Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Measures, a hosiery hawker, born on the 1st May 1867 in Gilmorton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 5th July 1868 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton (son of William Measures, 1827-1895 and Eliza Cook) and his wife Emily Measures (nee Matthews, married on the 24th September 1889 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton), born in the January quarter of 1867 in Gilmorton (daughter of Allen Matthews, 1842-1918 and Susannah West, 1843-1913). Charles was born in the January quarter of 1897 in Gilmorton and baptised as Charlie on the 9th November 1902 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton, his siblings were, Ernest, born on the 16th November 1889 and baptised on the 19th January 1890 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton, Thomas William, born in the April quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 6th September 1891 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton, Allen, born in the April quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 5th November 1893 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton and Harold, born in the October quarter of 1894 and baptised on the 30th December 1894 in All Saint’s Church, Gilmorton, all his siblings were born in Gilmorton, in March 1901 the family home was at Stockwell End, All Saint’s, Gilmorton.
In April 1911 Charles was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Mill Street, Gilmorton, together with his father, a farm labourer, mother, a hosiery trade seamer and brother, Harold, a farm labourer.
Charles’ army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 4032.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 27/10/15.
Transferred. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Under the Army Council Instruction (A.C.I. 2414/1916), published on the 23rd December 1916, that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, Charles was allotted the regimental service number 235090.
Killed in action. In the Field. 18/5/18.
Buried in Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Charles nominated his father, Thomas as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 18 May-18 - As a result of the heavy gas bombardment of last night and during the morning in GORRE CHATEAU and WOOD the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Intelligence Officer, Signal Officer and Medical Officer became casualties in addition to about 34 other ranks of Battalion Headquarters details. The Reserve Company “A” also had several gas casualties. In consequence of the above no Officers were left on Battalion Headquarters. Captain PICK “A” Company took command of the Battalion and the Brigade Intelligence Officer came up to act as Adjutant. During the evening Major G. R. A. BECKETT M.C. arrived to take over the command of the Battalion. And 2nd Lieutenant D. W. HOWARTH assumed the duties of Adjutant having been sent for from 2 M. Stores. The Battalion was relieved during the night by the 6th Battalion NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT and marched to bivouacs in VAUDRICOURT WOOD.
On the 3rd June 1919, Charles’ mother Emily Mary, of Mill Street, Gilmorton, near Lutterworth, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, commensurate on the 6th November 1918, upon her death the Pension was transferred to her husband Thomas.
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