Captain
Charles Luker AWBERY
MC
Infantry
Died: 31st July 1917 - Age: 38

Commemorated:

1. Memorial:Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, FlandersPanel 39.
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.115
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour54D GQS
    

Awards & Titles:

Military Cross
 

Family :

Son of Albert Richard Awbery, of 60, Huron Rd., Tooting Common, London, and the late Sarah E. Awbery.

Education & Career :

Chartered Accountant (1910)

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment 

1/1st Battalion August 1914 : in Cambridge. Part of East Midland Brigade in East Anglian Division. Moved on mobilisation to Romford but soon on to Long Melford, then in September 1914 to Stowlangtoft and on to Bury St Edmunds in November. 15 February 1915 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre. Came under command of 82nd Brigade in 27th Division. 15 November 1915 : transferred to VII Corps Troops and then became a Training Bn for the 3rd Army School at Flixecourt. 29 February 1916 : transferred to 118th Brigade in 39th Division. 9 May 1918 : transferred to 35th Brigade in 12th Division and absorbed more than 400 men from 7th Suffolk Regiment.

Action : The Battles of Ypres 1917 (Third Ypres, or Passchendaele) 

31 July - 10 November 1917. By the summer of 1917 the British Army was able for the first time to fight on its chosen ground on its terms. Having secured the southern ridges of Ypres at Messines in June, the main attack started on 31st July 1917 accompanied by what seemed like incessant heavy rain, which coupled with the artillery barrages conspired to turn much of the battlefield into a bog. Initial failure prompted changes in the high command and a strategy evolved to take the ring of ridges running across the Ypres salient in a series of 'bite and hold' operations, finally culminating in the capture of the most easterly ridge on which sat the infamous village of Passchendaele. The Official History carries the footnote ?The clerk power to investigate the exact losses was not available? but estimates of British casualties range from the official figure of 244,000 to almost 400,000. Within five months the Germans pushed the British back to the starting line, which was where they had been since May 1915.

Charles Luker, Captain, 4/Essex Regiment attached to 1/1 Cambridgeshire Regiment. Born in Tooting Common, Charles Luker Awbery was a Chartered Accountant in civilian life. He took an interest in soldiering, and served in the Boer War with the London Scottish Regiment. He remained with them for a number of years, and qualified as an instructor at the Army School of Musketry. In 1911 he moved to Epping and took a commission in the Essex Regiment. He was attached to ?G? Company of the 4th Battalion, which was based in Ongar with a detachment in Epping. On October 11th 1914 he was promoted to temporary Captain. He landed in Gallipoli with his Battalion on 21st July 1915, and remained there until the Allied evacuation five months later. His rank of Captain was made permanent in December. He spent some time on sick leave and when fit again he was attached to the Cambridgeshire Regiment and sent to France. In the autumn of 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action. The following citation was published in the London Gazette on 12th October 1917: ?Charles Luker Awbery, Capt. Essex R. attached Cambridge R. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company direct to the final objective and got into touch with the battalions on the right and the left, sending his report to Battalion HQ. He carried out a difficult operation with great courage and skill.? Captain Awbery was reported missing in August 1917, but it was later discovered that he had in fact been killed in action at St Julien, near Ypres, on 31st July, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) . The West Essex Gazette said at the time ?His honourable sportsmanlike conduct made him many friends in Epping, by whom he will be sadly missed?. A special Mass was said for him at Coopersale House on Sunday 9th September 1917. His brother officer and Brother Freemason Captain Frank Charlton JONAS of 1/1 Cambridgeshire Regiment was killed in the same action. Source: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Essex/Epping.html Official History Military Operations France & Belgium 1917 Vol II

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Haberdashers' Aske's No. 3362 E.C.London

Initiated
Passed
Raised
21st May 1910
24th June 1910
15th October 1910
 

Source :

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Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2016-08-19 08:05:20