Sgt 22679 Charles Henry Easton

• Age: 27
• From: West Derby, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Charles Henry was born in Walton, Liverpool on the 03rd of July 1889, the only child of Charles Henry Easton and his wife Laura Jane (nee Redhead) who were married on the 08th November 1887 at St Catherine's Church, Tranmere. Charles was a 27 year old clerk of Walton, father Andrew deceased, whilst Laura was aged 27 of Tranmere, father Joseph an engineer. Charles junior was baptised on the 04th August 1889 at St Catherine's Church, Tranmere.

At the time of the 1891 census the family were living at 8 Roxburgh Street, Walton. Charles was 1 years old and his father Charles senior was 30 years old and a shipping clerk, Laura was 30 also, and living with them was Sarah Easton, his grandmother aged 67, and Sarah Easton, his aunt aged 24.

He was educated at Birkenhead Institute enrolling as a junior on 26th April 1898 aged 8, the family address given as 13 Warrington Street. 

By the time of the 1901 Census the family had moved to 13 Warrington Street, Birkenhead. His father, Charles, is aged 40, a shipping clerk born Tranmere, his mother, Laura, is aged 40, born Tranmere. His grandmother, Sarah Easton, aged 76, is living with the family. Charles is 11 and shown as born in Liverpool.   

Charles had a spell working as a clerk on the railways. He is recorded in the wonderfully entitled ‘Register of Lad Clerks in the Service of the Great Western Railway Company’. He started on the 11th July 1904 in the Goods Dept on a starting salary of £20 p.a. His salary went to £30 the next year, £40 in 1906 and £50 in 1907, and would have been guaranteed to have been £100 by 1920, but Charles resigned on the 31st August 1907.

In 1911, the family are living at 29 Pearson Road, Birkenhead. Charles, aged 21, is shown as born in Walton, Liverpool and is working as a clerk for a candle maker. His father is aged 50, a book-keeper for a soap maker, and his mother, Laura, is aged 50. They advised that they had been married for 23 years, and had one child. 

Charles had been educated at Birkenhead Institute and was a well known cricketer playing for Tranmere Wesley Cricket Club the year war broke out.

He enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22679 and rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Charles arrived in France on 07th November 1915.

Charles was Mentioned in Dispatches with a report in the London Gazette on 15th June 1916.

Shortly afterwards, he was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 27, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, tributes were paid to Charlie:

“In loving memory of Sergeant C.H. Easton (Charlie), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. Ever remembered by all at 108 Ellesmere Road, Lower Walton, Warrington.”

“In loving memory of dear Charlie, Sergeant C.H. Easton, killed in action July 30, 1916. Never forgotten by all at Cottage of Content, Lower Walton, Warrington.”

“In loving memory of Sergeant Charles Henry Easton (4th Pals), the dearly-loved son and only child of Mr. and Mrs. Easton, 203, Church Road, Higher Tranmere, killed in action, July 30, 1916. (Now at rest.) - Deeply mourned and sadly missed by his loving Mother and Dad.”

“In sad but loving memory of my dear boy, Sergeant C. H. Easton (4th Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (He gave his life whilst helping others.) - Fondly remembered by Nora.”

Probate was granted on 17th October 1916 at Chester and is recorded as follows:

EASTON Charles Henry of 203 Church Road, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Sergeant in the 20th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment died 30 July 1916 in France. Administration Chester 17 October to Charles Henry Easton book keeper. Effects £172 1s 5d. 

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In loving remembrance of Sergeant C. H. Easton, K.L.R. (4th Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. - 'Nora.'" 

"In cherished and loving memory of our dear son and only child, Sergeant C. H. Easton, killed in action July 30, 1916, 4th Battalion Liverpool Pals. (Ever in our thoughts.)" 

"In loving remembrance of Sergeant C. H. Easton, K.L.R. (4th Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Fondly remembered by all at 108, Ellesmere Road, Lower Walton, Warrington.)"

Charles is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall on Panel 2

Tranmere Methodist Church

Birkenhead Institute

Prices Patent Candle Company Limited Employees Plaque, Bromborough Pool Village Merseyside

Bromborough Pool, Bromborough Pool Village Merseyside

Men of Birkenhead Cenotaph

And on his parents' gravestone in Birkenhead -

                                In Loving Memory of

ALSO CHARLIE, DEARLY LOVED ONLY CHILD OF ABOVE,

                       WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION

                IN HIS 28TH YEAR AT THE BATTLE OF              

                      THE SOMME, 30TH JULY 1916

   "UNTIL THE DAY DAWNS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY"

His father died, aged 74, on the 31st January 1935 and was buried at Bebington Cemetery. 

 His mother died, aged 75, on the 20th January 1936 and was also buried at Bebington Cemetery. 

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