CHARLES HENRY SKINNER

Born: 1893, Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Death presumed on or since: 8th May 1915; age 22; KiA.

Enlistment Location: Ipswich.

Date of Entry Therein: 16th January 1915 – France.

Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 8268

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 21,

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial,

West Vlaanderen,

Belgium.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Frederick & Emma Skinner, of 10, Gatacre Road, Ipswich.

Brother to HAROLD VICTOR & FREDERICK HERBERT SKINNER.

1901   Angel Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Charles was 8 years old and living with his family & siblings.

Frederick Skinner, 32, a Sack & Cloth Cutter, born Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Emma Skinner, 30, born Hadleigh.

Frederick Herbert Skinner, 9, born Hadleigh.

Elsie May Skinner, 6, born Hadleigh.

Stanley William Skinner, 4, born Hadleigh.

Harold Victor Skinner, 2, born Hadleigh.

Frederick and Emma Skinner.

1911   Depot Suffolk Regiment, Out Risbygate, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Charles was 18 years old, a Soldier ranked Private of the 3rd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. Occupation – Grocer’s Assistant.

Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion. 84th Brigade

The Second Battle of Ypres was underway and the 1st Battalion was to suffer over a thousand casualties in six weeks with fierce fighting along the Salient. The Battle of Frezenberg Ridge and Bellewaarde Ridge were to take its toll on the 1st Battalion. At 10:00 a.m on the 8th May, the attack began with heavy shelling from both sides of all calibre, then came a cloud of yellow green poison gas that drifted through the British lines. Blinded and choking men continued to fight on still under a hail of bullets and shell fire. The shelling had cut most of the communication wires, with little information passing through. The exposed roads gave little shelter for the limited supply line. The German attack had overwhelmed the British, by noon the Battalion had 400 casualties with 12 Ipswich men dead and more to be killed or die of wounds in the following weeks.

 Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion:

Suffolk Regiment battalion movements

Friends of The Suffolk Regiment