WILLIAMS, Charles Edward

Credit: CWC

Private

1st Battalion

Hampshire Regiment

Charles was born 1889 in Newport to George & Sarah of 13 Barton Road in Newport. He married Elsie NEWNHAM at the Victoria Methodist Church in Pyle Street & they lived at 1 Banner Cottages, Hunnyhill in Newport. Charles was a regular solider serving in 1911 in Wynberg South Africa with the 2nd Bn. before being transferred to the 1st Bn.

In August of 1914 the Bn. was in Colchester as part of 11th Brigade in 4th Division. They moved to Harrow but soon landed at Le Havre on 23rd August 1914.

During 1915 various battles raged on the Ypres Salient & it is not clear where or how Charles was killed, but between the 22nd of April & 25th of May the Second Battle of Ypres had begun with a surprise German attack using poison gas against French North African forces holding defences near Ypres. Both sides rushed reserves in & the battle developed into the second epic in that area. Finally, the British Second Army withdraws to a shorter line near Ypres.

Charles was listed as Missing, Presumed Killed in Action on the 26th of April 1915, his body was never recovered or identified, & so he is commemorated by the Commission on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium with 54,574 of his missing comrades. Charles was 27.

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CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Sons & Daughters Commemorated Far From Home

Those from the Newport & Carisbrooke area who are buried or commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission outside of the area, both in the UK and in other countries.

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The image is of the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery & Memorial in Belgium.