Pte 24977 James William Charlton

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 28th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.K.4

24977 Private James William CHARLTON, 17^th Battn KLR KIA 28.06.1916. Cerisy-Gailly MC  Grave II K 4.

James William Charlton (Jim) was born in the Junequarter of 1895, in Liverpool, the 4th of 10 children born to James William Charlton, a tram driver, and his wife Sarah (née Inness) who married in St Mary’s Church, Kirkdale on the 05th August 1889. James snr was a 24 year old iron turner of 80 Clevedon Street, father John an iron turner, whilst Sarah was aged 21 of 6a Kirkdale Road, father William deceased.

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 26 Erith Street, Toxteth Park. Father James is aged 25, a holloware turner born in Liverpool, mother Sarah is aged 23, born Birkenhead, and their eldest child, Elizabeth (Lily) aged 10 months, born Kirkdale.

The 1901 Census shows the family had moved to 10 Paley Street, Everton and now have 6 children. His father, James, is aged 35, an electric tram driver, his mother, Sarah, is aged 33, children born Liverpool: Elizabeth 10, Mary 9, John H. 7, James W. 5, Alison E. 4, and William 1.

By the time of the 1911 Census they live with their 10 children at 113 Robson Street, Everton. Father James is aged 45, a car driver(tram), mother Sarah is aged 43. They advised that they had been married for 21 years, and have had 11 children, 10 of whom have survived. They have nine children declared in the household; Lily 20, a clerk, John Henry 17, a clerk, James William 16, a shop boy, Alison Ellen 15, William 11, at school, Edith 7, at school, Arthur Douglas 9, at school, Gertrude 2 and Frank Ernest 1. His older sister, Mary, is away from home at 61 Curate Road where she is employed as a laundress. 

James William enlisted in January 1915 as Private 24977 with the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment – the first of the Liverpool Pals battalions.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from his induction date, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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.

He was amongst the first Pals to arrive in France on the 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on 28^th June 1916 aged 21.

The 17^th Battalion had moved into the frontline trenches at Maricourt in preparation for the “Big Push” on 1^st July. The allies kept up a preparatory bombardment of the German lines and this was met by a German counter-bombardment.  Some 20 members of the 17^th Battalion are known to have been killed and three others sustained wound of which they died – all on the 26^th and 27^th June 1916. The bombardments were intensified as 1^st July approached and James was almost certainly a casualty of artillery fire.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 20 July 1916:

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

LIVED IN EVERTON. 

Private J. W. Charlton, of the " Pals," who has been killed, was twenty-one years of age. He joined in January, 1915, and went to France last November. He was wounded in the arm and thigh in March, but was back again with his comrades after being three weeks in hospital. His officer, in writing to his mother, said he was bright and cheerful no matter how uncomfortable the circumstances. Prior to the war Private Charlton was employed at W. Crawford and Sons. Limited, and resided 113, Robson-street, Everton, Liverpool.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 24 July 1916:

Killed.

King’s (Liverpools) - Chadwick, 27334  G. O. (Seacombe); Charlton, 24977, J. (Liverpool); Mythen, 16388, W. G. (Liverpool); Nimmo, 15271, K. P. (Liverpool); Hilton, 16523, J. (Bolton); Worrall, 29268, T. (Liverpool); 

James was originally buried at Maricourt Military Cemetery but after the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, where he now rests.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme and the following small cemeteries:- BEAUFORT BRITISH CEMETERY was about 300 metres North of Beaufort Church. It was made in August, 1918 (after the capture of the village by the 1st Canadian Division) between the existing German Cemetery and a farm track, and it contained the graves of 56 Canadian soldiers and two from the United Kingdom. BUIGNY-LES-GAMACHES COMMUNAL CEMETERY contained the grave of one soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in July, 1918, by the 26th Field Ambulance. BUIRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, in the commune of Buire-Courcelles, was on the North side of the Communal Cemetery. It contained three German plots and one British, and in the British plot were buried 36 Australian soldiers and four from the United Kingdom. These men fell in September, 1918 except three who were buried by the enemy in the preceding March. MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. STE. HELENE BRITISH CEMETERY, PONTRUET, was on the East side of the hamlet of Ste. Helene. It was made in September and October, 1918 during the capture of the hamlet by the 46th (North Midland) Division and their attack at Pontruet, and it contained the graves of 88 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, the majority of whom belonged to the 46th Division or the 1st Dorsets. 158 French and 35 German graves were removed to other burial grounds. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He was awarded 3 medals including the 1915 Star. 

SDGW gives his date of death as 28^th August 1916, as does Graham Maddocks in his book “Liverpool Pals”, but all other sources say 28^th June 1916.

He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 28 June 1918:  

IN MEMORIAM.

CHARLTON— In sad but loving memory of our dear son JIM (K.L.R.), who was killed in action, June 28, 1916. (His duty nobly done.)— Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Sister, and Brother, 113. Robson-street, 

His older brother, John Henry, born in 1894, enlisted in the 10^th (Scottish) Battalion of the King’s Liverpool (TF) as Private 2724 on 16^th June 1913 and arrived in France on 23^rd January 1915. John Henry was discharged on medical grounds on 15^th June 1915. He also was awarded all three medals.

Their younger brother, William, born on the 01^st September 1899, lied about his age and enlisted on 05^th May 1915, declaring that he was 19 years 7 months old when in fact he was only 15 years old. This was discovered on 27^th July 1915 and he was discharged. Not to be thwarted, William again enlisted on 03^rd August 1915, claiming to be 19 years 11 months old and was accepted into the 22^nd Battalion, KLR (the second of the Pals Reserve Battalions) as Private 31019 and survived the war.

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £4 15s 3d, war gratuity £5 10s to father James, and pension of 5/- pw to mother Sarah, 113 Robson Street.

His mother sadly killed herself on the 20th April 1927 by taking Lysol (disinfectant) whilst “in a state of unsound mind.” She was aged 59.

His father moved to Watford after his retirement, presumably to be with one of his children. He died, aged 73, on the 04th November 1938, he was a retired tram driver residing at 37 King Edward Road, Watford.  

James is commemorated on the Crawford's Biscuits War Memorial.  

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