No.26586, Private, Charles PLEDGER
Aged 33
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Charles Pledger was born in Burrough Green on 29th December 1884, (Newmarket Q1-1885 3B:561A) baptised in Burrough Green on 21st June 1885, son of Henry and
Martha Ann PLEDGER (née WEBB).
1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Bradley Road, Burrough Green with his father Henry PLEDGER [35] Agricultural labourer; his mother Martha A [36]; sister Amelia [13] and brother Archibald F. [7 months]. All were born in Burrough Green. Sadly, brother Archibald Frank died in 1892. 1901 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at Back Lane, nr The Green, Burrough Green, with his parents (mother now recorded as Fanny), sister Amelia and grandmother Eliza WEBB [88] born Burrough Green. His mother died in 1901 1911 census...Aged 26, a farm labourer, he was living at Back Lane, Burrough Green with his widower father and sister Amelia BUSHNELL and her husband John [30] born Dullingham and their children Ella [5] and Lizzie [4] both born in Burrough Green. Later, according to the pension cards, his parents were at Yole Farm, Balsham. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were in the trenches between Ribecourt and Marcoing on the 30th September, ready to attack Rumilly on the 1st October. The 76th Brigade attacked with the 8th KORL on the right and 2nd Suffolks on the left. Severe fighting ensued and the attack was only partially successful. The front and support trenches at Rumilly were full of Germans and machine guns, many were killed and over 300 German prisoners taken but by this time they had lost the barrage and came under very heavy machine gun fire from the front and flanks, making further progress impossible The right company however used the lie of the land and shielded from machine gun fire, pushed through the village to a trench on the far side where they killed and captured many Germans. It still took some bitter fighting before the village was cleared in the evening. The battalion lost 46 men killed. |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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