Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 30th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Charles Norman Dod was born  on the 13^th December 1897 in Birkenhead and was baptised on the 16th January 1898 at Christ Church, Claughton. He was the son of Thomas Henry Dod and his wife Annie Margaret (nee Pettitt). They married in St Peter’s Church, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead in 1887.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 12 Bennetts Hill, Oxton, Birkenhead, Cheshire. His father, Thomas Henry, is aged 44, born in Liverpool in 1857 is a wholesale druggist, his mother, Annie, is aged 34, born 1867 in Birkenhead and has no occupation listed. They have four children who were all born in Birkenhead, Thomas aged 11, born 1890, Norah aged 9, born 1892, Harold aged 6, born 1895 and Charles Norman aged 3, born 1898.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 19 Caitness Drive, Liscard, Cheshire. His father, Thomas Henry, is aged 54, and employed as a commission agent and his mpother Annie is aged 44, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty three years and have had four children who are still living at home; Thomas aged 21 is employed as an insurance clerk for Royal Insurance, Norah aged 19, is a professor of music (piano) from her home address, Harold aged 16, is also employed as a insurance clerk for Norwich Union and Charles Norman is aged 13.

He was educated at Birkenhead School and an extract from the Birkenhead News on 03^rd May 1913 shows Charles was successful in a French examination:  

He enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 5181 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 29th July 1916 and arrived at the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 30th July 1916. He proceeded to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 07th August 1916 and was then attached to the 19th Battalion K.L.R. on 08th August and posted from 05th September 1916. Charles was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 51708 when he was killed in action on the 30^th April 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive.  

 The Battalion diary for the 30th April records the following:

The enemy heavily shelled the Battalion front , particularly the support positions, during the day.   

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

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas Henry and pension to mother Annie Margaret, 118 Seabank Rd, New Brighton.

Charles is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Birkenhead School, Beresford Rd, Birkenhead, L43 2JD

Phoenix Staff Memorial (Royal and Sun Alliance)

National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Lichfield, Staffordshire, DE13 7AR.

His father Thomas died aged 68 in December 1925 and his mother died aged 67 in March 1934.

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Charles' service with the 6th Rifles.  

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