Name
Charles Onslow
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/16704
Royal Fusiliers *1
2nd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAWTHORN RIDGE CEMETERY NO.1, AUCHONVILLERS
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End, Nr Rickmansworth
Pre War
Born in Bermondsey about 1887.
The census of 1901 records the Onslow family living at 18 Arica Place, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, London. Hannah Onslow is aged 34 and was born in Walworth, London. Daughter Hannah Onslow is 18, a bookbinder. Charley Onslow is 14 and a jam maker in a confectioners and was born in Bermondsey. Lily 12, Elle 9, Henry 6, Alicia 3 and Ethel 11 months.
The census of 1911 records Charles Onslow living at 28 Park Mansions, Prince of Wales Road, Battersea Park, London SW age 24 as the porter of a block of flats.
Recorded as enlisting in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
Wartime Service
Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme at the Battle of Albert, 1st July 1916.
On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, in their first major attack on the Western Front, the 29th Division on the right of the sector facing Beaumont-Hamel, were to advance due east across the Beaucourt spur to the German second position. They had moved forward to their assembly positions in Maillet-Maillet Wood for an attack towards Hawthorne Ridge. The 87th and 86th Brigades had attacked at zero hour and were mostly cut-down in No-Mans Land. Those who reached the enemy's front line were soon all killed.
In a letter dated 22nd June 1917 the chaplain of the 2/7th West Yorkshire Regiment stated that he had 'recently' buried men from the 2nd Royal Fusiliers who fell in fighting around Beaumont Hamel.
Additional Information
*1 London Regiment
(Royal Fusiliers)
Acknowledgments
Tanya Britton, Robert and Sally Williams
