No.20396, Private, Charles AUDUS
Aged 20
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Charles Audus was born in Soham (Newmarket Q2-1897 3B:520), son of Abner and Mary Ann AUDUS (née BADCOCK).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Hasse Road, Soham with his widowed grandmother Sarah Ann BADCOCK [64] born Burwell; his uncle Charles Badcock [23] farm labourer born Soham; his father Abner AUDUS [29] farm labourer born Soham; his mother Mary Ann [28] born Newmarket; brothers James W [6], Sydney [2] and George [1 month], all born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Qua Fen Common with his widowed mother and brothers James W (farm labourer), Sidney and George. His father had died in 1901. His mother was still there on the pension card. His elder brother James William served in the Royal Garrison Artillery and survived the war. A younger brother, Sidney, died at home in 1918. see here ..and cousin Charles BADCOCK died in 1918 in France see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. May 5th 1917 (according to "History of the Suffolk Regiment" by Lt Col CC Murphy) saw a large scale raid by the 119th and 121st Brigades on the village of La Vacquerie. The 12th Battalion provided 2 companies each 100 strong. "C" Coy made for an isolated group of trenches on the left, finding them unoccupied. "D" Coy went for the trenches in front of La Vacquerie. Their right hand boundary, a sunken road, hid a German machine gun. Held up by un-cut wire and machine gun fire they were forced to retire. This action cost the 12th Suffolks 4 killed on 5th and 18 on the 6th. Local press report: The report concerning Pte. Charles Audus, second son of Mrs.Audus, Qua Fen Common, has now been confirmed by the War Office, who state that he was killed on May 6th. The late Pte. Audus enlisted in June 1915, in the Suffolk Regt. Wounded in the following July during the great "push", he was brought to England, where he remained until November, when he was again sent to France. A letter from one of his mates, who saw him fall, says that two others were killed at the same time. Mrs Audus has one other son, also serving in France with the R.G.A.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
