Geburtsdatum: 12/08/1888

Geburtsort: Brailes, Warwickshire, England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Beruf: Gärtner

Land: England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Truppe: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Private

Dienstnummer: G/42821

Einberufung ort: Grove Park, Kent, England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Einheiten:  —  The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), 4th Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 31/07/1917

Sterbeort: Rifle Farm, Belgien

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 28

British War Medal Medaille — 22/04/1920

Victory Medal Medaille — 22/04/1920

Charles Hemming born on 12 August 1888 in Brailes, Warwickshire was a gardener before the outbreak of the War. Once he enlisted he served as a Private in the Middlesex Regiment 4th Battalion, part of the 63rd Brigade, of the 37th division.

On 31 July 1917, the 37th Division took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the opening stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. At 3.50 a.m., zero hour, the 4th Middlesex in conjunction with the 19th division advanced to a line roughly running from July Farm to Rifle Farm. With the Middlesex going to Rifle Farm and the 8th Lincolns going to June and July Farm. Once these positions had been consolidated “A” Company of the 4th Middlesex was sent forward to search Bab Farm. Almost immediately, they were met with a counter-attack which they repelled. In the meanwhile “C” Company moved forward from their positon at Rifle Farm to support ‘A’ Company at Bab Farm and two more counter-attacks were repelled. However a new German advance developed and the two Companies were forced to retreat from Bab Farm, suffering heavy casualties. The remnants of these companies then joined with “D” Company, which was positioned with its left on "Bee Farm". This position was reached at about 5 a.m. However at 5.30 the 4th Middlesex took sniper fire in the rear from May Farm, which had been failed to mop up during the advance. It was promptly decided to clear the area with support from the 8th East Lancs. But the situation didn’t improve and the remnants of the 4th Middlesex were heavily shelled from about 9 a.m. until about midday, suffering considerable casualties. On top of the frequent shelling the men were subjected to heavy rifle fire.

At about 1.15 p.m. a new massive German counter-attack appeared advancing on their front and also round the left rear. The position of the Battalion was considered untenable by the Officer in Command who ordered a retirement from Rifle Farm. Private Charles Hemmings was killed in action during the fighting near Rifle Farm. The 28-year old has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

4 Battalion Middlesex Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2528/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Weitere Quellen

McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 20-21. Verwendete Quellen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/910314

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=19d53d77-ba32-4c51-9b44-083c2c060ada

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1828356