Private Charles Jepps

Born: 1^st Quarter of 1896

Date of Death: 28^th October 1916

Age: 20

On the Upavon War Memorial, Charles Jepps is listed as being in the Somerset Light Infantry. However, the only C. Jepps with a connection to Upavon appears to be the following:

Charles Jepps was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in the first quarter of 1896, to Charles and Fanny Jepps. He was the youngest of seven children: three boys—William (b. 1881), Abraham (b. 1891), and Charles—and four sisters—Emily (b. 1883), Jane (b. 1886), Florrie (b. 1888), and Sarah (b. 1892).

In the 1901 Census, Charles' father was recorded as a postman, while his mother, Fanny, was a greengrocer and poulterer. The family resided at 12 Church Yard, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

By the 1911 Census, Charles’ father had moved to Shillington, Hertfordshire, while the rest of the family remained at 12 Church Yard. At that time, Charles’ father had retired from the post office, and Fanny, Jane, and Abraham worked as greengrocers and a fishmonger, respectively. Charles, aged 15, was employed as a post office messenger.

Charles enlisted in the Army at Pewsey, Wiltshire, which seems to be his only link to the Upavon area. He served in the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire) Regiment.

Military Service of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment

At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the 2nd Battalion was stationed in Jhansi, India. They returned to England, arriving on October 22, 1914, and joined the 25th Brigade in Winchester for training before being deployed to France. They landed at Le Havre on November 5, 1914, to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force and served on the Western Front throughout the war.

• 1915: Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, and the action of Bois Grenier.
• 1916: Participated in the Battle of the Somme.
• 1917: Engaged in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Pilkem, and the Battle of Langemarck.
• 1918: Fought in the Battle of St Quentin, actions at the Somme crossings, the Battle of Rosieres, Villers-Bretonneux, the Battle of the Aisne, the Battle of the Scarpe, and the Final Advance in Artois, including the capture of Douai.

Private Charles Jepps 23651, 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment, died during the Battle of the Somme on 28^th October 1916 and is buried in Thiepval Cemetery.