Charlie Arrowsmith

Charlie Arrowsmith was born at Piptow, Breconshire, in 1898, the son of George Arrowsmith and Eleanor Wooley, who had married in Radnorshire in 1875.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Arrowsmith family was living at Spreadeagle, Glasbury St Peter, Breconshire. Charlie's father, George, aged 50, had been born in Presteigne, Radnorshire, and was employed as a general labourer. His mother, Eleanor, aged 47, was a native of Knighton, Radnorshire.

Their children recorded at home were Nellie, aged six, and Charlie, aged three.

1911 Census

By the time of the 1911 Census, 13-year-old Charlie was no longer living with his parents. Instead, he was residing with his elder brother, Albert Arrowsmith, and his family at Courtcoed, Bronllys, Talgarth.

Albert, aged 27, was employed as a working farm bailiff, while his wife, Elizabeth, was aged 31. Their two young children were William, aged three, and Ethel, who was just three months old. Charlie, aged 13, was still attending school.

With the coming of the First World War, Charlie entered military service. He initially served with the Glamorgan Yeomanry before later transferring to the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, with which he served as a Private.

Charlie survived almost the entire war, but his life was lost during the final Allied advances of 1918. On 8 October 1918, he was killed in action, aged only about 20.

His death came just over a month before the Armistice of 11 November 1918 brought the fighting on the Western Front to an end.

Private Charlie Arrowsmith is buried at Bois-des-Angles British Cemetery, Crèvecœur-sur-l'Escaut, Nord, France.

From his childhood in rural Breconshire, Charlie's life took him into military service with the Glamorgan Yeomanry and ultimately to the battlefields of France with the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Having survived until the closing weeks of the conflict, he was one of the many young men who lost their lives during the final advance towards victory.