Private Charles Samuel Rolfe

Charles Samuel Rolfe was born in Battersea on 16th February 1895 to parents George Henry and Maud (nee Buckmaster). His parents had married on 26th February 1884 and by the time Charles was born his parents already had four children: Kate, Lilian, Edward and George. Charles was baptised on 25th April 1895 at Christ Church in Clapham and at the time the family were living at 45 Linford Street, and his father was working as a Machinist.

Charles was registered as a new pupil at New Road School on 21st May 1900 aged 5.

The Census of 1901 show the family now residing at 43 Linford Street and the father working as a Boiler Furnace Fitter.

When Charles was aged eight, his mother Maud died 21st September 1903.

His father George remarried six years later at St. Mark Church Kennington. His new wife was called Alice. By 1911 George 49 and Alice 38 were living at 4 Florence Villas, Phipps Bridge Road Merton Abbey with twins aged one and George was working as a Millwright engineer. His children from his first marriage were no longer living with him.

Charles aged 16 and three of his siblings were living together at 13 Rose Villas, Devonshire Road, Colliers Wood. Charles had employment as a Baker whilst Edward, listed as head of the household, was working as an Iron Moulder and George as a fitter. Lilian had no paid occupation, but you could assume that she kept house for her three brothers.

It is not known when Charles first enlisted, but it could well have been at the very start of the war or just prior to war breaking out. ( He initially had the service number 6283 whilst with the Training Reserve 12th Battalion.) He enlisted as a Private in Wimbledon with the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and was given the service number 41360. Charles landed at Le-Havre in August 1914. Notable engagements for his regiment included the 1st Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Bellewaarde in the May of 1915.

On 11th June 1916 Charles married Cecil Maude Gascoine at Christ Church Mitcham. His address was still 13 Rose Villas whilst Cecil’s address was 37 Wandle Road. Charles’s occupation was listed as a Soldier.

On 21 March 1918, the German Army launched the Spring offensive – a large-scale operation against the Allied Front on the Somme battlefield. (The battles of the Somme took place between 21st March –5th April 1918.) At least 64 German Divisions took part on the attacks on a front of about 54 miles. By 10:00am the Germans had broken through, and the Lincolnshire Regiment were forced to withdraw.

During the Battle of St. Quentin 21 March – 23 March 1918 the 1st Lincolnshire Regiment suffered heavy losses during the attack. Charles was assume killed in action on the very first date of this battle.

His name appears on the Mitcham War Memorial and commemorated on Pozieres Memorial – Somme, Picardie in France. His name is also listed in the Lincolnshire Regiments Roll of Honour book.

Charles's widow later moved to 45 Milton Road, Wimbledon