Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles George Rackham was born October 28th 1887 in Aylsham Norfolk, one of 8 children, 3 boys, 3 girls and 2 deceased (gender unknown), born to John Rackham 1858 of Aylsham and Maria Willimot 1853 a native of Marsham in Norfolk. His parents married February 12th 1882, John Rackham worked as an agricultural labourer, Charles also at the age of 13 years. His family remained in Norfolk whilst Charles migrated to the north east where he met and married Annie Appleby, December 1911, settling in South Moor, Stanley, County Durham.
Charles enlisted and was assigned as Able Seaman Z/3816 6th “Howe” Battalion, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 63rd Division. After lengthy training he was sent with the Division to Egypt in preparation for its part in the Gallipoli Campaign, April 25th 1915 - January 9th 1916. Whilst in Gallipoli Charles fell ill and was taken to the island of Lemnos (Limnos) territory of Greece in the northern Aegean Sea where the 3rd Australian Hospital and 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital were based west of Mundros alongside Canadian and British units. This hospital centre was intended only to deal with light cases but as the campaign deteriorated was overcome by the rush of wounded and sick.
Able Seaman Z/3816 Charles George Rackham Howe Battalion R.N.V.R died from disease December 16th 1915, aged 28 years and is interred in Portianos Military Cemetery, West Mundros, Lemnos, Aegean Sea, (Greece), grave III. A. 275.
His widow Annie living at 29 Mitchell Street, South Moor, Stanley received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. She paid for an addition inscription to be added to his headstone which reads, “Loved In Life Remembered In Death”.
His mother Maria Rackham nee Willimot died 1920, his father John in 1939 in Norfolk.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Charles George Rackham is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at South Moor on S129.02
