Name
Charles Frederick Brinklow
4 September 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/35021
24th Bn.
Royal Fusiliers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.2
I. B. 30.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE GIVETH TO HIS BELOVED SLEEP PEACE PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
Marlowes Methodist Church, Marlowes,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Nash Mills
Pre War
Charles Frederick Brinklow (Ghost) was born on 4 September 1890 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the illegitimate son of Emily Ghost, and baptised there on 26 November 1890. On the 1891 Census, he was living with his mother at the house of his widowed grandmother, Thirza in Bury Road, Hemel Hempstead.
His mother married Frederick Brinklow in early 1893. On the 1901 Census the family were living in Hammerfield where his father was working at the local paper manufacturer's factory. His parents later had nine children altogether.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at 16 Sunnyhill Road, Hammerfield, Hemel Hempstead, where he was working as a General Labourer. He later worked at Nash Mills for the paper manufacturer John Dickinson & Co.
He married Mary Ann Horne in Hemel Hempstead in July 1915. Their address on enlistment was given as 128 Cotteralls Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford in and joined the 24th Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) and was sent for basic training at Hare Hall, Romford, Essex. He went to France on 26 July 1916 and saw his first major action at the Battle of Ancre.
The 24th Battalion attacked the German lines on the morning of 13 November and sustained significant casualties, some as a result of the moving barrage from its own artillery, however, the objectives were achieved and enemy trenches were captured.
Charles was initially listed as one of the 50 other ranks who were missing following the attack (another 191 were killed or wounded with 13 officers killed, missing or wounded). He was subsequently confirmed killed in action on 13 November 1916 and his buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, Somme, France.
(N.B. Date of death is shown as 13 September on CWGC original records but later changed to 13 November and the National Roll of the Great War has the date 13 October 1916.)
Additional Information
Mrs M A Brinklow, 128 Cotteralls Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "HE GIVETH TO HIS BELOVED SLEEP PEACE PERFECT PEACE". His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 5s 8d.she also received a pension of 13s 9d a week from 16 July 1917.
N.B. Charles Brinklow's service number sometimes has the prefix GS or G. Some records also give the battalion as 24th whilst others record 22nd.
N.B. The National Roll of the Great War gives his initials as S C but does give the correct home address. It also states that he volunteered in April 1915 and would have been eligible for the 1914-15 Star as he went to the Front the same year, but medal index cards show that he did not receive the Star and do not include a qualifying date.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.mymethodisthistory.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
