No.8540, Private, Charles Sidney DALE
Aged 25
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Charles Sydney Dale was born in Lawshall (2nd qtr 1889 Sudbury 4a:695) son of Frederick and Eliza DALE (née SMITH). The family tended to use "Sidney"
rather than "Charles" and the Army had him as Sidney.
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at Melford Road with his father Frederick DALE [42] farm labourer; his mother Eliza [40] born Shimpling; brothers George [13] and Arthur [4]; sisters Annie [12], Maria [7] and Emma [5]. All except his mother were born in Lawshall 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at Audley End, Lawshall with his parents; sisters Ellen [26] and Emma; brother Arthur. 1911 census...He was in the Army and has not been found in the census. His surving records in the "burnt documents" show him as in UK. His parents and brother Arthur were still at Audley End. On the pension card his parents were at Audley End, Lawshall. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 1st July 1907, giving his age as 18 years 3 months, a labourer, born in Lawshall. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 130 lbs, chest 33 to 37 inches
grey eyed, brown hair, Church of England. Next of kin his father of Melford Road, Lawshall.
The battalion landed at le Havre on 16th August and promptly thrown into battle. They were part of the Retreat from Mons, incurring heavy casualties. At Audregnies the 1st Battalions of the Cheshire and Norfolk Regiments halted the German advance from Quiévrain and Baisieux until the morning of 25 August despite being outnumbered and suffering ruinous losses, and with the support of the 5th Brigade artillery, they also inflicted many casualties on the advancing German regiments. An evening roll call of the Cheshires 1st Battalion, who had not received a withdrawal order, indicated that their establishment had been reduced by almost 80 per cent. After Mons, a total of 40 men from the battalion remained unwounded. Of the 25 officers and 952 other ranks of the 1st Battalion who had been present at the start of the battle, only 7 officers and 200 other ranks remained alive.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
