Current Information:

Age-25

36, Park Road East, Acton

Born-Hayes

Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France

The 1st Royal Berkshire battalion of 6 Brigade, 2nd Division, were relieved from the front line near Givenchy on 19th February, 1915 and moved back to billets in Le Preol. However, on the following day, 20th February, B Company was called upon to take part in a minor operation carried out by the Brigade in which a section of the enemy’s positions known as the Duck’s Bill was stormed to see if any mining was taking place there. At 5pm an artillery barrage was opened up and at 5.20pm the assault began. While the storming party caused as much havoc as they could in the enemy trenches, the engineers who accompanied the raid searched for but were unable to find any trace of mines and at 5.40pm the signal to retire was given. 1st Royal Berkshire sustained eleven casualties during this operation, including Charles Rouse who was killed.