In Sacriston Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:-

R.C. Charlton
Air Mechanic 1st Class R.N.
FX758418
HMS Daedalus
12th November 1945 Age 40

Blessed
Are the pure in heart
For they shall see God

Richard Clish Charlton was the husband of Margaret Charlton, of Sacriston.

William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-

Richard was born at Kimblesworth on May 12th 1905 to Matthew Henry and Ann (nee Clish). The couple married in 1903. They had 8 children together but sadly all but one died. The surviving child was Richard.

In 1911 father, Matthew, was working as a coal leveller. Richard was only 5 years old. Also living with them were Catherine Charlton (mother of Matthew) and a boarder, school teacher Isabel Clayton. Their home was at 2 Prospect Terrace, Plawsworth.

Richard married Margaret Paxton in 1940.

Richard joined the services and for a while he served with 11th Battalion Durham Home Guard.

Not much is known about this serviceman except he died of a coronary thrombosis (arterial) at R.N. Barracks, Lee on Solent where his ship HMS Daedalus was operating as a shore-based Fleet Air Arm base.

Due to naval aviation responsibilities being transferred to the Navy in May 1939, the base was then commissioned as HMS Daedalus. At the start of the Second World War, due to the threat of air raids, the station’s buildings were camouflaged and anti-aircraft gun defences and shelters constructed to protect the town’s airfield. Two units were based there: 778 Squadron and the Service Trials Unit. It was sometimes referred to as a ‘ship without water’.

Richard Clish Charlton is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.