Pte 22615 Charles Edmund Bethell

• Age: 19
• From: Woolston Salop
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Charles Edmund Bethell was born in 1897 in Woolston, Oswestry, Shropshire the son of Charles Bethell and his wife Mary Ann (nee Davies). He was baptised on the 06th June 1897 in West Felton, Shropshire. His parents married on the 29th March 1892 in West Felton, Shropshire.

Charles Edmund enlisted at Liverpool on the 09th November, 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22615. He exaggerated and gave his age as 19 years, born Woolston, and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 4 and a 1/2" tall, weighed 114lbs,  with a 34" chest, fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his mother Mary Ann Bethell of 7 Sefton Rd, Litherland.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

Charles' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 23rd April 1918:

Charles Bethell (21) killed in action, whose home was 7 Sefton-road, Litherland was formerly employed by Fairrie and Co. Victoria-street. His C.O. wrote  "He would be sadly missed"

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