Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 18th August 1918. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary entries for the period 17th to 19th August 1916 are transcribed below.

17 August 1916 – Trenches near Bouzincourt: Fine day German aeroplane brought down in flames in our lines. Enemy artillery fairly quiet.

18 August 1916 - Trenches near Bouzincourt: Showery day. A few Gas Shells were sent over, no Casualties. Enemy fired many Very flares during night, instructions received to attack.

PM: Rainy day. Preparation for attack being made, bombs carried up etc. Attack commenced 5.5pm by C Coys, Lt. Murry & Lt Pirie led bombing parties against German Bomb Stop at X.2.c.3.9 both were wounded almost at once. Party driven back to our Bomb Stop X.2.c.3.8. Capt. Payton reorganised his men & attack proceeded at 6.20pm, it succeeded in capturing bomb stop post but driven back at 6.50pm.

7pm: Capt. Payton again reorganised but orders were received from Brigade to postpone attack until after dark.

19 August 1916 - Trenches near Bouzincourt: 2am Bombing party of B Coy under Lt. Crow attacked said bomb stops over open but were unsuccessful.

5am: 2 bombing parties of D Coy under Lt. Caley were successful in taking Stop & pushing on to X.2.a.2.2.

8.45am: They succeeded in reaching in X.2.a.2.5

9.20am: They got in touch with 1/5 R War R at X.2.a.6.5.

12.45pm: Took point X.2.a.1.6 and were held up between this point & X.2.a.1.9 by enemy who were in force. Front line, support line & reserve line trenches were heavily shelling.

During whole afteronn. Gas & Tear shell being freely used. Remainder of day we were engaged with enemy at X.2.a11.75 where we erected a bomb stop, enemy unable to proceed further.