Charles Edward Askew
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles was born in 1884 in Hyson Green Nottingham and was the son of John James a green grocer and Eliza Askew . In 1891 Charles lived with his parents and siblings John, Thomas Joseph and Martha Askew on Alfreton Road Radford Nottingham. Other children born later were Arthur, George and Florence Askew. In 1904 at Nottingham Charles married Clara Louis Smith and by 1911 the family was living at 5 Irving Terrace Birkin Avenue Hyson Green. Charles was 27, Clara 31 and they had three children – Charles (born 1905), Gertrude (born 1906) and Edith (born 1910). In 1912 Clara died leaving Charles with three young children to raise. He eventually moved in with his parents who were by then living at 173 Derby Road Birdholme Chesterfield with their own children.
'O' Anti-Aircraft Bty Charles was called up and enlisted on 13th December 1916 at Chesterfield . He was posted on December 21st to the Royal Field Artillery and on 29th December 1916 to the Royal Garrison Artillery. He served with ‘O’ Anti Aircraft Battery on the home front until 10th July 1917 when he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was still serving in France when he returned first to the Army Camp at Clipstone from where he returned on leave to his home at Chesterfield. However on arrival he was suffering from influenza and died on 31st January 1919 at his home address from pneumonia.
It was Askew's dying wish that he be buried with his wife in Nottingham and so his family arranged for him to be taken to Basford Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to her. Research Peter Gillings
