MANN, Charles


No.13859, Private, Charles MANN
Aged 21


9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 13th September 1916


Charles Mann was born in Soham on 18th May 1895 (Newmarket Q2-1895 3B:541), baptised on 12th June 1895 in Soham, son of Edward and Caroline Agnes MANN (née HAYHOE) of Red Row, Soham.

1901 census... Aged 5, he was at Millcroft, Soham with his father Edward MANN [34] bricklayer's labourer; his mother Caroline [32], born Brixton; brothers Ernest [9], Alfred [8] William [6] and Sidney [2]; sisters Eleanor [4] and Elsie [1]. All except his mother were born in Soham.

1911 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer, he was at East Fen Common, Soham with his parents; brothers Ernest, Alfred,William, (all labourers), Sidney, Stanley Frank [4] and Walter Percy [2]; sisters Eleanor Kate, Elsie, Edith Kate [9], Ethel [8], Alice Mabel [6] and Doris May [3]. All the new siblings were born in Soham. All 13 children borne by Caroline were surviving.

His elder brother Alfred had died of his wounds just 10 days earlier. see here





Enlisted in Newmarket.
Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment tells us :-
On the 13th September 1916 the 9th Suffolks attacked the Quadrilateral, near Ginchy. Attacking with three companies in the front line and one in support, zero hour was 6.20 am. They got through the German outpost line quite easily but in the open ground beyond, for 400 yards from the German wire, they came under very heavy machine gun fire from the Quarilateral strong point. No further progress could be made, although Lt Macdonald got close enough to throw a bomb into the stronghold, being injured as a result. Another attempt was made at 7:30 am, with "A" Coy included, but to no avail. A third attempt was made in the evening which also failed, so they dug in on a line about half a mile from the morning's jumping off point. 47 men were killed, 28 have no known grave. Charles is recorded as dying on or since 13th September, so that date was the last time he was identified.



Charles Mann is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, pier and face 1C/2A

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

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