Lance Corporal 11906 Charles Henry Plant

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 3rd February 1915, age 28.
Buried in Grave I. H. 15. at Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas De Calais, France.

1st Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 91st Brigade of 7th Division.

Son of John and Dinah Plant, of 133, Park Lane East, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Stafford, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 17th December 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/291797/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
Park Lane East, Tipton, Staffs.
John Plant (45, Railway Telegraph Linesman, born Eillenhall nr Stafford) , his wife Dinah (47, born Norton), and their 3 children: Fred (16, Apprentice Moulder, born Stafford), Charles (15, Apprentice Moulder, born Stafford), and Robert (10, born Birmingham).

1911 Census
133 Park Lane East, Tipton, Staffs.
John Plant (56, Telegraph Worker for London & North West Railways, born Ellenhall nr Stafford) , his wife Dinah (57, born Norton), and 2 of their 3 surviving children of 4: Charles Henry (24, Unemployed Moulder, born Stafford), and Robert (20, Plater, born Birmingham).

Personal Data

After Charles's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £5/14/2d (5 pounds, 14 shillings and 2 pence); this was paid to his mother and Sole Legatee, Dinah, in August 1915. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in July 1919. The value of the War Gratuity shows that Charles had enlisted within the 12 months prior to his death.

No Pension appears to have been awarded to Charles's next of kin which would have been his mother, Dinah.

Action resulting in his death

Charles arrived in France on 19th December 1914 as a reinforcement to make good the losses suffered at 1st Ypres. It is possible that Charles was a Reservist or Special Reservist before the war, as he was sent to France too quickly to be a Territorial, or a New Army recruit. Drafts of 80 and 84 joined the battalion on 13th and 26th January 1915 respectively.

During January 1915, the 1st South Staffs were in the Fleurbaix sector, alternating between the front line and reserve. Losses had been intermittent, with 11 men killed during January.

The War Diary shows that on the 2nd February 1915, the 1st South Staffs relieved the 2nd Queens in the Fleurbaix "Northern sub-sector". On the next day, 3rd February, "much sniping, 3 casualties." These casualties were Pte. Samuel Barker, Sgt. John Blood, and Tipton man L./Cpl. Charles Plant. All 3 are buried in Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.