Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 16th May 1915. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 14th to 16th May are transcribed below.

Windy Corner [N of Cuinchy] - 14 May 1915: B & D Coys relieved the Highland L I in the trenches. A & C Coys remaining at Windy Corner.

N of Cuinchy - 15^th & 16^th May 1915: B & D Coys in trenches, A & C in billets near Windy Corner. The 1^st Army was ordered to take the offensive on the night of 15^th/16^th May. The 5^th Brigade were ordered to attack the German trenches on their front, between R.6 and V.1 to NW corner of salient between V.3 & V.6.

The battalion was detailed to form front line of attack from ditch 150yrs E of Cinder Track to ditch just E of communication trench running through Copse (frontage 300 yards). The attack to be carried out by successive lines at intervals of about 100 yards. A working party of 150 men of Glasgow Highlanders to move as third line with picks, shovels and sandbags. Special bombing parties were told off, while distinguishing badges were worn.

About 10pm B & D Coys commenced moving out in front of our breastworks. This continued until 11.20pm but was very slow work as there were only a few tunnels under our breastworks to get through. By 11.15pm the whole of B & D Coys and half of A & C and most of the working party of Glasgow Highlanders  were out in front of our wire entanglements and all ready to make the assault. The attack was ordered to take place simultaneously along our front at 11.30pm to be carried out in absolute silence and at a walk until the enemy’s trench was approached when it was to be rushed.

At 11.28pm the enemy opened a heavy fire with rifles and Machine Guns. At 11.30pm the advance commenced but the left Coy (D) could make on forward progress owing to the enemy’s heavy fire. B Coy supported by A went forward with great dash but suffered so heavily that only three officers and a few men got near the German line, one of these officers, Lt McCormick, being severely wounded close up to the German wire and unfortunately could not be recovered. He was reported to be killed later.

The working party of the Glasgow Highlanders went forward with great dash, some of them almost reaching the German line before being shot down. The attack had failed along the front allotted to the Indian Corps and 5^th Brigade except that half the Inniskilling Fusiliers had got across and occupied the German breastworks. The 6^th Brigade on our right and 7^th Division on their right also got into the German line.

D & C Coy who could not get forward remained lying in dead ground in anticipation of making a fresh attack at 3.15am the next day but owing to the darkness and the absence of reports from the right Coys and congestion of breastworks it was utterly impossible to re-organise for a fresh attack. Before dawn what remained of the Coys in front were withdrawn to breastworks. At daybreak the Battn was ordered back to B Line and later to the breastworks running east near Windy Corner.

Casualties: Lts McCormick 7 Scott, 2/Lts Lowell, Hart and Temple wounded. Other ranks Killed 11, wounded 95, missing 127, wounded and missing 10. The Battalion spent the night 16^th/17^th in billets near Windy Corner.