Charles William Tongue
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Tongue married Ann Witham at Radford Notts in 1878.They had 7 children. born in Nottinghamshire, Lenton, Sandiacre, Wellow. The children were, Frederick John born 1878, Emily 1880, Arthur 1881 Horace 1884, Charles William 1885, Ada Elizabeth 1887 and Ethel born 1893. After the last of their children was born, they moved to Worksop living at 7 Abbey court (Cemetery Road) where John Tongue was employed as a groom and coachman. The boys in the family followed his leanings and got jobs relating to horses, i.e., draymen, carters, grooms etc. In 1907, the head of the family, John died at the age of 49. By 1911 the family were living at Hannah Park Farm, Worksop, where the three eldest were described as’ horsemen’, one of them being Charles William Tongue. Charles had been born in Sandiacre, Notts in 1885 and in 1911, he married in Worksop to May Pykett. They had 3 children, Doris in 1911, Olive in 1916 and Horace in 1917.
Pte. Charles William Tongue Worksop Guardian 12 April 1918 Another well known Worksop man to make the supreme sacrifice is Pte. Charles William Tongue, M.G.C., husband of Mrs. May Tongue, 5, Bridge Terrace, Worksop. Writing to Mrs. Tongue, under date March 30th, Lieut. G.B. Starkey says: - “It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, Pte. Tongue, who was killed in action on the 26th inst. When he joined his company he was placed in the section under my command, and I always found him to be a very willing and contentious soldier, always ready to do his work, and then doing it as a soldier should. His death is a very heavy blow to the Company, and his comrades join with me in offering our most sincere sympathy at this unhappy time. Pte. Tongue who was 32 years of age, was a steady and industrious young man, and for 18 years had been in the employment of Mr. W. Raines, posting proprietor, who speaks highly of his integrity. Much sympathy is expressed for his wife and three infant children in their great loss, the youngest being only five months old. Pte. Tongue joined the Colours at the end of July last, and had been in France four months. There are three more brothers serving,-Pte. Arthur Tongue, M.G.C., who enlisted with him and has been wounded, Driver Horace Tongue, R.F.A., now in France, and Pte. Fred Tongue is in the Remounts. Their mother Mrs. Ann Tongue, 20, Ryton Street, Worksop, has also lost a son-in-law, Serge. H. Wright, R.E. in the war. The two brothers of Pte. Tongue’s widow is also serving in France. Vis., Drivers John and George Pykett, R.F.A., sons of Mr. and Mrs. Pykett, Newcastle Avenue.
CWG additional information:- Son of Ann Tongue, of 22, Rylon St., Worksop, and the late John Tongue; husband of May Tongue, of 5, Bridge Terrace, Bridge Place, Worksop, Notts. Formerly 96829, Notts and Derby Regt Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Research by Colin Dannatt
