GHYN, William Charles



No 26628, Private, William Charles GHYN
Aged 32


14th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
formerly No.26443, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 26th September 1917


Charles William GINN was born in Clare (Risbridge Q4-1884 4A:6i2) son of Richard Charles and Sarah GHYN (née HAMMOND). His surname varies from Ginn, Ghyn, Ghynn and his Christian names are sometime reversed. Sarah HAMMOND married Alfred GINN in 1880 (Risbridge Q4) The Richard Charles GHYN recorded by CWGC was due to the fact that his father was variously recorded as Alfred, Richard, Charles or Dick. The confusion can get worse as Bertie's birth certificate gives father as Alfred Ghyn and mother as Sarah Hammond

1891 census...Aged 6, Charles W was at Cavendish Road Clare with his father Alfred GHYNN [34] groom born Belchamp St Paul; his mother Sarah [38] born Belchamp St Paul; half-sisters Annie HAMMOND [14] born Belchamp St Paul, and Maud HAMMOND [4] born Clare; sisters Rose GYNN [4] and Alice GYNN [1] both born in Clare. A brother, Bertie, was born in 1892.

His mother died in 1898

1901 census...Aged 16 , he was a stockman on farm, boarding with the ELMER family at Colts Hall, Cavendish.

His father died in 1902

1911 census...Not found in this census.His legatees were his aunt Miss Phoebe HAMMOND, sisters Mrs Alice PEARCE and Mrs Rose CHIPPINGTON.

Presumably being orphaned and single, is why there is no pension card


He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
The battalion were at Shrewsbury Forest in the area between Zillebeke and Geluhvelt, in front of the 11th R Sussex. The war diary has :-
"26th - Battn attacked at 5:50 am. 1st objective being TOWER HAMLETS and 2nd objective being TOWER TRENCH. Heavy casualties through M.G. fire Objectives were reached and held and consolidation carried out on our side TOWER TRENCH.
casualties Major Goldsmith died of wounds, killed Capt TR Nicholls, Lieut Bainbridge, 2nd Lt BA Wilson, wounded 2 Lieut H Sangster, 2/Lt RN Butt, 2nd/Lt Burras, 2nd/Lt Thomas. Other ranks 41 killed, 113 wounded 30 missing. Heavy shelling and sniping by enemy all day".


CWGC records show 56 killed, only three of them with a known grave.



photo: Rodney Gibson



William Ghyn is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 88/89/90 and 162

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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