No. 3604, 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment who died on 15th July 1916 aged 17.

Charles has no known grave and is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial.

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He was born in Vauxhall, London in late 1898, son of Richard and Hannah Groves, and lived at Kennel cottages, Hasketon.

Died during the Battle of the Somme whilst fighting at Bazentin-le-Petit

Before the war he was at school.

Personal details

Charles was born in Vauxhall, London to parents Richard William Groves and Hannah Rosina Groves, nee. Cheshire [B. Dunstable, 1871]. Richard worked as a Porter. Charles was the youngest of 3 sons, the others being (Richard) William [B. Lambeth 1894] and Leonard [B. Lambeth 1896].  Unfortunately his father, Richard Groves died in Lambeth in 1899.

In September 1900 his mother Hannah “Rose” married William Goodwin [B.Aldershot] in Blything district and they lived in Aldringham, Suffolk.  In the 1901 Census the boys have taken their step-fathers name. However William also died in June 1909.

In September 1909 Hannah again re-married, this time to Robert Chandler [B. Cratfield, 1884.] In the 1911 census the family are living in Kennel Cottages, Hasketon.  Charles is recorded as at ‘school’.  Older brothers William and Leonard are both listed as ‘yard boy on farm’.

War service.

Apart from the Medals Rolls index, which indicates he was entitled to the Victory and British medals, we have not found any other records of Charles military service. 

Charles was clearly under 18 years old in 1916 and was therefore not eligible for military service – in fact he should not have even been sent abroad until he was 19.  We therefore assume he lied about his age when he enlisted.  (It is estimated that approximately 250,000 soldiers enlisted when they were under age).

His death on 15th July 1916 suggests he was killed when the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment supported the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in an unsuccessful attack on German trenches near Bazentin-le-Petit during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge.  The 4th Battalion suffered over 200 casualties on that day.    

The 1916 Hasketon Roll of Honour in Booths Almanac includes both Charles’s brothers William and Leonard.