Name
Charles Edward Argent Brinkman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/09/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
53591
Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ECOUST-ST. MEIN BRITISH CEMETERY
A. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mill, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth,
Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth,
Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Charles Brinkman was the son of Charles Eli and Nellie Brinkman, of 14 High St., Rickmansworth.
At the 1911 census the family was living at 1 Brewery Cottages in the High Street. Charles senior worked as a cooper and originated from Watford where he married Nellie in 1897. Charles Edward’s birth was registered In Watford district in 1898. On 1901 census night he was staying with his maternal grandparents, Henry and Sarah Humphrey, in New Road, Croxley Green. Charles’ aunt was working as a paper sorter at Croxley Mill and Charles presumably followed her into employment with Dickinson’s after leaving school.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and was living in Rickmansworth when he enlisted in Watford.
Wartime Service
Charles was killed in action during the Second Battle of Bapaume on 2nd September 1918, aged 20.
During the previous night the Germans were very active with machine guns and artillery, some of shells must have contained gas, and which necessitated the use of box respirators. The Royal Scots attacked towards the east of Lagnicourt and Morchies at 5.30am. They moved forward and took Noreuil which was lightly held but then met strong enemy resistance and murderous fire from machine-guns.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Brian Thomson Croxley Green in the First World War, Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
