LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII
Private Charles Daniel Kirkham
7 Bn Hampshire Regiment
Town Memorial World War II
CHARLES DANIEL KIRKHAM
Service Number: 5512272
Hampshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Died 10 July 1944
Age 31 years old
Buried or commemorated at
ST. MANVIEU WAR CEMETERY, CHEUX
IX. H. 6.
France
Son of Charles Stewart Kirkham and Jane Kirkham; husband of Agnes Kirkham, of Fetcham, Surrey.
Personal Inscription
"LET NOT THY HEART BE TROUBLED, IN HIS UNERRING WISDOM THOU MAY'ST CALMLY REST"
The War Graves Grave Concentration Report states that he was originally buried at Eterville and was reburied at St Manvieu on 7 November 1945.
Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 30 September 1944
FETCHAM SOLDIER’S DEATH
Mrs. C. D. Kirkham, of 51, Nutcroft Grove, Fetcham, has just received the official intimation that her husband, Mr. Charles Daniel Kirkham, was killed in Normandy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Kirkham, of 9, High Street, Leatherhead. Pte. Kirkham was a carpenter before he joined the Army in January. 1940. He went to Normandy soon after the opening of the second front. His wife was first informed that he was missing, believed to be wounded. There are two children, two sons, one aged 5 years and the other 15 months.
Mrs. C. D. Kirkham, of 51, Nutcroft Grove, Fetcham, has just received the official intimation that her husband, Mr. Charles Daniel Kirkham, was killed in Normandy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Kirkham, of 9, High Street, Leatherhead. Pte. Kirkham was a carpenter before he joined the Army in January. 1940. He went to Normandy soon after the opening of the second front. His wife was first informed that he was missing, believed to be wounded. There are two children, two sons, one aged 5 years and the other 15 months.
On 22th June 1944, 7th Hampshire landed on the Normandy beaches near le Hamel, where 1st Hampshire had landed 16 days earlier. Initially in reserve, but on 10th July they were given the task of capturing and holding the village of Maltot and the woods beyond. This entailed a long advance down a slope with little cover and in full view of the enemy.
7th Hampshire attacked at 8.15am supported by tanks. Advancing towards Maltot, they met fierce opposition and sustained heavy casualties. Part of the Battalion did manage to enter the village where they attempted to secure defensive positions. Unfortunately, they ran into a very strongly defended enemy position with Tiger tanks concealed and dug in on the outskirts of the village. Consequently, the enemy were able to counter attack strongly and the situation for the companies in the village became hopeless. Although help came from reinforcements, they eventually had to withdraw.
The casualties suffered were high, 18 officers and 208 Other Ranks were killed, wounded or missing [source: The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum]
One of those who died was Charles Kirkham. He was originally buried at Eterville on the NW edge of the commune of Maltot.
His life
Charles Kirkham was born on 16 August 1912 in Broad Somerford, Wiltshire.His father was Stewart Charles Kirkham, born 15 April 1879 in the parish of St Annes, Soho, London. He was a son of Joseph Charles Kirkham, a Decorator.
His mother was Jane Rebecca Ward, born 23 May 1880, St Pancras, London. She was a daughter of Charles Ward, Artist Colourman (1850-1929) and Hannah Baldwin (1849-1934).
They married in the Parish Chapel of St Pancras Parish Church, London on 19 August 1905. They were both aged 25.
His siblings were: Lillian (1909-1998), Cicely (1911-1996) and Elsie Ruth (1921-2008).
From the Electoral Registers it appears that Charles and his parents did not come to live in the Leatherhead area until a year or two before his marriage in 1937:
1934: Pebblehill Road, Walton-on-The-Hill,
Surrey
1935: 1 Sandlands Terrace, Sandlands Road, Walton-on-The-Hill, Surrey
1936: 9 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey
1935: 1 Sandlands Terrace, Sandlands Road, Walton-on-The-Hill, Surrey
1936: 9 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey
Charles married Agnes Evans on 23 October 1937 at Leatherhead Parish Church:
Charles Daniel Kirkham, 25, Batchelor:
Carpenter of 9 High Street Leatherhead: Father - Stewart Charles
Kirkham, Chauffeur
Agnes Evans, 21, Spinster: of The Warren, Ashtead: Father - William Evans, Shipwright
Agnes Evans, 21, Spinster: of The Warren, Ashtead: Father - William Evans, Shipwright
Agnes was born 4 October 1916. Other than what is in the Marriage Register nothing is yet known of her background.
In the 1939 England & Wales Register Charles and Agnes were at 51 Nutcroft Grove, Fetcham, Surrey. According to the newspaper report of his death they had two sons.
Charles' Probate record states his address as 51 Nutcroft Grove, Fetcham, Surrey, that he died on war service and that his estate was left to Christopher Alfred Wren, Sapper, HM Army (the husband of his eldest sister Florence).
After the war
Charles Daniel Kirkham is also named on the Fetcham War Memorials.His father died on 23 January 1946 at Leatherhead Emergency Hospital. His Probate address was 9 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey.
His mother died on 14 August 1966. Her Probate address was 7 Berry Meade, Ashtead, Surrey.
His widow Agnes continued living at 51 Nutcroft Grove, Fetcham.
Her marriage to Henry JS Neary was registered in April 1946, Surrey Mid Eastern District. They were at 51 Nutcroft Grove in the Electoral Registers until at least 1962.
The death of an Agnes Neary born 4 October 1916 was registered in Mid Warwickshire District in April 2005. She was resident in a flat in Leamington Spa in 2004-5.
Charles Kirkham is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Fetcham War Memorials WWII
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further information on this casualty
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last updated 22 Aug 20