| Surname: | Charlesworth |
| Initials: | T |
| Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Army Number: | 638 |
| Notes: | MFP. T Thomas. Awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medal. First served abroad (1) France 9/8/1914. Later WOI. Enlisted in the 2 KOYLI 11/11/1894, No. 5353. Served Home 11/11/1896 to 28/5/1898, India 1/3/1898 to 16/2/1899, Mauritius 7/2/1899 to 5/10/1899, South Africa 6/10/1899 to 13/5/1900, Home 4/5/1900 to 5/8/1914, BEF 6/8/1914 to 2/1/1919, Home 3/1/1919 to 22/7/1919 to discharge. Awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal, clasps: Belmont and Orange Free State, he is shown on the King's South Africa Medal clasps 1901, 1902 shown as medal returned 8/4/1904, not entitled. Awarded the L S & G C Army order 1340, 1914.22/7/1919 to discharge, age 42 years, married, discharged from Alexandra Hospital, Corsham pending transfer to civilian institution, disability Hemiplegia, aggravated, disability 100%, 23/7/1919 he received a weekly pension of 27/6d to be reviewed in 52 weeks. Info from Pension Index Cards:- Name of widow Charlesworth, Adelaide, name of husband Charlesworth, Thomas, MFP, No. 638, rank RSM, address 5 Tower Street, Chichester, 1/1/1924 widow received £2 per week. Also:- Claimant, Charlesworth, Adelaide, Man's Name, Charlesworth, Thomas, No. 638, rank RSM, MFP, relationship to man, Wife, registered no. 11/W/11886. Thomas Charlesworth. Same No. as Sgt. A/SSM J Townley MMP. LG 30750, page 7171. Extract from the Chichester Observer, 21/11/1923. Another Military Funeral. The third military funeral within a few weeks took place at Chichester on Saturday afternoon. Deceased was Mr Thomas Charlesworth, age 47, of 5 Tower Street. He had a fine record of service extending over 22 years, most of which was spent in the Military Foot Police in which he ultimately rose to the rank of first class warrant officer. He served during the Boer War, during which he contracted double pneumonia, in addition to being wounded, and had to be invalided home. He also fought throughout the Great War, going out with the expeditionary force in August of 1914. He gained the Mons Star, with the distinctive small "rose" to indicate he had taken part in the first battle of Mons, and he was also awarded a medal for meritorious conduct, as a result of being mentioned in despatches for gallantry in the Field. He also had the medal for Long Service & Good Conduct, and the Queen Victoria medal, in recognition of his Boer War service. As a result of his war experiences, he suffered from a paralysis of the brain, which was the ultimate cause of his death, which occurred the previous Wednesday. He lived for the past three years in the city. The funeral service at the cemetery was conducted by the Rev. W Jevons (Curate of the Sub-deanery). The firing party came from the Royal Sussex Depot and the bearers from the Military Police detachment at Portsmouth, while the gun carriage and drivers were furnished by the Chichester unit of the Sussex Yeomanry Brigade. The wreaths included a tribute from his old comrades in the military police at Portsmouth. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Meritorious Service Medal (London Gazette: 30135 Page: 6027 June 18, 1917) |
| Citation: | MFP. France. Sergeant acting Sergeant Major. MSM for Gallantry, Citation, Boulogne Base, L of C Area, dated 24/3/1917, schedule No. 87277. On the 10th September 1916 whilst a railway van was being unloaded at the Base Port and was about two-thirds full a shell exploded killing one man, wounding several others and setting the ammunition boxes on fire. A chemical fire engine was quickly brought to the scene, but it was necessary for someone to enter the burning van with a hose to extinguish the fire. This S/M CHARLESWORTH did on his own initiative thereby averting what could probably have been a very serious disaster. Additional pension of 6p per diem recommended should he be ultimately discharged to pension.Base Commandant, Boulogne. GOC L of C Area. Maj Gen W E Payton Military Secretary For Commander in Chief. GHQ 12/5/1917. |
| Decoration: | Mention in Despatches (London Gazette: 29623 Page: 5959 June 15, 1916) |
| Citation: | France & Flanders. Sergeant acting Sergeant Major. |
| Decoration: | Silver War Badge (London Gazette: WO 329/3243 Page: List MPC/185 Aug. 6, 1919) |
| Citation: | Badge No. B269073. Enlisted 11/11/1896, Discharged 22/7/1919. K.R. 392 (xvi). A.O. 29/19. Age 42years. Served abroad. |