Name
Charles A Massam
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/07/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20947
Bedfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S HATFIELD (ST. LUKE) CHURCHYARD
Plot 1. Nth of Church Grave 5.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Not on the Bishops Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Charles was the son of William and Sarah Arm Massam, later of Birchwood Cottage Hatfield Herts., born circa 1897.
In the 1901 Census, Charles, aged 4, was living with his parents and siblings at Birchwood Lodge. His father was a farm foreman. In 1911 the family were living at Birchwood; they are recorded as originally from Kirton, Lincolnshire, although Charles was born in Hatfield. Charles, now 14, was working as a Butchers Apprentice.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Charles was Private 20947, 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of July 1915, in the eleventh list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Massam, Charles Adam, Birchwood Cottages,
3rd Beds. Regt.” and the in June 1917: “Wounded Lance Cpl. Charles Massam 4th Beds.” and the lastly in August 1917: “July 26th Charles Massam age 21.”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Massam (Mother) of Birchwood Farm Cottages received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Charles is buried with his younger brother in a non-CWGC grave. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO L/CPL. CHARLES A. MASSAM. WHO WAS KILLED BY HOSTILE AIRCRAFT JULY 22ND 1917, AGED 21 YEARS.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
