Jim Charles, killed at Credenhill munitions,1923

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Jim Charles, killed at Credenhill munitions,1923

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Image Details

Title Jim Charles, killed at Credenhill munitions, 1923
Description Black and white photograph of Jim Charles, killed at Credenhill munitions, 1923

James Samuel Charles was born March 1889 and his occupation shown on the 1911 census was a miller. He moved to Liverpool and worked on the railway. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in September 1915 at Preston. His postings were to Newbridge, Cahir Barracks (Ireland) and Rollestone Camp, Salisbury in July 1915. He became a driver and was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and disembarked Le Havre September 1915. He remained in France, was hospitalized with influenza in November 1918 and at the end of the war he embarked Bologne January 1919. He was de-mobbed and returned to Hereford.
After a long time unemployed he found work at Credenhill Munitions Stores where he was killed. It appears that he had difficulty removing a fuse and informed the charge hand who advised him to do the best he could. The accident then happened and the explosion caused the death of James and much damage to the building. The inquest recorded that the shell was exploded by the wrongful assembly of the parts of the fuse and that the danger lay dormant since 1915 until the unloading of the shell. This was only the second death to have occurred at Credenhill.
James who was a bachelor was engaged to Nellie Davies (I believe her father was gamekeeper on the Foley estate). He was a keen pigeon fancier. He survived the war without injury and died April 1923 aged 34, yet another casualty of war.
Details from an article in the Hereford Journal Saturday 5th May 1923
Photographer / artist Unknown
Publisher Unknown
Contributor(s)
Date 1923
Type Image
Format Photograph
Identifier ROF002
Area Herefordshire
Collection Holder Private collection