Name
Charles Kitchener
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203365
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
2nd/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 102 to 104.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Boxmoor memorials
Pre War
Charles Kitchener was born in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, in 1895, the son of Charles and Emma Kitchener (nee Catling), and one of two sons.
His parents had married in 1884 in the Hemel Hempstead district and on the 1901 Census the family were living at 7 East View, London Road, Two Waters, Hemel Hempstead. He had an older brother George, then aged 16, who was working as a Paper Colourer, both his parents were working at the paper mill (John Dickinson & Co).
By the 1911 Census the family had moved to 5 Lanes Cottages, Sutton at Hone, Kent. Both Charles and his father gave their occupation as Paper Coating.
On enlistment he gave his address as 6 Station Road, Rishton, Lancashire and his occupation as Paper Stainer, Machinist. His parents were then living at 94 Kensington Avenue, Watford, Herts.
His mother Emma died on 17 January 1943 aged 78, his father Charles died on 23 February 1957, aged 95. Both are buried in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted on 12 December 1915 in Rishton, Lancs, and initially joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was placed in the Army Reserve and mobilised on 13 October 1916.
On mobilisation he was transferred to the 4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. After basic training he left Southampton on 7 February 1917 and arrived at Le Havre, France the following day.
He was killed in action on 26 October 1917. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 10s and pay owing of £2 4s 11d. His mother applied for a pension but it was refused, perhaps because he was not living with his parents in Watford. There is an In Memoriam for Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 26 October 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
