L/Cpl 22688 Charles France

• Age: 29
• From: Birmingham
• 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 France was born in Birmingham on 11th November 1886, the son of Charles France and his wife Elizabeth (nee Brannan or Brannon). Charles and Elizabeth were both born in Runcorn as were all their other children so it’s possible Charles was born when Charles senior was working as a bricklayer in Birmingham. His parents married in 1871, registered in Prescot and had nine children. Charles had older siblings John Allen, James, Sarah Alice, Mary Ellen, Florence, and May Elizabeth, and younger siblings Kate and Richard (Dick).

In the 1891 Census the couple are living at 21 Stonehills Lane in Runcorn. Father Charles is aged 42, a bricklayer born Halton, mother Elizabeth is aged 39 born Runcorn, their children: John 18 a labourer, James 16 a labourer, Sarah 14, Florence 10, May 7, Charles 4 and Kate aged 1. 

The 1911 Census records the family are still living at 9 Porter Street, Runcorn, his widowed father, Charles aged 63, is still working as a bricklayer. He was living with three of his children Mary aged 32 has no occupation, Charles 24 and Richard 17 who were both working as chemical labourers.

His father died, aged 64, in 1913 and was buried on the 13th May at Runcorn Cemetery. 

Charles junior enlisted on 10th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22688.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. Charles married Mary Ellen Platt in January 1915. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

Two months after enlisting, on 17 January 1915, Charles married Mary Ellen Platt at Halton Road Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Runcorn. He was a 28 year old Private of the King’s Liverpool Regt, former labourer, father Charles deceased, whilst Mary was aged 24 of 9 Porter Street, father George a chemical labourer. The witnesses were H. Cross (Harry Cross, Mary Ellen's husband) and Kate France his sister). No children were born to the marriage. 

On 07th November 1915 he embarked for France with his battalion. 

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 29, 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.    

Charles was initially declared Missing and his death later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

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.”

Charles is also remembered on the war memorial on Weston Road in Runcorn.

A pension of 13/9d a week was awarded to Mary from April 1917, then living at New Cottages, Turnpike, Middlewich, Cheshire.  She received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuty of £7-10 in 1919 (by which time she had remarried).

On the first anniversary of his death, his loved ones posted notices in the Runcorn Weekly News:

"In loving memory of my dear husband, Corporal C. France, K.L.R., killed in action 30th July, 1916, aged 30.
   A sudden change in a moment fell,
   He had not time to bid his friends farewell.
Never forgotten by his loving Wife, Middlewich."

"In loving memory of Corporal C. France, K.L.R., killed in action 30th July, 1916, aged 30. - May angels guard the spot.  Never forgotten by his loving Sisters and Brothers, also Dick (in France)."

Dick had enlisted on 03rd September 1914 as Private 14954, in the Cheshire Regiment, giving his next of kin as brother James, at Stonehills Lane. He was discharged on 24th October 1914 as medically unfit, but evidently re-enlisted later.

Mary remarried in 1919 to George Richard Goodall at St Michael and All Angels Church, Middlewich, Cheshire.

In 1939 she was 50, living in Roscoe Crescent, Runcorn with her husband and 17-year old son. 

She died in 1955 in Runcorn.

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