Charles Edward Hale

Charles Edward was the son of Cornelius and Alice Laura Hale (née Stanton). Cornelius Hale was born in Nailbridge, Gloucestershire, in about 1861 and his mother Alice Laura Stanton in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1865. They were married at Nottingham St Ann's on 8 January 1888 and had eight children: Richard William Stanton b. Nottingham 1888 bap. St Ann 1888; Florence Mabel b. Nottingham 1890 bap. St Ann 4 May 1890; Fanny Emma Gertrude (also Emma FG) b. Nottingham 1892 bap. Nottingham Emmanuel 12 March 1893; Charles Edward and Ernest Walter b. Gotham 1895 bap. Gotham St Lawrence 2 June 1895; Frederick Herbert b. Gotham 1899; George Arthur b. Gotham 1901 and Ivy May b. Nottingham 1906. At the time of Richard's baptism in 1888 the family was living at 13 Rose Street, Nottingham, and at 37 Lavender Street, Nottingham, when his sister Florence was baptised in 1890. Cornelius (30), an assurance agent, and Alice (25) and their two children were still living on Lavender Street in 1891 and at the same address when the third child, Fanny, was baptised two years later. However, they had moved to Gotham by 1895 when their twin sons, Charles and Ernest, were born and in 1901 the family was living on Nottingham Road, Gotham: Cornelius, Alice and their six children, Richard, Florence, Fanny, Charles and Ernest (6) and Frederick (1). The family moved back to Nottingham and their youngest child, Ivy, was born there in 1906. In 1911 they were living at 441 Berridge Road, Hyson Green. Cornelius (50) was a Prudential Assurance agent. All the children but Richard were still at home: Fanny who worked in an electric light factory, Charles and Ernest who both assistants for a marine store dealer, Frederick, Arthur (9) and Ivy (4). Richard had married Alice Smith in 1910 and they and their son William Stanley were living with Alice's parents in Gotham. Cornelius and Alice were living at 77 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, when Charles was killed in 1917. Cornelius died in 1932. When the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939, his widow, Alice, was living with her widowed daughter, Florence Osborne and her three children, at 219 Minver Crescent, Nottingham; Alice was described as incapacitated. She died in 1944. Charles' brother Richard was working as a gypsum miner when he was killed in an accident on 16 August 1935 leaving a widow and three children. (See 'Extra information') Their younger brother George died on 4 August 1935. Their sister Florence Mabel married John George Osborne in 1911. Her husband served with the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action in 1916. (See 'Extra information')

In 1911 he was an assistant to a marine store dealer.

Enlisted Nottingham

Lance Corporal Charles Hale, served with the 2/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hood Rifles). He was killed in action on 26th September 1917 although his death was not confirmed until January the following year. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium..

Charles' brother-in-law, John George Osborne, the husband of his sister Florence Mabel, served in the 17th Bn Sherwood Foresters (42146 Private) and was killed in action on 3 September 1916, buried Knightsbridge Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Notice published 15th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- HALE. – Killed in action September 26th, 1917, Lance-Corpl. Charles Hale, Sherwood Foresters, beloved twin son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Hale, 77, Birkin-avenue, aged 22. So sad, yet true, we cannot tell why, the best are first that are called to [rest]; beautiful memories left behind. – From his sorrowing mother and father, brothers Will [Richard], Ernest (twin brothers), Fred, Ted (in France), George, sisters Mabel [Florence], Daisy [prob. Fanny], Ivy, Alice (w. of Richard], and Winnie [Winifred w. of Ernest].” Note: Ted was probably Edward Jacobs, Fanny's husband (m. 1913). 'In memoriam' notice published 16th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HALE. – Reported missing September 26th, 1917, now reported killed, Lance-Corpl. C. Hale, Sherwood Foresters, aged 22 years. Duty nobly done. – With deepest sympathy from Mrs. Linford and family, sadly missed by his chum Dick (in France).” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: 'killed in action or wounds', legatee father Cornelius WW1 Pension Ledger Index Cards: named relative mother Alice Laura. Charles' brother, Richard, was killed in an industrial accident in 1935: Nottingham Evening Post, 16 August 1935 (extract): ‘Gotham Mine Fatality. Two Men Trapped By Fall. Married Man’s Death. Colleague Injured And In Hospital. One man was killed and another seriously injured in a fall of roof at one of the three gypsum mines at Gotham to-day. The dead man was William (sic) Hale, 47, of Leake-road, Gotham, a married man with three children, whose wife has been an invalid for the past 12 months, and the injured man is Clarence Smith, 21, of 17, Gladstone-street, Gotham, whose injuries include a fractured thigh. The mine where the fall occurred is owned by Messrs. JW Sheppard and Co. who own two of the three gypsum mines at Gotham. And who style the mine where the fatality occurred as No. 2 Pit. A party of three men, Hale, Smith, and a man named John Leslie Allom, who lives in Curzon-street, Gotham, were working at the face this morning. After Shot-Firing. A shot had been fired, and the three men had moved to a place of safety while the explosion occurred. After waiting for what they thought was a reasonable tme, Hale and Smith moved toward the face. It was then that a further and totally unexpected fall of roof occurred. Stone and earth weighing several hundredweight fell on the two men, and Hale was doubled up under the weight, almost completely buried, and undoubtedly met death instantaneously … The dead man had also worked in the mine for a long period. He leaves three grown-up sons. The injured man, Clarence Smith, had been employed in the mine only six or seven weeks. He was an orphan, his father having been killed in the war and his mother dying in February. A Sad Fact. Hale was described by one of his workmates as one of the most popular men in Gotham. He was an exhibitor at Gotham annual horticultural show, and was due to compete to-morrow in the competition for the cup awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points. He had already won this trophy twice, and was hoping to-morrow to make the cup his own property … It is stated that this is the first fatal accident in the mine since the war period.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 30 August 1935: ‘Gypsum Mine Tragedy’ Report of inquest, 30 August. Verdict ‘Accidental Death’. Note: The father of Clarence Smith, who was injured in the accident, was Daniel Smith who served in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (23000 Private) and was killed on 23 March 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Probate: Hale Richard William Stanton of 72 Leake-road Gotham Nottinghamshire died 16 August 1935 at the Gypsum Mine Gotham Administration Nottingham 22 November to Alice Hale widow. Effects £333 5s. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 March 1944: ‘Hale. Alice Laura, aged 78, passed peacefully away, at 219 Minver-crescent, Aspley. Rest after weariness. Funeral Thursday, Bulwell, 3 o’clock, Loving children, Mabel [Florence], Daisy [Fanny], Ernest, Fred and Ivy, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, Alice [Richard's widow], Winnie, Clara and Mabel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)