Charles John Rump was born in March 1881 at Aylsham, Norfolk, his birth registered as Charles John Rump Spink. He was baptised as Charles John Spink on 8th May in the parish church at Aylsham, his father’s occupation listed as servant. His father was born in Aylsham and his mother in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. They married in Aylsham in 1874 under the names Joseph Spink and Harriet Helena (or Ellen) Golding. His father had apparently been born out of wedlock as Spink and the Rump surname came from his stepfather. Both their children were registered as Spink, although the family is listed as Rump on all the censuses. Charles had an older sister, Beatrice Maud, born in 1875.
In 1881 the family is living in Cromer Road, Aylsham, with two children. His father is a groom and gardener. Charles is under one month old (the census was taken on 3rd April).
By 1891 they have moved to The Marketplace, Aylsham, with two children and a lodger, Charles is 10.
They are still at The Marketplace in 1901. His father is 50, employed as a gardener (not domestic), his mother is 46. Charles is 20, working as a carpenter. Also in the household his married sister Beatrice Davison, 25, her husband, and son Geoffrey, age 2.
He married Mabel Sutton on the 27th June, 1906 in Aylsham. Their daughter Stephanie Mabel was born on 16th July 1909. Another daughter, Thora Zillah, was born on 05th March 1912.
The 1911 Census records Charles as a carpenter in the building trade and shows the family living at Commercial Road, Aylsham, Norfolk. Charles is aged 30, born 1881 in Aylsham, his wife Mabel aged 32, born 1879 in Great Crossingham, Norfolk and daughter Stephanie aged 1, born 1910.
His parents, with Beatrice and family, are living in Cawston Road, Aylsham. His father is 60, working as a domestic gardener and bank porter.
Prior to the outbreak of war he had been employed as a cabinetmaker. He married Mabel (nee Sutton) on the 27th June, 1906 in Aylsham.
He enlisted in Cromer, Norfolk and was formerly Private 5283, Yorkshire Regiment. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that Charles served just over one year, enlisting or being conscripted in May or June 1916.
Following a transfer he was serving in the 20th Battalion ( “C” Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235326 when he died of wounds on the 12th July, 1917.
Charles’ name appeared in the list of Accidentally Killed, published in the Weekly Casualty List on 14th August 1917.
In the middle of May 1917, when the fighting around Arras finally grinds to a halt, the Pals battalions leave Vaux and begin the march north to the Ypres Salient. They move to Toronto Camp on 8th June. The rest of the month shows the battalion engaged in training, providing working parties, until marching to trenches at English Wood on 27th (2 OR wounded), and on the 29th when they took up position in front line trenches near Zillebeke (casualties 1 OR killed, 9 wounded from enemy artillery).
The Battalion War Diary shows no casualties through accidents in the weeks prior to Charles’ death. In early July the battalion is engaged in repairing trenches; the War Diary shows hostile artillery, intermittent but heavy shelling. At 2 p.m. on the 7th the battalion entrains for Watten and from there marches to Recques (8 miles west), where they engage in musketry and range practice, with training for Lewis Gunners, Bombers, and Signallers. It is possible that Charles was accidentally killed during training. The next day the battalion marched in battle order to Tournehem.
Charles was buried in Recques-sur-Hem Churchyard, Pas de Calais. He is one of only three CWGC burials in this churchyard, and the only WW1 casualty.
His headstone bears the epitaph:
“BETTER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS HE GAVE HIS LIFE”
In this churchyard are the graves of a British soldier and a New Zealand civilian who was serving with the British Army, both of whom were killed in May 1940. There is also a British First World War grave, and all three are south of the church.
Mabel received Charles’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £3-10s. The Register of Soldiers’ Effects shows “5th Liverpool posted to 20th K.L.R.” The Medal Roll shows only 20th Bn.
The pension card, in the name of his widow, Mabel, living in Easton, Norwich, and showing his battalion as 5th K.L.R., also shows death as accidental. She was awarded a pension of £1-2-11d from January 1918, increased to £1-8-4d a year later (a note states Alternative Pension awarded to widow). Mabel later moved to Commercial Road, Aylsham, then to Cawston Street (her in-laws’ residence).
His mother (Harriet Rump) died in 1921 aged 66 and his father (as Joseph Spink) appears to have died in 1930 aged 79.
His widow Mabel died in 1970.
His daughters both married, had families, and settled in Norwich. Stephanie died in 1981 aged 72, and Thora in 2004, at the age of 92.
Charles is also commemorated on the following Memorials:
Aylsham War Memorial
St. Michael’s Church, Aylsham.
We currently have no further information on Charles Rump, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
