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25/12/1895 - 25/09/1915

Place of birth: Calcutta, India
Last known address in Bromley: Beechcroft, Bickley

Military information

Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment
Battalion/Ship: 2nd Bn
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Number: Unknown

Family information

Parents: Arthur & Ellen Gertrude Forward (nee Bailey)
Parents' occupation: Draper, Lloyd's underwriter
Siblings: Marjorie, Frederick Henry

Census information

1911
Address: Monckton Combe School, Somerset

Extra details

Charles was the eldest of Arthur and Ellen Forward's three children. He was baptised on 6th February 1896 at the Old Mission Church, Fort William, Bengal. By 1911 Ellen and the children were back in England where Charles attended Monckton Combe School from Lent term 1910 to Summer term 1911, he they went onto Weymouth College. He subsequently worked for Bland Welch & Company (Lloyd's brokers).

Charles was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Bedfordshire Regiment on the 17th April 1915 and arrived in France on the 22nd June, joining the 2nd battalion in the field on the 11th July 1915. Charles was appointed as Battalion Grenade Officer on 28th August and served in that role during the Battle of Loos the following month.

During the battalion's assault on the opening day of the Battle of Loos Charles led his men over open ground and came under heavy fire from German positions on two sides. Despite the heavy casualties, they continued to advance Charles was killed as he led the platoon. During the attack the battalion lost 5 officers and between two and three hundred men. Charles' body was not recovered.