Category: Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment; Labour Corps
Service Number(s): 35865; 72267
Occupation: Milkman
Date of Birth: 1876
Place of Birth: Peasmarsh, Sussex
Date of Death: 1966
Place of Death: Hastings, Sussex
Address: 11 St Marys Terrace, Ninfield Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Parents: Edward Lancaster (1852-1919) and Annie Marie Lancaster, nee Tutt, born 1856.
Siblings: Lily, born 1884 and Percy (1886-1917).
Charles married Catherine Austen (1877-1969) on 10th July `1902 and they had eight children. Herbert Edward (1902-1983); Henry, born 1903; Phyllis May (1904-1985); Grace Ethel (1906-1996); Mary, born 1907; Frederick Charles (1909-1989); Herbert Edward, born 1909; Charles Henry (1912-1998).
First World War Experience
Charles enlisted on 6th February 1917 when he was 40½ years old. He was 5’ 1” tall, weighed 102lb, and had a chest measurement of 34” – expansion 2½”. He was of a good physical development with 6/6 vision in both eyes and he had two faint vaccination marks – showing he had been protected against smallpox. He also had bad teeth and a cough which had no organic reason.
Charles was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.