No.5930, Acting Corporal, Charles William EDWARDS
Aged 32
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Charles Edwards was born in Brandon, possibly in 1885 (Thetford Q4-1885 4B:391), son of Charles Anthony and Mary Ann EDWARDS (née ZIPFEL). There is no other birth registered in 1880-1885 in Thetford for a Charles EDWARDS, and all other records have his year of birth as 1883 1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his father Charles [29] farm labourer; Mary A [26]; sisters Milly [5], Nellie [3] and brother Richard [1] ] 1901 census...Aged 18, a labourer in whiting yard, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his parents]; brothers Bertie [9] and Wesley [1]; sisters Nellie [15], Edith [6] and Violet [4]. All were born in Brandon. In 1906 in Colchester he married Florence Kate ALDERTON (Colchester Q2-1908 4A:1237). 1911 census...Aged 28, a railway labourer, he was in Colchester at 96 Winchester Road with his wife Florence Kate [29] born Colchester and sons Charles Frederick [2] and Wesley William [4 months) both born in Colchester. His widower father, sisters Edith and Violet and brothers Wesley and Jack [9] born Brandon were at Thetford Road. It looks like 9 children had been born 2 had died. His mother had died in 1906. Brother Bertie was in the Army in Aldershot, Richard had died aged 2. Sister Millie is unaccounted for after 1891, death or marriage not identified. His brother Bertie was killed in Mesopotamia in 1916. see here |
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The records vary as to rank, he is Corporal on CWGC, Acting Corporal on "Soldiers Died" and the "Register of Soldier Effects " has a
question mark between Lance Sergeant or Acting Corporal.
on 7th January 1901 he attested at Brandon for the Militia, ( He was in the 4h Volunteer Battalion, Norfolkl Regiment),giving his age as 17 years 10 months, born and living at Thetford Road, Brandon. He was a sawyer working for Wood and Sons, Brandon. 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm)tall, he weighed 101 lbs (46 kg) and chest was 31" to 33" (78.7 to 83.8 cm), grey eyes, brown hair, Church of England. At the Norwich depot he was posted to the 3rd battalion, Norfolk Regiment # 4548 and on the 5th December 1901 he enlisted the Suffolk Regiment. Unfortunately that is all that seems to have survived of his service record. The battalion war diary actually misses out the 6th August, but before and after they were only providing working parties in the area of Gunners Farm (NE Outskirts of Armentieres) and Charles' was the only death that day. click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
