CRACKNELL, Charles Ernest


No.9518, Private, Charles Ernest CRACKNELL
Aged 32


2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Friday, 23rd October 1914

An Old Contemptible


Charles Ernest Cracknell was born on January 31st 1889, (Linton Q1-1889 3B:508) baptised in West Wratting on 17th March 1889, son of Stephen and Alice CRACKNELL (née RASH)

1891 census...Aged 2, he was at High Street, West Wratting with his father Stephen CRACKNELL [46] farm labourer and his mother Alice [43], all born in West Wratting.

1901 census...Aged 12, he was at Padlock, West Wratting with his parents; sisters Daisy [9], Ellen [4] and Ada Grace [1]; brother Bertie [6]. The new siblings also born in West Wratting.

1911 census...Aged 22, he was in the West Indies (Bermuda and Jamaica) with the Bedfordshire Regiment. His parents were still in West Wratting with borther Bertie, sister Ellan and 2 new bothers, both born in West Wratting, Cyril [8] and Frank [5]


He enlisted in Haverhill on 24th January 1910.
Dying of his wounds makes it almost impossible to ascertain where and when exactly he was wounded. The 2nd Bedfords were of course in action in the Ypres salient at the time, taking casualties on most days.



photo:Rodney Gibson



Charles Cracknell is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery, grave D1:5
The CWGC graves here are scattered in groups within the civilian cemetery

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


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