Military History

Charles is listed as dying of wounds on 1st September 1918 at the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station at Ligny-St.Flochel. Unfortunately the 4th Battalion war diary does not give any details of casualties so we can say for certain when Charles was originally wounded however the Battalion moved into the front lines on 28th August 1918 and the war diary entries for the period 28th August to 1st September are transcribed below.

Aubigny - 28 Aug 1918: The 4^th Division has now been transferred to the Canadian Corps & preparatory to relieving the 3^rd Canadian Division moved to point of assembly E of Arras. For the purpose of this relief the Battn was attached as under:
A Company to 11^th Infantry Brigade
B Company to 12^th Infantry Brigade
C Company to 10^th Infantry Brigade
D Company to be in reserve

The whole embussed and were taken to a point W of Arras, it being impossible to take lorries any further forward owing to enemy shelling Arras-Cambray Road. During the day the Brigades and this Battalion relieved 3^rd Canadian Division.

W of Arras - 29 Aug 1918: Considerable enemy artillery activity. Arras-Cambray Road was a constant target, areas on both sides of the road searched with H.E. shrapnel. Monchy heavily shelled at intervals throughout day.

12 low flying enemy planes were over Divisional front from 11.30am to 12 noon & several small squadrons attempted to cross our lines but were driven off by A.A. fire. About 11am 2 E.A. [enemy aeroplanes] were driven down by our aircraft.

All our machine guns are now in position & A,B & C Coys under command of Brigade Commanders.

Near Arras - 30 Aug 1918: Hostile artillery very active throughout day and night. Line of Sensee River heavily shelled. Eterpigny Wood, Bois Soufflard & Long Wood shelled from 5.30am to 7am.

The infantry successfully advanced our line E of Greenland Hill & captured Plouvain. The village of Eterpigny had also been captured.

Aircraft on both sides exceptionally active, bombs were dropped from enemy planes in vicinity of Monchy.

Near Plouvain – 31 Aug 1918: Usual harassing fire carried out by hostile artillery each district receiving attention during day & night. Cambrai Road & Vis-en-Artois shelled  heavily, our own artillery were very active day & night harassing & also firing twice of S.O.S signal.

High flying enemy planes passed over our lines at intervals.

Our machine guns moved forward in order to conform with Infantry who have advanced considerably past 2 days. Enemy M.G’s have been exceptionally active during past 24 hours.

In the Field – 1 Sep 1918: Usual harassing fire by hostile artillery, each district getting a turn during day & night. Bois de Soufflard shelled continuously throughout 24 hours, also Eterpigny, Remy Wood & Ridge also shelled.

Enemy aircraft active throughout day. Planes over Bois de Sart at 3pm & 7pm driven off by M.G. fire. M.G. guns attached to Brigades moved forward with the advance of Infantry.