Charles Bonser Heathcote
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Charles Bonser Heathcote was born in 1890 at Nottingham, he was the son of Edward a hall porter and Harriett Heathcote, née Rowe of 20 Goodhall Street, Nottingham.
He had five sisters, Bertha, Florence, Annie, Doris and Jessie, and two brothers, George Bonser and Edward (known as 'Ted').
At the time of the 1911 census, Harriett and her five daughters were living at 20 Goodall Street, Nottingham; her husband, Edward, was a lodger at 21 Lurgan Street, Hammersmith, and employed as a hall porter, and their three sons had left home.
In the 1911 census Charles Bonser has left the family home, he is a servant living at Carl Farm Warsop, 2 yrs and a servant living with George Wragg 51 yrs a farmer.
All three brothers died in the war; L/Cpl George Bonsor Heathcote, 1/4th Bn Leicestershire Rgt died 1 May 1915) and Pte Edward Heathcote, 20th Sqdn MCG (Cavalry) died 29 November 1917.
Private Charles Bonser Heathcote served as BONSER. he enlisted at Leicester whilst living at Hammersmith he served with the 1st Bn North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment. Arrived France 10 September 1914 he was killed in action on 13th October 1914, he is buried at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul.
CWGC (additional information); 'Brother of Mrs F Heathcote of 2 Thurman Yard, Thurman Street, Nottingham.'
War obituary, All Saints Church News, September 1919: 'Charles Bonser Heathcote, Private North Staffordshire Regiment; killed in action in France; October 13th 1914; aged 24; and George Bonser Heathcote, Corporal Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action in France, May 1st 1915, aged 28. Mrs Heathcote’s other son, Edward Heathcote was killed in the Holy Land [29 November 1917], and his obituary notice appeared in our issue for March 1918.'
All three brothers are commemorated on All Saints parish war memorial.
Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 17 May 1915: 'Heathcote. Corporal George R Heathcote, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action, May 1st aged 28 years. His brother, Charles Heathcote, was killed in action last October. Mother, sister, brother Ted.'
Charles Bonser Heathcote
Photograph published on 24th May 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post and is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.