Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery | VIII. K. 21. Souchez | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.121 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 37B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of James and Maria Digby, of Felstead, Essex.C.Digby headstone courtesy britishwargraves.co.uk
In 1901 the census records the family living at the Sugar Loaves Public House (Now called Lower Rays Farm) at the end of Mole Hill Green Road
James Digby - 59 - Publican and Baker (died 1907)
Maria - 59 (died 1902)
Frank - 24 - Baker/breadmaker
Minnie - 17 - Shop Assistant
Daisy Hurrell - 12 - Grand-daughter
Charles was already 21 and had moved away and was a Grocer's Assistant in Carshalton.
Education & Career :
Felsted School
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 123rd Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery |
- |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
Detail :
The Essex Weekly News of 26th July 1918 includes the following item in its Roll of Honour:
Second-Lieut. Charles Digby, a Siege Battery, R.G.A., was killed in action on July 10. He was a son of the late Mr. James Digby, of Rays Farm, Felsted, and a brother of Mr W.F. Digby, of the same place. The deceased, who was about 37 years of age and single, was before joining the Army in business as a grocer at Byfleet, Surrey. The Lieut-Col. commanding the Brigade, in a sympathetic letter to Mr W.F. Digby says: "He was a good subaltern in a good battery, highly thought of by his seniors and popular with all. He and his Major were killed together and their deaths were painless. They were buried the same afternoon side by side. The service was conducted by a Church of England chaplain. Each was taken to his grave by the men of the battery, and covered by the Union Jack and in a blanket - the soldier's coffin. From the grave one can look across the enemy's lines in full view - lines your brother did his full share in harassing. The service was held in heavy rain, and all the time the guns of the Brigade sent shell after shell over our heads, carrying on the work of those we laid to rest." - Several other letters from the deceased's fellow officer and the Chaplain have also been received, expressing the deepest sympathy and speaking in the highest terms of the gallantry and popularity of the fallen officer.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Bisley No. 2317 E.C. | Surrey |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
11th October 1916 | 10th January 1917 | 14th February 1917 |
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