Name
Charles Sear
27 December 1915
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/01/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/26014
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 49 & 51
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Ashwell memorials
Pre War
Charles Sear was born in Ivinghoe Aston, Buckinghamshire in 1878, the son of the Benjamin and Emma Sear (nee Pratt). He was one of eight children.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Ivinghoe, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. His father died in 1882 and on the 1891 Census Charles and his older brother Alfred were living with their 80 year old widowed grandmother, Fanny Sear, at Ivinghoe where they were both working as agricultural labourers.
Charles was recorded as a servant/general porter on the 1901 Census, living and working at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, St Martin in the Fields, London. By 1911 he had left London and was a boarder at the home of widow Maria Wilson at 37 Argyll Street, Bedford, and working as a bottler of mineral waters.
He married Mary Goss on 27 December 1915 at Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. Banns were called in Trinity Church, St Marylebone, London where Charles was said to be living, and also at Melbourn church where they were both said to be 'of this parish'.
Mary's address on pension records was recorded as 13 Carburton Street, Great Portland Street, London which was the same address given by Charles as his residence at the time of his marriage, but it is believed that at the time of his death Mary was living in Flint Cottage, Ashwell, Herts
Wartime Service
He enlisted in West London and joined the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), serving with the 2nd Battalion in France.
Charles was killed in action at Ypres and death was presumed on or since 31 July 1917. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £1 18s 6d. She also received a pension of 13s 9d a week. She re-married in 1928 in Ashwell to Frederick Clements.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
