Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
Robert James Charters was born in at Gateshead, County Durham. His parents were Robert Charters from Galashiels, Scotland and Janet (Jessie) Alexander Charters (nee Hinshelwood) from Jedburgh Scotland.
In 1901, when Robert was 6 years old, his family lived at 32, Frank Street, Benwell, Northumberland, where his father was a railway porter. Siblings in the house at this time include Peter Alexander 5 and Elizabeth aged 3.
The 1911 Census shows his parents had been married for 18 years and living at 13, Hewitt Street, Gateshead, County Durham, in three rooms where his father is employed as a railway porter. Robert at this time was 16 years old and working in the coal mines as a landing lad.
Military records confirm Robert was born at Gateshead, enlisted at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 12/11/1914 which was the same date as his brother Peter who died 01/07/1916. Robert was a Corporal in C Company and his brother Peter was a Lance Corporal in the same company.
His Pension Index Card records his mother Janet Alexander Charters and father Robert Charters. It’s not likely Robert was married. CWGC documents show Robert James Charters was the son of Robert and Jessie (Janet) Charters of 20, Gordon Street, Gateshead County Durham.
Information in the John Sheen book Tyneside Irish includes reference to 20, Gordon Street, Gateshead, for Robert and records that he was wounded in October 1916 and February 1917. Robert would have been transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers from the 24th Battalion. This book also records Roberts’s injuries as a gunshot wound to the chest and thigh and he had a hand amputated at 18 General Hospital on 13/02/1917.
Robert James Charters is remembered in Gateshead on G39.004 page 20 and in our list of Tyneside Irish
