Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Jewsbury, a railway engine driver, born 1856 in Measham, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Jewsbury (nee Read, married in the 4th quarter of 1881 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1859 in Measham. Charles William was born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Coalville, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Thomas, an engine cleaner, born 1883 and Elizabeth, a domestic servant, born 1884, the latter two siblings were both born in Measham, Edward, a frame fitter’s driller, born 1886, Philip, a frame fitter’s driller, born 1888, Walter, born 1890 and Alfred, born 1893, the latter four siblings were all born in Coalville, in March 1901 the family home was at Charnwood Street, Coalville. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a driller, and was residing in the family home at 3, Charnwood Street, Coalville, together with his father, a railway engine driver, his mother and sibling, Alfred, a boot repairer, also residing with the family was his sister in law, Florence Jewsbury, born 1883 in Nottingham and her children, Leonard, born 1907 and Edward, born 1910, both children were born in Bardon Hill, Leicestershire.
Charles enlisted into the Territorial Force on the 15th May 1914 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire and was allotted the service number 1897. He gave his place of birth as Coalville, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 5 months, his trade or calling as driller, and he stated that he was in the employ of Stableford & Company. He gave his present home address as 26, Bakewell Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9½ inches in height, and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches, his vision was good and his physical development was good, he was declared fit for service with the 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on the 15th May 1914. The following information was provided on the 12th May 1919 by Charles’s father, Thomas Jewsbury on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). It was witnessed by F. V. Webber, a School Master of Christ Church School, Coalville, Leics. Father of soldier, Thomas Jewsbury, mother of soldier, Annie Jewsbury, both of 26, Bakewell Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, Thomas Jewsbury, age 36, of Rochester, New York, USA. Philip Jewsbury, age 31, of 26, Bakewell Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. Edward Jewsbury, age 33, of 5-6 Union Street, Rochester, New York, USA. Walter Jewsbury, age 29, of 34, Caroline Street, Rochester, New York, USA. Alfred Jewsbury, age 26, of Theodore Road, Whitton, Middlesex. Full blood sister of soldier, Jane E. Grudgings, age 34, of 3, Charnwood Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. A short letter dated the 18th November 1915, and addressed to the Officer in charge, Territorial Force Records, Lichfield, that is enclosed inside Charles service record and written by his father reads:- Sir I have this day received the reg name badge of my son C. W. Jewsbury, late No. 1897, thanking you for same. I remain Yours Truly, Thomas Jewsbury.
Charles’s service record gives little or no information relating to his military movements, save for one entry that states that he became ineffective when he was killed in action on the 6th June 1915. The family worshipped at London Road Baptist Chapel, Thomas being employed as an engine driver with the London and North Western Railway Company. When Charles left school he took up employment as a telegraph messenger at the Coalville Post Office, he later moved to Stablefords Wagon Works where he was employed as a fitter. In February 1913, at eighteen years of age Charles enlisted into the 5th Leicestershire Territorial Battalion, following his basic training he was selected to train as a machine gunner, proving to be more than competent with his weapon he was assigned to the machine gun section of “A” Company under the command of Lieutenant A. T. Sharpe, the famed Leicestershire County Cricketer from Whitwick. During August 1914 Charles, always known as Charlie was at the annual training camp at Bridlington on the North Yorkshire Coast when war was declared, he embarked with his Battalion on the 26th February 1915, sadly he was killed in action on the slopes of Spanbroekmolen (Hill 76) on the Messines Ridge, Belgium. Lieutenant A. T. Sharpe wrote to Charlie’s father Thomas, “It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son. He was killed on the 6th June 1915 by a large shell, and suffered no pain, dying almost at once. I feel his loss very much, firstly because he was a very efficient machine gunner and secondly because he was conscientious and thoroughly trustworthy. He was in charge of one of the guns, and I always found him brave and fearless. He was a great favourite with the men and knowing that he died like a soldier may lessen some of the grief that you feel.”
The War Diary records: 6 Jun-15 - KEMMEL. At 9.30pm 1 Coy of the 7th Battalion OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHRE LIGHT INFANTRY entered trenches for platoon training. Distribution as for 7th Battalion THE RIFLE BRIGADE.
On Monday June 14th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Mr. Dewsbury, an engine driver of the London and North Western Railway Station, Bakewell Street, Coalville East, has received information that his son, Pte. Charles Dewsbury, of the 5th Leicestershire Battalion of Territorial’s, has been killed. Pte. Dewsbury, aged about 20 years, was one of a draft of 50 sent to the 5th Battalion from the first Coalville Company of Territorial’s formed in Coalville. He was a side drummer in the Coalville Troop of Boy Scouts, of which he was an enthusiastic member and popular with his comrades.
On Friday July 16th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” – CASUALTIES AMONG THE “TIGERS.” The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 27th June:- KILLED. 1st Battalion. Moore, 12209, Private A. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Jewsbury, 1897, Private C. W. WOUNDED. 1st Battalion. Birtles, 8471, Private H. Davey, 9202, Private J. Page, 9739, Drummer W. W. A. Smith, 7621, Private B. Vaughan, 16687, Private C. J. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Brown, 2271, Private W.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 18th, 1915

BURSTING SHELL

KILLS COALVILLE GUNNER

OFFICER’S TRIBUTE

Mr. Thos. Jewsbury, a L and N. W. railway engine driver, of Bakewell Street, Coalville, on Saturday received information that his son, Gunner Charles Wm. Jewsbury, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorial regiment, had been killed in action. The sad news was conveyed in a letter written by Lieut. A. T. Sharp, to whose section Jewsbury was attached. The officer wrote: “It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son who was killed in action on the 6th inst., by a large shell. He suffered no pain and died almost at once. I feel his loss very much in the first place because he was a very efficient machine gunner, and in the second place because I looked upon him as a conscientious and thoroughly trustworthy man, and at the time of his death I had put him in charge of one of the guns…… I always found him brave and fearless. He was a great favourite with the men. I can only tender my deepest sympathy and hope that the fact that he died a soldier’s death may lighten your heavy burden of grief.”

Another letter received on Sunday by Mr and Mrs Jewsbury was from Allan Evans, an Ashby man, of the same section, who wrote: “As Charles’ friend I must write for the section expressing our deepest sympathy. By his straightforwardness he gained respect among us. We miss his cheerful presence so much that our misfortune has thrown a gloomy shadow over us. He was washing him at the time in a shell hole with two more men of the section. All three attempted to dodge out the way, but Charles was unsuccessful. Death was instantaneous so he was spared any pain. Both the other fellows are suffering slightly from shock …… Charles and I agreed that if anything happened to one of us the other would come and see his parents on returning to England, so I will come at my earliest convenience. He was properly buried the same night and we shall attend to his grave while we are here. I opened the parcel and divided it among them. I thought you would wish to me to. Any letters I will return and his belongings you will receive in due time. Hope his brother Alf will have better luck.”

The letter also bears the following signatures: Sergt. G. H. Broadhurst, Corpl. G. Hutchinson, Corpl. R. F. Astle, Lance-Corpl. Hutchinson, A. Green, G. Beale, T. Dennis, E. H. Buswell, H. Smith, L. H. Burditt, E. W. Hyde, R. Harvey, O. Ward, G. Johnstone, E. Wilson, F. Tupp, A. C. Siddons, A. Young, E. Widdowson, J. W. Lowe, C. Buswell, J. H. Fuller, John Hill, W. S. Bagshaw, James Ottey, E. Carter, J. P. W. Adams, A. Allen and G. Benskin. These are men of the section who expressed sympathy with the parents.

On Monday, a few personal effects of the deceased were received accompanied by a letter of sympathy, dated June 10th, from Albert W. Hanson. On the day that Jewsbury was killed he had started to write a letter home and this unfinished epistle was received with his personal effects. It was a most cheery letter in which Jewsbury said that day (Sunday June 6th) was their fifth day in the trenches and they were expecting to go out for four or five days’ rest. “It is simply a glorious day,” the letter continues, “and it seems hardly possible to imagine there is a war when it is like this, only some restless beggar of theirs keeps whizzing one or two over. It is nearly always quiet in the day time but we get more fun at night for nothing than you pay a tanner for at the Rink …… I should like to go to the old chapel (London Road Baptist) tonight, just for old times’ sake. I am sending you one or two German and French bullets. I got hold of a German bayonet and then lost the thing. Two would look alright crossed over the mantelpiece. I am going to have a swill now in the shell hole. Will finish this tomorrow.”

It was while Jewsbury was washing that the fatal shell came. The deceased soldier before the war, worked at Messrs. Stableford’s, and was formerly a telegraph messenger at Coalville Post Office. He was 20 years of age and joined the Territorials 12 months last February, being amongst the first batch that went out. He was formerly a bugler in the boy scouts, joining when the Coalville troop was first formed. His brother Alfred, who used to work in the boot repairing department at the Coalville Co-Operative Stores is now serving in the Coldstream Guards.

Mr Jewsbury, sen., is a valued member and officer of the Coalville Men’s Adult School and at the School on Sunday morning, Mr B. B. Drewett (president) made suitable reference to the sad event and a vote of sympathy was passed by the members rising from their seats. The deceased’s parents have also received calls by the vicar of Coalville, Mrs B. G. Hale, Mrs J. J. Sharp and others, with many expressions of sympathy.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 10th, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening an impressive service was held in the Coalville London Road Baptist Church in memory of thirteen former scholars of the Sunday School who have fallen in action. Their names are, Lieut. Ford, Lieut. T. Dooley, D.C.M., Sergeant Alfred Wesson, Sergeant G. H. Wesson, Privates C. W. Jewsbury, H. G. Wharmby, Clifford Scott, T. Black, E. S. Boot, F. Martin, Jos. Wardle, James Wardle and J. Martin.

There was a large congregation which included the members of the Coalville Volunteer Training Corps, under the command of Commandant J. S. Turner. The pastor, the Rev. F. Pickbourne, conducted the service and gave an appropriate address. The choir rendered Sullivan’s “Homeland” and Mr J. H. Starkey (organist) played a funeral march by Beethoven. Suitable hymns were also sung by the congregation.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 7/10/2017