Charles J. Rumsey R/1166
| Charles James Rumsey was born on 25th April 1886 in Hammersmith, West London. He later moved to Chippenham, Wiltshire, where he worked as a painter and decorator. In 1909 he married Mabel Doreen Watson and, before the outbreak of the war, they had three children: Doris (1910), Vera (1911) and Stanley (1914). | ||||||||
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Charles joined the Army Reserve on 31st August 1916 and was called up on 17th April 1917, entering the Royal Naval Division. He was posted to the "A" Reserve Battalion and was appointed Able Seaman on 25th June. The following day he was drafted to the Drake Battalion from the 2nd Reserve Battalion. On 22nd July he joined the XIII Corps Draft Training Depot from the Base Depot. On 20th August Charles joined Drake. He was wounded by a gas shell during the artillery barrages prior to Operation Michael on 12th March 1918. He was admitted to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen the following day, where he was recorded as seriously ill. On the 17th he was reported as seriously ill but improving, and four days later was no longer considered to be in a serious condition. On the 24th he was admitted to the Fusehill War Hospital at Carlisle. Having recuperated in hospital, Charles was granted furlough on 12th August and the following day was transferred to the Regimental Depot. On 23rd November he was transferred to the Royal Navy Depot at Devonport. After being demobilised in 1919, Charles returned to Chippenham and his family, continuing to work as a painter and decorator. Later that year a second son, Horace, was born. Charles died in 1955. |
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