Commemorated: | |||
Awards & Titles: | India General Service Medal (1854) with Burma Clasp Justice of the Peace | ||
Early Life :
According to The Peerage Charles Warren Napier-Clavering was born at Stretton, Stafford on 19 August 1858, second child and first son of John Warren Napier-Clavering by his wife Anna Maria Margaret Helen Hunter. He married Margaret Nevile Reid, daughter of Nevile Reid, on 24th October, 1899 and they had amongst others a daughter: Hélène Margaret Napier-Clavering b. 6th October, 1900.Amongst his civic duties, he held the office of Justice of the Peace.
His portrait image, amongst others of him in military attire, can be found as part of the collections held by the National Portrait Gallery.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The Third Anglo-Burmese War 1885-1887, Burma.
- The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry |
1st Battalion August 1914 : in Colchester. Part of 11th Brigade, 4th Division. 22 August 1914 landed at Le Havre |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
Formerly of the 13th Regiment, Light Infantry, passing through the Military College in 1876. He mostly spent his military career between service at home and the East Indies. He spoke French and became an interpreter in Hindustani. He fought in the Burma Expedition 1885-1887 (Third Anglo-Burmese War) and was awarded the India Medal with the Burma Clasp. He further served in South Africa in the Boer Campaign. By the time of, and for the duration of the Great War he was a commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel and gained the rank of Colonel in the Somerset Light Infantry (The Prince Albert's) thereafter. He died on 22nd October, 1931.
His death was reported in the Chester-le-Street Chronicle and District Advertiser 30th October, 1931: "DISTINGUISHED ARMY CAREER. The death took place at his club in Newcastle on Thursday afternoon of Colonel Charles Warren Napier-Clavering, Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland Freemasons since 1909.
Colonel Napier-Clavering had been resident at Taunton for some time, and for many years occupied Axwell Park, Blaydon, one of the seats of the family in the North of England. He visited Newcastle a few days ago and caught a chill, pnuemonia supervening. He was aged 74."
Probate records two entries under NAPIER-CLAVERING Charles Warren of Staplegrove House Taunton died 22 October 1931 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Probate (save and except settled land) Newcastle-upon-Tyne 7 January to Margaret Nevile Napier-Clavering widow. Effects £59302 3s. 8d. Resworn £61590 19s. 3d. Further Grant 18 July 1932.
Probate (limited to settled land) Newcastle-upon-Tyne 18 July to Francis Napier-Clavering esquire and William Waymouth Gibson solicitor. Effects £302 15s. 9d.
Former Grant D.R. Newcastle-upon-Tyne 7 January 1932.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Doyle's Lodge of Fellowship No. 84 E.C. | Guernsey & Alderney |
| Joined : | Aldershot Army and Navy No. 1971 E.C. | Hampshire & IOW |
| Joined : | Stewart No. 1960 E.C. | Punjab |
| Joined : | Lodge of Industry No. 48 E.C. | Durham |
| Joined : | Lambton No. 375 E.C. | Durham |
| Joined : | Clavering No. 3290 E.C. | Durham |
| Joined : | Saint Nicholas No. 1676 E.C. | Northumberland |
| Joined : | Northumberland No. 685 E.C. | Northumberland |
| Joined : | Lodge Vandeleur No. 3586 E.C. | Northumberland |
| Joined : | Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity No. 261 E.C. | Somerset |
| Joined : | Lodge of Harmony No. 438 E.C. | Bengal |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
8th April 1896 | 13th May 1896 | 10th June 1896 |
Charles was initiated in 1896 into Doyle's Lodge of Fellowship, Guernsey, whilst serving as a 38 year old Captain in the Army. He became Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland in 1909 and remained so until the time of his death and given the distinguished elevation of his masonic career, it is unsurprising that Charles joined many lodges. Those lodges he joined that can be traced are:
1897 Aldershot Army and Navy Lodge No. 1971, Aldershot, Hampshire
1900 Stewart Lodge No. 1960, Rawal Pindi and Murree
1905 Lodge of Harmony No. 438, Cawnpore
25 Nov 1907 Lodge of Industry No. 48, Gateshead
11 Oct 1907 Lambton Lodge No 375, Durham
10 Feb 1908 Clavering Lodge No. 3290, Blaydon-on-Tyne
21 Apr 1909 St. Nicholas Lodge No. 1676, Newcastle-on-Tyne
4 Oct 1910 Northumberland Lodge No. 685, Newcastle-on-Tyne
15 Feb 1912, The Lodge Vandeleur No. 3586, Seaton Delaval
19 Oct 1921 Unanimity & Sincerity Lodge No. 261, Taunton Somerset
Masonically, he was heavily involved in virtually every Order and held high Office in many. He was also Grand Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees and Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor.
Worshipful Brother Ian Brown has written a book chronicling the Life and Times of Colonel Charles Warren Napier-Clavering. The book is illustrated with many family photographs and it can also be read as a social history of the late Victorian Age. Soldier and Mason: The Life & Time of Colonel Charles Warren Napier-Clavering. If you would like a copy (£12 in 2020), email i.w.brown@btinternet.com with all proceeds from the book going to his chosen charity.
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