Name
Charles Edward Quarman
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/01/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9147
Highland Light Infantry
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AMARA WAR CEMETERY
XIV. H. 21.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt
Biography
Charles Quarman was born in 1886 at Abbots Langley. He was one of six boys and two girls born to William and Louisa Quarman of Garden Road. William was an old soldier and had worked at the Asylum. Three of Charles’ brothers served in the Great War. John was killed in action on the Somme in July 1916, however Lewis and Thomas both survived the War. In 1901 Charles was working as a Porter at a Paper Mill and he joined the 13th Bedfordshire Militia as a part-time soldier. On 16th January 1904 he enlisted for eight years’ service with the Highland Light Infantry (HLI) and spent three years in India between 1908 and 1911. He was discharged at the end of his term of service on 14th January 1912 and was transferred to the Army Reserve, described as being of exemplary character, thoroughly sober, steady and reliable. He returned to the family home at 5 Garden Road and sought employment as a Postman. When War was declared on 4th August 1914, Charles was recalled to the Colours, and re-joined the HLI the next day and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. Leon Lay’s records showed that he was living at 39 Breakspeare Road at this time. He left for France on 10th August 1914 and fought in the Retreat from Mons, the Battles of The Marne, The Aisne, and First and Second Ypres. His Service Record showed that he was back in England from 14th May 1915 to 14th February 1916.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported in June 1915 that he was wounded, which explained the period back in England. He sailed with the HLI to Mesopotamia on 15th February 1916, arriving at Basra on 22nd March, and between then and 28th January 1917 he served in the Mesopotamia spending two spells in hospital suffering from colitis, and attended a Machine Gun course at Amara. Following the surrender of the British garrison at Kut on 29 April 1916 a new offensive was launched to advance along the banks of the Tigris to regain lost ground. On 11th January 1917 Charles was “wounded in action” (fractured right leg and gun-shot wound), and two days later was reported as being dangerously ill having been taken to the 15th Casualty Clearing Hospital where he died on 28th January 1917.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported:
February 1917 - We regret to hear that Charles Quarman, H.L.I, is reported from Mesopotamia to be seriously ill suffering from wounds
March 1917 - Charles Quarman, Highland Light Infantry, who was reported in our last issue to be dangerously ill from wounds in Mesopotamia, has since died. He is the second son whom Mr and Mrs Quarman have lost, and the sympathy of all will be extended to them. They have two other sons serving, one of whom is seriously disabled.
Charles Quarman was buried at the Amara War Cemetery in modern day Iraq, and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
The National Probate Calendar of Wills records Charles Quarman of Eleanor Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire left his effects of £114-2s-7d, to his mother Louisa Quarman.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
