Charles Wain (1883–1918)

Driver

Royal Horse Artillery 41208 "N" Battery; 1st Battion; 5th Brigade
Royal Field Artillery 41208 238 London Brigade

Derbyshire Courier 24 August 1918

Newpaper photo og Charles Wain in WW1

Biography
Charles was born in 1883 at Hilton, the son of Joseph and Agnes Wain. After living in the Etwall area of Derby the family moved to Ambergate where Charles worked as an engine driver in the Johnson and Nephew wireworks. In April 1914 he married Constance Gertrude Daniel at Ripley. Aged twenty-one, Charles enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery at Uttoxeter in January 1906. He was in Connaught Hospital, Aldershot during February 1907 with contusion of the knee, and in January 1908 he gained his first good conduct badge. In January 1909 he was transferred to the Army Reserve until August 1914, when he was mobilised at Athlone and in the September was posted to France. On 8th August 1918 he was killed in action, aged thirty-four, and was buried at the Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension near Amiens.

His wife, Constance, was sent Charles’ property of metal chain and whistle, three discs, belt, ribbon, knife, wound stripes, pipe, badge, comb, wallet, cards, photo, letters, two Old Testaments and a sprig of heather. She was awarded a pension of 29s 7d per week for herself and their three children.

Army Service Record
When he first enlisted in 19/01/06 he was aged 21 years 5 months a farm labourer from Etwall, His height was 5ft 4¼in, weight 136lb. He had grey eyes and auburn hair with two moles on his right shoulder blade and one on his left shoulder blade.
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 14 Star Medals.
His father was Joseph Wain of Ambergate; mother Agnes; brothers Joseph of Hilton, Frederick; sisters Dora Richardson of Doveridge, Estella ? of Doveridge, Priscilla. He married Constance Gertrude Daniel at Ripley 11/04/14 and they had twins Beryl and Marjorie born 11/08/14 at Wirksworth and a son Eric Charles born 02/03/18. On an unspecified date he applied for permission to reside in Canada.
19/01/06 Attested Uttoxeter
30/03/06 Posted RFA
23/02/07 Contusion of right knee at Connaught, Aldershot
05/10/07 Posted RFA
19/01/08 Granted first G C Badge
19/01/09 Transferred army reserve
06/08/14 Mobilized at Athlone
07/08/14 Posted Driver
19/01/06 to 09/09/14 Home
09/04/15 Posted Driver
10/02/16 To hospital with tonsilitis
29/02/16 Posted Driver
02/03/16 Discharged to Detail Camp Etaples
07/03/16 Posted Driver 34 Btty
20/04/16 Posted 1/5 London Field Artillery Bde
14/05/16 Posted 238 London Bde RFA
10/09/14 to 19/03/18 France
20/03/18 to 04/04/18 Furlough to UK via Havre
05/04/18 to 08/08/18 France
08/08/18 Killed in action
18/10/18 His wife, Constance, was sent Charles' property of metal chain and whistle, 3 discs, belt, ribbon, knife, wound stripes, pipe, badge, comb, wallet, cards, photo, letters, 2 old testament, sprig of heather.
21/02/19 His wife was awarded a pension of 29/7 per week for herself and three children

Medal Index Card
Charles Wain 1st relief TBD RFA Driver 41208
He was awarded the British War, Victory and 14 Star Medals.
Qualifying date 8.9.14

Newspaper Reports

Derbyshire Times 24 August 1918
WHATSTANDWELL SOLDIER'S FATAL WOUNDS
Newpaper photo of Charles Wain in WW1The sad news was received by Mrs Wain, of Whatstandwell, at the end of last week, that her husband Driver Charles Wain of the Royal Horse Artillery had died from the effects of wounds received in action in France on the 8th inst. He was born at Milton Cotton about 34 years ago and later on his parents came to Ambergate where they still are. Previous to enlisting some years ago he was employed at the Ambergate Wireworks. After serving ? years he came home and was on the ? and when the war broke out he was amongst the first to be called up. He leaves a widow and three children, the eldest being four years and the youngest five months.

Derbyshire Courier, 24 August 1918
CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
A letter received by Mrs C. Wain, of the School House, Whatstandwell, on Thursday of last week, conveyed the sad news to her that her husband Driver Charles Wain, had died of wounds in France. The letter, written by the commanding officer, said that Driver Wain was wounded was going into action on 9 August, and died as he was being carried in. Driver Wain, who was a reservist, was called up at the outbreak of war, and he has been in France nearly four years. Throughout this period he went through unscathed, although his mates and his horses have been killed by his side. He leaves, in addition to his widow, three children, all born since he was called up. Two are twin girls. Driver Wain, who was 34 years of age, was much respected both in the Ambergate and Crich district. Before the war he was employed at the Ambergate Wire Works.

The following song by Martyn Offord was sung, to the tune "The White Cockade", at the November 2014 Crich Front Lines memorial event in the Glebe Field Centre. A number of Crich’s widows received the sad contents of their husbands kit-bags, so this song was the widow’s perspective and commemorates Constance Wain whose husband Charles was killed August 8th 1918.  She received a pension of 29s 7p for herself and her three children and some sad little items found on his body.

The song of Constance Wain

My love he brings me heather and ribbons for my hair
When we walk out together and breathe the evening air
And gifts for our three children, a wallet and a comb
We will greet him, we will greet him,
We will greet him in the Market Place
When he comes marching home

My love he drives six horses and a thirteen pounder gun
He leads the Allied forces with the enemy on the run
His badge and belt all shining, his whistle loudly blown
We will greet him, we will greet him,
We will greet him in the Market Place
When he comes marching home

At Amiens they routed the Germans that first day
They charged and roared and shouted, the bodies round them lay
With his knife he cut the traces as his horse did fall and foam
We will greet him, we will greet him,
We will greet him in the Market Place
When he comes marching home

Two thousand field guns firing, six hundred thund’ring tanks
Not resting never tiring, Australians and Yanks
Cry Charlie is a hero; he’s come into his own.
We will greet him, we will greet him,
We will greet him in the Market Place
When he comes marching home
`
My love has left me heather, ribbons, badge and pipe
Two bibles packed together, a whistle, belt and stripe
A pound nine shillings and seven pence for a pension of my own
To console me, to console me
To console me for my Charlie
Who won’t be marching home.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name WAIN, CHARLES
Initials C H
Nationality United Kingdom
Rank Driver
Regiment/Service Royal Horse Artillery
Unit "N" Bty., 5th Bde.
Age 34
Date of Death 08/08/18
Service Number 41205
Additional Information Son of Joseph and Agnes Wain, of Hilton Common, Etwall, Derby; husband of Constance Gertrude Wain, of School House, Whatstandwell, Matlock, Derby.
Casualty type Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference Plot 2. Row F. Grave 9
Cemetery CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION


War graves certificate for Chrles Wain in WW1

[Note his Regimental Number was 41208 not 41205]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56496195/charles-wain

WW1 headstone for Charles Wain

41208 Driver C.H. Wain
Royal Horse Artillery
8th August 1918

Fain I would return to my dear wife & home
But God willed otherwise

Sawmill war memorial

Sawmills War Memorial in the Village Hall

Soldiers' Effects Book
Charles Wain; N 5 Bde RFA; Driver 41208; killed in action 8.8.18; War Gratuity 323 10s 0d; paid out to:
15.10.18 widow Constance G £13 4s 8d
10.2.20 widow Constance G £23 10s 0d

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Etwall

Forename Surname Relationship Age Information Where born
Joseph Hill Wain Head 39 General Labourer Sudbury
Agnes H Wain wife 35   Hilton
Dora H Wain daughter 11   Hilton
Stella H Wain daughter 9   Hilton
Charles H Wain son 8   Hilton
Fred H Wain son 6   Hilton
Alice H Wain daughter 4   Hilton
Priscilla H Wain daughter 1   Etwall

RG12 piece 2197 folio 30 page 13

1911: Ambergate

Forename Surname Relationship Age Information Where born
Joseph Wain Head 58 Mail driver Sudbury
Agnes Wain wife 55   Hilton
Stella Wain daughter 27 Cook Hilton
Charles Wain son 25 Engine driver (stationary) Hilton
Alice Wain daughter 24   Hilton
Edna Wain daughter 18 Mill hand Etwall
Thomas Wain son 17 Office boy wireworks Doveridge
Cuthbert Wain daughter (sic) 10 School boy Doveridge
Agnes Janes visitor 25 Housemaid Snencil
Priscilla Wain daughter 22 House maid Etwall

RG14PN20986 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED15 SN158

1918 Voters List
Charles Wain, Whatstandwell, absent on military service.