| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Private Billy Charlton, aged 18, died of wounds in hospital at Rouen, France, 16 Nov 1918, five days after the Armistice had ended the fighting. Green’s Almanack incorrectly notes his death as being on the 7th and the Beverley Guardian of 30 Nov 1918 also incorrectly states that Billy was seriously wounded on 9 Nov instead of the 5th. On that date in the vicinity of Escarmain, near Valenciennes and Mauberge on the Franco-Belgian border, Billy suffered a gunshot to his spine.
Billy was called up in Feb 1918 and trained with the Durham Light Infantry after arriving in France on 17 Aug 1918 he was transferred to the 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment). He was in France less than three months before his death and three weeks of that time had seen him off front line duties suffering from dysentery. He is buried at the St Severin Cemetery Extension in Rouen. He was awarded the War and Victory medals.
Billy was born in Beverley 14 Jan 1900 and baptised at St Nicholas’ Church on 18 Apr 1900. His parents were from Beverley Thomas Edward Charlton and Sarah Ellen Charlton nee Wilson, married at Beverley Minster in 1896. They had six children and lived at Ash Tree Grove, Holme Church Lane, later moving to 58 Walkergate and 36 Lairgate. Billy attended St Mary’s Boys’ School and was worked at the Storry and Witty Whiting Works, Queensgate before joining up. He was unmarried.
Billy is remembered on the Hengate Memorial and the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster; also on St Mary’s Church and St Mary’s Boys’ school rolls of Honour. Billy’s older brother, Thomas Hardy Charlton, born 1898 also served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. He survived the war and died at the age of 101 in 1999.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |