Charles Evelyn Branwhite

A Lance Corporal with the 7th Battalion, Charles died on 24th of November 1917 at the age of 33. 

Charles was born at Kirkley on 24 October 1884, a son of Charles and Ellen Mary Branwhite. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 16 January 1885 and his family lived qt 13 Kirkley Villas. In 1891 his family lived at 3 Gordon Road. Charles’ mother died at Lowestoft in 1892 and his father moved to Ipswich, where he died in 1897. Charles was educated at the Grammar School, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

In March 1906 Charles moved to Canada to work as a farmer and he served in a local militia. 

On 22 March 1915 Charles attested for the Canadian Army at Vancouver. He joined the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles, service number 11187. Charles arrived in England on 25 July 1916. On 13 October 1916 he was at Shorncliffe and was transferred to the 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry, in France, with service number 116137. He joined the battalion, in the field, on 31 October 1916. 

On 8 February 1917 Charles was ‘Placed under stoppage of pay to make good the value of one small box respirator (gas-mask), lost by neglect, value five dollars.’ On 25 August 1917 Charles was appointed Lance Corporal and was later an Acting Corporal. 

Charles was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 13 March 1918). The citation is found in the Canadian Army archive and reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, during our operations of Passchendaele Ridge, November 10th and 11th 1917. During the attack a few of our men had got in advance of their Company and were cut off from the rest by rifle and machine-gun fire. This N.C.O. made his way to them and, though painfully wounded, took command and engaged the enemy string point with rifle and rifle grenade fire, thus allowing the rest of the company to come up. Afterwards he rendered good assistance in capturing the strong point. All the other N.C.O.s of his platoon having become casualties, he refused to leave the line until after consolidation, when he was sent back. His courage, and most marked devotion to duty, though wounded, set a splendid example to all.  

Charles had been shot in the leg during the attack and was evacuated to hospital. On 14 November 1917 admitted to 26 General Hospital, Etaples, by which time he was dangerously ill. He died of wounds, at the hospital, on 24 November. 

Charles’ name is recoded on the war memorial at Stamford School Chapel.