Mill Hill WW1 School Roll of Honour

Medal Index Card

CWGC Headstone

Photo : Marcus

Newcastle Journal Saturday 29th January 1916

Charles Frederick Batty was the eldest son born in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA, on the 28th April 1896, the eldest son of Frederick Batty, [born 10th March 1870, died 22nd May 1953], of 64, 'Beverholme', Cleveland Avenue, Darlington, Durham, and his wife Eliza (Lily) Fielding Batty (nee Buckley, born 24th Septembe 1873, died 11th December 1970), daughter of the late Charles Buckley of Oldham, and grandson to Alderman William Batty (former Mayor of Manchester, not Lord Mayor, as Manchester did not have a Lord Mayor until 1893), William Batty was Mayor (1888 to 1889).

They had six other children: James Keith Batty, born 12th August 1901, [in 1939, was residing at Cartledge, Northwich, Cheshire, he was a Company Secretary at a Chemical Company, and was married to Wilhelmina M. Batty, born 21st September 1909, with one daughter Penelope J. Batty, born 10th May 1935, still at school, and a domestic servant called Lucy L. Milne born 24th November 1914], died 3rd November 1981, Edward Rayner Batty, born 22nd July 1904, died 1995, Ida Cynthia Grace Batty, born 17th October 1909, [In 1939, she was residing as an inmate at Eton College, The Cloisters, Brewhouse Yard, Eton, Buckinghamshire, and was a Private Secretary to the Head Master, {a Claude Elliott born 27th July 1888} of Eton College], she died 28th February 1987, and Donald Marcus Fielding Batty, born 17th October 1909 died December 1999, Philip Arthur, worked for White and Son Coy Ltd, born 6th July 1898 died 20th May 1940, who was killed in France (WW2) and buried in a civilian cemetery at Pusieux, [he was a Captain, service nu 99558, on the General List, {The General List acts as a holding unit for specialist officers (usually reservists) who have not yet been assigned to a unit}, promoted to a 2nd Lieutenant on the 3rd September 1939, was posted missing on the 25th July 1940 on casualty list no 264, later corrected on Casualty List No. 388, to Correction to Casualty List No. 264, "date of casualty should read 19/05/1940"],* and Rosamond Margaret, born 12th May 1912, died 19th April 2009. Donald and Ida were twins.

*On May 20th 1940, In France, Rommel's troops began a new offensive but was held up at Arras. Meanwhile, Guderian's troops continued to advance, capturing Amiens at 0900 hours, Abbeville at 1900 hours, and Noyelles-sur-Mer at 2000 hours; they had reached the English Channel. At Dunkerque on the French coast, small seacraft began gathering for an Allied evacuation.

In 1939, residing at 64 "Beverholme" Cleveland Avenue, Darlington was Frederick Batty, [described as a Provisions agent importer, representative of Bacon Hams], Eliza F. Batty, Rosamund Margaret Willis, nee Batty, Cook Jessie Farnaby, born 14th December 1896, Ida M. Widowed, born 22nd November 1869 and a Clara L. Buckley born 26th June 1861.

Charles Frederick Batty lived at "Dentdale", Tower Road, Darlington. He was educated at Mill Hill School from 1909, School House, London. A Scholarship cost him £40.

When at Mill Hill School between 1913/14, he was in the Mill Hill School (cricket) Eleven, described as a "poor batsman, but in the latter year took twenty-six wickets for 11.92 runs each". He then went to University College Oxford, where he obtained a Classical Scholarship and was in residence for one term.

From the Oxford University O.T.C., which he was a member 2920/2 of, he was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 28th October 1914. The Battalion was part of the 43rd Brigade in the 14th Division of VI Corps in the 2nd Army, and was sent to France on the 18th October 1915.

Charles was in France from the 23rd October 1915 and was appointed the Brigade bombing officer instructor, and afterwards junior Bombing Officer of the Battalion.

He was killed in action whilst on patrol duty at Ypres on the 19th January 1916 and was buried at Essex Farm, Brielen, Ypres, at Boezinge north of Ypres in Belgium.

Charles did not leave a will, and the Standing Committee took action. On the 25th January 1916 the Standing Committee of Adjustment listed the effects belonging to Lieutenant Batty as follows:

1 silver identity disc, 1 cigarette case, 1 wrist watch, 1 compass, 1 cigar holder in case, 1 pen knife, 1 razor blade box containing matches, 1 fountain pen, 1 pipe, 1 whistle, 1 pair of scissors, 1 tobacco pouch, 3 letters, 1 cheque book, 1 nail cleaner, and £5.00 (to base cashier).

These effects were forwarded to Second Lieutenant Batty’s father as next of kin.

The letters of administration dated the 29th March 1916 to Frederick Batty stated that the gross value of his son’s estate was £276 10s 1d. The War Office wrote to Frederick Batty’s solicitors on the 13th April stating that a net amount of £67 10s 2d was due from the War Office as back pay. A solicitor's letter from Batty, Ford and Buckley of Manchester, dated the 17th April 1916, informed the War Office that letters of probate and administration had been requested and granted and that the estate of Second Lieutenant Batty, which totalled £67 10s 2d net in back pay, should be forwarded to his father.

On the 30th January 1919 a letter to Frederick Batty asked him to confirm his address as 13, Beverhome, Cleveland Avenue, Darlington, so that the commemorative plaque and scroll for his son could be forwarded to him.

His Colonel later wrote:-'He was an extremely good officer, and had done some excellent work since he came out, and everyone thought very highly of him... He was very popular with us all.'

He was unmarried.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Charles Frederick Batty is remembered at Darlington on D40.003, D40.005, D40.034, and D40.067, and in Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 9.

Essex Farm in memory
Find a grave
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Batty