CHARLES THOMAS VINYARD
Photograph courtesy of Marina.
Born: 1912, Ipswich.
Died: 28th February 1945; age: 32.
Residence: 515, Nacton Road, Ipswich.
Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 5825774.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Grave Reference:
48.H.18.
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,
Nordrhein – Westfalen,
Germany.
Father: Alfred Charles Vinyard, born September 1875, Ipswich. A Dock Labourer.
Mother: Lucy Isabella Vinyard (nee Ditohn), born 1878, Ipswich – died 1922, Ipswich.
In 1932, Alfred re-married to May Webster, born January 1896, Shoreditch, London.
In 1943, Ipswich, Charles married Ruby Ellen Doris Cloud, born June 1921, Ipswich, of 493, Nacton Road, Ipswich – a Machinist in a Sack Co. – died 1944, of Tuberculosis, at Ipswich.
Probate to Alfred Charles Vinyard – father, an old age pensioner.
Family Note from Ruby’s cousin Wendy:
Ruby was the eldest of nine children. In December 1942 their father Harry died aged 41, and in June 1943 their mother Annie Maria (nee Welham) also died, aged 44. The four youngest children were put into the orphanage, but Ruby took them out of the home for Christmas and tried to keep the family together. One family story says that when Ruby died, Charlie was permitted to return for her funeral and apparently told family that they wouldn’t see him again as there was no point without Ruby to come home to. Their loss had a huge impact on the Cloud family, and no doubt, the Vinyard family too.
The beautiful photograph of Ruby (courtesy of Wendy) was probably taken just a few months before she died.
A family note, Linda nee Collings: Hi all cousins, Ruby was my aunt. I found Charlie’s grave site for my mother long ago as she was upset about him one day, and so I wrote to the war office (very pre computer days!) and they gave me the information. My mother & brother then went to “visit” Charlie. Mother was now MORE upset and wanted to “bring him home”. I looked into the possibility as I had also found out where Ruby was buried by then, as mother had wanted them “back together”. My uncle Bryan had “repurchased” his parents grave for a further 25 years, but sadly could not find Ruby. I later asked the cemetery staff, and as I had “frequent visitor miles” with them doing research, accompanied, they allowed me to go to it as Ruby WAS still there, but her grave had been “reused” (shudder), but only if I promised to just look, not tell, and leave nothing on it, EVER, I agreed to this to go say “hello” to her, and have been quietly back a few times since. I had to then tell my mother this – not a happy time. I did take my mother and aunt Dilla/Lillian there once, and we three had a picnic together beside Annie & Harry, this seemed to sooth matters a bit. My parents had seen Charlie off back to the war after Ruby’s death, and it was them he told on being “welcomed back to their home anytime” that he did reply “that’s real nice of you but I don’t think I’ll be returning”, that was the last he was ever seen poor man..
SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
1st Battalion
September 1939: On the outbreak of war the Battalion was based in Devonport. It was part of 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division.
October 1939: They went to France.
May/June 1940: The Battalion were evacuated from Dunkirk and returned to the UK.
June 1944: The Battalion landed in Normandy (D Day). From then on was engaged in the North Western Europe campaign.
Note. Mark Forsdike:
Captain Steve Hemingway, Intelligence Officer of 1st Suffolk, noted in his diary for the battles at Goch, that a German self-propelled gun caused many casualties as the Battalion advanced to sever the Udem-Weeze road: ‘This gun brought down accurate and sustained fire over ‘open’ sights, causing many casualties, one of whom was the Pioneer sergeant, Sergeant Vinyard’.
12 Comments
This was my uncle ❤️
Vinyards went on to serve throughout the generations grandfathers and grandsons in the footsteps of hero’s..
Remembered and respected. Charlie’s wife Ruby Cloud was my cousin.
My Uncle Charles Vinyard who Married My Aunt Ruby cloud both I never got to see But they are always Remembered. ( Thank You for your Service )
My brother Maurice sent me this link,and I did not know that my auntie ruby lived at 413 nacton road, and also my uncle Charlie vineyard lived at 515 nacton road, i have just been to check these addresses and where they were, as i pass them every day, i only knew my nan and grandad clouds which is in between the two houses mentioned.thank you for this information.
My mother, Joan Cloud and I, have visited Charlie Vinyard’s grave in Germany and paid our respects.
After Charlie’s wife Ruby died, Joan was left the eldest of the Cloud children and helped the remaining orphaned seven of them through the war and beyond. I believe only Raymond (uncle Mick) is still with us.
Hi Barry I am one of Lillian’s 9 children your mums sister, I remember auntie Joan with fond memories as a child when you lived in Colledge Road.
Thank the Lord someone has visited my Uncle Charlie’s Grave
My father Frank H Vinyard. Was Charlie’s brother
It’s very sad Charlie was never repatriated home
Hi Sharon and Marina,
Thanks for your messages, much appreciated.
I have visited Uncle Charlie’s grave twice now and assure you that it is lovingly cared for. The cemetery is immaculate in every respect.
For more information please contact me at barry@barrycollings.com
I remember the day we came home to our sister Ruby like it was yesterday. The four of us were so happy, Dennis, Barbara, Raymond, Bryan. Ruby said first you should run to the shop to get some sweets, I have the coupons, so off we rushed. We picked out our own and passed then to the shopkeeper, he said you have got clothing coupons, so we had to wait while Dennis ran back to change them. What a home coming.
Hi all cousins, Ruby was my aunt. I found Charlie’s grave site for my mother long ago as she was upset about him one day, and so I wrote to the war office (very pre computer days!) and they gave me the information. My mother & brother then went to “visit” Charlie. Mother was now MORE upset and wanted to “bring him home”. I looked into the possibility as I had also found out where Ruby was buried by then, as mother had wanted them “back together”. My uncle Bryan had “repurchased” his parents grave for a further 25 years, but sadly could not find Ruby. I later asked the cemetery staff, and as I had “frequent visitor miles” with them doing research, accompanied, they allowed me to go to it as Ruby WAS still there, but her grave had been “reused” (shudder), but only if I promised to just look, not tell, and leave nothing on it, EVER, I agreed to this to go say “hello” to her, and have been quietly back a few times since. I had to then tell my mother this – not a happy time. I did take my mother and aunt Dilla/Lillian there once, and we three had a picnic together beside Annie & Harry, this seemed to sooth matters a bit. My parents had seen Charlie off back to the war after Ruby’s death, and it was them he told on being “welcomed back to their home anytime” that he did reply “that’s real nice of you but I don’t think I’ll be returning”, that was the last he was ever seen poor man.
Hi, my name is Donna Vinyard and I am Joseph Vinyards grand daughter. His Dad Charles was Alfred’s brother and so he was Uncle to Charles T Vinyard. I had come across the tragic story of Charles and Ruby while researching my own branch of the family. All this information is new since I last looked. I had never seen a photograph of Ruby before. Seeing photo graphs of Ruby makes the story even sadder. I am glad that her final resting place is known and I am very pleased that family members have been to pay their respects to Charles. My Dad John was the youngest of Joseph’s children and only 4 years old when war broke out. He did not know any of this.