Name
Charles William Jellis
31 January 1872 (naval records)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1915
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/14274
Royal Marine Light Infantry
(RMR/A/553). H.M.S. "India."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Navy Star, British War Medal and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
13
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Charles William Jellis was born in Baldock on 31 January 1872, the son of Daniel and Esther Jellis (nee Webb). (N.B. on some censuses the surname is recorded as Jealous)
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Back Lane, Baldock where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. By 1891 Charles had joined the Royal Marines and was a 19 year old Private living in barracks at Chatham, Kent. In 1901 Charles was a Private living at the Royal Marine Barracks, East Stonehouse, Devon, aged 29.
He married Ada Hughes on 11 August 1908 at St Paul's Church, Chatham, Kent, and they had three children, Ellen (1909), Olive (1912) and Arthur (1913).
On the 1911 Census Charles was a boarder at the home of James and Sarah Smith at 272 Woolwich Road, Charlton, Kent, London. He was said to be aged 39 and had been married for three years with one child. Although he was working as a general labourer for a coal merchant, he was also listed as an army pensioner. He was admitted to the Dreadnought Hospital on 1 September 1911, aged 39, with a fractured tibia and fibula and was discharged on 6 January 1912. His address was then given as 32 Derrick Gardens, Church Lane, Charlton.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 31 January 1890 and served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Division. It is likely he was a reservist at the outbreak of war and would have been recalled for service.
He was killed in action on 8 August 1915, aged 39, when serving on HMS India, (an armed merchant cruiser) which was on duty intercepting and inspecting neutral shipping. The ship was torpedoed by German submarine U22 near Helligvaer, Norway. The ship broke in two and sank quickly. Despite this, according to some records, over 140 men survived, but approximately 160 died.
Charles's body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Additional Information
His widow received a pension of £1 0s 6d a week from 10 February 1916. She later lived at 7 Rhode Street, Chatham, Kent.
N.B. According to Naval records he was born on 31 January 1872 so would have been 43 years when he died on 8 August 1915. CWGC gives age as 39. On the 1881 Census he was said to be 7 years old (i.e. born 1874). He may have lied about his age to be accepted in the Royal Marines when he enlisted.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
