Charles Walker

Private.  20525.  9^th Battalion. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment.

Born 1889 in Golcar.

Son of Elliott and Emma.

Brother of Arthur and Ernest.

Occupation: Weaver at Crowther& Nicholson, Ashbrow Mills, Huddersfield.

Address: 30 Myrtle Road, Golcar.

Enlisted: May 1916.

Reported missing presumed killed: 4th November 1916. Aged 27.

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Face 6A & 6B.

Charlie was a member of Golcar Conservative Club and attended St. John's Church, Golcar where his name appears on the Roll of Honour.

In July 1916 British & Commonwealth forces supported by the French launched an offensive on a line north of Gommecourt to Marcourt. Preliminary bombardment met with unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic. Further attempts were made with modest success but the Germans resisted tenaciously and every village, copse and farmhouse meant a major battle. At the end of September Thiepval was finally captured. Attacks continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme ended on 18th November with the onset of winter.

Thiepval Memorial holds the names of 72,253 of those who have no known grave. Over 90% died between July and November 1916.