Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/11/1916
Illustrated Chronicle
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Christopher Charlton was born 1890 at Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the 4th born son and one of 14 children of whom only 8 survived, 5 sons and 3 daughters. His parents Thomas Baron and Margaret Charlton born 1865 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and 1860 at Dunce Berwickshire Scotland respectively, in 1891 were living at Bach Harle Street, Westgate, Newcastle. his father employed as a ship yard labourer. They had moved to Byker by 1901 and remained there living at 84, Salisbury Street, his father still employed as a labourer, son George Stephenson Charlton (24) worked as a brass finisher at the brass works, Christopher (19) worked as a general labourer, his younger siblings were scholars.
Christopher enlisted on the outbreak of war at Newcastle-upon-Tyne assigned to the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers and sent to train at Hexham. He was married at Gateshead in April 1915, to Edith Edwards, just prior to the battalion’s departure April 19th as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France. They landed the following day and during May joined the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. As part of the 50th Division they participated during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium at Frezenberg Ridge and Bellewaarde. June 10th the 149th Brigade joined the 150th Brigade to hold the line north of Menin Road with the trenches at Hooge separated from those of the enemy by only 15 yards where they were trench mortared by the Germans. Between June 21st-25th the Division was transferred to the line around Messines and Wytschaele and after a month sent to the Armentieres sector arriving between July 17th-18th 1916 where they remained until September 1916 when they participated on the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, capturing Martinpuich.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal Christopher Charlton was killed in action on the first day of battle, September 15th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave.
His widow Edith received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal to her home at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. There was no child born from their union.
She remarried during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1919 at Gateshead, Joseph F. Templeton with whom she had 2 children, Thomas E Templeton born 1920 and Edith in 1922. Edith Templeton-Charlton nee Edwards’s date of demise, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/11/1916:
Lance-Corpl. Christopher Charlton, N.F., killed in action, Sept. 15th. Husband of Mrs. C. Charlton (nee Edith Edwards), of Felling.
Christopher Charlton has yet to be identified on a North East War Memorial
