Arthur Charles

Arthur was the son of Arthur Charles (b. 1863 Market Rasen Lincolnshire) and Emily (née Brooks b. 1868 Redhill, Arnold, Nottingham) who were married at Radford St Peter in September 1886. They had nine children, seven of whom were still living at the time of the 1911 census: Frank (b. Nov. 1886 reg. 1887), Annie Elizabeth (b.1888), Arthur (b.1891), Ernest (b. Dec. 1893 reg. 1894), Herbert (b. 1896), Harold (b. Dec. 1901 reg. 1902) and Leonard (b. 1908). One of the two children who died in infancy was John Robert (b. 1899 d. 1900). All were born at Radford. The various family homes identified, all of which were in Old Radford, were: 93 Lotus Street [C.1891]; 81 St Peter’s Street [C.1901]; 82 St Peter’s Street [C.1911]; 26B St Peter’s Street [NEP 19.10.1915] and 41 Sydenham Street [CWGC]. Arthur Charles snr. was a lace hand in 1901 but by the time of the 1911 census he had become a carter working for a coal merchant. Arthur and Emily were still living at 41 Sydenham Street, Radford, when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Arthur died aged 80 on 3 January 1944. His wife Emily died at 41 Sydenham Street on 26 November 1955 aged 87. As well as Arthur, who died in the Great War, their youngest son, Leonard, also predeceased them (d. 2 January 1936), leaving a widow, Nellie (née Bonser m. 1932), and a young child. Herbert died in October 1955, predeceasing his mother by a month. Herbert attested in 1915; he was 21 years old, working as a coal miner and living with his parents at 26B St Peter's Street. He enlisted on 9 December 1915 and transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. Herbert was mobilised on 14 July 1917 and posted to the 83rd (Training Reserve) Battalion (TR/5/55692) on 18 July. However, he was discharged from the Army on 31 August 1917, 'no longer physically fit for war service'. This was related to a condition that had 'originated in infancy, was permanent but not aggravated by ordinary military service.' The eldest son of Ernest Charles, also named Ernest, was killed in action in the Second World War (see 'Extra information').

1911 - Arthur Charles was employed as a railway porter.

12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Pte. Charles volunteered for service and following training was drafted to France, arriving on 9 September 1915. The battalion was involved in the fighting during the Battle of Loos and Pte. Charles was killed in action on 27 September 1915, only six weeks after his arrival in France. His body was never recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 20 to 22). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Loos Memorial: The Loos Memorial forms the sides and back of Dud Corner Cemetery. The name "Dud Corner" is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice. The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos [25 September to 8 October 1915] to the end of the war.' (www.cwgc.org)

Arthur's nephew, Ernest Charles (b. 1916), the eldest son of his brother Ernest and his wife Gladys (née Nix m. 1915) served in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corps (322437 Lance Corporal) and was killed in action on 1 September 1942 aged 26. Buried El Alamain War Cemetery, Egypt. (CWGC 2092930) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 1 September 1943: ‘Charles. Ernest, Lce-Cpl, SR Yeomanry, killed in action September 1st., 1942. N. Africa. In proud and loving memory of a dearly loved son and brother. Mother, father, Nancy, George (RF), Ted [Edmund] (RA).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) CWGC: 'Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Charles, of 41, Sydenham St., Old Radford, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 19 October 1915: ‘Charles. Killed in action, 27th September, 1915. Pte. A Charles, 26B St. Peter-street, Old Radford, Nottingham. We never knew what pain he had, we never saw him die, we only know he passed away, without a last goodbye. From mother, father, sisters, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)