Charles Reader enlisted in the Army in November, 1915. He was with the Wellington Regiment in France at the end of 1916, involved in the Battle of the Somme. The Official History of the Regiment describes the month of November, 1916, as being "without particular incident." That was not the case for Charles, who was hit in the head, possibly by a sniper, on the 23rd.
His Army Record shows that he died at a casualty clearing station nearly a month after he was wounded. This seems odd, as the role of the station was to patch soldiers up and move them on. Perhaps the nature of his wound meant that they felt unable to move him.
IN MEMORIAM.
READER.— In loving memory of Pvt. Charles William Reader, only son of Fred and Annie Reader; died of wounds at Hazebrouck, France, on December 19th, 1916; aged 21 years.
We who loved you sadly miss you,
As it dawns another year;
In the lonely hours of thinking,
Thoughts of you are ever dear. -Marlborough Express, 19/12/1918.
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