Pte 47735 Charles William Sweeney

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 9th October 1917
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: P.III.F.9B

Charles Sweeney was born 11^th July 1894 at Liverpool and was baptised 16^th July 1894 at St James the Less, C. of E. Church, Kirkdale. He was the son of Joseph Sweeney and his wife Elizabeth (nee Maloney) who married in 1889 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 233, Arlington Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His father Joseph is aged 32, and is a foundry labourer, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 30, with no occupation listed. At the time of the Census they have four children, William aged 11, Joseph Henry aged 8, Charles aged 6 and Mary Ann aged 4. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 3 Rockingham Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His father Joseph is now aged 42, born in Liverpool in 1869 and is a foundry labourer, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 40, born 1871 in Kilkenny, Ireland. They have been married for twenty two years and have had nine children of which two had died. Those children listed on the Census are; Joseph Henry aged 18, born 1893 and Charles aged 16, born 1895 are both boiler maker labourers, Mary Ann aged 14, born 1897 no occupation, Edward aged 9, born 1902 and Alfred Herbert aged 4, born 1907 are both at school and Lilian is aged 1, born 1910.

Charles was the husband of Hannah Sweeney (nee Thomas) of 25 Harcourt Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Charles and Hannah married in 1914.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 47735 when he died of wounds on the 09th October, 1917, aged 23, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now lies in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Charles also featured with an entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919

He was educated at Daisy Street Council School, enlisted 07th Feb 1917 and went with Expeditionary Force in May. Died of wounds received Ypres 21st Sept 1917. Had a son William born 18th February 1915. 

He is also commemorated on the memorial at St Athanasius’ C. of E. Church, Kirkdale.

Soldiers effects to widow Hannah (states Charles died at stationary hospital), and pension to Hannah Seagreaves as she had married Terence Seagraves in March 1920 at West Derby.

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