No.17919, Private, Charles Albert WARREN
Aged 24
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Charles Albert Warren was born in Brandon (Thetford Q3-1891 4B:380) son of William and Rebecca WARREN (née TUFFS). 1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Church End, Brandon with his father William WARREN [54] horse keeper; his mother Rebecca [54] born Lakenheath; sisters Ethel [19], Flora [15], Milly [13] and Beatrice [11]; brother Ernest [18] a kitchen boy. All except his mother were born in Brandon. 1911 census...Aged 19, single, a labourer, he was at Manor Farm, Brandon with his widowed mother and sister Florence. 2 of his mother's 12 children had died |
click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
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He attested in Riddlesworth.
It was just 25 days after first landing in France and the untried troops were flung into a major battle at Loos. The war dairy is quite comprehensive but in summary the 9th Suffolk were the only Suffolk battalion involved in the first attack, the 1st on the 26th and the 7th on the 29th. They were exhausted after their march to the line and had been promised 48 hours rest if circumstances permitted. Circumstance did not permit and on the 25th they advanced past the German support line before halting for the night. the 21st Division was ordered to attack again at 11 am on the 26th with the 11th Essex and 9th Suffolk in brigade support 600 yards in the rear. The order was not received until 11;25 so they were ordered to advance immediately, which they did against heavy artillery fire, reaching 200 yards past the Lens-Hulluch road, before being checked. The right flank began to give way at 5 pm but the centre held for three hours, the flanks advancing and withdrawing twice.The left came under very heavy machine gun fire from Hulluch and was forced back. This was where most of the 9th Suffolks casualties occurred. At 7 pm a party of three officers and about 100 men were told to hold the old German second line against a counter-attack and remain until relieved. They were relieved at 2 am. CWGC records show that 9 men from the battalion were killed on the 26th. Charles Warner was initially buried in Le Rutoire British Cemetery but in 1919 this cemetery was emptied and the 82 British soldiers there were removed to Dud Corner Thetford and Watton Times of 9th October 1915 had the following details:- KILLED IN ACTION .. This week the sad news reached Brandon that Charles Albert Warren, of the 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, had been killed during recent actions on the British Front. With regard to Private Warren, Mrs Warren, received a letter from his captain to the following effect "It is my painful duty to inform you that your son, Private C.A. Warren, who was in my platoon, met his death yesterday (Monday, September 27th). We in the platoon sympathise with you deeply in your irreparable loss, but I know it will be a comfort to you to hear that he died serving his country in the glorious work of administering to the wounded in the field. As you know, he was a stretcher bearer, and met his death bringing in wounded yesterday morning after an engagement. He was well liked by his comrades in the battalion, and they mourn with you his loss. This may be softened by the thought that he died on the field manfully serving his country." Another officer of the battalion wrote expressing deep sorrow and sympathy at the loss of Private Warren. "He was a real treasure serving us, always willing, always ready to do a kindness of service. I have never seen him slack once, but he has always put his heart into his work, and done it well and cheerfully. His death was instantaneous. He did not have pain for a single second. You will no doubt be rejoiced to hear your son was the means of saving more than one brave life before his own unfortunate end." On Saturday Mrs Warren received a sympathetic letter from Private Warren’s chum, B.A. Wicks, who wrote "We were going back to the trenches to collect more wounded, when a shell from the German lines exploded amongst us, and to our sorrow and your misfortune, killed Charlie instantly."
The farm near his original burial photo: Rodney Gibson photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
