Charles Henry Charman was born on 25 February 1895 in Stratford Essex, the eldest of the ten children of Charles Henry Charman (1873-1943) and Maria Rose Charman née Worrow (1873-1946). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in the West Ham registration district and he was baptised on 17 March 1895 at St John's Church, Stratford.
His nine siblings were: Daniel George Charman (1896-1971), Cissie Maud Charman (1899-1975), Florence Grace Charman (1900-1902), Maud Rose Charman (1902-1999), Alfred John Charman (1904-1944), Elsie May Charman (1907-1999), Ernest Charman (1909-1984), Sidney Charman (1911-1995) and Phyllis Ivy Charman (1914-1982).
In the 1901 census he is shown as living in three of the seven rooms at 178 Abbott Road, Bromley, Poplar, London, with his parents and three siblings: Daniel, Cissie and Florence. His father's occupation was listed as a grocer.
When his father completed the 1911 census return form he is shown as living in a five roomed property at 100 Telham Road, East Ham, Essex with his parents and six siblings: Daniel, Cissie, Maud, Alfred, Elsie and Ernest. His father described him as a 'bookbinders pound book', whilst listing his own occupation as a stevedore and another son, Daniel, as a Post Office messenger.
He initially enlisted as a Private in the 2nd/5th Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, service number 5463 which was subsequently renumbered to 241898 and entered France on 14 September 1917 but on 25 September 1917 he was transferred to the 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), service number GS/67928. His death was presumed on 30 October 1917 and as he has no known grave he is commemorated on Stone No.29 on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium.
On 4 March 1919 his army effects totalling £4-17s-4d were sent to his father who was also sent his £6-0s-0d war gratuity on 11 November 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on one of the main panels of the East Ham WW1 memorial.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
