Military History

Charles is listed as being killed in action on 24th April 1917. The 6th Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 25th April are transcribed below.

Neuville - 23 Apr 1917: Battalion relieved the 12^th K R R C in the contact line. B & C Coys in the outpost line at approx Q.10.b .2.6 to Q.11.c.2.9. A & D Coys in the front line Q.15.a.6.5 to Q.15.d.4.4

Neuville - 23 Apr 1917 – 2pm: 2nd Lieut. C. S. Benson went forward into the village of Trescault to reconnoitre. He appears to have lost his way, was heavily fired on, and killed.

11pm: With a view to assisting the 40^th Division in the capture of Beacamp the 12 KRRC delivered an attack on Bilhem – Q.5.c. A patrol of 2/Lt Birmingham, Sgt Dean, 18 men from our D Coy established themselves in the cemetery at Q.4.d.3.8. B & C Coys in another line were placed under the orders of the CO 12^th KRRC.

The attack on Bilhem was successful & our outpost line was on ? by our B & /C Coys moving forward & bombing up from the ? at about Q.11.c.2.9 to Bilhem enclosure.

2 casualties in C Coy, 1 killed, 2 wounded. A & D Coys remained in their old position in the front line in Havrincourt Wood.

Havrincourt Wood – 25 Apr 1917 – 8.30pm: A & D Coys moved up & took the section of the Outpost line held by B & C Coys, the latter going into A & D Coy’s posts in the front line. Our two Coys in the outpost line remained under the orders of the CO 12^th KRRC who were holding the line in our immediate right.

A & D Coys spent the night consolidating & wiring their new position.

1 casualty during the day in C Coy. 1 prisoner taken.