal of 13^th Inf Bde and was to remain in present position

7.5pm: I replied that message was not received until 6.50pm the attack meanwhile having taken place as 1^st Cheshire had not sufficient men for the frontage allotted

6.55pm: Message from Capt Dingley to say attack had failed

7.5pm: Message sent to Capt Dingley ordering him to withdraw at 8.15pm to trench beside Bttn HQ

7.0pm: I sent situation report by pigeon to Div

9pm: I ordered 1^st Cheshire Regt to send out patrols to try and get in touch with the French and link up with defensive posts. Message sent to 15^th Inf Bde asking if they could make arrangements to remove wounded

10.30pm: B & D Coys return to trench running along southern edge of Angle Wood

10.35pm: 1^st Norfolk Regt & 1^st Cheshire Regt take over firing line right and left respectively. 2^nd KOSB, 15^th Warwicks & 14^th Warwicks relieved and withdrawn to Casement Trench.