Name
Charles Talbot
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/11/1914
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
6951
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Berkhamsted War Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Charles was born in Northchurch in 1879 to John Talbot and Mary Ann (nee Hayward). The family lived in High Street.
Charles enlisted in 4th Battalion (Special Reserve) Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 6951 on 4 Feb 1901. He married Annie Julia Wooley in 1910 and they made their home in Unity Cottages, Northchurch, giving his occupation as Warehouseman.
Wartime Service
1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regt deployed to France on 16 Aug 1914, meeting with the BEF and taking part in the battles of Mons and Le Cateau on the retreat from Mons. Charles went to France on 30 Aug 1914 possibly, joining the Beds at St Quentin in a draft of reinforcements, taking part in the Battles of the Aisne and La Bassee in Oct 1914.
The 1st Bn were in the trenches at Ypres in early Nov 1914 and under attack by the enemy, pressing to take Ypres, and hand to hand fighting on Nov 14 had resulted in 11 men being killed or wounded as well as an equal number ‘missing’. Charles is recorded as dying from wounds at 3 Casualty Clearing Station but as his remains were lost he is remembered on the Menin Gate as having no known grave.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £7 0s 7d. paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
