Name
Charles Impey
1896 (possibly 1898)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14263
Dorsetshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BASRA MEMORIAL
Panel 22 and 63
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Welwyn village memorials
Pre War
Charles Impey was born in 1896 in Welwyn or Hitchin, Herts, the son of James and Mary Ann Impey (nee Sams). His mother died in 1899 and his father was living in Codicote, nr Welwyn with Charles' brothers William and Arthur in 1901, but Charles was not with them.
Charles and his brother William were living at 34 Percy Road, Hammersmith when they were registered at Wendell Park School at the end of January 1903, however, they were removed on 21 February 1903.
By the 1911 Census living at Church Farm Home, Boys Industrial School, Church Hill Road, East Barnet., working as a school farmboy.
(His father died in 1922 in the Hitchin area).
Wartime Service
Soon after the outbreak of war Charles enlisted at Kingsbridge, Devon as Private 3/6861, Devonshire Regiment and was sent to France on 3 December 1914. He was later transferred to the Dorsetshire Regiment and redeployed to Mesopotamia.
Charles was reported wounded and missing on 25 March 1917 and presumed dead by 20 Oct 1917, however he was later recorded (25 Nov 1917) as a prisoner of war with the Turks. His death is recorded as 20 April 1918, but whether as a result of wounds or sickness is not recorded.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated at the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Additional Information
His aunt, Mrs Mary Knott received a war gratuity £21 and pay owing of £64 19s 5d.
N.B. Church Farm School was a home for destitute boys. It was run as an industrial boarding school where boys were taught ordinary lessons as well as a trade.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
