Name
Charley George Langstone
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/10/1917
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17737
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Watford in 1897 and baptised at St Mary's, Watford on 6 July 1879, Charley (Charles George) Langston was the son of Eliza (nee Langston) Melton. His mother married George Melton on 6 September 1879 at St James’, Bushey.
George died in 1928 in Watford, aged 72, and was buried on 8 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Eliza died in 1950 in Watford, aged 89, and was buried on 26 October, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1881 Census, Charley was aged 1 and lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and one sibling called Mary. On the 1891 Census, aged 11, he still lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and five siblings; William, Henry, Ernest, George and (another) Ernest. His father was working as a bricklayer.
Charley married Emily Jane Stacey Gibson on 3 April 1899 at St James’ Church, Bushey. At the 1881 Census, Emily's mother Mary Ann Stacey [a widow] and her three children [Frederick, Emily and William] were lodging with Thomas Gibson in Grove Road, Bushey. By the time of the 1891 Census, Thomas and Mary had married and the family was living in Back Lane Cottages, Bushey. Thomas Gibson was employed as a bricklayer.
At the 1901 Census, Charley and Emily were living at 26 Herkomer Road, Bushey with a one-year-old son named William, who was born in Bushey. The birthplaces for Charley and Emily are given as Watford and their ages are 24 and 25 respectively. Charley is working as a general labourer, possibly with Emily’s father, who is living next door at 25 Herkomer Road.
At the 1911 Census, Charley and Emily had moved to 123 Herkomer Road. Charley was still working as a general labourer. They now had two children, George and Ellen, who were 11 and 4 years old respectively, and third child had died in infancy. Also living with them in Charley’s mother-in-law Mary Ann Gibson, and a 13 year old nephew, Harry Brownsel.
Wartime Service
There is some discrepancy in the records as to when Charley Langston served in France. He enlisted in Watford and served as Private 17737 in the 6th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. His pension record indicates that he served in France with a qualifying date of 30 July 1915.
However, the National Roll of the Great War (Section V, Luton) also gives the following information about Charley:
“LANGSTON, C., Private, 6th Bedfordshire Regt. He volunteered in August 1914, and was shortly afterwards drafted to France, where he served with his battalion and fought at the Battles of Ypres, Arras and many others and was wounded. On recovery he rejoined his unit and was in action again until killed at St Julien on October 8th 1917. He was entitled to the 1914 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals. 123 Herkomer Road, Bushey, Herts.”
Charley was killed in action on 8 October 1917, aged 39, and is remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church, Bushey.
The Register of Soldier’s Effects gives Emily as his sole beneficiary. There is also a brief article about and a Death announcement for Charley in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 17 November 1917. His half-brother Henry Melton also died on 30 April 1918.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Unfortunately, Charley’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. His half-brother Henry MELTON died 30 April 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
