Cpl 51966 Charles Quayle Sayle

• Age: 38
• From: Ramsey I.O.M
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Charles Quayle Sayle was born in 1879 at Ramsey, Isle of Man, the son of Thomas and Ann Sayle, Charles was baptized on 01st December 1880 at St Olave’s Church in Lezayre in Isle of Man.

Thomas Sayle (1838-1896) was born in Andreas, Isle of Man and Ann Christian (1840- 1900) was born in Lezayre, Isle of Man. They were married at Lezayre in Isle of Man on 17 November 1878. They were both of widow status.

On the 1881 census the family are living at "White Rose Cottage", Leyzare, Ramsey. His father, Thomas, is a 42 year old labourer, his mother Annie is a 42 year old laundress. Children listed on the Census are: stepson John McIness 19 joiner, siblings Lydia 14 scholar, Daniel 12 scholar, Edward 7 scholar, Charles 2, Laura 6 months (all born Ramsey).

On the 1891 census Charles is aged 13, a scholar, living at 4 Shipyard Head, Leyzare, Ramsey with his parents and four siblings. His father Thomas  is shown as a 54 year old labourer, his mother Ann is 51. His siblings in the household are; Laura aged 12 and a scholar, Florence 10, scholar, Matthew 10 scholar, Charles H. 5 scholar. Also present is a granddaughter Minnie Davidson  aged 9 months.

His father died in 1896, aged 59, his death registered in Ramsey.

His mother died in 1900, aged 60, her death also registered in Ramsey.

On the 1901 census he is aged 21, a shoemaker, living at Shipyard Head, Ramsey with his siblings; Laura Ann aged 20, a laundress, Florence Andreas 16 also a laundress, Harry 13 is at school, and a boarder George Whewell 26 hairdresser.

The 1911 Census shows Charles living at 63 North Albert Street, Fleetwood as a boarder with the Marsden family. Charles is aged 32, born 1879 and is a tram guard.   

Prior to the outbreak of war Charles had been employed as a tram conductor with Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company.

Charles enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 51966 when he was killed in action on the 01^st August, 1917 aged 38 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His death was reported in the Fleetwood Chronicle on 31st August 1917 under the header:

FYLDE HEROES OF THE WAR

Pte. Charles Sayle of the King's Liverpool Regiment, who prior to enlisting lived at 29 Burns Road, Fleetwood, was killed in action during the recent fighting in Flanders. Pte. Sayle, who was a Manxman, was for a number of years in the employ of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company, and was the most popular conductor, being a favourite with everyone who travelled with him on the cars.

Also in the Isle of Man Examier on 01st September 1917:

CORPORAL C. Q. SAYLE KILLED

Corporal Charles Quayle Sayle K.L.R. was killed in action in France on August 1st. He was 39 years of age, and a son of the late Mr T. Sayle, Shipyard Road, Ramsey. He was a shoemaker by trade, but prior to the outbreak of hostilities was employed on the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramways.

Soldiers Effects to brother Matthew, half-brothers Thomas, William, Daniel, Edward Wm. Christian, sisters Laura Ann Halwall,  Florence Martin, half-sister Lydia Davidson, no Pension record found.

He was also featured in the Ramsay Courier 27th June 1919

RAMSAY WAR MEMORIAL

List Of Names For Roll Of Honour

Town of Ramsay

Cpl Charles Quayle Sayle, Liverpool Scottish, Shipyard Road

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