Private Charles Bone
| Date of Birth | 23/03/1885 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 29 |
| Date of Death | 2/12/1914 |
| Service Number | 8767 |
| Military Service | Royal West Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 38 Fountain Road, Mitcham |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Charles Bone was born in Carshalton, Surrey on 23rd March 1885 and in 1891 he was living with his family at 11 Cecil Terrace, Bond Road, Mitcham. His father, George William Bone was an agricultural labourer, born in The Cape of Good Hope, and the largest employer nearby was the physic garden business of Potter & Moore. His mother Emily Bone was also born in Carshalton. Charles had three older siblings, George, John and Mary, and three younger siblings Isabel, Frederick and Annie. He attended the Carshalton Board School. In 1901 the family was living in Queens Road, Mitcham, and sixteen year old Charles was working as a farm labourer.
Charles joined the army on 5th November 1904 at the age of 18, hence by the start of the First World War he had been in the army for 12 years, eight years of which he had served in India and two in Gibraltar. In October 1913 he married Margaret Mary Sallis in Croydon. They had one son Charles Bone who was born on 19th April 1914. Their family home was 38 Fountain Road, Mitcham.
During the war Private Bone served in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. His service was well documented in local papers of the time; letters of his experiences were printed which told of the heavy shelling at Mons and his transfer to a hospital in Leeds due to a leg injury incurred during the Retreat. In September 1914 he was described as an individual who was ‘most anxious to go back to have another “pot” at the Germans.’ (Mitcham Advertiser). In a letter sent to his wife while in hospital he wrote, ‘You know in time of war duty must be done, and it becomes one to do his best, as I intend to do…I shall soon be back again to have another dust-up.’(Mitcham and Tooting Mercury).
After his discharge from hospital Private Bone returned home to his wife and baby boy in Mitcham and when he had recovered he returned to the front. However, on 2nd December 1914 he was severely wounded in the back near Ypres and died on the No. 10 Ambulance train just after midnight. He was buried at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France. He is also remembered on the Mitcham War Memorial.
He was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal, and 1914 Star for his service.