My Grandfather - Family Man and Soldier

Last summer my mother died aged 66. She was a child that never knew her father and while I was always aware of some of the events that shaped her past, only now when I have started to go through her things have they made more sense.

My grandfather was born March 1908 in Wellington, Shropshire. There is a frail ‘CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of BIRTH’ witnessed on 20Th July 1922 and ‘required for the following purpose, namely … employment in labour’. It seems that at 14 years old, Charles Robert Heath was out to work, at least officially. At what and where I have no information, but by the age of 19 years old, there is a picture, several actually, of him in military uniform. The picture is classically posed. He is sat at an angle to the viewer, looking straight at the camera. The left side of his face is lit, showing slicked back hair, a clear complexion and square jaw. He is a healthy, broad shouldered youth, ready to fight for King and country. There is evidence that he acquired a number of campaign medals, the latest being dated 1931 and with the title ‘The North West Frontier’. He was to become a well travelled regular soldier.

The next piece of information I have, is his marriage in 1934 to my grandmother. By then, he was 26 and a maltster. Children quickly arrived on the scene, my uncle (born 1934) and another, my mother (born 1937). I know my grandparents were happy. My mother over the years told me stories of my grandmother, how she had been engaged three times before she had met my grandfather and how she had turned down a number of would be suitors after the war because she had loved Charlie dearly.

In 1939 when the war started, Charles Robert was a reservist and called up immediately. He came back on leave once or twice and there are short letters in pencil written to his little family headed the ‘260th Anti Tank Bty’, ‘65th Anti Tank Reg’, ‘B.E.F.’. He was a Gunner in France. Some snippets from the mostly undated letters:

‘I write you a few lines just to let you know I am feeling fine, hoping this will find you and the babies in the best of health. I am sorry to tell you that our leave as been cancelled for a while but ill let you know when it starts again. It will only be for a week or so.’

‘Our leave starts next week but I don’t know who is going first. I will soon let you know when my turn comes that is if it is not cancelled’

The only dated letter, 7/3/40:

‘I received your most welcome letter and I am glad to know you are all well.…
.
Here is grand and we are all having plenty of food, we buy some eggs and potatoes ourselves and have good suppers’
….
Keep your pecker up, I shall have leave some time, I have not got much to say will write again so allow me to remain, your loving husband
Charlie

Keep smiling
xxxx xxxx’

There is no mention of the war, his activities as a soldier or his whereabouts.

In May 1940, the worst happened, a little boy of 5 and a little girl of 2 lost their dad and their mother became a widow. Charles was the first soldier to be killed in the town where he lived. He was 32.

Two letters fill in the detail, the first from a friend:

‘821720
Gnr A Harrison
260/65 A/T Regt RA
Dorchester
Dear Mrs Heath,

I hope you will pardon the long delay in answering your most welcome letter, but perhaps you will notice by the above address that the battery has moved from Bridport and it seemed to me that your letter was held up there for some considerable time. Anyway Mrs Heath I am getting way from the point, so I will do my best to give you the information you require, in answering your letter.

The photo you enclosed was very nice and I can definitely see Bob in both your children, especially the boy, he is very much like him I think, and you are justified in say that Bob had that to live for. I am sending it back along with this letter as you requested, but all the same Mrs Heath I would very much like to keep it. He used to tell me quite a lot about yourself and the kiddies, he seemed very much interested in gardening too. Perhaps you have one of him to spare. I would be much obliged if you could send one.

You wanted to know what Bob suffered. Well Mrs Heath, I can assure you that he didn’t. He was killed instantaneously by a bomb explosion. Perhaps I had better explain how it all happened. Our run of bad luck began when we ???? an advance against the Germans from Vimy Ridge near Arras. We advanced for ten miles with our guns and came in action against about fifty German tanks outside a small village. Bob and I were in the same gun team at the time and we put paid to thirty odd of tanks. During the action our lorries were set in fire by incendiary bullets and shells fired from the enemy tanks, so all our kit went up in smoke. The officer in charge then ordered us to retreat. It happened that we had no choice. All three of our guns were out of action and ten of our pals were killed and three wounded. Bob and I and two others had to get back with the wounded the best way we could. The officer was awarded the M.C. for that action. The remainder of the battery were in action on the other side of the village so they didn’t experience that little bit.

We joined the rest of the unit in the village and when it was dark we went back to Vimy Ridge. The next day Bob and I were detailed to build a defence post at our battery H.Q. which was situated in a small village and we were getting along fine, ducking for cover every time German aircraft came overhead, until a French regiment came in and that did it. We were immediately spotted by the aircraft and they dive bombed us. We both dashed for cover, I went down the cellar of a building and Bob went for the rear entrance. After the attack I went out to look for him to see if he had managed to escape it, but imagine my horror when I found him dead with three other boys. It seemed that a bomb had struck the corner of the building and collapsed on top of them, before they had chance to get inside. Two of the boys buried Bob outside the village beneath Vimy ridge. I was too upset to perform the job myself.

You wanted to know what happened to ??? Bob had in India. You don’t mean his frontier medal do you. If you mean that, well he told me that he had left it at home.

Well Mrs Heath I think that is all I can tell you. So if there is anything that you would wish to know just drop a line. I will close now so cheerio and keep smiling.

Yours sincerely
Gnr A Harrison

P.S. give my best regards to the kiddies.’

And the second from the palace

‘Buckingham Palace

The Queen and I offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow.

We pray that your country’s gratitude for a life so nobly given in its service may bring you some measure of consolation.

George R.I.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.