Private Charles Henry Wallis

Charles was born into a large family who lived in the Paxton Hotel in Norwood, South London. His father Rowland has originally been married to Jane Bromley and they had five children, Rebecca, Rowland, Dora, Clara and Edith. In 1863 he married Eleanor nee Creamer and they had George, Mabel, Charles and Florence before, unfortunately, they both died in 1897, Eleanor in January and Rowland less than a month later in February.

The business appeared to have been flourishing and the 1891 census notes that there were three live-in servants present, a Cook, a general servant and a barman. When Rowland died, the probate record shows that he left £5207 11s 3d.

There are no records available at present to indicate what happened to the children after their parents’ death and Charles does not appear on the 1911 census.

Charles was living in North Lambeth according to the 1914 Electoral Register at 6 Waldeck Building. He enlisted in September 1914 and served in France from March to May 1915. He received a bullet wound which broke his right clavicle and he was sent home while it healed.

In October 1916 he fell ill and was diagnosed with diabetes. His weight dropped from 11st 7lbs to 8st 10lbs ‘with his overcoat on’. His discharge papers show that he was 5ft 10½ins tall with a pale complexion and brown hair and eyes. His character reference was excellent but he had to be discharged on 22 March 1917 as he physically unfit for service.

We went to live at 79 Park Road, West Dulwich and died on 20 March 1918, leaving £56 14s 9d to his sister, Florence. He is buried in Streatham Park cemetery.