Born: 1894, Eccleshill
Died: 29 October 1918
Buried: Tezze Military Cemetery
Address: 35 Chapel Street, Eccleshill
Parents: Tom and Mary, nee Oddy
Spouse:
Siblings: Annie, Jane
Occupation: Mule Piecer, Walker & Sons, Calverley
Organisations/clubs: Eccleshill Congregational Sunday School
Military
Rank: Sgt
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: West Yorkshire Regt
Charles Edward Kitson
Charles Edward Kitson, known as
Charlie, was born in 1894 in
Eccleshill. He was the second of
three children of Tom and Mary,
nee Oddy.
By 1911 the family were living at
35 Chapel Street, Eccleshill.
Charlie at 17 years of age is a mule
piecer. At the time of his enlistment
he was employed by Messrs Walton
and Sons, Calverley and was a
member of Eccleshill
Congregational Sunday School.
Charlie enlisted in January 1916 as
Private 18640 in the Duke of
Wellington’s West Riding
Regimentt. At some point he
transferred to the 11th Battalion of
the West Yorkshire
Regiment (Prince of
Wales Own) where he
became Sergeant 43721.
During October 1916
whilst fighting on the
Western Front he was
wounded in the face by
shrapnel and spent time
in a base hospital where
the pieces of metal were
extracted.
In November of 1917
his unit transferred with his
Division to Italy and a year later he
was killed in action.
Captain F E Douglas wrote to his
family “I very much regret that
your son, Sgt. C Kitson
was killed in action on
October 27th.
“He had behaved with
great gallantry throughout
the day and was killed as
we were clearing up the
remaining Austrians.
“At the time he was trying
to bomb a machine gun
which had opened fire at
very close range and killed
and wounded several men.
“He made the attempt entirely on
his own initiative and met with a
very gallant death. I had known
your son for over a year and had
always found him, in action and in
billets, one of the very best of men
and of soldiers”.
He was 24 years of age and is
buried in the Tezze Military
Cemetery. The village of Tezze was
held by the Austrians until the
Allied forces crossed the River
Piave in the early hours of the 27th
of October. Many of those who
died on the north-east side of the
river on that day are buried in the
Tezze British Cemetery.
Charlie left his effects to his mother
Mary who received £30.1.3d on the
12th May 1919 which included his
War Gratuity of £9.0.0d.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
