Charles Liversidge
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles married Mary Jane Allen at Retford St Saviour on 12 February 1900. Mary Jane Allen was born in Retford on 21 July 1870, the daughter of George and Mary Allen. The family lived in Clarborough and Mary Jane, a general domestic servant, was still living at home in 1891. Charles and Mary Jane had six children, three of whom died in infancy and one in childhood. Five of their six children have been traced: Walter b. 1900 (A/M/J) d. 1900 (A/M/J); Margaret Amy b. 19 May 1901; George Arthur b. 12 October 1903; Charley b. 1906 (A/M/J) d. 1906 (A/M/J) and Alf/Alfred b. abt 1908 d. 1912 (O/N/D). In 1901 Charles (24), a brickmaker, and Mary (30) were living in Galway Arms Yard, Bridgegate, Retford. Their first child, Walter, had died the previous year. By 1911 they were living at 8 Waterhouse Lane, Moorgate, Retford, with their three children, Margaret (9), George (7) and Alf (3). Alfred died the following year. Another son, Charley, who had been born in 1906 had died the same year. At the time of Charles's death in 1917 Mary was living at of 3 Beck Row, Spital Hill, Retford. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Mary was living at 6 Spital Hill, Retford, with her unmarried son, George, a machine moulder at an iron foundry. Her daughter Margaret, also unmarried, was probably a patient in the Rampton State Institution near Retford. Mary Jane died in 1947, George Arthur in 1973 and Margaret Amy probably died in 1983.
Charles enlisted on 7th January 1915 at Retford and served with the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment. He went to France in March 1916. Charles was killed in action on 3rd October 1917 and is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium (grave reference Enclosure No.4 VIII. E. 40). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He qualified for the British War Cemetery and Victory Medal. CWGC - Bedford House Cemetery (extract): 'Zillebeke village and most of the commune were in the hands of Commonwealth forces for the greater part of the First World War, but the number of cemeteries in the neighbourhood bears witness to the fierce fighting in the vicinity from 1914 to 1918. Bedford House, sometimes known as Woodcote House, were the names given by the Army to the Chateau Rosendal, a country house in a small wooded park with moats. Although it never fell into German hands, the house and the trees were gradually destroyed by shell fire. It was used by field ambulances and as the headquarters of brigades and other fighting units, and charcoal pits were dug there from October 1917. In time, the property became largely covered by small cemeteries; five enclosures existed at the date of the Armistice ... ENCLOSURE No.2 was begun in December 1915, and used until October 1918. After the Armistice, 437 graves were added, all but four of which came from the Ecole de Bienfaisance and Asylum British Cemeteries, both at Ypres.' (www.cwgc.org)
Retford Times, 14th December 1917 - Pte Charles Liversidge 'As recorded last week, Pte Charles Liversidge, Notts and Derbys Regt., of 3 Beck Row, Spital Hill, Retford was killed in action in Flanders about Ootober 3rd last, aged 42 years. He joined the army on January 7th 1915 and leaves a wife and two children - a boy and a girl. He had been in France since March 1916. The deceased soldier was formerly employed at Messers Pidcocks Malt Kilns.'
