Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Sarson, a farm wagoner, born 1st July 1869 in Syston, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Sarson (nee Merriman, married on the 4th July 1887 in the Parish Church, Sileby, Leicestershire), born 1869 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Charles William was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Sileby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Sarah Ann, born 1888, Gertrude, born 1890, John Lewin, born 1st January 1897 and Bertie, born 3rd July 1899, all his siblings were born in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at King Street, Sileby. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at 14, Newdigate Street, Ilkeston, Nottinghamshire together with his father, an iron blast furnace man, his mother and siblings, John, an iron blast furnace man, Bertie, a schoolboy, Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1903 and Randal, born 25th April 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Sileby. In the 2nd quarter of 1915 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, Charles married May Foster. May was born in 1895 in Sileby. Charles’s mother died in June 1937, aged 68, in 1939 his widowed father, a retired bricklayer’s labourer was residing in the family home at 129, Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, he died in June 1947, aged 77.
NOTE: 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: 30-11-17. MOEUVRE SECTOR – RIGHT SUPPORT OF LEFT BRIGADE. At 8.30am very heavy hostile barrage on BOURLON – MOEUVRES – INCHY front. Gas shell fell in Battalion area. Battalion warned to be in readiness to support 99th Brigade on right, and route to 99th Brigade Headquarters reconnoitred. On the left Brigade, right Battalion front, the enemy captured LOCK 5 (E.21.a.1.2) from the Eastern side, and debouched from MOEUVRES on the SUNKEN ROAD in E.20.d West of the CANAL. The enemy drove a wedge to E.26.b.4.7. At 10.45am Battalion moved up into close support, South of CAMBRAI ROAD and West of CANAL. Battalion took up following positions. “C” Company E.26.d.15.75 to E.26.d.65.55, “A” Company E.26.d.05.55 to CANAL, “B” Company CANAL to E.27.b.0.2, “D” Company in reserve at E.26.d.75.25. At 11.30am Battalion disposed as follows:- “B” Company North end of CANAL TRENCH having driven enemy out of North position into E.20. c and d. “D” Company in reserve as before. Throughout the remainder of the day, bombing continued and continual touch was maintained with the enemy. Bombing blocks established where further progress could not be made. At 7.00pm “D” Company after carrying bombs and small arms ammunition to the 1st KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT Headquarters moved into trench at E.26.d.5.5 to E.26.d.85.65 to reinforce 13th ESSEX REGIMENT. Bombing behind trench block continued all night and at 6.00am 1st December 1917 the line held by 6th Brigade was E.27.b.45.35 - E.27.c.3.9 - CANAL TRENCH to E.21.c.1.5 – E.27.c.35.90 to E.26.d.9.8 – CANAL at E.20.d.7.4 – E.20.d.5.5 – E.20.d.1.3 – E.20.c.6.2 – E.19.d.9.6. Fighting continued until afternoon of 1st December 1917. Total casualties for both days fighting. Officers, 1 killed, 2nd Lieutenant J. A. McKEE, 4 wounded, Captain R. H. ATKINSON, Lieutenant EASTAUGH, Lieutenant GILCHRIST F.C.F., and 2nd Lieutenant PORTMAN. Other Ranks, killed 18, wounded 75, missing 2. “A” and “C” Companies suffered most.
ADDENDA: Weather mild until the 25th with moderate rainfall. Since the 25th frosty and dry. Maximum trench strength 34 Officers. 696 Other Ranks, minimum trench strength 23 Officers, 513 Other Ranks, maximum and minimum rations. Evacuated sick to hospital 25 Other Ranks. Reinforced from hospital 8 Other Ranks. Officers admitted to hospital 3.
On Friday February 1st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SYSTON. – LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED.- Pte. C. W. Sarson, reported killed in action, was a native of Syston, where his widow resides in St. Peter’s Road.