Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Hill, an iron foundry labourer, born 1855 in Scalford, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Ann Hill (nee Goodband, married in the 2nd quarter of 1879 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district), born 1854 in Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, Lincolnshire. Charles was born in the 4th quarter of 1886 in Grantham, Lincolnshire and was baptised on the 24th September 1886 at St. John’s Church, Spittlegate, Grantham, his siblings were, Harriet Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Minnie, a schoolgirl, born 1882, Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and John, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Grantham, in April 1891 the family home was at Spring Gardens, Spittlegate, Grantham. In March 1901 Charles was residing in the family home at Church Street, Scalford, Leicestershire, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Florence, John, William, born 1894 and Herbert, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Grantham. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a labourer, and was residing in the family home at Scalford, together with his father, a labourer, his mother and siblings, John, a quarry worker and Herbert.
Charles attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) and with the Reserve on the 8th September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Grantham, Lincolnshire, his age as 25 years and 77 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Charles Hill and mother Elizabeth Hill of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, he had brown hair and brown eyes. It was noted that he had a wart on the left side of his neck. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 8th September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9/14626 on the 8/9/14. Transferred to -?- on the -?-. Rejoined from -?- on the 14/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14.Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Attached to the 277th Railway Company Royal Engineers for duty, in the field on the 12/3/16. Transferred as Sapper Platelayer Superior to the 277th Railway Company, Royal Engineers and allotted the service number 153279 on the 12/3/16. Posted on the 13/3/16. Transferred for benefit of service to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and retains Royal Engineers rates of pay on the 11/9/17. Joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 14/9/17. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 23/2/18. Joined the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 5/3/18. Reported missing in action on the 27/5/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 8/9/14 – 28/7/15, 324 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 7/5/18, 2 years 303 days. Total service 3 years 262 days. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Charles’s mother Elizabeth on the 8th December 1919, and was witnessed and signed by H. -?- Mogridge, Clerk in Holy Orders, Sandown, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Charles Hill of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Hill of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Hill, age 28 of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray. William Hill, age 25 of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray. Herbert Hill, age 22 of 42, Egerton Road, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Minnie Hill, age 34 of East Leake, Loughborough. Harriet Freeman, age 37 of ?, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray. 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.
The War Diary records: 27 May-18 12.30 am. Brigade Headquarters moved to Battalion Headquarters TENAILLE DE GUISE. 1.00 am. Hostile bombardment began, trench mortars and field guns East of canal, 10.5 and 15cm on main resistance line West of canal and on CORMICY – CAUROY ROAD. -?- gas and then about 50% phosgene shells were used West of canal. Smoke was greatly used East of canal. 3.15 am. The enemy attacked our front system, the pressure being chiefly from the North, old communication trenches were greatly used by the enemy. The two front Companies filled in their post blocks and fought their positions to the end. 6.15 am. Enemy penetrated into LA NEUVILLE. Shelling an area West of canal increased, gas shelling having then ceased. 7.20 am. Enemy crossed canal and pushed forward in long grass towards main resistance line. 8.40 am. Enemy captured P.C. ROUMANIE and then continued bombing down to BOZAN D’ECLUSE SUD until he reached TOURNAI TRENCH. RIGA post was still holding out and heavy bombing was going on in the vicinity of it. The enemy twice attempted to attack the main resistance line from the front with lines of waves but these were defended with rifle and light gun fire, MARCEAU and HOCHE posts inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy during these attacks. He then started long bombing attacks assisted by light trench mortars on the posts along the communication trenches. 6.15 am. HOCHE was captured and the line to the North West had fallen to within 200 yards of CORMICY. A defensive flank was formed between CORMICY and MARCEAU facing North West. 12.30 pm. The Garrison at MARCEAU held off all frontal and bombing attacks by enemy until 12.30 pm when the post was captured by great superiority of numbers. Heavy concentration of artillery on TENAILLE DE GUISE. 2.45 pm. Many efforts by the enemy to take TENAILLE DE GUISE from the front were repulsed and he again developed heavy bombing attacks on the post. Heavy casualties were inflicted on their bombing parties. 3.00 pm. The small Garrison that remained at the post was driven in and withdrew to the sunken road junction South East of CORMICY. 4.00 pm. The enemy occupied the BOUFFIGNEREUX ROAD North West of CORMICY and his patrols had reached the CAUROY ROAD to the South East. A frontage of about 700 yards was taken up on the high ground 300 yards South West of CORMICY and the details that remained organised into five small posts. The left was in touch with the 62nd Brigade but on the right there was a big gap watched only by an Officer’s patrol. The high ground was heavily shelled until about 7.00 pm. 6.30 pm. The enemy continued his attack from the South East in the open. Making excellent targets for light guns. 7.45 pm. The enemy penetrated our line on the left and worked round behind the small posts held by the Battalion. 8.00 pm. Report received from Officer Commanding 2nd LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT that the enemy were in the CHALONS DE VERGEUR valley. The few Headquarters details still remaining then withdrew with the 2nd LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. 11.00 pm. 40 stragglers arrived at VAUX VARENNES and these with 10 men of Battalion Headquarters were handed over to form a Composite Battalion from the Brigade under command of the Officer Commanding 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
On Friday July 5th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTONIAN’S MISSING. Mrs. C. Hill, of 42, Egerton-road, Melton Mowbray has received official news that her son, Pte. Charles Hill, of the Leicester’s has been missing since May 27th, and from a letter from his Captain she learns that he was missed after the big fight near Rheims on the date named and as there were so few survivors no information of him is available though the officer has every reason to believe that he is a prisoner of war. Pte. Hill was formerly employed on the Midland Railway. He has a brother now invalided out of the army, having received serious wounds, and another in France.
On Friday July 19th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. The following local names have appeared in the official casualty lists published during the past week: - From Wednesday’s list: - Missing. - Leicestershire Regt. – Hill, 14626 C. (Melton Mowbray).
On Friday October 18th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – INFORMATION WANTED. Information is desired of Private Charles Hill, No. 14626, A Company, Leicestershire Regiment, who has been missing since May 27th. Any news that can be given of him to Mrs. Hill, 42, Egerton-road, Melton Mowbray will be gratefully received.