Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Betts a framework knitter, born 1860 in Sileby, Leicestershire, and his wife Catherine Betts (nee Martin, married in the 4th quarter of 1878 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1858 in Sileby. Charles Edward was born in the 4th quarter of 1893 in Sileby, his siblings were, Mary, born 1880, Ernest, born 1882, Violetta, born 1885, Edith Eleanor, born 1889 and Rehena Dora, born 1896, all his siblings were born in Sileby, also residing in the family home was his widowed paternal grandfather Edward Betts, a lime works labourer, born 1827 in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Swan Street, Sileby. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a boot trade scourer and was residing in the, family home at Swan Street, Sileby, together with his father, a framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Edith, a Griswold knitter and Rehena, a leather trade worker, also residing with the family was his widowed paternal grandfather Edward Betts, an old age pensioner. Charles met his death at the Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
Charles attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years’ Service in the United Kingdom on the 14th November 1914 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. He gave his present home address as 66, Swan Street, Sileby and his age as 21 years and 1 month. He gave his father Edward Betts of 66, Swan Street, Sileby as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 11 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 35 inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 14th November 1914 in Mountsorrel. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 3295 on the 14/11/14. Embodied service commenced and posted to the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to undertake preliminary training on the 14/11/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 26/2/15. Disembarked in St. Nazaire on the 27/2/15. Admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance, sick on the 28/8/15. Discharged to duty on the 4/9/15. Killed in action in the field on the 13/10/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 14/11/14 – 27/2/15, 107 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 28/2/15 – 13/10/15, 228 days. Total service 335 days. Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The contents of a letter addressed to The Manager, Record Office, 4, London Wall Buildings and written by Charles’s brother-in-law on the 16th March 1916, and addressed as 92, Edinburgh Road, Walthamstow N.E. records: Dear Sir, can you please inform me if you have any effects belonging to my wife’s brother Pte. C. E. Betts, 3295, 6th Section, C Coy 5th Batt. Leicestershire Reg. Nth. Mid. Div. who was killed in action at Loos Oct. 13th 1915. Yours Truly J. S. Taylor. The following information was provided by Charles’s brother E. Betts on the 18th June 1919, and was - witnessed and signed by Walter -?-ley, Primitive Methodist Minister, The Manse, Sileby, Nr. Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Edward Betts of 66 Swan Street, Sileby. Mother of soldier, dead. Full blood brother of soldier, Ernest Betts, age 38 of 70, Swan Street, Sileby. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mary Taylor, age 40 of 92, Edinburgh Road, Walthamstow, Violetta Middleton, age 35 of Hall Croft, Shepshed, Edith Betts, age 30 of 66, Swan Street, Sileby and Rehena Betts, age 23 of 66, Swan Street, Sileby. 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 following is an account of the events of the 12th to the 16th October 1915. On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1st/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty-four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1st/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and thirty-two wounded and twenty-two gassed.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front-line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
On Tuesday, November 9th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN AND MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. C. E. BETTS, 5th Leicester’s, of Sileby, aged 21, killed after the charge of Oct. 13th, while carrying a wounded comrade to safety.
On Friday November 12th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SILEBY TERRITORIAL KILLED. Private Charles Edward Betts, of the 5th Leicester’s, son of Mr. E. Betts, Swan street, Sileby, was killed after the charge on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on October 13th. According to accounts that have reached home, Pte. Betts was shot in the head while carrying a wounded comrade to safety. He was 21 years of age.