Name
Charles George Sear
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/11/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/22616
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RIBECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Special Memorial A32.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
Charles was the son of George and Emma (nee Clark) Sear and the husband of Edith Louie (nee Parker) Sear.
His parents married 1884 in the Watford district. George died 1925 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 11 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Emma died 1953 in Watford aged 88, and was buried 12 November in North Watford Cemetery.
Charles was born in 1884 in Croxley Green, Herts, and married on 22 June 1911 at St Mary’s, Watford. Charles and Edith had two children. He resided in Watford.
Edith remarried in 1919 in the Luton, Beds, district to William C Abbott, and died in 1928 in the Luton district aged 41. The Army paid £2 11s in August 1918 to the guardian of the children, James Parker, and then £4 5s 6d to his widow Edith in 1919.
On the 1891 Census Charles, aged 7, lived in Croxley Green (3 Cherry Cottages, Scots Hill), with his parents and three siblings. His father worked as a bricklayer’s labourer. The census records suggest that the family moved from Croxley Green to Watford around 1895. On the 1901 Census, a cycle maker’s apprentice aged 18, Charles lived in Watford (15 Butcher Yard), with his parents and eight siblings. On the 1911 Census, a builder’s labourer aged 27, he still lived in Watford (15 Beechen Grove), with his parents and nine siblings.
Wartime Service
Private Charles George Sear, 1st Battalion The Buffs died of wounds.
In November 1917 Private Sears’ unit moved into the area north of Peronne and witnessed demonstrations of tanks in preparation for an assault. On 20th November 1st Buffs took part in the attack with B Battalion tanks which opened the battle of Cambrai - the first large scale use of tanks in the war. The initial attack was successful with light casualties (8 other ranks killed and 33 wounded). George was probably one of the casualties. The Germans counter-attacked soon afterwards forcing the British back.
George does not have a named grave but is remembered at Ribecourt near the battlefield.
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Charles’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a Death announcement for Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 January 1918.
Recorded as in the Royal West Kent Regiment
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Brian Thomson
