Service number: 17919 | Rank: Private | Regiment: Suffolk Regiment
Killed in action, September 26, 1915, in Flanders. Aged 24.
Buried at DUD CORNER CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.
Son of Mr W. and Mrs R. Warren, 9 Thetford Road, Brandon.
Born in Brandon, enlisted at Riddlesworth, Norfolk.
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT CHARLES …
24-year-old Charles, whose parents lived on the Thetford Road, was a stretcher bearer who had the unenviable task of going into no man’s land to collect wounded and dying men so that they could be brought back behind the lines for treatment. He died when a German artillery shell exploded close to him and shrapnel tore through his body killing him instantly. His best friend,
Brandon-born Bert Wicks, who was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, was also collecting wounded soldiers at the time and he saw the explosion that killed Charles. He later wrote home to Charles’ mother.
“We were going back to the trenches to collect more wounded, when a shell from the German lines exploded amongst us, and, to our sorrow and your misfortune, killed Charlie instantly.”
His mother also received the following letter from the Captain of Charles’ unit.
“It is my painful duty to inform you that your son, Private C.A. Warren, who was in my platoon, met his death yesterday. We in the platoon sympathise with you deeply in your irreparable loss, but I know it will be a comfort to you to hear that he died serving his country in the glorious work of administering to the wounded in the field. As you know, he was a stretcher bearer, and met his death bringing in wounded yesterday morning after an engagement. He was well liked by his comrades in the battalion, and they mourn with you his loss. This may be softened by the thought that he died on the field manfully serving his country.”
It seems that Charles was well respected amongst his peers and another of his officers felt the need to write to Charles’ mother.
“He was a real treasure serving us, always willing, always ready to do a kindness of service. I have never seen him slack once, but he has always put his heart into his work, and done it well and cheerfully. His death was instantaneous. He did not have pain for a single second. You will no doubt be rejoiced to hear your son was the means of saving more than one brave life before his own unfortunate end.”