Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.139 | |
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 38D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | 1914 (Mons) Star British War Medal Victory Medal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal | ||
Early Life :
Born Chatham, 4th December 1878 to father, Charles, New Quarters, Marine Barracks, Chatham; Married 23/12/1903 ; Wife, Daisy, 17 Herbert Rd., Chatham, later of: 14 Elliot St., Gravesend, later of: 41 Sydney St., Chatham, later of: 316 Uxbridge Rd., Shepherds Bush, London.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Chatham Bn. R.N. Div. RMLI |
| Action : Gallipoli |
The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.
Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.
Detail :
Service No. Ch/6430. Enlisted Chatham 6/6/1892; Promoted Corporal 29/6/1898, Sergeant 4/6/1901; Re-engaged 25/6/1908; Colour Sergeant 9/10/1911, Quartermaster Sergeant 9/6/14, Acting Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer 1st Class) 20/9/14; Was with the Chatham Battalion at Ostend, Dunkirk & Antwerp in 1914.
Served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) from 6th February 1915 until the date of his death 3 months later. He was killed at Gallipoli in the 2nd Battle of Krithia:
WILLSHER, Charles D, Act/Sergeant Major, RMLI, 6430 (Ch).
His death is reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on the 31st May 1915, showing him listed amongst those "Killed" in the Chatham R.M.L.I. Battalion and as Sergt-Major C.D. Willsher.
3/2/15 Competed in a team from 'B' Company & Bn. HQ Chatham Bn., in a Shooting Match against Iwerne Minster Miniature Rifle Club, at Iwerne Minster, Dorset (score 75 of 100).
In his naval service he had been awared the Royal Nacy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (6th April 1912). For his war service he awarded posthumously the 1914 Star & clasp, which was issued to his widow 23rd August 1920.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lord Charles Beresford No. 2404 E.C. | East Kent |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
28th December 1907 | 28th January 1908 | 25th February 1908 |
Recorded as a Sergeant in the Royal Marines Light Infantry, Chatham when initiated in 1907."Killed in action 15 May 1915"
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley