Charles Maitland Forbes's Story.
Lieutenant Charles Trotter, 2nd Cheshire (Railway) Royal Engineers, died in a riding accident at Chatham, Kent, whilst preparing to lead No.2 Section of Cheshire Volunteers from Crewe. He was 18 years old. (NB He had no Regimental Number as these were not introduced for officers until 1920)
Charles Maitland Forbes Trotter was born on 16th June 1882 in Church Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He was the only son of Rev. John George Trotter (1848 – 1917) and Elizabeth nee Case (1851 - 1925). He had one elder sister, Margaret Mary Maitland Trotter, known as May (1881 - 1957). His father was the curate at St Oswald's Church in Ashbourne.
Charles's father John and sister May
Shortly after Charles was born, the family moved to Polesworth, Warwickshire where his father was the vicar at the Abbey Church of St Editha from 1882 - 1917. Charles was educated first at a private school in Southbourne on Sea, Dorset, and then attended Uppingham School, Rutland, from September 1896 until 1st December 1899. Thanks to the Uppingham School Archives, we have a photograph of him, aged 15, at his boarding house, Fircroft.
Charles took an active part in village life at Polesworth. His obituary in the Tamworth Herald said:
"The deceased gentleman was a great favourite with all sections of the community. He was possessed of great musical and histrionic abilities, and at the different festive gatherings he invariably took an active part. Only a short time ago, a number of ladies and gentlemen in the parish gave a performance of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operas, (“Trial by Jury ") and on that occasion the late Lt. Trotter sustained one of the leading characters. He was also a prominent athlete, and promoted all kinds of athletic pursuits for the benefit of the youthful fraternity in the parish. In short, he was the life and soul of the place."
Aged 17, Charles became a pupil at the Civil Engineering Department of the London and North Western Railway Company in Crewe. Their records show that on 6th February 1900, Charles was a "premium apprentice" there. By 22nd February 1901, he had volunteered to join the army, first as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, later promoted to lieutenant and placed in charge of a group of men from the Crewe Reservists (Engineer Corps).
We have a record of his activities in the days leading up to his death. On the weekend before Easter 1901, Charles was visiting the family home in Polesworth. On the Saturday evening (30th March) a group of family and friends met at St Editha’s Coffee House to mark his intended departure to South Africa. He was presented with a silver-mounted pipe in a case, a silver cigarette case, and silver match box, with his initials.
“The Rev. W.M. Shepherd occupied the chair and opened the proceedings, remarking that they all admired the spirit of loyalty and devotion which inspired Lieutenant Trotter to volunteer. Mr Harry Adcock made the presentation, and in the course of his speech said he regretted that time had not allowed them to make a better present, it was only a few friends and not a parochial affair, as he would have liked it to have been. Lieut. Trotter suitably replied, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Among the ladies and gentlemen present were Miss G. Trotter, Miss May Trotter, Miss K. Trotter, Miss Dorothy Heming (Manchester), Messrs T.H. Royles, Harmston, J. Stevenson, Wm. Lawton. H. Adcock, R.G. Stokes, E.W. Pearce, Thos. Lawrence, B. Mallinson, Wm. Bird, and W. Marshall.”
(Tamworth Herald, 6th April 1901)
Charles was present at the Vicarage for the census on the following day, Sunday 31st March. Also at the house, as a visitor, was his 12-year-old cousin James Keith Trotter, son of Major General Sir James Keith Trotter.
By the Monday morning, Charles had returned to Crewe, ready to accompany his section of Cheshire Volunteers to Chatham for training. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, commanding-officer of the Crewe Engineers, inspected them on Monday 1st April, at the Drill Hall on Wistaston Road, Crewe. On Tuesday 2nd April, there was a War Office inspection of the men by Colonel Ross. The newspaper account mentions that a photograph was taken of the whole group – Charles is in the centre, to the right of his fellow officer, Lieutenant Davenport.
“On Tuesday morning the Armoury was the scene of remarkable activity in preparation for the official inspection of the troops prior to their departure, the inspecting officer being Colonel Ross, R. E. of Bladensburg, commanding officer of the Liverpool sub-district. The detachment assembled about eleven o'clock, and were in full marching order, with their khaki uniform, and complete equipment. The two officers, Lieutenants Davenport and Trotter, who are going out with the men, were in command of the respective sections, and Sergeant-Major Williams, Sergeants Robb and Jones were also on parade. At noon everything was in readiness for Colonel Ross, who arrived about a quarter of an hour later, accompanied by Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, Colonel Kennedy and the Acting Adjutant (Captain Stones). Surgeon-Lieutenant Gray was also present. Having made a most minute inspection of the clothing and accoutrements, Colonel Ross briefly addressed the men. He said he felt exceedingly proud that he had had the honour of inspecting a detachment of Crewe Engineers before their departure for South Africa, and he heartily congratulated both sections on their soldierly appearance and general smartness. (……..) At the conclusion of the inspection the detachment were photographed in a group, and after having receiving final instructions from the Sergeant-Major as to the time of their departure for Chatham, they were dismissed.”
(Northwich Guardian Saturday 06 April 1901)
Charles is on the right of the two officers in the centre of this group photo, taken on 2nd April 1901.
The Volunteers left for Chatham on Wednesday 3rd April, having been given breakfast by the Mayor of Crewe, and were accommodated at St Mary’s Barracks, where they undertook training prior to their departure. On 10th April 1901, Charles had completed musketry practice and was trying out a mare that he was considering purchasing to take with him to South Africa (officers were expected to provide their own mounts). The horse bolted and when it crashed into fencing, he was thrown and mortally wounded. He managed to make his way to the house of Colonel Rideout, but died soon afterwards of a ruptured stomach.
The inquest found that it was an accidental death.
Lieutenant E. Davenport, of the 2nd Cheshire Volunteers, stated that he rode on to the Chatham Lines with Mr. Trotter. They parted company in consequence of the witness's horse being restive. Mr. Trotter's mare was then very quiet. About 20 minutes afterwards, he received a message, and found Mr. Trotter at No. 5, Marlborough-villas, overlooking the Lines. He appeared to be in some pain, but was, apparently, not suffering acutely. The witness said, “What's the matter, old man?” He replied, “I'm only badly winded,” but did not say anything about the accident. About ten minutes afterwards, however, he died. Lieutenant-Colonel J.H.C. Harrison, commanding the service battalion of the Royal Engineers, said he was walking on the Lines when he saw that the mare was running away. She took a straight course to the railings, and he saw the rider lurch from one side to the other, and then fall to the ground. He ran to the spot, but before he got there, Mr. Trotter got up and walked up the steps of No. 5, Marlborough-villas. Dr. E. H. Hugo said that death was caused by rupture of the stomach. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”
The Times Newspaper, Saturday 13th April 1901
Charles was buried at Polesworth Church, Warwickshire on 14th April 1901, grave location E820.
The funeral took place with military honours, including the Regimental Band and a Firing Party.
“On Saturday, April 13, Lieutenant Trotter's body was transferred from Chatham to the home of his parents at Polesworth Vicarage. On that morning, the men of the Volunteer Service Section paraded at 6.30am and proceeded to the Casualty Hospital where the body was lying A procession was formed which consisted of the Band of the Royal Engineers, around 200 men of the training battalion and all Royal Engineer officers on duty. The coffin was conveyed on a gun carriage, with the bearers drawn from the Crewe men, while the rest of the Crewe contingent formed the escort, under the command of Lieutenant Davenport and Sergeant Jones (instructor of the Crewe Corps) The mournful procession then made its way to the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Station where the coffin, surmounted by the officer's helmet and sword plus three wreaths, was transferred to a special van. On arrival at Polesworth Vicarage, the coffin was covered in a Union flag and placed in large ground floor room filled with floral tributes. Back at Crewe, number of Railway Volunteers assembled next day on the Market Square, under the command of Lieutenant Lemon (accompanied by Sergeant Robb and QMS Gibson) ready to proceed to the funeral to act as bearers and a firing party, At the railway station, the men were joined by Colonel Cotton Jodrell, Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy, Captains Stones, Tandy and Jackson and Lieutenants Collins, Bowes and Godson. Here a special train was waiting and this commenced for Polesworth at around 1.00pm. At Stafford, they were joined by Lieutenant Davenport who had travelled up from Chatham. The train arrived at its destination shortly after 2.00pm and all along the approaches to the church and vicarage, thousands of people had turned out, with the arrival of the Volunteers in their scarlet uniforms, only adding to the solemnity of the occasion. The funeral cortege then proceeded to the churchyard, headed by the Regimental Band, followed by the firing party, with arms reversed, and as the coffin was carried from the vicarage by the Company Sergeant Majors and the NCO's of "B" Company, the band, under the direction of Bandmaster Coen, struck up with The Funeral March."
“From Crewe to the Cape” by Mark Potts, Tony Marks and Howard Curran
Charles is commemorated in the church by a memorial screen in the chancel of St Michael and St George. The inscription says: “This chancel screen is erected by his friends and relatives in loving memory of Charles Maitland Forbes Trotter, lieutenant 2nd Cheshire Royal Engineers, who was accidentally killed in Chatham, whilst preparing to embark for South Africa on active service 10 April 1901 in his 19th year”
Image © David Austin (WMR-19075)
His fellow soldiers completed their training at Chatham, and departed for South Africa on Saturday 27th April. Before they left, the fifty Crewe men were each presented with a silver-mounted pipe, provided by Rev Trotter in memory of his son.
"The two Volunteer detachments of the Crewe Engineer Corps, who have been undergoing training at Chatham for about three weeks, set sail for South Africa on Saturday. The men paraded at half-past four o’clock in the morning, and left the barracks shortly afterwards, headed by the R.E. band, who played them to the station, and accompanied by the Adjutant of the Royal Engineers and also the Chaplain. Although their departure was fixed for so early an hour in the morning a large number of the soldiers and many civilians turned out to see them off, and gave the gallant lads from Crewe an enthusiastic send-off. The men travelled by a special train, which left Chatham at 5.10 am and arrived at the Southampton Docks Station shortly after ten o’clock.
They set sail during the afternoon on the SS Ticemore which was taking in all about 1200 troops to South Africa, including a strong detachment of Baden-Powell’s police, several companies of the Imperial Yeomanry, and a section of the Scottish Rifles. (….) The officers in charge of the two sections are Lieutenant Davenport and Lieut. Collins, the latter having taken the place of Lieutenant Trotter, who met with his death under such tragic circumstances a few days after the arrival of the men at Chatham. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, the commanding-officer of the Crewe Engineers, paid an official visit to the barracks at Chatham some days before the men were due to leave, and he found them in the best of spirits and quite ready and anxious to enter upon the important work which will devolve upon them when they arrive at the Cape. The Rev J G Trotter, father of the late Lieutenant Trotter, sent a suitable present, consisting of a silver- mounted pipe to each of the fifty men comprising the two sections, and these were received at Chatham about a week before the date of their departure."
(Runcorn Guardian Wednesday 01 May 1901)
Remembered in the Municipal Building, Crewe
Charles is commemorated on a plaque on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe, along with seven local men from the Royal Engineers who did not return to Crewe from the Boer War, Sappers Ankers, Coops, Darlington, Evans, Foy, Madeley, Roberts, Robinson and Talbot.
Charles Maitland Forbes Trotter was born on 16th June 1882 in Church Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He was the only son of Rev. John George Trotter (1848 – 1917) and Elizabeth nee Case (1851 - 1925). He had one elder sister, Margaret Mary Maitland Trotter, known as May (1881 - 1957). His father was the curate at St Oswald's Church in Ashbourne.
Charles's father John and sister May
Shortly after Charles was born, the family moved to Polesworth, Warwickshire where his father was the vicar at the Abbey Church of St Editha from 1882 - 1917. Charles was educated first at a private school in Southbourne on Sea, Dorset, and then attended Uppingham School, Rutland, from September 1896 until 1st December 1899. Thanks to the Uppingham School Archives, we have a photograph of him, aged 15, at his boarding house, Fircroft.
Charles took an active part in village life at Polesworth. His obituary in the Tamworth Herald said:
"The deceased gentleman was a great favourite with all sections of the community. He was possessed of great musical and histrionic abilities, and at the different festive gatherings he invariably took an active part. Only a short time ago, a number of ladies and gentlemen in the parish gave a performance of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operas, (“Trial by Jury ") and on that occasion the late Lt. Trotter sustained one of the leading characters. He was also a prominent athlete, and promoted all kinds of athletic pursuits for the benefit of the youthful fraternity in the parish. In short, he was the life and soul of the place."
Aged 17, Charles became a pupil at the Civil Engineering Department of the London and North Western Railway Company in Crewe. Their records show that on 6th February 1900, Charles was a "premium apprentice" there. By 22nd February 1901, he had volunteered to join the army, first as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, later promoted to lieutenant and placed in charge of a group of men from the Crewe Reservists (Engineer Corps).
We have a record of his activities in the days leading up to his death. On the weekend before Easter 1901, Charles was visiting the family home in Polesworth. On the Saturday evening (30th March) a group of family and friends met at St Editha’s Coffee House to mark his intended departure to South Africa. He was presented with a silver-mounted pipe in a case, a silver cigarette case, and silver match box, with his initials.
“The Rev. W.M. Shepherd occupied the chair and opened the proceedings, remarking that they all admired the spirit of loyalty and devotion which inspired Lieutenant Trotter to volunteer. Mr Harry Adcock made the presentation, and in the course of his speech said he regretted that time had not allowed them to make a better present, it was only a few friends and not a parochial affair, as he would have liked it to have been. Lieut. Trotter suitably replied, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Among the ladies and gentlemen present were Miss G. Trotter, Miss May Trotter, Miss K. Trotter, Miss Dorothy Heming (Manchester), Messrs T.H. Royles, Harmston, J. Stevenson, Wm. Lawton. H. Adcock, R.G. Stokes, E.W. Pearce, Thos. Lawrence, B. Mallinson, Wm. Bird, and W. Marshall.”
(Tamworth Herald, 6th April 1901)
Charles was present at the Vicarage for the census on the following day, Sunday 31st March. Also at the house, as a visitor, was his 12-year-old cousin James Keith Trotter, son of Major General Sir James Keith Trotter.
By the Monday morning, Charles had returned to Crewe, ready to accompany his section of Cheshire Volunteers to Chatham for training. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, commanding-officer of the Crewe Engineers, inspected them on Monday 1st April, at the Drill Hall on Wistaston Road, Crewe. On Tuesday 2nd April, there was a War Office inspection of the men by Colonel Ross. The newspaper account mentions that a photograph was taken of the whole group – Charles is in the centre, to the right of his fellow officer, Lieutenant Davenport.
“On Tuesday morning the Armoury was the scene of remarkable activity in preparation for the official inspection of the troops prior to their departure, the inspecting officer being Colonel Ross, R. E. of Bladensburg, commanding officer of the Liverpool sub-district. The detachment assembled about eleven o'clock, and were in full marching order, with their khaki uniform, and complete equipment. The two officers, Lieutenants Davenport and Trotter, who are going out with the men, were in command of the respective sections, and Sergeant-Major Williams, Sergeants Robb and Jones were also on parade. At noon everything was in readiness for Colonel Ross, who arrived about a quarter of an hour later, accompanied by Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, Colonel Kennedy and the Acting Adjutant (Captain Stones). Surgeon-Lieutenant Gray was also present. Having made a most minute inspection of the clothing and accoutrements, Colonel Ross briefly addressed the men. He said he felt exceedingly proud that he had had the honour of inspecting a detachment of Crewe Engineers before their departure for South Africa, and he heartily congratulated both sections on their soldierly appearance and general smartness. (……..) At the conclusion of the inspection the detachment were photographed in a group, and after having receiving final instructions from the Sergeant-Major as to the time of their departure for Chatham, they were dismissed.”
(Northwich Guardian Saturday 06 April 1901)
Charles is on the right of the two officers in the centre of this group photo, taken on 2nd April 1901.
The Volunteers left for Chatham on Wednesday 3rd April, having been given breakfast by the Mayor of Crewe, and were accommodated at St Mary’s Barracks, where they undertook training prior to their departure. On 10th April 1901, Charles had completed musketry practice and was trying out a mare that he was considering purchasing to take with him to South Africa (officers were expected to provide their own mounts). The horse bolted and when it crashed into fencing, he was thrown and mortally wounded. He managed to make his way to the house of Colonel Rideout, but died soon afterwards of a ruptured stomach.
The inquest found that it was an accidental death.
Lieutenant E. Davenport, of the 2nd Cheshire Volunteers, stated that he rode on to the Chatham Lines with Mr. Trotter. They parted company in consequence of the witness's horse being restive. Mr. Trotter's mare was then very quiet. About 20 minutes afterwards, he received a message, and found Mr. Trotter at No. 5, Marlborough-villas, overlooking the Lines. He appeared to be in some pain, but was, apparently, not suffering acutely. The witness said, “What's the matter, old man?” He replied, “I'm only badly winded,” but did not say anything about the accident. About ten minutes afterwards, however, he died. Lieutenant-Colonel J.H.C. Harrison, commanding the service battalion of the Royal Engineers, said he was walking on the Lines when he saw that the mare was running away. She took a straight course to the railings, and he saw the rider lurch from one side to the other, and then fall to the ground. He ran to the spot, but before he got there, Mr. Trotter got up and walked up the steps of No. 5, Marlborough-villas. Dr. E. H. Hugo said that death was caused by rupture of the stomach. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”
The Times Newspaper, Saturday 13th April 1901
Charles was buried at Polesworth Church, Warwickshire on 14th April 1901, grave location E820.
The funeral took place with military honours, including the Regimental Band and a Firing Party.
“On Saturday, April 13, Lieutenant Trotter's body was transferred from Chatham to the home of his parents at Polesworth Vicarage. On that morning, the men of the Volunteer Service Section paraded at 6.30am and proceeded to the Casualty Hospital where the body was lying A procession was formed which consisted of the Band of the Royal Engineers, around 200 men of the training battalion and all Royal Engineer officers on duty. The coffin was conveyed on a gun carriage, with the bearers drawn from the Crewe men, while the rest of the Crewe contingent formed the escort, under the command of Lieutenant Davenport and Sergeant Jones (instructor of the Crewe Corps) The mournful procession then made its way to the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Station where the coffin, surmounted by the officer's helmet and sword plus three wreaths, was transferred to a special van. On arrival at Polesworth Vicarage, the coffin was covered in a Union flag and placed in large ground floor room filled with floral tributes. Back at Crewe, number of Railway Volunteers assembled next day on the Market Square, under the command of Lieutenant Lemon (accompanied by Sergeant Robb and QMS Gibson) ready to proceed to the funeral to act as bearers and a firing party, At the railway station, the men were joined by Colonel Cotton Jodrell, Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy, Captains Stones, Tandy and Jackson and Lieutenants Collins, Bowes and Godson. Here a special train was waiting and this commenced for Polesworth at around 1.00pm. At Stafford, they were joined by Lieutenant Davenport who had travelled up from Chatham. The train arrived at its destination shortly after 2.00pm and all along the approaches to the church and vicarage, thousands of people had turned out, with the arrival of the Volunteers in their scarlet uniforms, only adding to the solemnity of the occasion. The funeral cortege then proceeded to the churchyard, headed by the Regimental Band, followed by the firing party, with arms reversed, and as the coffin was carried from the vicarage by the Company Sergeant Majors and the NCO's of "B" Company, the band, under the direction of Bandmaster Coen, struck up with The Funeral March."
“From Crewe to the Cape” by Mark Potts, Tony Marks and Howard Curran
Charles is commemorated in the church by a memorial screen in the chancel of St Michael and St George. The inscription says: “This chancel screen is erected by his friends and relatives in loving memory of Charles Maitland Forbes Trotter, lieutenant 2nd Cheshire Royal Engineers, who was accidentally killed in Chatham, whilst preparing to embark for South Africa on active service 10 April 1901 in his 19th year”
Image © David Austin (WMR-19075)
His fellow soldiers completed their training at Chatham, and departed for South Africa on Saturday 27th April. Before they left, the fifty Crewe men were each presented with a silver-mounted pipe, provided by Rev Trotter in memory of his son.
"The two Volunteer detachments of the Crewe Engineer Corps, who have been undergoing training at Chatham for about three weeks, set sail for South Africa on Saturday. The men paraded at half-past four o’clock in the morning, and left the barracks shortly afterwards, headed by the R.E. band, who played them to the station, and accompanied by the Adjutant of the Royal Engineers and also the Chaplain. Although their departure was fixed for so early an hour in the morning a large number of the soldiers and many civilians turned out to see them off, and gave the gallant lads from Crewe an enthusiastic send-off. The men travelled by a special train, which left Chatham at 5.10 am and arrived at the Southampton Docks Station shortly after ten o’clock.
They set sail during the afternoon on the SS Ticemore which was taking in all about 1200 troops to South Africa, including a strong detachment of Baden-Powell’s police, several companies of the Imperial Yeomanry, and a section of the Scottish Rifles. (….) The officers in charge of the two sections are Lieutenant Davenport and Lieut. Collins, the latter having taken the place of Lieutenant Trotter, who met with his death under such tragic circumstances a few days after the arrival of the men at Chatham. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, the commanding-officer of the Crewe Engineers, paid an official visit to the barracks at Chatham some days before the men were due to leave, and he found them in the best of spirits and quite ready and anxious to enter upon the important work which will devolve upon them when they arrive at the Cape. The Rev J G Trotter, father of the late Lieutenant Trotter, sent a suitable present, consisting of a silver- mounted pipe to each of the fifty men comprising the two sections, and these were received at Chatham about a week before the date of their departure."
(Runcorn Guardian Wednesday 01 May 1901)
Remembered in the Municipal Building, Crewe
Charles is commemorated on a plaque on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe, along with seven local men from the Royal Engineers who did not return to Crewe from the Boer War, Sappers Ankers, Coops, Darlington, Evans, Foy, Madeley, Roberts, Robinson and Talbot.
Compiled by S. Lewington 2025
Acknowledgements to “From Crewe to the Cape” by Mark Potts, Tony Marks and Howard Curran for much of this information, to Fr Philip Wells, vicar of St Editha's Church, Polesworth for his photograph of the gravestone, and to Uppingham School Archives for the image of Charles aged 15.