Charles William Hitchings
Memorial: Wickwar - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 22600
Parents: Arthur and Malinda Amelia Jane Hitchings (nee Mudon)
Pre-war occupation: Grocer's apprentice in 1911
Date of birth: 1897
Place of birth: Wickwar, Glos
Date of death: 08/05/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Arras Memorial (Bay 6) at Fauboug-D’Amiens Cemetery, France
Age: 20
Further information:
Charles Hitchings was born in 1897 in Wickwar. His parents were Arthur and Malinda Amelia Jane (nee Mudon) Hitchings and they lived in the High Street in Wickwar. His four siblings were Gladys Maud Mary Mardson, Alice, Victor James and Edith Malinda. In 1911 he was working as a grocer’s apprentice. His father was a brewer cellarman and he was born in Troll in Gloucestershire. Charles was the nephew of George William Hitchings who was also killed in the war (see the separate entry for him)
Charles enlisted in Bristol and joined the 12th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in May 1917 at the age of 20. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial at Fauboug-D’Amiens Cemetery in France. He is also commemorated on the war memorials in Wickwar and on the Chipping Sodbury Cottage Hospital Memorial Board which is now at Yate and District Heritage Centre
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Yate and District Heritage Centre and the book ‘Lest We Forget’ by Arthur Threlfall Searson. Forces War Records and CWGC