Charles Victor Schofield
Private 26744
3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
 |
Charles Victor Schofield was the son of Richard and Emma Schofiled. The 1901 census has the family living at 7, Donnington Road, Reading. The family then consisted of both parents and their four children. Richard 22 was an architects assistant, Elizabeth 19 a School Board teacher, Edgar 16 a shoe repairers assistant and Charles, the youngest, who was then 9 years old. In 1911 the family were living at 135, London Road and only Charles and Edgar were living at home. Charles was a gasfitter and his brother a photographic printer. The photograph indicates a differect address for Charles by the time he enlisted – 69, Donnington Gardens. By the time CWGC registers were compiled after the Armistice his father, Richard William Schofield, had moved to 359, Elgar Rd.
No service record is available for Private Schofield.The CWGC register indicates that he died of wounds on 20th December 1917 and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, location P.V.D. 3B. It is not known how or when he was injured however, the British advance on Cambrai had started on the 20th November 1917. The Grenadier Guards had been involved in severe fighting during Third Ypres and their Division was involved in fighting at Bourlon Wood and the counter offensive at Cambrai. Rouenwas the home to severalmilitary hospitals and Privat Schofield would have experinced the full range o Army Medical Corps. services from battle front to base hospital before he died.
It has taken much research to establish the full name of Private Schofield who for a long time was only known to me by his initials.