Charles Wightman Pike
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Charles Wightman Pike was born in 1882, he was baptised on 4th February 1883 at St Mary's Church, Radcliffe on Trent, He was the son of Henry a builder and Sophia Pike née Wightman of Lincoln House, Radcliffe on Trent, and the brother of John, Tom and Fred. He was the husband of Agnes Foster (born 5th February 1889) whom he married on 14th March 1911 at St Mary's Church Radcliffe on Trent, and the father of Dorothy May, born 30/12/11, and Richard Henry, born 15/4/13. Agnes was a teacher (junior department) in Radcliffe and died of influenza on 28 December 1918. Commencing 22nd April 1918 his widow was awarded a pension of 22 shillings and 11 pence a week. His three brothers all served in the war with the Royal Naval Air Service.
Gunner Charles Wightman Pike attested on 10th December 1915 at Nottingham, aged 32 yrs and 11 months he was a cashier he was posted to the reserves. On 14th August 1916 he was mobilised and posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery. On 2nd September 1916 he was posted to the 232nd Siege battery. He landed in France on 19th January 1917 and was wounded and admitted to hospital on 9th October 1917. He died from his wounds the following day at 18 Corps Main Dress Station, France and is buried at Solferino Farm Cemetery (grave ref I.A.6.)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Thy will be done' WMA27275 - marble tablet, 'In loving memory of my dear husband, Charles Wightman Pike, 232 Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, who was mortally wounded in action during our advance near Ypres on Oct 9, 1917, aged 34 years. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 December 1918: ‘Pike. On December 28th, at Radcliffe on Trent, Agnes, dearly beloved wife of the late Gunner CW Pike, and eldest daughter of Richard and Louisa Foster, in her 30th year. Funeral Radcliffe, Wednesday, 3 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
