Born St Pancras. Private. Died of wounds. France and Flanders. Pte Manning is buried in the Dartmoor Cemetery Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France.
Our colleague Andrew Behan has researched this man: Private Charles James Manning was born in 1882 in St Pancras, the elder son of James and Ann Manning. His father was a Watercress Vendor. The 1901 census shows the family living at 14 Hethersett Street, Camden and he is recorded as a 19 years old Stationers Packer. On 18 June 1904 he married Alice Elizabeth Nichols at the Holy Trinity Church, Haverstock Hill, Camden. He was still living at 14 Hethersett Street and gave his occupation as a Labourer. His wife's address was listed as 58 Croesland Road, Camden. The 1911 census shows him living with his wife and three children, Violet 6, Charles 4 and Herbert 8 months, at 30 Ferdinand Street, St Pancras and his occupation was recorded as a Bar Bottlerer (sic).
He enlisted into the 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, service number J/5746, at St Pancras and gave his residence as Highgate, Middlesex, entering France on 7 October 1915. Their fourth child, Winifred Mabel, was born on 29 February 1916. He died of his wounds, aged 34 years, on 4 September 1916 and is buried in Plot I. B. 69. at the Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Departement de la Somme, France.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show that his widow was living at 22 Kelly Street, Kentish Town Road, London. She received his £2-7s-11d back pay on 23 August 1917 and a £8-10s-0d war gratuity on 29 October 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1915 Star, The British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
