In Darlington North Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

A.S. Charleton
Ord. Seaman, R.N.  J/27591
H.M.S. “Lion”
26th February 1916  age 18

He was the son of Charles Ernest Charleton, of 14, China Street, Darlington.

Alfred Stacey Charleton was born on 16th February 1898 in Newcastle upon Tyne and baptised on 18th May in Christ Church, Heaton.  His father was Charles Ernest and his mother Rachel (nee Weatherit) Charleton, there was a younger brother William Gibson Charleton (b.1903).

By 1911 the family had moved to Darlington, where they lived at 3 Ajax Street, and Charles worked as an engineer at the locomotive works, while Alfred found himself a job as an errand boy.  The boys’ mother, Rachel, died in 1912.

On 25th September 1913 Arthur, aged 15, joined the Royal Navy as a boy sailor signing on for twelve years.  His first posting was to H.M.S. Ganges, a shore based training centre in Suffolk.  He also served on H.M.S. Royal Arthur, H.M.S. Hannibal and from 15th February 1915 on H.M.S. Lion, where he was promoted to the rank of Ordinary Seaman in November.  Lion was the flagship of the Grand Fleet during WW1.

On 26th January 1916 Ordinary Seaman Charleton was admitted to the Royal Navy hospital at Haslar, Hampshire suffering from influenza.  He died in hospital on 26th February 1916.

Alfred Stacey Charleton is remembered at Darlington on D40.034 panel 2 and in D40.067 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.