Chester-le-Street Chronicle
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Edward Dazley was born 1883 in Edmondsley, County Durham, one of 9 known children, 6 boys and 3 girls, born to George Dazley 1849 Potten, Bedfordshire and Isabella Cole 1855, native of Edmondsley. His father was living in Bedfordshire at the age of 13 but migrated north, he married Isabella April 29th 1876 in the district of Sunderland. In 1881 they were living in Witton Gilbert at 32 Red Rows, George was employed as a coal miner - hewer. They moved to John Street in Kimblesworth and on to Brandon where they could be found living in 1901. At the age of 17 Charles Edward was working below ground employed to drive the horses that drew the sledges, rollies and wagons. He left home and can be found in 1911 at the age of 28 living with the family of Richard Reed at 30 Spen Street, Stanley now a stone man, at the colliery, sorting the stones and brasses from the coals.
Charles Edward’s full military record no longer exists, one of many destroyed during the blitz of WW2. He enlisted at the outbreak of war in Newcastle and was first assigned as Private 3848 to the 1/5th Battalion (Territorial) Northumberland Fusiliers and then to the 1/6th Battalion as Private 8041. They were mobilised in June 1915 and assigned to the Tyne Defences. His service number was changed yet again when he was posted to France as Private 267484 still attached to the 6th Battalion, 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. The Battalion were engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres, First Battle of the Somme 1918 and the Battle of Lys. The German attack began April 9th 1918, the Durham Light Infantry were reduced to 4 officers and 60 men after a German attack but the 149th Brigade N. F. prevented the Germans from crossing the Lys holding the bridges and eventually blowing them up. April 23rd the Division received orders to move to the Aisne Area, considered a quite part of the line, to replace the French Divisions around Amiens. They went up to the front line May 5th 1918 and took advantage of this quite time to train the new recruits that filled the ranks. Patrolling was carried out into no man’s land and a trench raid was carried out on May 25th that captured a prisoner. The more experienced troops had noticed signs of an impending attack which was confirmed May 26th. The attack came at 1 a.m. on May 27th by 28 divisions of the German infantry which overwhelmed the front line and the trenches using gas and high explosives. By the evening the 50th Division had lost 5,106 officers and men, killed wounded or missing. Amongst the missing, presumed dead, was Private 267484 Charles Edward Dazley Northumberland Fusiliers, he was later declared to have died May 27th 1918. He was 35 years old and single.
Charles Edward has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France. His father, living at Aged Miner’s Homes, Craghead, received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Private Dazley was also awarded the Military Medal a decoration for distinguished active service on land on the 25th August 1918.
Charles Edward’s mother, Isabella, died the following year 1919, his father George Dazley in 1930, both in the district of Lanchester.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Charles Edward Dazley is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04
