681038 CPL. C. RALL.  R.F.A.

 

Despite the rather unusual surname, I haven’t been able to find Charles Rall in the Censuses.  According to CWGC, he was 37 years old when he died of wounds at 61st Casualty Clearing Station (Dozinghem) on 3 November 1917.  So he was born in 1880. He was married and his wife’s name was Margaret, and they lived at 29 Langham Avenue, Sefton Park, Liverpool.  The entry also says “Born London”.  SDGW, however, says he was born and enlisted in Fleetwood.  There is a record of a Charles Thomas Rall marrying a Margaret Pollard in West Darby in 1909 and other records state that she was born in 1868, so she was 12 years older than Charles.

 

Charles enlisted in 1915 and was assigned service number 681038 and posted to “B” Battery of 286 Brigade.  At some point he was promoted to Corporal.

 

He landed in France with 57th Division in February 1917 and fought in the defence of Armentières before moving to Ypres in October that year. 

 

Charles was engaged in the fighting in the defence of Ypres – the Third Battle of Ypres, or Passchendaele.  From 1-7 November, 286 Brigade were at Langemark engaged in the defence of the village and were under heavy shelling from the enemy, including gas attacks very day.  Charles died of wounds at 61st Casualty Clearing Station, at Dozinghem, on 3 November 1917.  He was 37 years old. 

 

Rank:   Corporal

Service Number:   681038

Date of Death:   03/11/1917

Age:  37

Regiment/Service:  Royal Field Artillery, “B” Bty, 286th Brigade.

Cemetery/memorial reference: XV. D. 10.

Cemetery:   DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY

Additional Information:  Husband of Margaret Rall, of 29 Langham Avenue, Sefton Park, Liverpool. Born London.

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