Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Garder, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1855 in Kent and his wife Jane Garder (nee Couchman/Elliott), born 1858 in Kent. Charles Thomas was born in the January quarter of 1880 in Plumstead, Kent, he had one sibling, a sister Sarah, born in the April quarter of 1877 in Plumstead, in April 1881 he was residing at 30, Francis Street, Plumstead, Woolwich, Kent, this being the family home of his maternal grandfather Charles James Elliott, a Royal Arsenal labourer, born 1834 in Chiswick, Middlesex and his wife Sarah Ann Elliott (nee Hersey), born 1833 in Acton, Middlesex and their children, John, born 1865, Walter, born 1867 and Sarah, born 1875, the latter three children were all born in Plumstead.
In April 1891 Charles was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Cobbold Road, Hammersmith, Middlesex, together with his step father, David Kitchen, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1856 in King’s Cross, Middlesex, his mother, a laundress and sister, Sarah Jane Gardner and his half-blood siblings, Elizabeth J., a schoolgirl, born 23rd November 1885 in Bromley, Kent, Annie Alice, a schoolgirl, born 18th December 1887 in Poplar, Middlesex and Lily, born 1892 in Starch Green, Middlesex.
In March 1901 Charles was serving as a Corporal with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, stationed in Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover, Kent, the spelling of his surname was shown as Gardener.
In April 1911 Charles was serving as a Sergeant, Gymnastics Instructor with the Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at The Barracks, Saffron Lane, Glen Parva, Leicestershire, together with his wife Agnes Mary Gardner (nee Leitch, married on the 6th February 1904 in St. Mary’s Church, Acton, Middlesex) born on the 11th October 1883 in Dover, Kent and baptised on the 7th November 1883 in the Church of St. John the Mariner, Dover (daughter of Peter Leitch, 1858-1890 and Charlotte Marsh/Gatehouse, 1862) and their two children, Eileen Agnes, born on the 22nd February 1906 in Dublin, Ireland and Gladys Mabel, born on the 5th July 1910 in Glen Parva and baptised on the 31st July 1910 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston.
In April 1921 Charles’s widow was residing in Park Road, Blaby, together with her children, Eileen, a schoolgirl, Gladys, a schoolgirl and Reginald Charles, a schoolboy, born on the 16th September 1912 in Glen Parva and baptised on the 27th October 1912 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston.
Charles first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd May 1915, he was awarded the 1915 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
NOTES: Charles’ place of birth as also been recorded as Sevenoaks, Kent. The family surname has variously been recorded as Garder, Gardner and Gardiner, Charles was officially recorded at birth as Gardner.
The family information collated from census returns, birth, marriage and death records, although appearing to relate to this casualty, cannot be fully and conclusively corroborated with presently available information, and therefore may not relate to this casualty and/or his family.
The War Diary records: 24 May-15 – 2.30am. Gassing started by Germans. Trenches on our left vacated by 8th MIDDLESEX REGIMENT and later on in the morning a Company of EAST SURREY REGIMENT retired. ½ Company under Lieutenants SEALY and STOLLERY occupied vacated trenches – several casualties and both officers killed.
The gas used on this occasion was particularly thick and strong and immediately after the gas was emitted – heavy and continuous rifle and Machine Gun fire was opened by the Germans.
By 8.00am our fire trenches were occupied by the Germans – all the officers being wounded and the majority of the men gassed or wounded – (a large number of men had only the small old-fashioned respirator, which proved of little use.)
The Commanding Officer (Major Johnson) was hit and finally with 150 men left out of 880 and with the assistance of 200 BUFFS who were ordered up in support his third line of trenches some 600 yards in rear of his original fire trench was held until the end of the day under continual shell fire – During the afternoon the 84th Brigade arrived at MENIN cross roads (railway crossing) and deploying for attack, were shelled and lost heavily. Our total casualties for this day were
4 officers killed.
3 officers wounded and missing.
1 officer missing.
8 officers wounded.
536 Rank and file killed, wounded and missing.
2 officers joined us in the evening.
The following officers only were left to do duty.
Major BAKER. Lieutenant GOSTLING. Lieutenant x 2.M. CLARKE.
APPENDIX:
Reference Map Belgium (“B” Series) Sheet 28.N.W.
Statement of Operation in 1.11.12. during 24th May.
At 2.30am I was sitting in a dugout with the Commanding Officer (Major JOHNSON) near the Level Crossing, 1.11.b.
A German Maxim commenced firing followed by the sound of rifle fire. Major JOHNSON and myself went out and observed a thick mist rising in front of the German lines, West of road. 1.6.c. Immediately afterwards we felt the effects of gas and at once put on our respirators. I was ordered to see that the Company, No.2 in the dugouts on road South of Level Crossing were standing by.
3.00am. Noticing that the trenches on the North of railway appeared to be vacated by the unit holding them, I ordered with the Commanding Officer’s consent ½ Company of No.2 into the trenches immediately East of road and North of railway line 1.11.b.
3.30am. A message was received from No.1 whose whole position extended from BELLEWAARDE LAKE North West towards railway for about 300 yards. The Commanding Officer directed No.3 Company to reinforce. I issued necessary instructions to Captain FORSTER, Officer Commanding No.3 Company.
4.00am. Reports continued to arrive from IV and 1 Companies that they required reinforcements. They were told to hold on.
5.00am. Telephone communication with Brigade Headquarters was severed after 5.00am, and although repaired was constantly broken by shell fire, subsequently communication with No. IV and 1 Companies ceased.
6.00am. The telephone operator of No. IV arrived at Brigade Headquarters and reported that No. IV was retiring on their support trench.
7.00am. A message was received by hand from Brigade Headquarters ordering Major JOHNSON to counter attack and stating that 2 Companies of BUFFS would support, and EAST SURREYS co-operate on North of railway.
Until that hour remaining ½ Company of No. 2 had been retained at dugouts as a final reserve. At the same time ½ a Company No. IV was observed retiring from support trench East of wood 1.11.b.
The 2nd Lieutenant in charge stated that he had received orders to retire. He was at once ordered to return and re-occupy his support trench. He did so. He was subsequently wounded.
7.30am. The remainder of No. 2 Company and certain stragglers prepared under Major A. V. JOHNSON to advance from road 200 yards South of Railway Crossing against ridge 44 1.12.c and at the same time ½ a Company of the BUFFS advanced up the sunk road South of wood 1.11.b.
I went to a trench East of road and North of railway and sent forward the ½ Company therein under Lieutenant SEALY to reoccupy trench line 350 yards in front, East of railway.
This was done under rifle fire. Several casualties.
7.45am. On returning to wood South of Railway I met Major JOHNSON who informed me that his attack had failed, and that he was now taking a path through the wood. He ordered me to support his advance North of wood, i.e., on top of railway cutting, I did so and then tried to get the men to a trench some 200 yards in front. They were unable to get there, and on retiring to Railway Crossing I was told that Major JOHNSON was hit and proceeding to dressing station. I collected the party in the wood and placed them in the trench on top of dugouts West of road
8.15am. The Germans had meanwhile worked round to the South of ridge 44, and were enfilading the road South of the Railway. I collected men and placed them in the ditch of road 200 yards South of Railway from where we could fire on the enemy on ridge 44.
8.30am. Meanwhile Captain WORTHINGTON and Captain JACKSON of the BUFFS arrived and informed me that the remainder of their two Companies and a third Company were on their way to reinforce.
Their troops, however, suffered so heavily from shell fire, that the total reinforcements only realised 200 men and arrived in small parties. They were used to extend my lines South of road to prevent the German turning movement which continued on my right flank.
At this time, it was evident that No. IV and 1 Companies had been driven in and that probably North and South edge of BELLEWAARDE LAKE was in possession of the enemy.
I continued the entrenchment of the dugout trench and the ditch on the road with the assistance of Captain WORTHINGTON and the BUFFS. Later in the day a detachment of 100 DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY Territorial’s, arrived and reinforced one trench 250 yards East of road North of Level Crossing 1.11.b. This enabled me to obtain touch with the EAST SURREYS from whom previously we had been separated by an interval of over 300 yards. The position remained intact until the evening. Many men passed back to the dressing station in an incapable condition from the effect of the gas, which appeared on this occasion to be very strong, but fortunately the breeze from North East stiffened sufficiently to blow it away in a couple of hours, but its strong affects appeared to make the men subjected to it, singularly inert.
It was with considerable difficulty that one could retain the men in the line of the dugouts and road, as they were subjected to shell fire in addition to enfilade and frontal rifle fire.
At midnight and early morning of the 25th an attack was made through the wood and South of sunken road 1.11.b by WELCH REGIMENT, 1 Company CHESHIRE REGIMENT and I believe, by KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY. They were driven back by Machine Gun fire, and at 3.00am were retiring across my right flank and through the men lining the road 200 yards South of railway 1.11.b.d and also attempted to retire down the road across the Level Crossing. With the help of my Regimental Sergeant Major and Captain WORTHINGTON and JACKSON we drove these men back and forced several of them to occupy part of our trenches and prevent further retirement through our lines. The remainder of the day was fairly quiet except that shelling took place various times. I should wish to add that out of a total of 17 officers, 16 were killed, wounded and missing.
From 8.00am onwards I was the only survivor. Out of a total of 880 rank and file some 70 men were collected in a gassed condition in rear of the lines and 150 men remained ultimately with me. The remainder were killed wounded or missing.
W. Baker. Major
In the Field.
30th May 1915. Commanding 3rd Bn. Royal Fusiliers.
On Saturday January 2nd 1915, The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “SERGEANT-MAJOR GARDINER’S PROMOTION.” – Company Sergeant-Major C. T. Gardiner, whose promotion to a second lieutenancy in the Royal Fusiliers has been announced, was whilst at Glen Parva Depot, as sergeant-instructor of gymnasium, very popular, and had been frequently praised for the efficiency of the recruits under his instruction. He also held the post of instructor of physical culture at Stoneygate College, and the Wigston and South Wigston Council Schools evening classes. On leaving Glen Parva he was appointed instructor at the Royal Military College, Camberley, Sandhurst, which he will soon be leaving to join his battalion.
On Tuesday June 8th 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “Death of Second Lieutenant Gardiner.” – Second-Lieutenant C. T. GARDINER died at Boulogne on June 1st from wounds and gas poisoning received on May 24th in Belgium. He joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1898, being promoted Sergeant four years later. In 1908 he was transferred to the Army Gymnastic Staff, and appointed to Leicester, where he remained until May 1913, when he was transferred to Sandhurst College. Whilst there in January last, he was given his commission, and joined the 5th Battalion R.F. (his old regiment) at Dover, subsequently being transferred to the 3rd Battalion and going to France at the end of April. During the time he was at Glen Parva over 2,000 recruits went under his instruction. He took an active part in the sports, boxing competitions etc., and in arranging the torchlight tattoo in 1912. During his period of service at the Depot he was gymnastic instructor at Stoneygate School and the Wigston Magna and South Wigston Council Schools. He leaves a widow and three children, who reside at Blaby.
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