This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Elsworth, Charles
(1879-1972)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Sapper

Service Number 64931

Service Army

Battalion 19th Divisional Signals Company

Regiment Royal Engineers

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Civil servant, telegraphist, PO engineer
Marital status: Single


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

Charles Elsworth was born in Leeds in 1879.

On the 5th November 1902, Charles, who gave his trade or profession as a telegraphist, married Martha Hutton in Tong, Bradford.

Charles and Martha had two daughters, Dorothy born in 1903 and Alice born in 1908. Both daughters were born in Armley in Leeds but between Alice's birth in 1908 and the census of 1911, Charles and his family had moved to live at 7 South View Collingham. At that census Charles' profession was listed as Civil Servant 3rd Class.

Service record

On the 18th January 1915, Charles enlisted in Leeds for military service as Sapper 64931 in the Royal Engineers. This transfer to the Engineers being made on the 26th January 1915. Charles would have undergone basic military training before he embarked for France on the 28th August 1915 where he was immediately drafted to the British Expeditionary Force Base Signal Depot.

After a couple of months, Charles joined the 19th Signal Company and saw his full service with that unit.

Charles had a couple of weeks leave in the UK from 17th November 1917 until 1st December 1917.

Charles was finally discharged from the Army on the 1st January 1919.

After the war

Charles returned at some time to Collingham, as in 1939 he was registered as living with Martha, at Lintondale, Collingham. He described himself as a retired higher clerical officer in the civil service, and as serving in the control centre for the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) service.

Charles died in 1972 in the Lancaster area.

Biography last updated 07 January 2020 13:59:15.


Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25962
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).
First World War British Army Service Records. The National Archives (WO363).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info