South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave of Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 7 Oct 1915 | ~ | Wellesbourne |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Local Actions near Ypres | 27 Dec 1914 at Warwick | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| La Polka east of Kemmel | Pte 5265 Royal East Kent Regiment | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
Charles is listed as being killed in action during an attack on enemy lines from their positions at La Polka, which is directly east of Kemmel. The relevant part war diary for the day is transcribed below."... the [raiding] parties [left and right] were formed up outside our own wire at -5 minutes and moved forward punctually at zero. Both parties were within 20 yards of their objectives where our box barage started and just as they charged for the gaps the enemy opened very heavy fire on his own front line with T. M [Trench Mortar] bombs and 77 mm guns. the bombs were thrown from a trench in rear of and within bombing range of enemy's front line. The right party were driven back after reaching the enemys wire. The left party suceeded in entering the trench with 2 officers and about 8 men but could not be supported owing to the intense fire from the trench or what was once a trench was knee deep in water.
Only 6 of the enemy were encounted one of whom 2 LIEUT GERATY wounded and was in turn wounded by one of them before they made off. Owing to the extremely heavy fire no progress could be made and only 4 of the above party suceeded in regaining our trenches. The left party returned to our trenches practically unmolested but the right party were under shrapnel fire the whole way back. The enemy did not retaliate on our line until +15 minutes and practically everything fell behind our lines.
It is thought that the enemy does not hold his front line between N24c.7.1 and N.24c.71/2.51/2 but occupies a trench in rear of and within bombing distance of his front line. The enemies front line where the left party entered can hardly be said to exist as a trench being more in form of a drain full of mud and water in which progress could be made only with the greatest difficultly.
Our casualties were1 O.R killed, 1 O.R Died of wounds, 2 Lt EJ McMillan and 5 O.R missing [including Charles]. 2 Lt T Gereaty and 10 O.R wounded".
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Bapitsm Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 6 Jan 1885 at Farnham, Surrey | 24 May 1885 at Farnham, Surrey |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| George and Fanny Bacon-Forster | Both deceased by 1903 |
| Wife & Marriage Date/Place | Children & Year of Birth |
| Lucy Bacon-Forster nee Blackford | Naomi born 26 Jul 1908 |
| 26 Dec 1906 at Wellesbourne | Mary Kathleen born 10 Dec 1911 |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1885 - 48 East Street, Farnham | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 7 Abbots Place, St. Alphage, Kent | 1901 - Errand Boy |
| 1901 - 25 Clemens Street, Leamington Spa | 1906 - Gardener |
| 1906 - Wellesbourne Hastings | 1911 - Gardener at Walton Hall |
| 1911 - Walton, Wellesbourne | 1914 - Gardener at Walton Hall |
| 1914 - Church Walk, Wellesbourne |
Photographs courtesy of Dene Valley U3A and Ancestry.co.uk
