L/Cpl 17427 Charles Stewart Mollison (MM)

• Age: 25
• From: Seacombe, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 21st March 1917
• Commemorated at: Bucquoy Rd Cem Ficheux
  Panel Ref: VI.H.21

Charles Stewart Mollison was born in Seacombe, Cheshire on 19th June 1891 the son of George Booth Mollison and wife Mary Anderson (née Gillespie). His parents were born in Aberdeen but no civil marriage record can be found. He had 5 siblings; Jane b.1878, Mary Ann Hamilton b.1881(d.1905), Henry George Wilson b.1885, Alfred b.1890 and step-sibling Harriet Simpson b.1892. 
He was educated at St Leonards School, Toxteth. 

His father George’s first marriage was to Betsy Strachan Gillespie on the 20th December 1870 at Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland. On the 1871 Census they were living at 19 Ronald Street, Glasgow. George was aged 21 and was working as a telegraph clerk for the railways, Betsy was aged 19. They had two children William Whyte (b.1872) and George Henry (b.1874).

His world was turned upside down when he ended up in court in 1875, as detailed in the North British Daily Mail on Thursday 16 September 1875: 

Fraud By Railway Telegraph Clark 

George Booth Mollison was charged with the crime of falsehood, fraud, and wilful imposition, and using and uttering false and forged writing. The indictment set forth that the accused had been in the employment of the Caledonian Railway Company as a clerk in the telegraph superintendent’s office. Part of his duty being to make up, every fortnight, a pay list in connection with that department. It was alleged that he made up false and fabricated pay slips for a considerable period, in which fictitious names of persons were entered to receive various sums as wages. To these lists he appended the forged signature of Mr Dunne, the chief of the department. This system of fraud he was said to have carried on for a period of about twelve months, and the total amount which he had then fraudulently obtained was upwards of £70. Mr Brand appeared on behalf of the prisoner, who pleaded guilty to the charge of fraud and forgery and uttering, limiting the time in respect to which the charge was made to the period ending 29th April 1875. The Advocate Deputy accepted this plea. Mr Brand stated that the prisoner had been connected with railways since he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the employment of the Scottish North Eastern Company. He afterwards joined the Caledonian Company, and soon became a chief clerk. He was induced to lend money to some of his friends, and fell into pecuniary embarrassment; and, in an evil hour, concocted the scheme set forth in the indictments for the purpose of recouping his losses. When the discovery of his defalcations was made he went to America, but, becoming afraid lest his chief -Mr Dunne- should be found fault with on his account. He returned to this country for the purpose of giving himself up. Mr Brand then read a number of certificates giving the prisoner an excellent character for steadiness and honesty, one of these being from a gentleman who expressed his willingness to take Mollison into his employment as soon as his term of imprisonment should expire. The counsel also informed his Lordship that the prisoner held the office of deacon in Macleod Parish Church, and, in connection with that congregation had taught an adult class for a considerable period. The prisoner was sentenced by his Lordship to nine months imprisonment. 

His wife Betsy did not take him back on his release. It appears George then struck up a relationship with Betsy’s younger sister Mary and they both moved down to Liverpool.

On the 1881 Census his mother, Mary, is married, aged 23, and is lodging at 29 Belgrave Street, Liverpool, with Jannie aged 2, and Mary aged 2 months. His father, George, is not present. 

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 4 St Pauls Terrace, Poulton. His father George B. is aged 42, a wharfinger (dock owner), mother Mary A. is aged 32, both born in Scotland, children Jane aged 12, born Liverpool, Mary A. aged 10, born Liverpool, Henry G. is 6, born Liverpool, and Alfred is 1, born Seacombe. Charles Stewart was born soon after the Census.

His mother died, aged 34, on the 11th May 1893 and was buried at Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey.    

Charles was educated at St Leonards School, Toxteth.    

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 51 Casterton Street, West Derby, Liverpool. His father George B. is a 48 year old widower born in Scotland, he is employed as a wharfinger and is living with his children Jane aged 22, Mary aged 209 and a brushmaker, Henry is 16, Alfred is 10 and Charles is 9. Also present in the household is Harriet Simpson aged 9 and described as step daughter. 

His father died, aged 50, in 1903, Electoral Registers record his name as Mollinson. 

The 1911 Census finds Charles living with his married sister Jane Donaldson at 10 Southgate Road, Old Swan. He is single, aged 19 and a barman, Harriet Simpson is aged 19. 

Despite his parents being deceased, Charles (written as Charles Stuart) was baptised on 17th March 1912 at St Clements Church, Toxteth, address given 10 Southgate Road, Knotty Ash, Liverpool.  

George’s first wife remained in Scotland and died, aged 55, on the 30th January 1907. She was buried at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, where the headstone reads “In Loving Memory of Betsy Gillespie or Mollison.” 

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion as Private 17427. His service papers show his name as Charles Stuart Mollison. He gave his age as 23 years and 64 days, his occupation as a clerk and a music hall artisite. He also advised that he had been refused acceptance in the services before due to bad teeth. He was described as being 5'6 inches tall, weighed 125lbs and had a 35 and a half inch chest. He was of fesh complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England and his next of kin was his sister Mrs Donaldson, 13 Salisbury Street, Old Swan, later changed to his brother Harry in Monmouthshire. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. Whilst at Belton Park Charles was admitted to the Military Hospital between 13th and 20th July 1915 with a sore throat. He remained at Grantham until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He married Jessie Goodare at Goole Parish Church on 25th October 1915 his address given as 16 Ellens View, Goole. Jessie’s family name was Goodare. She was the 27 year old daughter of Frederick and Emma Winifred (née Hyder) Goodare who married in 1887 in Goole.  

Shortly after his marriage he arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was involved in the Somme battles of July 1916 and was wounded during the attack at Guillemont on 30/07/1916. He received Gunshot Wounds to his right arm and left thigh and was hospitalised at Etaples until 30/08/1916. He rejoined the battalion on 14/09/1916. He received his good conduct badge for two years service on 01st September.

Charles was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. The award featured in the London Gazette dated 21/09/1916. His medal was inscribed Mollinson and sent back for correction. 

The award of the Military medal was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 16 September 1916: 

Fourteen men of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) are included in a further list of non-commissioned officers and men awarded the military medal for bravery in the field which appeared in the supplement to the London Gazette on Thursday. The local recipients include the following:- 

Private C. S. Mollison, Liverpool R. 

He was subsequently promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal on 21/11/1916. Charles was on leave in the UK from 13/12/16 until 22/12/16. He attended a Training course between 28/02/1917 and 07/03/17 designed to identify aircraft. 

Charles was killed in action on 21st March 1917, aged 25.

He now rests at Bucquoy Road Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"OH MEMORIES THAT BLESS AND BURN OH BARREN GAIN AND BITTER LOSS"

The epitaph comes from a poem; The Rosary which was written in 1490 by Robert Cameron Rogers.

In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood. 

The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located.

His next of kin form signed by his widow in July 1919 advised that both of his parents were deceased and his relatives were listed as his brother Harry who was on active service with the Russian Expeditionary Force and his sister Daisy of 46 Mill Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool

Charles' effects, army pay of £4 1s 6d, War Gratuity £11 10s, and Pension of 13/9 pw went to his widow Jessie. She also received his three medals, plaque and scroll. 

She remarried and became Jessie Davies living at 413 Grafton Street, Dingle.

On the 1921 Census Jessie is aged 28 (38 really), as is Alfred, a tram conductor born in Liverpool.

They emigrated to the U.S. and by 1938 she was a U.S. citizen and died aged 94 on the 18th September 1982 in Los Angeles. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. 

Charles is commemorated on the Memorials at:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 17

All Saints Church, Stoneycroft

St Clements School.

We currently have no further information on Charles Stewart Mollison, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.