MANSELL, Charles

Charles Mansell came from Blackheath and enlisted in the Staffords. By the end of 1916 he had been transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in the 8th Division. Their main engagement in 1917 was the Third Battle of Ypres which began on the 31st July. By the middle of August the front line was at Westhoek and the 8th Division came into the front line on the 15th August with orders to take Hannebeek Wood. The Lincolns were in the front line and found the German defences too strong. The inevitable German counter-attack was successfully repelled but Private Charles Mansell was seriously wounded. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he died on the 16th August. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Lijssenthoek Cemetery (XVII AA 7) and commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.