Pte 35227 Charles Greenwood

• Age: 26
• From: Walsden Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Charles was born in the first quarter of 1891 at Walsden, Lancashire, the son of Thomas Greenwood and his wife Mary Jane (nee Hill), 

The 1891 Census finds the family living at 59 Knowlwood Road, Todmorden and Walsden. His father is a 32 year old cotton weaver, born in Rochdale, his mother is aged 31 and was born in Berrington, in Devon. They have six children in the household; Mary Ann is 11 years old and is a piecer of cotton, John Thomas is 9 years of age, Hannah M. is 7, and George is 5, all of them are scholars, Elizabeth A. is 2 years old and Charles is 3 months old. The family also have a boarder, John Hill, a 26 year old grinder in a cotton mill. 

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved and are now living at 4 Old Lane, Todmorden. His father i now aged 42 and is still a cotton weaver, his mother is shown as 42 years of age with no occupation listed. They now have eight children recorded; Mary Ann is a 21 year old cotton drawer, John Thomas is a 19 year old cotton weaver, Hannah M. is a 17 year old cotton spinner, George is a 15 year old cotton operative, Elizabeth A. is 12 years old and is a cotton spinner, Charles is 10 years old, Sarah is 7, Fred is 5 and Roanld is 1.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 147, Knowlwood Rd, Todmorden. His mother Mary Jane is a widow aged 52, born in Todmorden in 1859. There is no occupation shown for her. She declared that she and her husband had been married for thirty four years and had eleven children of which one had died. Those living with her at the time of the Census were; George aged 25, born 1886 is a picker maker (cotton industry), Elizabeth aged 22, born 1889 is a ring spinner, Charles aged 20 is a picker maker, Sarah aged 17, born 1894 is a ring spinner, Fred aged 15, born 1896 is a weaver, Ronald aged 11, born 1900 and a further daughter Mabel aged 8, born 1903 are both at school.

Charles enlisted in Halifax and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 35227 when he was killed in action on the 04^th December 1917 aged 26.

The 17th Battalion Diary for 04th December 1917 shows the following:

Battalion in front line. Work on wiring and rivetting Perth Avenue. Patrols sent out at night for identification of enemy in front etc. 

Casualties: Killed 2 OR, Wounded 4 OR  

Their were three men of the 17th Battalion killed on 04th December 1917, it is possible that one of the 4 OR's referred to as Wounded also died that day.

Those killed were: Private John Barker, Lance Corporal Henry Edward Carroll and Private Charles Greenwood.   

Charles' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His family paid tribute to Charles in the Todmorden Advertiser on 28th December 1917

GREENWOOD - In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Gunner Charles Greenwood, No. 35227, 89th Trench Mortar  Battery, killed it action in France, December 4th 1917.

It's only a mother that knows the sorrow,

It's only a mother that knows the pain.

Of losing her son she loved so dearly,

And knows she will never see him again..

Duty called and he was there,

To do his best and do his bit;

His heart was good, his spirit brave,

His resting place in a soldier's grave.

From his loving Mother, Sister Mabel, Brother Fred in Palestine, also Brother Ronald (also serving). - Knowlwood Road.

___________

With aching hearts we shook his hand,

Tears glistened in his eyes'

We wished him luck, but little thought,

It was the last goodbye.

From his loving Sister and Brother, Hannah and Fred. - Halifax.

___________

We little thought when you said goodbye,

We parted forever and you where to die;

The grief that we feel words cannot tell,

For we could not be with you to say farewell.

From his loving Sister and Brother Elizabeth and William, and nephew Thomas. - Knowlwood Road.

___________

Sleep on dear brother in a far off grave,

A grave we may never see;

But while life remains and memory lasts,

We always think of thee.

From his loving Sister and Brother, Miriam and Abraham. - Knowlwood Road.

___________

No more he'll answer the roll call,

Or rush at the bugle sound;

God grant when the roll is called in Heaven,

His name on Thy book may be found.

From his ever loving Brother and Sister, George and Vi. - Pelham Street.

Soldiers Effects to mother Mary J., and brother-in-law William Hy Tregonning at the request of brother Fred, Pension to mother Mary Jane

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