Charles Victor's Story.
Charles Victor Blain was born in Northwich, Cheshire in 1888, one of six children born to Charles (a stonemason) and Annie Blain, who resided at 54, Navigation Street, Northwich.
After the death of his father, Annie married James Butterworth (A clerk at the chemical works) and the family moved to 8, Boundary Street, Lostock Gralam, Cheshire.
A small point of interest is that the 1911 census form is signed by his mother, by making her mark.
On leaving school, Charles was employed as an ironmonger, then a tailor. In 1909 he joined the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, and carried on his trade as a tailor.
He swiftly moved up the ranks, becoming a sergeant within the training school at The Castle, Chester.
By the start of the war he had been commissioned as a Lieutenant.
Charles was killed in action on the 3rd September 1916.
On that fateful day:
The war diary states:
3rd Sept.
FALFEMONT
Trenches Angle Wood.
8.50 p.m.
Our position reported to 13th Brigade pointing out that the front line was now full of various regiments and asking for some other battalions to take over to enable us to reorganise.
9.25 p.m.
O.C. D Company instructed to get in touch with the French on the right and if necessary dig posts to ensure protection of the flanks.
Casualties 3 Officers (including 2nd Lieut. C.V. Blain), 30 Other Ranks.
It would appear, according to the Northwich Guardian when reporting his death, that Charles had been wounded a couple of days before too when on a trench raid, and only managed to return to his own lines with some difficulty- however, the war diary makes no mention of him being wounded on that raid.
Researched and compiled by Tony Davies.