Charles William Aldred

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Charles died on 28th of March 1918 at the age of 23. 

Charles was born at Carlton Colville in 1894, a son of William and Charlotte Jane Aldred. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 28 April 1895. In 1901 his family lived at The Street, Blundeston, and this was still their address in 1911 when Charles worked as a farm labourer. Later his parents lived at 2 Crossway Cottages, Corton.

Charles volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 17815, and was posted to the 9th Battalion. On 31 August 1915 Charles arrived in France with his battalion. Charles was wounded in late 1915 and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, dated 4 January 1916. Once Charles had recovered he returned to France and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, with service number 50249. 

On 21 March 1918 the 2nd Battalion were in positions south of Cojeul and they also occupied billets at Wancourt. Their main strategic position was astride the Arras-Cambrai Road at the Cojeul River. During the German offensive they were forced back to the third reserve line and on 26 March were in the vicinity of Neuve Vitasse. March 28 was the worst day for the battalion and the officer commanding had to order 79 men to hold the front, with 50 in reserve, while the others were withdrawn. The final withdrawal (relief) took place at 3.40 am on 29 March.

Between 21 and 29 March the battalion lost seven officers killed, and had a further seven wounded, while 414 of the other ranks became casualties. In effect they had lost half the battalion. 

The date of Charles’ death is a presumed date, which had been determined in May 1918, and, in truth, he could have been killed on any of the days between 21 and 29 March.     

Charles’ brother, William, served with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and died in 1917.