Charles Allum

A Private with 1st Bn. Charles died on 12th of March 1915 at the age of 39. 

Charles was born at Horham, Suffolk, in 1876, a son of Francis and Eliza Allum. In 1881 he was living with his uncle and aunt, William and Rebecca Allum, at Horham. In 1891 he was working as a farm labourer and living with his parents and siblings as Baylham, Suffolk. 

Charles was working as a labourer for Mr. B. Potter, at Hemington, Suffolk, when he enlisted in the 3rd Militia Battalion Suffolk regiment on 24 February 1893. On 31 March 1894 he transferred to the Suffolk Artillery Militia. On 27 November 1894 he joined the regular army, enlisting in the Norfolk Regiment at Ipswich, service number 4175. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 7 January 1895. Charles became a paid Lance Corporal on 1 July 1897. He was posted to the Depot on 26 March 1898 and joined Section B of the Army Reserve on 4 July 1902, receiving his final discharge on 26 November 1904.

On 18 December 1899 Charles married Rose Jane Levett at Saint Matthew's Church, Thorpe Hamlet. Charles was serving with the Norfolk Regiment and based at Thorpe Hamlet and Rose lived at Brettenham. In 1901 they lived at 57 Fitts Flats, Anchor Street, Norwich.

In July 1902 Charles became a Postman at Lowestoft. Rose died in 1907. On 11 March 1908 Charles married Amy Maria Ward at Saint Mary's Church, Blundeston. In 1911 they lived at 58 Roman Road, Lowestoft.

Soon after the war began, in 1914, Charles volunteered and again enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment. He arrived in France on 27 December 1914 to join the 1st Battalion and is believed to have been in a draft of men that joined the Battalion at Dranoutre on 13 January 1915. 

The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that Charles was killed in action at Ypres. The 1st Battalion War Diary entry for 12 March 1915 simply says 'moved back to Brigade Reserve at Kruistraat' and no further details of what happened to Charles are known. 

Charles' name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes