Pte 235257 Charles Adam Tait

• Age: 30
• From: Bradford Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 24th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Charles Adam Tait was born in 1887 in Bradford and resided in Stockton. He was baptised on the 26^th June, 1887 in Bierley, Yorkshire. He was the son of William and Susannah Tait (nee Green) and the husband of Margaret Ethel Tait, of 4 Gilpin St, Bath Lane, Stockton-on-Tees.

He married Margaret Ethel (nee Fisk) 31st October 1914 at St Thomas Parish Church, Stockton on Tees, Durham, England. Margaret was born in 1884 in Lowestoft, Suffolk and was working as a domestic housemaid at the time of the 1911 Census. She was living at 74 High St Norton Stockton on Tees. This was the home of Frederic Byers and Mabel Watson and their four children. She was one of six servants employed by the family.

They had a child Charles William born in 1915.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 14, Victoria Street, Stockton on Tees, Stockton upon Tees.

The mother Elizabeth aged 41, is living with her four children, Charles Adam aged 13 employed as a confectioners errand boy, Robert aged 4, George aged 2 and Hilda aged 1.

The 1911 Census shows Charles Adam (stepson) living at 7 Hutchinson Street Stockton On Tees.  

The head of the household Elizabeth Emma Tait is a widow aged 50, born 1861 no occupation and was born in Redmarshall, Durham. She has four children, Robert Harrison is aged 14, born 1897 and occupation newsboy, George aged 12 born 1899 is at school and a part time newsboy, Hilda aged 11, born 1900 and William aged 5, born 1906 are both at school. Charles Adam is aged 23, born 1888 and is a warehouseman for a wholesale grocers.

He enlisted in Stockton-On-Tees, Durham, and was formerly 202392, Yorkshire Regiment and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235257 when he was killed in action on the 24th July, 1917 aged 30.

Stockton Herald 18th Aug 1917

Mrs Tait of 30 Skinner Street, Thornaby (late of 77 Farring Street, Stockton) has received official news of the death of her husband Charles Adam Tait. Deceased, who was formerly employed by the Stockton Co-operative Society, was a son-in-law of Mr and Mrs Fish, well-known Stockton family.

[The in-laws surname has been Anglicised from the German "Fisk"]

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He is also commemorated on the Stockton War Memorial.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his widow Margaret Ethel and child Charles William.

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

Birth records show James William was born in 1887 and the Census records hold the year 1888.