Name
Charles John Alexander
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/06/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40971
Essex Regiment
'D' Coy., 11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESQUELBECQ MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot II, Row E, Grave 6.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley
Pre War
Son of Charles John and Emma (nee EDWARDS) ALEXANDER of Watford; husband of Florence Matilda (nee THATCHER) ALEXANDER of Abbot’s Langley, Herts.
His parents married 24 December 1887 at St Nicholas’, Harpenden, Herts. Charles died 1950 in Oxhey, Herts, aged 90, and was buried 18 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Emma died 1951 in Oxhey aged 85, and was buried 8 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Charles was born 1891 in Bushey, Herts, and married 24 September 1916 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. He resided in Oxhey. Florence never remarried, and possibly died 1965 in the Fulham, London, district aged 72.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 month he lived in Oxhey, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house painter aged 20, he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 1919 Royal Field Artillery and Private 26797 Northamptonshire Regiment. He 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 are Death announcements for Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 June 1918 and 22 June 1918; plus In memoriams in the issues dated 31 May 1919 and 7 June 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
