CHARLES HERBERT TEAGER
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 28th December 1878, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 5th January 1879, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 56, Lady Lane, Ipswich.
Died: 26th April 1915; age 37; KiA.
Residence: 152, Handford Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Bricklayer.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich, just after the war was declared.
Date of Entry Therein: 8th November 1914.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 2249
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 21.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Charles was killed at the same time as:
Walter Bensley, a Private, 114, of the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Walter was 34 years of age, of Barclay Street, Ipswich and employed as a Fitter at Orwell Works, Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Ipswich.
George William Buckles, a Private, 2106, of the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. George was 28 years of age, of Crown Street, Leiston, Suffolk and employed as a storekeeper. George was born in Wickham Market, the son of Thomas Buckles and Eliza Buckles (nee Clowes), of Union Cottages, Chapel Lane, Wickham Market, Suffolk.
Brother to WILLIAM TEAGER.
CENSUS
1881 31, Castle Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 3 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Thomas Teager, 33, a Bricklayer, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Rebecca Teager (nee Shephard), 32, born St. Peter’s, Ipswich.
Thomas Teager, 14, a Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Ipswich.
John Isaac Teager, 8, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Kate Teager, 1, born Ipswich.
1891 15, Castle Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 13 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Thomas, 44, a Bricklayer.
Rebecca, 44.
William Teager, 5, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Caroline Teager, 7, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Rebecca Teager, 4, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Charles deserted on the 20th May 1900, at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and again on the 10th June 1900, at Bury St. Edmunds.
The Ipswich Journal – 23rd June 1900. DESERTERS. – Charles Teager, of 38, St. Matthew’s Church Lane and Francis McGovan, Rope Walk, were charged with deserting from the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and the 98th Field Battery, R.A., respectively, and were handed over to military escorts.
1901 St. Peter’s Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
Charles was 23 years old, a Soldier, ranked Private in the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
1911 14, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Charles was 34 years old, a Bricklayer. He was married and Head of the Household.
Maud, 33.
Charles, 10.
Dorothy, 4.
Gladys, 2 months.
Leslie, 2 months.
In 1903, in Ipswich, Charles married Charlotte Louise Maud Jessup, born October 1877, in Sheerness, Kent – daughter of William Frederick Jessup, a labourer at a manure factory, and Charlotte Jessup (nee Parr), of 56, Surbiton Road, Ipswich.
Charlotte and Charles had six children:
Charles Jessup Teager, born February 1901, Ipswich.
Lilian Charlotte Maud Teager, born 1903, Ipswich – 1908, Ipswich.
Dorothy Rebecca Teager, born April 1906, Ipswich.
Gladys May Teager, born February 1911, Ipswich.
Leslie William Teager, born February 1911, Ipswich.
Stanley Thomas Teager, born May 1914, Ipswich.
Charles’s mother, Rebecca Teager, died in December 1915, at her residence, 38, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Maud Teager – widow.
Charles is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich.
Evening Star – Saturday, 7th May 1887 – SAD CASE OF DROWNING IN IPSWICH – On Friday evening, a sad case of drowning occurred in the Gipping River at Ipswich. A little boy named George Teager, 4 years of age, and residing with his parents at 31, Castle Street, went down to the Handford Water, accompanied by another boy. According to this boy’s account, Thomas Teager leaned over the side of the towing path, trying to catch a fish with his hand. In doing so, his hat fell off, and he got into the water to recover it, but went out of his depth and drowned. The witness of this fatality was so frightened that he told on one of the occurrences until questioned after the recovery of the body. This morning, about half-past four, Police-Constable Haste was informed that there was a child in the Handford Water. He immediately proceeded to the spot and found the report to be true. With the aid of a boat borrowed from Mr Sydney, the body was recovered in an upright position from about five or six feet of water. The body was conveyed to the parents’ home, where it was seen by Dr. Elliston, who pronounced life to be extinct and said that the child had been in the water for some hours.
George Teager was born on the 4th August 1882 and was baptised with his twin sister Bessie Teager on the 1st October 1882, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich.
Bessie Teager died on the 29th December 1882 and was buried at Section E, Ipswich Old Cemetery. George was buried with Bessie.
Evening Star – Thursday, 11th February 1915 – DRUNK – Thomas Teager, master bricklayer, of St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich, was found drunk, lying across the tram-lines on the Norwich Road, at 10:45 on Monday night by Police-constable Kemp. Thomas Teager now stated that he expected he slipped off the kerb, and “unsensed” himself! He was fined 10s., including costs, or seven days.
The 4th Battalion
On the 24th April 1915, the Battalion, as part of the Lahore Division, received orders to move northwards towards Ypres. They arrived at Boeschepe after marching 18 miles, arriving in the dark. They passed the 2nd Battalion the following day, and the 4th Suffolks marched in heavy rain to Ouderdom.
By the 26th, they arrived on the outskirts of Ypres, which was being heavily shelled. The Battalion moved to the south of the city. The Brigade spread out along the Zonnebeke road up to Potijze on the junction to St. Jean. It was noted that the Germans were firing 42cm guns onto the city, which was now in total devastation, seeing shell holes 72ft wide. The sound of the shelling was great and was described as flying express trains, “Wipers Express”
At 14:00 hrs, the Lahore Division advanced on the German line from the road. The 4th Suffolks were in support of the 47th Sikhs. The moment they moved forward, crossing the road, Major Frederick William Turner was hit along with a number of his men. Minutes later, the Germans released poison gas, which drifted onto the Allied lines, causing the advance to falter. The advance was pushed back, and the order was given to dig in as the Germans began to shell their positions. During the early hours of the following day, the Battalion was withdrawn and moved back to positions at Potijze.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion
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