L/Cpl 21683 Charles Robert Thomas

• Age: 29
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 23rd June 1917
• Commemorated at: Perth Cem Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: I.J.13

Charles Robert was born in Bootle in 1888 the son of Robert and Jane Thomas (nee Rogers). Robert and Jane had married at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale in 1886. He was educated at Bedford Road Junior School, Bootle and at Bootle Boys Secondary School. He was also a Scoutmaster with the Sea Section, 58th Liverpool Troop.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Hawthorne Road, Bootle cum Linacre, Liverpool. Lancashire.

The father Robert aged 30, born 1861 is a retired team owner and was born in Liverpool. His wife Jane is aged 31, born 1860 in Liverpool and employed as a fancy draper. They have two children at the time of the Census, Charles Robert aged 3, born 1888 and William born 1891 who were both born in Bootle. They also have a general servant Eliza Cameron aged 16, born 1875 in Bootle. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 100 Hawthorne Road, Bootle cum Linacre, Liverpool. Lancashire.

The mother Jane is a widow aged 43, (now showing born on 1858) and still employed as a fancy draper. She has three children at the time of the Census, Charles Robert aged 13, William aged 10 and Caroline aged 6, born 1895. She has a domestic Eliza Deakin aged 26, born 1875 in Bootle. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living now living at 2 Gonville Road, Bootle.

The mother Jane is a widow aged 51, (now showing born on 1608) and a draper dealer. Her three children are all still living with her, Charles Robert aged 23, is a clerk for a wine merchant, William aged 20 is an apprentice in a wholesale drapery and Caroline May aged 16 has no occupation listed.

His younger brother William died aged 22 in 1913.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He served overseas and died of wounds on 23/06/1917 aged 29. There is some confusion as to the date of death as SDGW have the date recorded as 26/03/1917.However, it is evident that the correct date of death is 23/06/1017.

Charles was originally buried at Durham Cemetery, Zillebeke. This is referred to on the family headstone in Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool as follows:

Charles Robert Thomas Aged 29 Died of wounds 23/06/1917. Buried at Durham Cemetery, Zillebeke, East of Ypres." SANS CHANGER"  

A newspaper report in the Bootle Times refers to Charles as being the last surviving son of Mrs Thomas of 100 Hawthorne Road, Bootle. 

He now rests at Perth China Wall Cemetery in Belgium. 

The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries around Ypres.  There are now 1,426 WW1 Commonwealth burials in the cemetery.

Liverpool Echo 6th July 1917

THOMAS - June 23, died from wounds at 9th Field Ambulance hospital, France, aged 29 years, Charles Robert Thomas, Lance Corporal K.L.R., the eldest and last surviving son of Mrs Jane and the late Robert Thomas, 100 Hawthorne Road. Bootle.

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road School

Bootle Boys Secondary School

Bootle Civic Memorial

Scouts Association Roll of Honour

His mother advised the CWGC of the family details as follows:

Son of Jane Thomas of Dee Farm, Rhewl, Llangollen, Denbighshire and the late Robert Thomas.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Jane.

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