COE, Charles William


No.26558, Private, Charles William COE
Aged 19


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on/since Friday, 18th August 1916


believed to be this man

Charles William COE was born in Helions Bumpstead (2nd qtr 1897 Risbridge 4a:739) son of Edward and Sarah COE (née CHURCHYARD)

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Great Lodge Farm, Hundon with his father Edward COE [48] farm foreman, born Wickhambrook; his mother Sarah [42] born Rattlesden; brothers Thomas [17] farm labourer born Gestingthorpe, Isaac [15] farm labourer, Abraham J [13], Dennis J [9], Sidney [7], Patrick G [5], all the sons bar Thomas and Charles were born in Brettenham; sisters Mary Ann [11] born Brettenham, Winnie M [3] born Gastingthorpe and Daisy B [1] born Hundon.

1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Rede Hall Farm (closer to Chedburgh than Rede) with his parents, brothers Isaac, Dennis, Sidney and Patrick (all farm labourers); sisters Ellen [30] born Gestingthorpe, Minnie, Daisy and Queenie [8] born Wickhambrook

The pension card puts his parents at 9 Church Walks, Bury St.Edmunds.


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. "Soldiers Died" have him born in Woodbridge but no such birth is registered.

On 18th August they were still trying to take and hold Cochrane Alley, the area being the junction of the British and French armies. the war diary:-
Attack carried out by 1st Gordon Highlanders on same objective as on 16th.
Two companies and specialists withdrawn from SHUTE and ASSEMBLY TRENCHES to TALUS BOIS. Remainder with Lewis Guns held extension of COCHRANE ALLEY and co-operated by firing Lewis Guns over head at German machine guns about B.1.c.5.5. (shown below)


Maltz Horn Farm, often quoted in reports of this engagement, no longer exists but the site is marked by a Calvary. The 2nd Suffolks lost 30 killed in this action





Charles Coe is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme pier/face 1C/2A
also commemorated on the Chedburgh memorial

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


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