Charles Golding was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in 1877 and baptised on 28th September at St Mary’s Church on the High Street in the same year. He was born to Harry (Henry) Golding and Caroline Sells who had a family of twelve children who were, Henry, William, George, Mary Ann, Charles, Arthur, Clara, Kate, Horace, Sidney, Lily and Minnie. George died in 1877 aged two and Clara died in 1897 when she was sixteen. The family lived on Bury Hill and nearby Bury Road for many years and all the children grew up there as well as attending Bury Mill End School. Charles left school in 1891 just before his fourteenth birthday and immediately found work as an ‘Agricultural Labourer’ on nearby farms. By the time of the 1911 Census he was recorded working as a ‘Carman’ typically the driver of horse-drawn vehicles for transporting goods. Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels and were the equivalent to modern day van drivers.

Charles was an active member of St Mary’s Church and was a bell ringer for a number of years before war broke out. He was already a member of the ringers in 1898 when he was twenty-one years old and he rang in a peal which was three hours of continuous ringing. This was followed by two more peals in 1904 and 1905, both with his father Harry and all three events were marked with the installation of commemorative ‘Peal Boards’ in the church ringing chamber.

Charles volunteered in April 1916 when he attested at Hemel Hempstead and enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was sent to Ampthill Park for basic training and following completion, he was sent overseas either at the end of the year or in early 1917. It is not known whether he went overseas with the Bedfordshires, or if he was posted directly to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. However, his military records show that he was serving with the 8th Leicestershires when he died.

The 8th Battalion Leicestershires were under the orders of the 110th Brigade in the 21st Division and in 1917 they fought in the Arras Offensive and the Third Battle of Ypres, which included the horror that was Passchendaele. In 1918 they fought at the Somme, on the Lys and in September and October in the Final Push by the Allies on the Western Front. It is not clear if Charles fought in all of these actions because he was taken prisoner at some time during his two years in France and Flanders. What is known however, is that he died of wounds, so it is reasonable to assume that he saw action up until September or October of 1918. Sadly, whilst an enemy prisoner he succumbed to his injuries.

He died on Wednesday, 23rd October 1918.

Charles was commemorated on the War Memorial plaque in St Mary’s Church in Hemel Hempstead where he had been a very active member of the congregation before going to war.

Two years after his death there was a commemorative service at St Mary’s church in Charles’ memory. It was attended by bell-ringers from Hemel Hempstead and surrounding towns and included the dedication of a special ‘Peal Board’ in the belfry. The service was followed by the ringing of a half-muffled peal which included Horace Golding who rang in memory of his older brother.

Charles is Remembered with Honour in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France where he is interred in Grave VIII. C. 25.

He was 41 years old when he died.

Charles was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.