Charles's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Charles Arnold was born in Macclesfield on 10 June 1889, the son of Sarah Ann (née Stubbs) and John Thomas Arnold, both silk weavers. In 1891, one-year-old Charles was living at No. 4, Court 1, Lord Street, Sutton, south Macclesfield with his parents and older brother Samuel (11). By 1901 Charles' father had died and Charles was living at House 4, Court 1, Mills Croft, Macclesfield with his widowed mother and younger brother James (8). The family had moved again to House 2, Court 2, High Street, Sutton by 1911, and Charles was working as a bricksetter's labourer.
WW1 SERVICE
Charles enlisted in Macclesfield in February 1915 and, after training, was drafted to France in June 1916.
The death of Charles Arnold was reported in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 21 December 1917:
LANCE-CORPORAL C ARNOLD
Mrs Arnold, widow, who resides with her daughter-in-law (Mrs Samuel Arnold) at 2 Higginbotham Green, Sutton, has been officially informed that her son Charles, a lance-corporal in the Welsh Regiment (Machine Gun Section) was killed in action on the 24th November. Deceased, a single man, aged 27, enlisted in February 1915 and had been on active service in France since June, 1916. He had been looking forward to coming home on leave on the 22nd November... but at the last moment... his pass was cancelled for the time being. Two days later he was called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. He had previously come through several engagements unscathed.
His mother has had a sympathetic letter from his platoon officer (Sec Lieut White), who testifies to the deceased's excellent character... Lance-Corporal Arnold was educated at Lord Street School, and at the time of enlistment was employed at Sutton Brewery.
The deceased's eldest brother, Private Samuel Arnold, is with the Cheshires in Egypt. An ex-soldier - he served through the South African War - he felt the call of duty when the present war broke out, and although a married man with seven children, he patriotically volunteered for further service during the second week in August 1914, and was accepted. His younger brother, James, is with the Cheshire Yeomanry on the East Coast. Private Joseph Gould, a brother of Mrs Samuel Arnold, has been wounded no fewer than six times whilst serving with the Cheshires, and is now on home service. Another brother, Thomas Gould, joined the Royal Engineers as a pioneer, and is now a dispatch rider in Egypt. Two cousins of the late Lance-Corporal Arnold are with the Canadians in France.
COMMEMORATION
L/Cpl Charles Arnold has no known grave and is commemorated on panel ref. 7 on the Cambrai Memorial, France.
In Macclesfield, L/Cpl Charles Arnold is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church and St George’s Church war memorials.
NOTES
Brother of Private Samuel Arnold, who served with the Cheshire Regiment, and James Arnold, who served with the Cheshire Yeomanry. Brother-in-law of Private Joseph Gould, who served with the Cheshire Regiment and was wounded six times; and Thomas Gould, who served as a pioneer with the Royal Engineers and later as a dispatch rider. Two cousins served with the Canadian forces.
SOURCES
GRO Birth Index
England and Wales Census: 1891, 1901, 1911
National School Admission Registers (Find My Past)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Advertiser: 21 December 1917
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.