Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Conquest a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1860 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire (son of Charles Conquest, 1832-1891 and Sarah Ann Benton, 1834-1912) and his wife Lois (Louisa) Conquest (nee Hyman, married on the 2nd June 1884 in St. Stephen’s Church, Nottingham), born on the 29th November 1862 in Frisby on the Wreake, Leicestershire (daughter of Thomas Hyman, 1828 and Elizabeth Hamson, 1828). Charles Edwin was born on the 25th October 1889 in Belgrave, Leicester and baptised on the 3rd February 1890 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, he had one sibling, a brother Alfred Owen, born in the January quarter of 1891 in Belgrave and baptised on the 17th March 1891 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, in April 1891 the family home was at 12, Malt Office Lane, Belgrave, Wanlip, Leicester. Alfred died in the October quarter of 1891 in Leicester, aged 1. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a shoe trade laster and was residing at 21, The Green, Bath Street, Belgrave, Leicester together with his wife, Fanny Conquest (nee Barnes, married on the 23rd July 1910 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave) a shoe trade laster, born 1891 in Belgrave, this being the family home of his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and brother, Albert, an engineer’s labourer, born in the January quarter of 1897 in Belgrave and baptised on the 20th February 1899 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave. Charles and Fanny had two children, Leslie Edwin, born on the 29th April 1912 and baptised on the 18th May 1915 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave and Dorothy Gwendoline, born on the 18th December 1914 and baptised on the 18th May 1915 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, both children were born in Belgrave. Charles also had the following siblings, William Norris who was born in the April quarter of 1888 in Belgrave and who died in the July quarter of 1888 in Belgrave, Rosanna, born in the January quarter of 1893 and who died in the January quarter of 1894 in Leicester, aged 1, Charles William, born and died in the October quarter of 1894 in Leicester and Cecil, born and died in the October quarter of 1895 in Leicester.
Charles’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Leicester into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was allotted the service number 16691, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 2nd Battalion. And it was to join this Battalion, that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 3rd June 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported as having been killed in action on the 25th September 1915, while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was buried in Rue du Bacquerot No.1 Military Cemetery, Laventie, France. Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. On the 17th April 1916, Charles’s widow Fanny was awarded a weekly Army Pension of eighteen shillings and six pence for herself and her two children.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCOs of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime, our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Tuesday, October 19th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Official information has reached Mrs. Conquest, of 25, St. Bernard-street, Belgrave, that her husband, Private CHARLES E. CONQUEST, has been killed in action. Private Conquest, who had been reported missing after the operations on September 25th, was 25 years of age, and joined the 3rd Leicester’s last February. His widow is left with two young children.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN LEICESTERS. – (A photograph accompanied the article) – Pte. Chas. E. CONQUEST, enlisted in 3rd Leicester’s last February. Widow and two children live at 25, St. Bernard-street, Belgrave.