Lance Corporal 30546 Charles Harold Fairclough

• Age: 33
• From: New Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: 16 LANCS FUSILS
• Died on Saturday 10th August 1918
• Commemorated at: Bouchoir New Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.B.44

Charles Harold Fairclough was born in New Ferry, Cheshire, on 04^th July 1885, and baptised in Bebington on 23^rd August.  His parents Henry Fairclough, born in Kirkham, Lancashire, and Ellen Potts (neeWilliams), born in Hoylake, Cheshire, were married in Birkenhead in 1868.

The 1891 Census finds the family living at 2 Belmont Grove, Birkenhead. His father, Henry, is a 44 year old baker and flour dealer, whilst his mother Ellen is 41 years of age. Their children declared on the Census are listed as; John R. 21 years old and a van driver born in Birkenhead, William Henry a 16 year old shop assistant for flour dealer, Ernest Rd. 11 at school born in Birkenhead, Maggie H. 7 at school born Hoylake, Charles H. 5 born New Ferry, and Ellen's sister Margaret Williams 40 bookfolder born in Liverpool.

By the time of the 1901 Census the family have moved to 23 Carlisle Street, Birkenhead. His father Henry is now 54  and retired, his mother Ellen is 51, their children are listed as; Ernest Rd. 21 livery stable coachman, Maggie H. 17 bookfolder, Charles H. 15 brewers clerk, and Ellen's sister Margaret Williams 50 bookfolder.

His mother, Ellen, died in the September quarter of 1908 aged 58.

His father died in the December quarter of 1909 aged 62. 

Charles married Elizabeth Orford Grierson in Birkenhead on 29th Dec 1909 at St. Mary's Church, Birkenhead, he gave his address as 24 Castle Street. They had four children: Elizabeth born in 1910, Muriel 1912, Harold 1914, and Edward 1916.

On the 1911 Census, Charles and his young family have moved to 32 Westbourne Street, Birkenhead. Charles Harold is aged 25, a book keeper for a decorative painters, he is now the head of the family, his wife Elizabeth Orford is aged 23 born in Lambeth, London. They state that they have been married for one year and have had one child. Their daughter Elizabeth Amy  is aged 1, and his mother's sister Margaret Williams is a 60 year old bookfolders forewoman.

Charles was originally a Liverpool Pal joining the 19th Battalion as Private 25538. He was at some point, transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers as Lance Corporal 30546. Charles was killed in action on 10^th August 1918, aged 33.

He now rests at Bouchoir New British Cemetery.

The village of Bouchoir passed into German hands on 27 March 1918 but was recovered by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade on 9 August 1918. The New British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought there from several small Commonwealth cemeteries and from the battlefields round Bouchoir and south of the village. Almost all date from March, April or August 1918 The cemetery now contains 763 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 231 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Another special memorial commemorates an airman buried in Laboissiere German Cemetery whose grave could not be found. The graves in Plots I and II are numbered consecutively from 1 to 144. Those in Plot III are numbered from 1 to 135, and the same system applies to Plot IV. Plots V and VI are numbered by rows in the usual way. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. 

Soldiers Effects to widow Elizabeth and the 4 children. Elizabeth, living at 28 Clarendon Street, Birkenhead, received a pension of 33/9d a week.

Elizabeth died in the June quarter of 1919 aged 31. It is not known what became of the children. 

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