No.6639, Private, Charles KENT
Aged 30
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His civilian details are uncertain, too many Robert and Charles KENTS, but believed to be:- Charles Kent was born in 1880 (Thetford Q2-1880 4B:415) son of Robert and Emma KENT (née PETTIT). His parents married in 1874. 1881 census...Aged 11 months, he was at London Road, Brandon with his father Robert KENT [33] labourer born Brandon; his mother Emma [30] born Bottisham; half brothers William PETTIT [7] and Frank PETTIT [9]; brother Robert KENT [4] and sister Epseler( Hepzibah Mabel?) [2]. All the children were born in Brandon. 1891 census...Aged 11, he was at London Road, Brandon with his father Robert KENT [43] labourer; his mother Emma [40] born Bottisham; brothers Frank [19] and William [17] both labourers ( no longer using PETTIT as surname) and Albert [4] (Arthur ?) and sisters Mabel [12], Ethel [9], Violet [6] and Zillah [1]. All except his mother were born in Brandon. 1901 census...Not yet identified in this census. His parents were at Thetford Road, Brandon with sisters Ethel [12], Violet [16] and Lillah [11], brother Arthur [14] and nephew Robert [1 month]. All Brandon born except his mother who was born in Bottisham. 1911 census... He seems to be Charlie KENT [30] a labourer, at Wellington Terrace, Thetford Road, Brandon with his widowed mother Emma [60] and brother Arthur [24], labourer and head of family. He married Emma DIXON on 4th July 1914 in the parish church in Brandon (Thetford Q3-1914). They had a son, Charles Robert Kent DIXON, born 18th September 1912. Their address was then Stanley Row, Town Street, Brandon. |
click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
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He enlisted in Brandon.
On 17th October 1901 he attested in Brandon, giving his age as 19 years 6 months, a labourer, born and living in Brandon. He was 5 feet 5.75 inches (167 cm) tall, weighed 118 lbs (53.7 kg), chest 33.5" to 35" (85.1 to 88.9 cm), blue eyes, brown hair and Church of England. His engagement was for 7 year sin the colours, five on reserve. At the Suffolk Regiment depot in Bury St.Edmunds he was placed in the York and Lancaster Regiment, No.6639. Much of his service record is too faded to read but he served in UK until 3rd January when he went to India. He remained with the battalion in India until 30th February 1909, having had one spell in hospital in Quetta with a sprained ankle, and whilst in India extended his service to 8 years in the colours. Returning to UK he served until 3rd January 1910 before being transferred to the Reserves. On the reserves he managed to extend his Class "A" Reserve status each year (thus receiving more pay) until being transferred to Class "D" Reserve on 17th October 1913. The 1st Battalion were in India when war broke out and returned to UK in August 1914 by 23rd December 1914 and moving to France on 17th January 1915. Charles was mobilised on 5th August and caught up with the battalion in France on 24th February 1915. Army. On 10th May 1915 Emma was at Stanley Row, Town Street, Brandon and still there in January 1916. During Charles spell in the Reserves, correspondence to and from the Army was to George Street in January 1910, Wellington Terrace, Thetford Road in October 1910 and 1 Olley's Cottages, London Road in 1913. His widow Emma received just a shoulder title in his effects and asked if she might receive any other belongings that may be found. She received 15 shillings (75p) per week pension for herself and one child. His age seems correct on his initial enlistment but somehow has lost five years on CWGC records. The war diary tells us that the battalion were ordered at 1:15 am on 23rd April 1915 to go to St Jean, NE of Ypres. On arrival there they learnt that the Germans had broken through 2 kilometres of the French lines. The battalion occupied trenches N of St Jean while the Buffs, 5/Kings Own and 3/Middlesex tried to close the gap. At 5:30 am they were ordered forward to take up a post NW of WIELTJE. During this movement, which was executed by small detached parties, the Bn experienced a sever shelling by shrapnel and high explosives causing a few casualties. They dug in in some disused trenches and were heavily shelled most of the morning At 4 pm they were ordered to attack. Companies marched independently to the farm and then attacked from behind it into the face of very heavy rifle and machine gun fire. They had to halt due to the open nature of of the country and await darkness. Then they were sent to the forward line in case of a German attack. The Bn Commander decided they had been so weakened that they could not hold such an advanced post and after consulting with the other regiments involved, they fell back and dug in along a hedge. Three machine guns were posted along the line and one in the farm behind, but these had to be withdrawn the following day owing to the shellfire. CWGC have 107 of the 1st York and Lancaster killed and only 8 of them were identified, the rest are named on the Menin Gate in Ypres Initially 7 of the York and Lancaster dead were buried as shown below, but in 1919 they were concentrated into New Irish Farm cemetery.
Charles' initial burial and the three present day cemeteries photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
