Blackmore. Remembrance 100. Twenty-one days. Twenty-one names. (7) Charles Wash

Charles Wash

War Memorial: Place and inscription Blackmore War Memorial: Dr. C. Wash R.E.

Rank: Driver

Regiment: Royal Engineers 131st Field Company.  Service No: 37751. [CWGC]

Service Details: Enlisted: Chelmsford [WFA] Medal card: Campaign 1914-15 Wash, Charles RE Dr 37751 died Victory/British RE/101 B99 p. 21031 15 star RE/2B p. 434 First theatre [1] France 19/11/15 no contact address.  [Ancestry]

Personal and family information: Son of Robert and Minnie Wash, of Spriggs Farm, Blackmore.  [CWGC] Brother of Walter Herbert Wash Charles Wash was baptised on 29th August 1880 (born 12th April 1879) at Wethersfield, Essex.  His parents were Robert (a labourer) and Minnie.  He was baptised on the same day as his younger sister Elizabeth [ERO D/P 119/1/11]. Younger siblings were baptised at Blackmore End (part of Wethersfield): Jessie on 6th September 1883; Sarah on 21st September 1884 [ERO 550/1/1].  After this the trail goes cold. 1911 Census.  Charles Wash living at Park Farm Cottage, Little Waltham, farm labourer age 32, born Wethersfield, with parents [both b. Wethersfield] Robert, horseman on farm age 54 and Minnie age 60.

Date of Death: 25th October 1918

Age: 39

Where died: Died. Salonika [WFA] Plovdiv is a city on the main road from Sofia to Istanbul. The Commonwealth servicemen buried at Plovdiv Central Cemetery died either as prisoners of war or while serving with the occupying forces following the Bulgarian capitulation in September 1918.  Charles Wash must have been in the latter group.

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Buried at Plovdiv Central Cemetery, Bulgaria. Grave D6.  [CWGC]

List of Sources: Ancestry, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office, Western Front Association.