| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Charles Henry Kitching, born 1891, was one of three brothers all born in Lund, the sons of John and his wife Sarah Alice Kitching (nee Lidster). John was born in Beverley but, orphaned at the age of six, he was raised by an uncle in Lund, he married Sarah and four of their five children were born in Lund before they moved to Beverley. Charles Henry remained in Lund, living with his grandparents, Joseph and Mary Lidster.
Charles and his two younger brothers, Tom and Joseph, all served during the war. Charles enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment and in Dec 1915 while serving with the 12th Battalion embarked for Egypt where they were sent to defend the Suez Canal as part of the 31st Division. In Mar 1916 the 31st Division left Port Said bound for Marseilles in France where they took over a stretch of the front line opposite the village of Serre at the northernmost end of the Somme where they suffered heavy casualties. Charles was subsequently transferred to the Corps of Dragoons.
All three brothers survived the war and Charles was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
He married Ellen Chant in 1927 Sculcoates at Sculcoates Register Office, heir son Peter was born the following year. They lived in Hull, appearing in the Electoral Rolls for 1928 through 1931, living in Perseverance Terrace, Inglemire Lane, and Charles was shown as a Corporation employee in 1933 but no actual occupation is listed. Charles died in Hull in 1955, aged 64.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |