Charles Shenton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born about 1883/1884, the son of William Shenton, a bricklayer (b. Lincoln) and Annie Shenton (b. Grantham), a lace worker. In 1901 William (45) and Annie (43) were living at 5 Richmond Street, Nottingham, in the parish of St Paul with their five children: Charles (17), Kate (15, b. Sheffield), William (14, b. Leeds), Tom (13, b. Leeds) and Alfred (11, b. Leeds). Also in the household was a boarder, William Dennis (47, b. Grantham), who was also a bricklayer. Charles joined the army in 1904 but by 1911 had left the army and was living with his widowed mother, a lace clipper who worked from home, at 4 Woodland Street, Nottingham. Also in the household were his younger brother, Alfred, and a boarder, Fanny Tacey. The census form has an entry about the number of children Annie had which is crossed out but is still legible: 7 born alive of whom 4 were still living, suggesting that either Kate or William had died after the 1901 census. Charles, who was single at the time of the 1911 Census, probably married his wife, Florence Gertrude, shortly after the date of the census as there is a record of a marriage of Charles Shenton to Florence Gertrude Kirby registered in Apr/May/Jun 1911. The notice of his death in the local paper gave his address as 2 Middle Street, Sneinton. It is probable that his widow remarried as an application for the 1914 Star, for which Charles qualified, was made by a Mrs FG Chance of 136 Newstead Colliery, Notts. His brother, Thomas, served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps from 1906 and was killed in action in France on 26 October 1914 leaving a widow (Annie Bellamy m. 3 January 1914) and baby daughter (Annie b. 27 June 1914).
He joined the army on 19 September 1904 but had returned to civilian life by 1911. It is therefore possible that he enlisted on a short service engagement and as a reservist was mobilized on the outbreak of war. He was with the BEF, landing on the continent on 10 August 1914. He died of wounds at No. 3 General Hospital, St Nazaire, France, and is buried in St Nazaire (Toutes-Aides) Cemetery (Grave Reference B 23). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother, Rfn. Thomas Shenton, 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in action on 26th October 1914. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate. Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 16 October 1914: ‘Private Charles Shenton of 2 Middle Street (Sneinton), died of wounds in France, September 25th, KOYLI.’ Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 19 November 1914: 'Rifleman T Shenton, 1st King's Royal Rifles, 21 Woodhead Place, Beaumont Street, Nottingham. Killed in action October 26th. His brother, Charles, KOYLI, died of wounds on September 25th.' His widow, Florence Gertrude, was his sole legatee.
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