Charles William Arnold
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles was born in 1890 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and was the son of Mary A Arnold. In the 1901 census he is 10 years old , and listed as a step son , born in Dunston, Bedfordshire he is living at Heath Road, Aspley Heath, Bedfordshire and is living with his stepfather Sam Brown 40 years a stationary engine driver at the local brickworks , his mother Mary A 30 years of age and born Dunston and now married to Sam and his children William aged 14 years and Alexander aged 2 months. By the 1911 census Charles is 21 years , single and working as a labourer in an iron works, he is living at Placketts Yard, Finedon with his step family , Sam Brown now 50 years and an engine driver and his mother Mary A , The census tells us that Mary and Sam have been married for 11 years and that they have 5 children :- Alexandra 10 yrs, Dorothy 9 yrs , Alfred Thomas 8 yrs, Dick 6 yrs and Hilda Maud 4 yrs. Charles married his wife Eva Emma Ragsdale on 24th January 1914 at Newark and they went on to live at 68 Sleaford Road, Newark. They had a child Charles William in March 1915 , sadly he was to die on 29th July 1915 when 4 months of age. On 5th July 1915 a letter was sent to his widow Eva of 68 Sleaford Road informing her that she would receive a pension of 15 shillings for herself and one child with effect from 13th July 1915. Eva eventually remarried in the first quarter of 1918 and became Mrs John Crampton , she went to live at 6 Regent Street, Newark.
Charles enlisted into the Army Reserve on 24th February 1909 , he gave his age as 18 years and 5 months , his place of birth as Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, his occupation as that of labourer and his religion as church of England. He served in the 3rd battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (Special Reserve) He attend summer camps with his battalion between 1909 and 1914. He was mobilised along with his battalion on 8th August 1914 following the declaration of war. He joined the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front on 11th September 1914 and was posted to the 1st battalion on the following day 12th September 1914. He died of wounds in the Boulogne area and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France he had served for a total of 5 years and 251 days with the colours.
Article published 18th November 1914 in the Newark Advertiser :- Husband of Mrs. Eva E. Arnold. A native of Finedon, Northamptonshire, but had lived some years in Newark and employed by Messrs. Cafferata & Co. Married Eva (nee Ragsdale) on Jan. 24th at Newark Parish Church and the couple resided in Cross Street. Just before the outbreak of war they were spending a holiday at Grimsby. Deceased was in the Special Reserve Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment and on mobilisation had to report at the depot. Drafted to the 1st Northants. and went out with the first BEF and spent his 23rd birthday on the battlefield. His widow is expecting the birth of a child.
