| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Charles Gorbutt Dalton was born in Beverley in Apr 1898. The following year his mother Edith Mary Dalton married William Pilkington. Charles was baptised at the same time as his half-sister, Florrie, in Beverley St John and St Martin in Feb 1901. At that time the family were living in Beckside and Leicestershire born William Pilkington was a painter and decorator.
By 1911 the Pilkington family had moved to 43 Flemingate and 12 year old Charles was in school as were his siblings Florrie, Mabel, Ernest with baby Olive at home.
Charles he served with the 1/5 Yorkshire Regiment and from his number of Private 2808 Dalton it would suggest he enlisted towards the end of 1914 when he was 16. His medal entitlement did not include a 1914-1915 Star so he must have arrived in France at some time in 1916 and at some point he was transferred to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI).
The Beverley Guardian published a photograph of Charles with his Yorkshire Regiment cap badge in Nov 1916 under the banner “At the Front”. Sadly he had died two months earlier on 16 Sep 1916 during the British attack on Gird Trench between Flers and Gueudecourt on the Somme whilst serving with the 9th Battalion KOYLI.
Private Charles Dalton is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate records that he was the son of Mrs Edith Mary Pilkington of 49 Minster Moorgate, Beverley and that he was age 18 when he died. Although far from unique, Charles should not even have been serving abroad until he had reached the age of 19.
On the Memorials to the Fallen in Beverley Minster Charles’ name can be found alongside those who served with the Yorkshire Regiment. Charles is also remembered under the name of Charles Pilkington on the Hengate War Memorial and also on the Wesley Circuit Roll of Honour in the Wesleyan Chapel, Toll Gavel, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |