Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 24 Aug 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The war diary for that day is transcribed below:

Longueval Alley – 24^th Aug – Thursday

At 4:50pm after two two hours intensive bombardment A&D Coys of 8 K.R.R with the 42nd brigade on our left attack the enemy in and on the flanks of Delville Wood. I will work is to attack from Hop Alley, part of Beer Alley which is badly in the air and enfiladed from the E. A & D Coy are assaulting in two waves, A on the left D on the right. The preliminary bombardment has failed to cut the wire in front of a and has not touched the enemy trench. The Stokes gun detailed to obliterate the enemy trench on the left failed to do so and has some very good shooting at our own trench instead. The field gun barrage has been directed unfortunately behind the enemy trench all the time. Consequently the enemy man their trench very strongly and A Coys attack cannot develop, the first wave falling back dead on the 2^nd. 2 Lt Todd-Naylor is killed.

On the right D Coy has been held up nearly as badly only about 6 Rfn and 2 Sgts reaching the enemy lines alive. This party made a post and took two prisoners. They maintained themselves in the enemy trench until withdrawn after dark. Our extreme right bombing party progressed some way up an old trench and established a block. This also had to be withdrawn after dark.

The 42^nd Bde like good progress but the battalion on our immediate left had temporarily withdrawn to their original line. The enemy put up an extremely effective 5.9” barrage for several hours during and after the attack.

B & C Coys had to come up and reinforce the front line immediately after the attack as the line was very weak after the heavy casualties. This they did over the open with surprisingly few casualties. We were relieved by the 7/KRR during the night and went back to Pommiers Trench.

During the day 2 Lts. Huntingdon, Todd-Naylor (killed) and 2 Lts Wood and F.G. Scott (wounded) were among the casualties. END