Corporal 16677 Thomas Charles Pendleton

Thomas Charles was born on 27th January 1896, the youngest son of George James Pendleton and his wife Isabella Cowden (née Melville). Known as Charles, he was baptised in St. Catherine’s, Edge Hill, on 04th March 1896, his parents’ residence given as 26 Winifred Street, and his father’s occupation as cabinet chair maker. Both his parents were born in Liverpool; they married in 1889 and had four children: James Melville born in 1890, Melville George 1892, John James 1894, and Charles.
 

Before Charles’ birth his parents are found on the 1891 census at 51 Willoughby Street, Edge Hill.  His father is 30, a cabinet chair maker, his wife is 26, and son James is 9 months old. James sadly died shortly after the census, before his first birthday.

 

 

Charles enrolled at Clint Road Council School on 23rd October 1899, before he was four years old, the family residence then 26 Winifred Street. His mother remained in Winifred Street, off Edge Lane, for the rest of her life.

 

In 1901 his widowed mother, aged 35, is at 26 Winifred Street, with her three sons and two boarders. Charles is aged 5, his siblings are recorded as; Melville G. aged 8, John J. aged 7. The two boarders are recorded as Emily Jones a 38 year old widow, living on her own means and William Herbert a 23 year old book-keeper.   

 

By 1911  they have moved to 27 Winifred Street. His mother is now aged 46. She has her three sons living with her; Melville is 18, an assistant school caretaker, John, 17, is a junior clerk, and Charles, 15, is an apprentice compositor.

Charles enlisted with his brother John at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914. Both brothers joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, Charles as Private 16677 and John as 16678. Charles gives his age as 19 years and 216 days (in fact he was 18, John was 20). He gives his occupation as compositor apprentice, his apprenticeship expiring in 1916. He is described as being 5’8” inches tall, weighing 124 lbs, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and blond hair.  He gives as next of kin his mother Isabella at 27 Winifred Street and his religion as C of E. He signed the attestation Chas Pendleton.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Charles and his brother John enlisted together on 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, with adjacent regimental numbers, Charles as Private 16677 and John as Private 16678.

Both brothers shipped to France with their battalion on 07th November 1915.   

Charles’ service record survives and shows that he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 02nd June 1917 and appointed paid Lance Corporal the next day.

 

He was granted leave to the UK on 10th June 1917 and on 23rd June 1917 resumed duty 

 

He was promoted Corporal on 30th September 1917 and the same day sent to IX Corps L Gun School, rejoining his unit on 15th October 1917.

 

He was posted to the 12th Bn K.L.R. on 21st October 1917.  

They saw action at Cambrai in November - December 1917.

 

He was killed in action on the 13th February 1918, he had just turned 22 years old.

 

Charles was buried close to where he fell in Bass Wood Cemetery No. 1, on the east side of the Bassevillebeek, 1km south of Herenthage Chateau. After the war, when graves were concentrated, the bodies were removed from Bass Wood and reinterred in Hooge Crater Cemetery.

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His family announced his death in the Liverpool Echo on 04th March 1918:

“Pendleton - February 13, killed in action, aged 23 years [sic], Corporal Thomas Charles, of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, the dearly-beloved youngest son of Isabella and the late George Pendleton, 27 Winifred Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool.

His personal belongings were returned to his mother, these included photographs, a pocket book, a religious book, a cigarette case, a metal watch (broken) and chain and his wallet.

Charles earned his three medals, which his mother signed for in 1921 and 1922; she also received his Memorial Plaque and Scroll; she received a War Gratuity of £17. His Army effects were shared by his mother and two brothers.  His mother was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from August 1918.

 

His brother John later transferred to the Army Pay Corps and the Labour Corps. He was discharged in March 1919, with a partial disability.

 

In 1919 his mother provided information on Charles’ living relatives:  Melville, 27, and John, 25, were both living at home with their mother at 27 Winifred Street.

 

In 1939 his mother, 75, is still living at 27 Winifred Street, with unmarried son Melville, 47.  His brother John had died earlier in the year, aged 44 or 45.

 

His mother died in December 1940, aged 76 and was buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery, non-conformist section.

 

Charles is commemorated on the following memorials -

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 53

Clint Road Council School Memorial (lost).