Name
Charles Robert Bonner
13 Oct 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/10/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
530665
London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)
2/15th (County of London) London
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
VI. A. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, Church of Ascension Memorial, Bedmond
Biography
Charles Bonner was born on 13 Oct 1894 at Teddington, Middlesex. He was the youngest son of Richard Bonner and Annis or Annie (nee Wake). Richard Bonner was a Policeman (Chief Inspector), working in South London and at the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at the Police Station, Borough High Street, London.
The Bonner’s had four sons and two daughters. By the time of the 1911 Census, Richard had retired from the Police and was living at Bletchley, with his wife, and youngest daughter, but by 1914 had moved to Breakspeare Farm in Bedmond, where he lived with his son Percy, who gave that address when he enlisted in 1914. In 1911 Charles was living at 303-307 Commercial Road, Stepney and was working as an Assistant to a Pawnbroker, but on his Absentee Voter Registration in 1918 also gave Breakspeare Farm as his address.
In Sep 1914 Charles, and his elder brother Percy, (serial Numbers 2554 and 2556 respectively, while after the Territorial renumbering they were 530665 & 530666) enlisted with the 15th (Princess of Wales’ Civil Service Rifles) Battalion of the London Regiment whilst the battalion was based in and around Bedmond. Both brothers were first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in Dec 1914, serving with the Civil Service Rifles (CSR). The CSR had mobilised at Bedmond at the outbreak of War in Aug 1914, and moved to billets at Watford in Nov 1914, before the Battalion arrived in France on 18th Mar 1915. Charles served with battalion, in France (23 Jun 1916 to 22 Nov 1916, Salonika (1 Dec 1916 to 23 Jun 1917), Palestine (4 Jul 1917 to 3 Jun 1918) and France (11 Jun 1918). He died on 18th October 1918 in France, the day after his brother in law, Frank Morton died returning from Egypt on a Hospital Ship. Charles’ death was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine. In November 1918 it was recorded that he died on 18th and later in the article on 20th October. The correct date was 18th October, a date which is confirmed by all of the official sources. Although recorded as Charles Bonnor, his name was Bonner King, which was completed and signed by him on October 2nd, immediately after his arrival back in France. Within a day or two of the news of his death came the intelligence of the death of his brother-in-law, Frank Barrow Morton of the A.S.C who died at sea on October 20th (sic) 1918 on his way home on leave.
Frank Morton date of death was confirmed by the official records as 17th October, and as he was returning on a Hospital Ship may have been wounded or sick, and died as a result. Charles’ brother, Percy, also served with the Civil Service Rifles throughout the War, and survived the conflict.
Charles was buried at the Terlincthun British cemetery at Wimille, near Boulogne France, and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
Died of Illness
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
