CHARLES THOMAS MARRIOTT
Charles was born in 1897 in Bicester, his birth being registered there in April/May/June 1897.
His father Joseph, 37 died the year after he was born in 1898.
The 1891 census listed his father and mother, Joseph and Sarah, 28 living in Market End, Bicester. Joseph was a General Labourer and had a large family to support; Lucy, 9, Joseph, 7, Alfred, 6, George, 5, Florence, 3 and Frank 10 months.
By the 1901 census Sarah had lost her husband and gained 3 more children. They were now living in St Johns Street, Bicester, Sarah, 39, Mark, 16 and George, 15 both agricultural labourers, Frank, 10, Caroline, 9, William, 7 and Charles, 4.
In 1910 Charles’ mother Sarah married James Clifford Gerring and moved to Fringford. James was a shepherd. This made Charles and John William Gerring step brothers; neither were to survive the war. They lived in a thatched cottage on the site of Rosemary Cottage, which has now been replaced by two new houses. James was church sexton for many years.
By 1911 the census shows Charles, 14 as a school pupil boarding with the Walton family in Upper Heyford. Other residents at the address were, Sarah Walton, Widow, 66, Elonza, 30, a bricklayer, Reginald, 28, a stonemason, and Victoria Hannah, 21.
Charles enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was issued the service number 5228. This later changed to 201897. He was posted into the 2/4th Battalion, No 4 section, No 13 platoon, D company sniper.
Charles was killed in action on 21st March 1918 during the German Offensive, Operation Kaiserschlacht ( the Kaiser's Battle). The war diary of the 2/4th Ox & Bucks describes how Charles and many of his comrades were killed on 21st March 1918. –
“In forward zone at Fayet. Our positions were subjected to severe enemy bombardment commencing 4:30am, gas shells being frequently used on our back areas and keeps. At 9am under a heavy smoke barrage, a strong hostile attack was launched, penetrating the forward zone and surrounding Enghein redoubt. The garrison of the latter, D company (Charles’ company) and battalion headquarters held on until 4pm, at which time owing to casualties they attempted to fight their way out. The remainder of the battalion attached themselves to the 2/5th Gloucesters.
Casualties – Officers Missing – Capt K E Brown MC, Capt C E P Foreshew MC, Capt F J Cahill USA, 2nd Lieutenants R Ostler, J Pett, C H Wallington MC, V C Gray, J C Cunningham, J W Mallett, F A Naylor, G Shelley, G V Rowbotham MC, C H Leach, P J Simms.
Missing believed killed – Lieutenant G Bassett, 2nd Lieutenants R G H Gough, W H Flory, C C Hall.
Wounded and missing – 2nd Lieutenant E Little.
Other ranks Killed 5, Wounded 32, Wounded and Missing 494.
Total 19 Officers and 562 other ranks”
Later statistics were to show that of the 525 missing men 407 were made prisoner of war, 54 of them being wounded. The number killed at this battle must have therefore been upwards of 120 men.
During all of this confused fighting and retreat it is not surprising that Charles has unfortunately no known grave. He is remembered on the Poziers Memorial in France on panel 50 & 51 and the war memorial at St Michael's and All Angels Church Fringford, Oxon.
Charles was born in 1897 in Bicester, his birth being registered there in April/May/June 1897.
His father Joseph, 37 died the year after he was born in 1898.
The 1891 census listed his father and mother, Joseph and Sarah, 28 living in Market End, Bicester. Joseph was a General Labourer and had a large family to support; Lucy, 9, Joseph, 7, Alfred, 6, George, 5, Florence, 3 and Frank 10 months.
By the 1901 census Sarah had lost her husband and gained 3 more children. They were now living in St Johns Street, Bicester, Sarah, 39, Mark, 16 and George, 15 both agricultural labourers, Frank, 10, Caroline, 9, William, 7 and Charles, 4.
In 1910 Charles’ mother Sarah married James Clifford Gerring and moved to Fringford. James was a shepherd. This made Charles and John William Gerring step brothers; neither were to survive the war. They lived in a thatched cottage on the site of Rosemary Cottage, which has now been replaced by two new houses. James was church sexton for many years.
By 1911 the census shows Charles, 14 as a school pupil boarding with the Walton family in Upper Heyford. Other residents at the address were, Sarah Walton, Widow, 66, Elonza, 30, a bricklayer, Reginald, 28, a stonemason, and Victoria Hannah, 21.
Charles enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was issued the service number 5228. This later changed to 201897. He was posted into the 2/4th Battalion, No 4 section, No 13 platoon, D company sniper.
Charles was killed in action on 21st March 1918 during the German Offensive, Operation Kaiserschlacht ( the Kaiser's Battle). The war diary of the 2/4th Ox & Bucks describes how Charles and many of his comrades were killed on 21st March 1918. –
“In forward zone at Fayet. Our positions were subjected to severe enemy bombardment commencing 4:30am, gas shells being frequently used on our back areas and keeps. At 9am under a heavy smoke barrage, a strong hostile attack was launched, penetrating the forward zone and surrounding Enghein redoubt. The garrison of the latter, D company (Charles’ company) and battalion headquarters held on until 4pm, at which time owing to casualties they attempted to fight their way out. The remainder of the battalion attached themselves to the 2/5th Gloucesters.
Casualties – Officers Missing – Capt K E Brown MC, Capt C E P Foreshew MC, Capt F J Cahill USA, 2nd Lieutenants R Ostler, J Pett, C H Wallington MC, V C Gray, J C Cunningham, J W Mallett, F A Naylor, G Shelley, G V Rowbotham MC, C H Leach, P J Simms.
Missing believed killed – Lieutenant G Bassett, 2nd Lieutenants R G H Gough, W H Flory, C C Hall.
Wounded and missing – 2nd Lieutenant E Little.
Other ranks Killed 5, Wounded 32, Wounded and Missing 494.
Total 19 Officers and 562 other ranks”
Later statistics were to show that of the 525 missing men 407 were made prisoner of war, 54 of them being wounded. The number killed at this battle must have therefore been upwards of 120 men.
During all of this confused fighting and retreat it is not surprising that Charles has unfortunately no known grave. He is remembered on the Poziers Memorial in France on panel 50 & 51 and the war memorial at St Michael's and All Angels Church Fringford, Oxon.