Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Finney, a publican and professional cricketer, born 1866 in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales and his wife Catherine Finney (nee Weatherstone, married in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1871 in Barleythorpe, Rutland. Charles Geoffrey was born in the 1st quarter of 1898 in South Luffenham, Rutland, his siblings were, Dorothy Kate, born 1894 in Skeffington, Leicestershire and William Henry, born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in Knossington, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at The Durham Ox Inn, South Luffenham. In March 1911 Charles was a schoolboy and was residing at The Greyhound, Knossington, together with his sister Dorothy, this being the family home of his maternal Aunt’s Susan Weatherstone, an assistant County Council teacher, born 1863 in Chelsea, Middlesex and Charlotte Weatherstone, the village inn landlady, born 1873 in Barleythorpe. Other sources show his place of residence as Groby. Charles first entered the theatre of war on the 11th December 1915 in France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. Charles’s older brother William also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 31 Mar-16 GUOY-EN-TERNOIS. Casualties, Two other ranks killed in action, one other rank wounded.
On Friday April 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – KNOSSINGTON SOLDIER KILLED. The parents of Pte. Charles Finney, of Knossington, have been notified that he has been killed in action. Deceased who was only 18 years of age, enlisted in the Leicesters, and was much beloved by all who knew him. Mrs. Finney has received the following letter from his officer:- “Dear Mrs. Finney, I would thank you for your letter of some days ago, to which I thought then would arise -?- -?- to reply by letter, but our dear Lord Jesus Christ has willed it to be otherwise. He in His mercy and goodness, has seen fit to take into His blessed Home your dear son Charlie. Today to my most bitter sorrow, your dear boy, while doing his work, fell to a German rifle shot, and the only relief to my feelings of sorrow on account of his death, was that he was unconscious to all pain, and passed away in my arms peacefully. Dear mother of this brave and good boy, may God help you bear with your great loss with the same fortitude with which Charlie fought and died for you, his King and country, and on the side of justice and right. His death was glorious. Every inch a soldier, he gained a soldier’s glorious end. If God should in His mercy and love allow me to return to England, I shall make a point of visiting you, for I greatly desire to know the mother of my soldier, servant and friend. Yours very sincerely. Commanding Officer -----, Leicestershire Regiment, B.E.F., France.”