Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Purvis Todd was the eldest of 6 siblings of whom only 5 survived, he also had 6 known half siblings. His father William Edmund Todd was born at Stockton, County Durham, February 10th 1873, where he was married in 1886 to local girl Emma Wood born August 2nd 1876. Charles was born soon after their marriage in 1896, their daughter Maria in 1898, William Edmund Jnr, July 4th 1900, baptised July 16th died within 3 months. In 1901 they were living at 19, Lucy Street, Stockton, William was employed as a boiler maker/plater, with them in the household was his mother Annie Elizabeth and step-father Matthew Curley working as a labourer at an engineering works also his brother Edward a shipyard labourer. Their two youngest children Elizabeth and John Albert were born November 14th 1903 and January 21st 1907 respectively. Emma Todd nee Wood died April 21st 1907, William re-married in 1909 to Matilda Wood with whom by 1911 he had had 3 children of whom only 2 had survived, Miriam born June 22nd 1908 and Robina Alice, February 8th 1909. In 1911 William, Matilda and their respective children were living in 5 rooms at 9, Mary Street, Stockton, with the exception of Charles who can be found in the home of his uncle Edward Todd at 4, Jane Street along with his grandmother and step-grandfather Annie Elizabeth and Matthew Curley. Matilda gave birth to a further 3 children, William 1912/1913, Sydney, March 7th 1919 and Rose in 1921.
Unfortunately, Charles’s military record has not been found, however it is highly probable that he was part of the Durham Light Infantry Special Reserve prior to the commencement of WW1 as he was enlisted at Stockton as Private 1966 and posted to the 1/5th Battalion D.L.I. of the Regular Army. The main body of men departed to the front April 17th 1915 landing at Boulogne, Private Todd joined them, June 27th 1915 and was transferred in the field to the 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, concentrated on the Ypres salient in Belgium, subjected to heavy shelling and gas attacks.
Private 1966 Charles Purvis Todd was killed in action July 27th 1915 and initially buried in a small concentration at map reference Sh. 36. C. 27. b. 83 Epinette Road Cemetery, Houplines, France, a cross bearing his name and military details marking his grave.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments smaller concentrations and isolated graves were brought into larger cemeteries. The remains of Private Todd and several others were exhumed and brought into Strand Military Cemetery, 12.5 kilometres from Ypres, Belgium, January 2nd 1920 and re-buried with military honours. Private 1966 Charles Purvis Todd Durham Light infantry is at rest grave IX. H. 4. At the time of his demise in 1915 he was 18 years old and single.
He had nominated his step-mother Matilda as sole beneficiary, she received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 9, Mary Street, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.
His father commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 2 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Rest In Peace.”
William Edmund Todd died aged 75 years, June 8th 1948, registered at Durham South Eastern, Matilda Todd nee Wood, March 21st 1957, aged 71 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Charles Purvis Todd is remembered at Stockton on Tees on S138.18b and S138.35
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 195
