Ernest Charlton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Charlton (née Pask). His father Richard was born in Radford, Nottingham, in 1854 (bap. Radford Christ Church 30 April 1854), the son of Richard and Elizabeth Charlton. His mother Elizabeth was born in Timberland, Lincolnshire, in 1854 (bap. Timberland 1 November 1857), the daughter of Richard and Ann Pask. Richard and Elizabeth were married at Radford St Peter on 29 March 1875 and had 13 children two of whom died young. Their surviving children, who were born in Radford, were Arthur b. 1876 bap. Radford Christ Church 24 September 1876, Edith b. 1880, Annie b. 1882 and Mary b. 1884 who were baptised at Christ Church on 24 September 1884, Ethel b. 1885, William b. 1887, Nellie b. 1889, and Ernest b. 1892, Walter b. 1894 and Dorothy b. 1898 who were baptised at Christ Church on 28 February 1900. The two children who died young were Richard b. 1875 d. 1875 and Gertrude b. 1878 bap. Christ Church 27 April 1879 d. 1881. From the baptismal records, the family was living at 15 Mitchell Street in 1876 and Castle Place in 1879. However, by 1881 Richard, a baker, his wife and their three surviving children, Arthur, Gertrude (who died later that year) and Edith were living at 68 Mitchell Street. The family was living on Craven Street, Radford, in 1891 by which time Richard was employed as a parcel postman. By 1900 they had moved to 19 Leopold Street where they were still living at the time of the 1901 Census. Nine of Richard and Elizabeth's children were still living at home; Annie a laundry maid, Mary a paper bag maker, Ethel a box maker, William a confectioner, Nellie, Ernest and Walter who were school age, and Lily and Dorothy. Arthur had probably married Mary Ann Stimpson in 1898 (m. Codnor St James, Derbyshire) and Edith had married William Flewitt at Radford St Peter in 1899. Richard, described on the 1911 Census as 'disqualified medically auxiliary postman', and Elizabeth were living at 16 Collison Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, with seven of their children: Mary a paper bag maker, William a commercial traveller (confectionery), Nellie a forewoman (lace/net), Ernest a groom/driver (pork butchers), Walter a dray lad (carrier), Lily a lace/net drawer and Dorothy. Annie has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but Ethel had married Walter Read in 1907. Elizabeth Charlton died on 16 April 1914; she and Richard were then living at 131 Forster Street, Radford. When their son Walter enlisted in 1915 his father was living at 14 Forster Street, Radford. Richard died on 14 November 1934 and was buried in Basford Cemetery.
1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Ernest Charlton enlisted in Nottingham, probably in November 1914, and served with the BEF France from 18 August 1915. At some point he was posted to the 1st battalion which on 14 April 1917 was on the Somme at Gouzeaucourt. The battalion had been relieved on 12th but was sent forward again the next morning with orders to advance and straighten matters out on the right flank. However, heavy machine gun and rifle fire was encountered and the enemy wire was also intact with the result that the battalion was forced back to its original line. Many casualties were incurred, including Ernest. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme.
His younger brother Walter Charlton enlisted on 9th January 1915 at Nottingham. He was 19 years and 10 months old and employed as a town carter. He gave his address as 41 Norton Street, Radford. Walter named his father Richard Charlton of 14 Forster Street, Radford, as his next of kin but this was later changed to his wife Hetty (née Taylor) whom he married at Nottingham Register Office in May 1916. He was posted as a driver to the Royal Field Artillery and joined at No 1 Depot Newcastle on Tyne on 13th January 1915. He was posted on 10th May 1915 to No 3 Battery Royal Field Artillery. He landed in France on 4th October 1915 and was wounded in action on 3rd January 1916, suffering gun shot wounds to his shoulder and leg. He was admitted to hospital at Boulogne and operated on to remove shrapnel from his wounds. Walter returned to England on 6th January 1916 for further treatment then on 29th August 1916 appeared before a medical board when he was found medically unfit for war service due to his wounds which caused him to walk with a limp and needing the aid of a stick. He was discharged from the Army on 25th September 1916; his address on discharge was 26 Gawthorne Street, New Basford. Walter died in December 1918 aged 23 and was buried on 6th December 1918. UK Soldiers Died in the Great War: 'Charlton Ernest, born Nottingham, enlisted Nottingham, abode Radford Notts, 19526, L/Cpl, killed in action, France and Flanders, 14/4/17.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Richard Charlton was his legatee. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 16 April 1914: ‘Charlton. On April 16th, 1914, at 131 Forster-street, Radford, Elizabeth, the beloved wife of Richard Charlton, aged 58 years. At Peace.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 15 November 1934: ‘Charlton. On November 14th, Richard Chapman (old postman), aged 80 years. Funeral Basford Cemetery, Saturday, 11.15am.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
