Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Beaver a general labourer, born 6th April 1861 in Oakham, Rutland and his wife Ellen Maria Beaver (nee Baker, married in the 4th quarter of 1880 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1860 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Charles Ernest was born on the 1st April 1895 in Ashwell, Rutland, his siblings were Florence Louise, born 1881 and John William, born 1884, the latter two siblings were both born in Oakham, Annie Sabina, born 1890, Maud Evelyn, born 1892, Cecil Frederick, born 1897 and Maggie Lilian, born 1900, the latter four siblings were all born in Ashwell, in March 1901 the family home was at The Rectory, Ashwell. In April 1911 Charles was absent from the family home at Ashwell, residing there was his father, a domestic gardener, his mother and siblings George Alfred, a farm labourer, born 1886 in Oakham, Annie a domestic cook, Cecil, a domestic pantry boy and Maggie, a schoolgirl, Charles was employed as a domestic pantry boy and was residing as a servant at The Rise, Ashwell.
Charles attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 19th September 1914 in Oakham. He gave his place of birth as Ashwell, near Oakham, Rutland his age as 19 years and 153 days and his trade or calling as gardener. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father John Beaver, his mother Ellen Beaver, his brother Cecil Beaver and sister Margaret Beaver, all of Ashwell, Oakham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighed 132 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 36 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15343 on the 20/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 28/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Killed in action, at a place not stated on the 14/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 19/9/14 – 28/7/15, 313 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 14/7/16, 352 days. Total service, 1 year 300 days. Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. Charles’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
Charles was a gardener before the war, embarking for France on the 29th July 1915 and was at the Battle of the Somme, where he was killed by a shell on the 14th July 1916 when the 9th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment made such a splendid attack on Mametz Wood, capturing some 500 prisoners. Charles was the only soldier servant taken up into the fight and keenly appreciated the honour of being chosen to accompany his Captain. His Commanding Officer writes:- “His unrivalled popularity, great keenness, and quiet capability made him a great asset to us all.”
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade HQ for carrying. At 8.15am Lt. Col. HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lt. Col. HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lt. NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion HQ. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lt. NOLAN was killed. Lt. de LISLE and Lt. SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion HQ and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 12.00 noon Col. KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lt. Col. HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lt. STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lt. Col. HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade machine gun fire (Lt. STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETTS party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lt. HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm. All posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.
On Friday August 25th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – ASHWELL SOLDIER KILLED. Mr. J. Beaver, of Ashwell, has been informed that his third son, Pte. C. E. Beaver, of the Leicesters, was killed on July 14th, in action in France. He was one of the first who volunteered from the village, and was 21 years of age last April, spending his birthday in the trenches. He joined the army on September 17th, 1914, and went out to France on July 29th, 1915. Before enlisting Pte. Beaver was second gardener to Capt. Whalley. A brother is serving in the Leicesters in France, and a brother-in-law is at present in England, having been twice wounded. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family.