No.8322, Private, Charles Albert LANGLEY
Aged 22
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Charles Albert Langley was born in 1895 in Ashley (Newmarket Q2-1895 3B:518), son of William and Louisa LANGLEY(née SERJEANT).
1901 census...Aged 5 he was at Chapel Row, Ashley with his father William LANGLEY [51] traction engine driver; his mother Louisa 50 brothers George [22] and Leonard [15] (farm labourers) and Alan [13] and sister Rose [11]. All were born in Ashley. 1911 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at Chapel Row still, with his parents and brother Leonard. His sister Beatrice May [29], now Mrs CARTER, was there with her son Oliver [2]. Two of his siblings had died. His brother in law Oliver CARTER senior was at home in Vine Terrace, Exning. His elder brother Leonard Langley died as a prisoner of war in 1917 and is buried in Berlin His brother in law Oliver Carter was killed in Belgium in 1917 in the King's Liverpool Regiment |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. From his number he enlisted in 1912. Which battalion and when he was mobilised in not known, but the 12th Suffolk were not formed until June 1915. On November 23rd 1917 the battalion ( originally a Bantam battalion) was part of 121st Brigade, 40th Division and was held in Brigade Reserve when the Division attacked Bourlon Wood. After 4-5 hours of fighting the whole of the wood and village were taken. They were unable to hold it however and a fresh attack took place on the 24th. Battalion HQ was moved into the quarry north of the Cambrai road. Two companies of the 12th Suffolks penetrated north of Bourlon, but the village remained in the hands of the enemy. The battalion was withdrawn on the 25th, having lost 22 killed on the 24th, only two of their bodies being identified. |
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