Private 20287 Charles Albert FINCH

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 20287 Charles Albert FINCH - 2nd/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Thursday 6th September 1917 aged 40

Military History


Theatre of War in Which Died	Campaign Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Tyne Cot Memorial

First Arrived in Theatre	Bravery & Conduct Medals	SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 August 1916 in France	~	Leamington Spa War Memorial

Action, Battle or Other Reason Died	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)	June 1916 in Leamington Spa	~

Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
SE of St. Julien	~

Circumstances of Death

Charles is listed as being killed in action on September 6th 1917, the 2nd/5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 5th to 6th September 1917 and a precis of the Operational Order (Appendix 2) for those days are transcribed below.

Operational Order 80 - Appendix 2

1. The Battalion (plus one Company of 2/8^th Warwicks) will be ready any time after midnight 5^th/6^th inst. to relieve 2/6^th Warwicks on the line Pommern Castle _Somme and at zero tomorrow attack the gun emplacements on Hill 35 area, in conjunction with troops on our right flank only, whose objective is Iberian [Trench].

2. One company of the 2/6^th Warwicks will be at Plum Farm and Uhlan Farm. They will get into touch with the Artillery lamp there and on receipt of the code word “COME” from Battalion HQ will move the two platoons from plum farm to dust trench, the Coy H.Qrs and one platoon at Uhlan Farm taking their place at Plum Farm.

3. The assault on Hill 35 will be carried out by C Coy supported by A Coy. C Coy will assemble in the trench between D19.a.6½ .5 and D.19.a.5¾.7 A Coy will assemble in the trench between D.19.a.5.4 and D.19.a.4½ .7. One guide for each company from B Company with report to them tonight.

4. Companies will assault on a frontage of one platoon to cover the whole front of 120 yards, each platoon being in two lines. Distance between lines 25 yards; between waves 75 yards. A Coy will move in columns of sections if possible. Extensions should be about 8 paces.

5. The positions will at once consolidated and a line dug in front of it. Patrols of Lewis Guns will be pushed forward towards Gallipoli to cover consolidation. Connection will be established with the troops taking Iberian on the right and a party detailed to clear the line of shell holes towards Iberian. B Coy will arrange to fill any gap on the left and D Coy on the right.

War Diary 5th/6th Sep 1917

Bank Farm - 5 Sep 1917: Battn & one Company of 2/8^th Warwicks relieved 2/6^th Warwicks in front systems (Somme-Hill 35 area). Relief complete at 2.20am (6^th). Appendix 2

Bank Farm - 6 Sep 1917: Battn unsuccessfully attacked Hill 35 at 7.30am. Reorganised and again attacked at 9pm, unsuccessfully. 1½ Companies of 2/8^th R War R and 1 company of 2/6^th R War R came up to hold the line during second attack. Appendix 2.

Bank Farm - 7 Sep 1917: Battalion relieved in front line by 2/1st Bucks & moved to Red Rose Camp, Brandhoek. Relief completed 12.20am (8th).

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1876 in Coventry	7 Jan 1877 at Coventry, St Thomas

Parents Names	Abode
Charles and Anna Finch	16 Woodbine Street, Leamington Spa

Wife and Marriage Details	Children
Alice Beatrice Finch nee Feasley	Jessie born 1895; Alice born 1901
20 Mar 1898 at Leamington Spa, All Saints	George born 1 May 1903; Doris born 18 Mar 1906

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1877 - Thetford Street, Coventry	1891 - Gardener
1881 - 25 Moreton Street, Leamington Spa	1901 - Gardener
1891 - 23 King Street, Leamington Spa	1911 - Domestic Gardener
1901 - 40 Weston Street, Coventry	1915 - Gardener for Joseph Ash
1911 - 56 Brook Street, Leamington Spa
1916 - 56 Brook Street, Leamington Spa

Father of Jesse Charles Finch who also fell

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