Pte 57638 Charles George Dodworth

• Age: 23
• From: Sheffield, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Charles George was born in Sheffield on 05th December 1893 the son of Arthur Dodworth and his wife Maria Louisa (nee Hardstaff) who were married in 1892. Maria was the 24 year old Liverpool born daughter of John and Sarah Hardstaff of 79 Bolsover Street, Sheffield. Charles was baptised on 14th January 1894 at St.George's Church, Brook Hill, Sheffield.

His father, Arthur, was a well-known musician in Sheffield.

Sheffield Independent - 01st January 1897:

Crown Cycling Club.—This club held their eighth annual fancy dress ball in the Cambridge Hall last night, under very favourable circumstances. During the past year the club has made material progress, number of new members having been added, and, from a social standpoint, the year has been thoroughly successful one. The ball was largely attended, and in every way satisfactory its promoters. The ball was tastefully decorated, and the music was artistically supplied by Mr. Arthur Dodworth’s band. The costumes were very attractive, Dr. Jim’s troopers, Napoleon, Nelson, Turks, and military uniforms of every description being prominent. Ladies’ costumes were equally handsome and pleasing their attractive variety. Dancing continued up to two o’clock, and was well supported by other local clubs.

A daughter Kathleen died in infancy in 1898, this seemed to affect his mother greatly as she parted the family and took up domestic duties with the Wearden household in Blackburn, Lancashire (she was still with them on the 1921 census).

The 1901 Census finds Charles George, aged 7, living with his father Arthur in his grandparents home alongside his aunts and uncles at 68 Winter Street, Sheffield. His father, Arthur, is a music teacher born in Sheffield in 1868. His grandfather George T. is a cutlery maker born in Sheffield in 1843, whilst his grandmother Francis M was born in Yorkshire in 1846.   

The 1911 Census finds Charles George as a single, 19 year old Cabinet Makers apprentice, living with his widowed grandfather George Thompson Dodworth, a palette knife maker at 68 Winter Street. His Uncle Frank and Aunt Alice Dodworth are present at the home.  

He enlisted in Dewsbury and was formerly 116, Army Cyclist Corps and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57638 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 23, during the Third Battle of Ypres.  

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, 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.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to Aunt Alice Dodworth.

Probate was granted in 1918:-

DODWORTH - Charles George of 43 Harcourt Road Sheffield a private in the Liverpool regiment died 31 July 1917 in Belgium Probate Wakefield 13 March to Alice Dodworth spinster. Effects £588 11s 9d.

Charles George is commemorated on the following Memorials;

Sheffield Council Roll of Honour

Sharrow Cycling Club Roll of Honour

St Stephens Church Roll of Honour, Fawcett Street

His father died, aged 53, on the 03rd December 1920. His death was reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on 11th December 1920:

On December 3rd, after operation, Arthur Dodworth, organist, aged 53, second son of the late G.T. Dodworth.

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