Charles Donald's Story.
Birkenhead News 26 April 1916Rock Ferry Rifleman Killed.
Particularly sad are the circumstances attending the death of Charles Donald Telford, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Telford, of 503, New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, who, as we reported in last Saturday’s “News,” was killed while on service with the Liverpool Rifles “somewhere in France.”
In pre-war days Rifleman Telford was, after leaving the Rock Ferry Higher Grade School, connected with the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company. He was just 21 years of age, and was exceedingly well-known in connection with the Congregational Church Football Club, and as a member of the Rock Ferry Presbyterian Gymnasium.
His father Mr. Thomas C. Telford, is a well-known figure both in Birkenhead and Liverpool, having been for over 40 years associated with the Cotton Market in Liverpool. A sad feature of the case is that on Saturday last Mr. Telford received a letter from his son informing him that he had been recommended for a commission, and expected to be sent home at any time. On Sunday morning came the official message that the young soldier had been killed. A large number of letters of condolence have been received from comrades at the front, all of which speak of the young rifleman’s splendid courage and ability as a soldier. In a letter dated April 12, and written by T. J. Barlow-Westerdale, chaplain, the deceased soldier is spoken of as a brilliant soldier, for whom everyone anticipated a bright career when he took up his commission. Sympathy is expressed on all sides for Mr. and Mrs. Telford in their sad bereavement.