12051, Sergeant Charles James CATTON
Aged 39
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Born 1876 (3rd qtr 1876 Bury St.Edmunds 4a:542), son of James Charles and Jane CATTON (née TILLETT).
1881 census...Aged 4, he was at 2 Mill Yard, Mill Lane, Bury St.Edmunds with his father James CATTON [28], tinman; his mother Jane [28]; brother John [2 months] and sister Emma[3]; grandmother Mary A [56] London born. Except for Mary, all were born in Bury St.Edmunds. His mother died in 1886 1891 census...aged 14, he was in Saltash, Cornwall at "Mount Edgecumbe" the Industrial School Ship on the River Tamar.. Brothers John [9] and William [7] were in the Thingoe Union Workhouse in Bury St.Edmunds. Perhaps the mystery William CATTON on the roll of honour? He joined the Army on 4th February 1895 1901 census...Not found in this census. He was in India, in the Suffolk Regiment He married Edith Mary JENKINS [22-1-1873] in Rochford on 28th November 1904 1911 census...He was married, a Sergeant in the Suffolk Regiment at barracks, with his wife [38] and two daughters (Marjorie Helen [5] and Mabel Agnes [2]), in Bury St.Edmunds. Brother John not found but he was in the Suffolk Regiment. John's new wife was with her single brothers Ashley and Hubert at 131 Hunny Hill, Newport. Possibly his father ( a market porter) a widower aged 60 was lodging at 10 Long Brackland, Bury St.Edmunds. The County Directory for 1912 has him as a drill instructor for G Coy., 6th (TF) Cyclist Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He left the Army (6th (Cyclists) Suffolk ) on 3rd March 1913. On the pension card his widow was at 65 Chevalier Street, Ipswich with their children Mabel Agnes [13-3-1909] and Charles John [22-2-1914]. Marjorie Helen [born 17-9-1905 in Madras] was in a deaf and dumb Asylum in Edgbaston. His brother John died in Belgium on 20th August 1915 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 4th February 1895. He was in Malta from 10-4-1897 to 14-2-1898; India from 15-2-1898 to 28-2-1902;
East Indies from 1-3-1902 to 27-12-1907 and UK from 28-12-1907 to 3-3-1913. He gained the Long Service and Good Conduct medal having served 18 years. . It is not yet known when he rejoined the Suffolks for service in the Great War The 7th Suffolks were near Noyelles-les -Vermelles, in front of the Quarries on the 13th October 1915. After a heavy bombardment by the British artillery, an attack on the Quarries commenced at 2pm on a front of about a mile. Their objective was two trenches known as the Hairpin, between 15 and 50 yards apart. "B" Coy advanced across the open ground under a smoke screen but when that lifted they came under very heavy machine gun fire. This halted their advance but helped progress in other directions. "A" Coy, led by a bombing party from 7th Suffolks and 7th Norfolks attacked the Hairpin up the left arm and "D" Coy attacked on the right arm. Violent opposition was met and the machine guns were ordered to follow "A" Coy. "D" Coy attack was held up by German bombers at the barrier and soon had only one officer left. They persevered and succeeded in clearing the trench of the enemy. Gradually "A" and "D" Companies were cut off from HQ but managed to force their way up to the edge of the Quarries. Gathering enemy opposition prevented any further advance and they set to, digging a trench connecting the two arms of the Hairpin. After dark a German mortar began to cause trouble, but Lt Deighton managed to contact HQ and the mortar was silenced by one of the heavy batteries. Later they were relieved by the 9th Essex. CWGC records 51 of the 7th Suffolks killed on 13th October 1915 and not one has an identified grave. |
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