Serjeant Charles Robert Squirrell 15th Battalion Suffolk Died of Wounds 1918

There is a standard Commonwealth War Grave Commission pattern headstone in the churchyard.

320709 Serjeant
C.R. SQUIRRELL
Suffolk Regiment
25th February 1918 Age 27.

Serjeant CHARLES ROBERT SQUIRRELL
Service Number:…….. 320709
Unit:………………….Suffolk Regiment
……………………….."C" Coy. 15th Bn.
Date of Death:………..25 February 1918
Age:………………… 27 years old
Buried or commemorated at HITCHAM (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
Near East end of Church
Additional Info Son of Mr. W. and Mrs. C. Squirrell, of Cooks Green, Hitcham.
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/...

SDGW records that Sergeant 320709 Charles Robert Squirrell Died of Wounds
on the 25th February 1918 while serving in Palestine with the 15th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He was formerly 2641 in the same Regiment. Charles enlisted at Hitcham. No place of birth or residence is shown.

The Medal Index Card for Serjeant Charles R. Squirrell, Suffolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/19/5137
Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5343091
He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. There is no additional information on the card. This combination of Medals would indicate that he did not see service in a Theatre of War until on or after the 1st January 1916.

The associated Service Medal Roll shows that Charles Robert Squirrell only saw overseas service with the 15th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

The Army Register of Soldiers Effects, a financial ledger rather than an inventory, records the death on the 25th February 1918 of Sergeant 320709 Charles Robert Squirrell, Suffolk Territorial Force Depot (late 15th Battalion) at King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, London S.E. The balance of his pay was sent to his mother, Caroline in February 1919. His War Gratuity would also go to her in December 1919, although she was now recorded as ‘Mother + sole legatee’.

No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

Family History websites: www.squirrellresearchgroup.org/documents/CHARTS/ETree0313...
Charles Robert (Charlie) SQUIRRELL was born in 1890 in Hitcham, Suffolk, England. He was baptised on 11 May 1892 in Hitcham, Suffolk, England. He died on 25 Feb 1918. He was buried after 25 Feb 1918 in Hitcham, Suffolk, England. His age is entered on the burial record as 27. Parents: William SQUIRRELL and Caroline RAMPLIN.
historyofsuffolk.co.uk/cosford/hitcham/d91.shtml

1890 – Birth………

The nearest match is the birth of a Charles Squirrell, mothers’ maiden name Rampling which was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Cosford District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1890.

See below for how I believe he was recorded on the 1891 Census – the addition of Robert seems to have been a family thing rather than one borne out by the civil records.

The most likely marriage of his parents occurred in the Cosford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1884. This was when a William Squirrell married a Caroline Ramplin

1891 Census of England and Wales

There was no obvious match for Charles on this census, (potentially he may not have been even born), but a check for the older family members from the 1901 Census also failed to turn them up. A more broader search found that on the source I use, Genes Reunited, the family surname had been transcribed, (understandably) as “Squerrell”. They were recorded living on the Bilderstone Road, Hitcham. As well as parents William, (34, an Agricultural Labourer, born Hitcham) and Caroline, (28, born Hadleigh, Suffolk) there were also children Annie, (6, born Hadleigh), Edith, (5, born Hitcham), Eliza, (3, born Hadleigh), Willie, (2, born Hitcham) and Bertie, (10 months?, born Hitcham).

1901 Census of England and Wales

The 10 year old Charles Squirrell, born Hitcham, was recorded at a dwelling on Church Lane, Hitcham. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 44, a Farmer, born Hitcham), and Caroline, (aged 37, born Hadleigh, Suffolk). As wekk as Charles their other children recorded living with them are:-
Eliza….aged 13….born Hadleigh
Willie…aged 12…born Hitcham
Eva……aged 6….born Hitcham
Bessie…aged 5…born Hitcham
John……aged 2…born Hitcham
Ivy…..aged 9 months…born Hitcham

1911 Census of England and Wales

The 20 year old Charles R. Squirrell, unmarried and a farm Labourer, born Hitcham, was recorded living as a boarder at Rat Hall, Hitcham. His landlady was an elderly widow, Elizer Fisher.

His parents were recorded living ‘Near the School’, Hitcham, and appear to have fallen on hard times – they are living in a 2 room building and father William, (55), is recorded as an Unemployed Farm Labourer. He and wife Caroline, (45), state they have been married 26 years and have had 16 children, of which 12 were then still alive. Still single and living with them are John, (12), Ivy, (10), Ruby, (9), Frank, (8) and Percy, (7) – all born Hitcham.

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers’ maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows no likely additional children of William and Caroline.

On the day…………………………………

Given the statements from Soldiers Died in the Great War that he died of wounds and was serving in Palestine, plus the Register of Soldiers Effects showing he died in the King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, London would tend to suggest that he was wounded in Theatre and the extent of his wounds, though stable enough for him to travel, meant that he was likely to need long term if not life long care and so was repatriated. In my experience when a man dies of post operative infection or as a result of contracting an illness whilst being treated, then SDGW will record them as “Died” rather than “Died of Wounds”.

Additionally his entry in the Register of Soldiers shows him with the Territorial Force Depot, ex 15th Battalion. Once it became clear it would be a while, if at all, before a soldier could be considered fit to return to duty, then he would be transferred on to the establishment of the Depot for pay and disciplinary purposes. This does not mean they were physically at the depot.

The Long, Long Trail has this to say about his unit.

15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Battalion
Formed in Egypt on 5 January 1917 from dismounted Yeomanry regiment.
January 1917 : came under command of 230th Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division.
1 May 1918 : embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles, landing 7 May.
www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-brit...

The Battalion had been involved in the Third Battle of Gaza, (27 October – 7 November 1917) as well as the subsequent capture, (8-9 December 1917) and defence, (27-30 December 1917), of Jerusalem.

Postscript…………………………..

A Pension Ledger card from the Ministry of Pensions has survived. This shows that his mother. Caroline Squirrell, of Cooks Green, Hitcham, Near Ipswich, made a claim for a dependants pension as a result of the loss of her son. She is recorded as being aged 59 in 1924. Sergeant Squirrell is recorded as being a single man and he died of wounds while serving.

Taken in: UK / England / Babergh District / Hitcham (show map)

Taken on: October 9, 2018

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Hitcham

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Charles Squirrell

Charles Robert Squirrell

15th Battalion Suffolk Regiment

25/02/1918

25th February 1918

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