Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 10th January 1915. The 2nd Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Beuvry - 10 Jan 1915: A good deal of firing N of Canal (1^st Bde) last night. Finer morning.

Bombardment at 11 o’c: After heavy rifle fire & artillery bombardment the attack commenced at 2pm.

At 2.10pm the attack succeeded but the M. Gun post could not be held and by orders of G.O.C. 2^nd Bde, whose HQrs were up at Brickstacks from 1pm, it was arranged to hold & strengthen an observation post only, on the embankment, and dig a new line of trench from close below it to join our own line.

This later proved to be impracticable owing to the swampy nature of the ground and the old line back to the culvert was taken up again instead. See account of the operations by Major Phillips attached – [not found in diary].

Casualties: Capt Tryon, Rif Bde & 2/Lt Lawrence killed. 2/Lt Dowden and 2/Lt Bullen wounded. Casualties among N.C.O’s & men extremely difficult to estimate. Estimated at 20 killed and 40 wounded.

During the night the Observation Post, being meanwhile strengthened with ? and a relief party of Territorial R.E. was attacked 3 times by the enemy but was successfully held.

2/Lt Amphhlett Morton and 2/Lt Bastowe however being killed and wounded respectively and some further casualties occurred, a trench mortar brought up in rear of the Post having fired 5 or 6 round burst.