DUDLEY, Charles

Charles Dudley was the son of Charles and Mary Dudley who were living in 1901 at 109 High Street, Wordsley. He attended King Edward’s School, Stourbridge, and enlisted in the South Staffords Territorials, probably in 1917. He was sent to the 1/6th Battalion in the 46th (North Midland) Division and had arrived on the Western Front just before the climax of their fighting in the 1918 Advance to Victory. In its decisive battle on the 29th September they stormed the Hindenburg Line, crossing the St. Quentin Canal at Bellicourt in the morning mist and wonderfully surprised the defenders. The casualties in this decisive victory were remarkably light but included Private Charles Dudley who was killed in action on that day. He was 18 years of age and is buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery (III K 3) and commemorated on the Wordsley and King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, Memorials.