HILL, Charles

Charles Hill was born in Netherton and lived in Cradley Heath. He volunteered in 1914 for the Worcesters and was sent to the 9th (Service) Battalion. They were part of the reinforcements for the Gallipoli forces in 1915 and after the evacuation in January 1916 they went on to Mesopotamia (Iraq). The original British force on the Tigris was trapped at Kut by the Turkish army and the Worcesters were part of the relief force which moved up the river in April. Despite three attempts to reach them the British troops in Kut were forced to surrender. In the last attempt, a night battle at Bait Isa, the casualties included Lance Corporal Charles Hill who is commemorated on the Basra and Halesowen Memorials.