Pte 381327 Charles Edward Corlett

• Age: 29
• From: Douglas I.O.M
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 9th February 1919
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: Sp Mem B26

Charles (Charlie) Edward Corlett was born on 02^nd February 1890 in Douglas, Isle of Man, the only surviving son of Henry J Corlett and his wife Margaret Jane (nee Bridson). His parents had five children, all boys, three of whom died in infancy: Thomas Arthur 1886-1888, James Bridson 1892-1893, and Albert Arthur 1894-1894. Charlie had an elder brother Robert Henry (Bobbie).

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is found in Fort Street in Douglas.  His 27-year old father is a general labourer, his mother is 30, Robert is 3 and Charlie one year old. Also in the household are his cousin Rose Bridson, 2, and his uncle Thomas Garrett Corlett, 18.

In April 1899 a group of boys including Charlie and his brother Bobbie went for a walk to gather edible roots. They found what they thought were radishes in the river and after tasting, Charlie and Bobbie became seriously ill, suffering convulsions. The boys were brought home and a doctor called. Nine-year Charlie recovered, but his brother continued to experience severe convulsions and intervals of coma. Bobbie, 11, died the following morning.  The boys had mistaken a poisonous water hemlock for radishes.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 13 Fort Street, Douglas, Isle of Man when Charles' father Henry is a 37 year old yardman working in a coalyard, born in Ramsey. His mother Margaret is 29 years old and was  born in Marown, Isle of Man, while their son, Charles Edward is 11 years old. Also living with them is Margaret’s father Thomas Bridson, 76 years and a widower; her brother Arthur, 23 years, a canvas weaver; and Henry’s father, John, 77 years old and a stone mason.

By 1911 the family were living at 2 Lewthwaite's Court, Douglas. His father, 45, is a lamplighter employed by the gas works, and his mother, 47, works as a cook in a boarding house. Charlie is 21, and working as a fisherman.

According to SDGW and his Medal Card, Charlie enlisted at Seaforth joining the 2/7th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 381327. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he enlisted in early 1917. Some time after arriving in France he was posted to the 17th Battalion K.L.R.

Graham Maddocks describes how Charlie, together with his fellow Pals 114144 Private John Roberts; 114116 Private John Kenworthy; 18619 Private Cyril Maher; 29664 Private William McDonough; 50785 Corporal Charles Lewis Milton and 114191 Corporal Albert Wright; was killed. By early February 1919, the Bolshevik presence in the area of Seletskoe was growing steadily stronger and at 4.30am on 09^th February 1919 they opened up a fierce and sudden artillery bombardment on both flanks of the 17^th Battalion’s forward blockhouse positions and succeeded in cutting their communications with the rear. The Bolsheviks then attacked with infantry and although repulsed with considerable losses on the left flank, they eventually overran the right flank blockhouse position after a fierce fight and killed all its occupants except Private Roberts, whom they captured but later murdered.

A survivor of the Russian campaign, Private J. Grogan, 17^th KLR, described to Maddocks how he went with others to to check on Church Post, the right hand blockhouse attacked, as HQ was unable to contact them by telephone;

“When we found them they were dead. They’d all been dragged out and murdered”.

Charlie Corlett and his colleagues were all buried in Seletscoe Cemetery.

He is now commemortated on a Special Memorial at Archangel Allied Cemetery.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Charlie’s death was announced in the Isle of Man Examiner on 01st March 1919:

“Mr. and Mrs. Corlett, of 2, Lewthwaite’s Court, Fort Street, Douglas, have received word that their son, Private C. E. Corlett, King’s Liverpool Regt., was killed in action in Russia on the 9th February, 1919. Private Corlett, who was 30 years of age, joined the Army about two years ago and had served for six months in France, being drafted to Russia in Sept., 1918.  Prior to joining up he was a fisherman in the employ of Messrs. Swindlehurst and McAleavy.”

Another newspaper report states that Charles was invalided home from France suffering from Bright’s disease (kidney disease), before being sent to Russia.

His CWGC record also gives his age as 30, but based on his birth record, Charlie had just turned 29 years old. 

His medal card shows that he received the British War Medal and Victory Medal

There are two entries for Soldiers Effects, one inexplicably showing his date of death as 26th January 1917. His outstanding Army pay went to his mother Margaret (with the notation "recharge"). There is no evidence that the War Gratuity of £11-10s was disbursed.

Pension cards do not show the amount, if any, awarded.

His mother died in 1925 and his father in 1944.

Charlie is commemorated on the following memorials -

Douglas War Memorial

St. Thomas' Church, Douglas

Isle of Man National War Memorial

And on the family gravestone in Kirk Braddan Cemetery, Douglas, with his brothers and parents -

                    In Loving Memory
                                 of
                 CHARLES EDWARD                         
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN RUSSIA
       FEB. 9TH 1919, AGED 30 YEARS               

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