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Captain Arthur Craven Charrington

Captain Arthur Craven Charrington © Tatler

Thank you to Molly Worsfold and Tim Dumas from St. Bartholomew Church in Leigh for allowing Dorking Museum to reproduce their research.

Arthur Craven Charrington was born on the 17th May 1882 at Bures Manor, the son of Nicholas Edward and Isabella Charrington. He went in 1896 to Eton College, Mr. Ainger’s House, two years after his father died. He was prominent neither at his studies nor at sport but probably spent a great deal of his holidays on horseback. He left Eton in 1900 joined the Militia and from then in 1902 he was commissioned in the Royal Dragoons. To his many friends from Eton days till his death he was known as “The Kid”. He became a wonderful horseman winning thirteen out of fifteen races on one occasion in Simla, and was for a time ADC to Lord Minot while Viceroy of India, became a close friend of the Crown Prince of Germany.

Arthur Craven Charrington (Right) © Charrington Family

The photograph above shows in c. 1910 where they had exchanged their uniforms. Craven on the right and “Little Willie” on the left dressed as Dragoon Captain.

ARTHUR CRAVEN CHARRINGTON

Dear Sir, It is with the double object of raising a little memorial of words to a stainless and much loved officer, and of encouraging those who resemble him “in this later generation at his old school – and there must be many – that I send these few lines. Craven Charrington, the younger of two brothers who were in

Arthur Charrington Obituary © Eton College Journal

Mr. Ainger’s house from 1896 to 1900. He was not the sort of boy that is prominent at school : for he was not very strong or apt at school games, which he just took as they came, quietly and happily. Some boys fretted by not being distinguished here. I think that Charrington had no jealousy and no regrets for himself when his time came to leave. He went into the Militia, and thence into the 1st (Royal) Dragoons, becoming Lieutenant in 1905 and Captain in 1910. He was A.D.C. to Lord Minto, and was also on the Staffs of Lord Kitchener and Sir O’Moore Creagh. As he grew up, he became a remarkably fine rider. There is in Fortescue’s Military History a passage about the British Officer, that hits off Charrington to the life – his love of horses, his interest in his men, his readiness to participate in service to the Empire – all of them qualities shared by hundreds of our officers, as we know with pride and thankfulness. His horsemanship may be guessed from a performance of his at a race-meeting in Simla, in which he took part in fifteen races, and rode thirteen winners and a second. His regiment was in South Africa when the war broke out, but it was called home and sent out to the front last month, and in a few days Charrington was killed by a shell in the trenches near Ypres, and now he lies in the churchyard of that town with his fighting done. The letters written to his mother by his friends show how much he was loved : “He was, and always had been, from the time we were in India together, the truest and best friend that I had in the world. Today is the saddest day in my life.” “I never heard him say an unkindly word about any one.” “I have heard no particulars, but am sure that whatever the circumstances were, the dear Kid would have been right in the front, playing the game for all he was worth.” Let that be his epitaph.

I am, yours faithfully H.B.

Arthur Charrington Obituary © Eton College Journal

 

He was killed by shell splinters on 20th October 1914 near Ypres only nine weeks after the outbreak of war. He is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery, grave reference E. 2. 4.

Arthur Charrington Plaque © Leigh Parish Council

There is a plaque in Leigh Church to his memory near the font.

FIFTEEN MOUNTS : 13 WINNERS

NOTABLE RIDER AMONG LIST OF KILLED

Capt. Arthur Craven Charrington, whose name appears in the latest list of officers killed was a remarkably fine horseman, and one of the best amateur riders that India has ever know. He was A. D. C. to Lord Minto during a part of the time when that nobleman was Viceroy to India. He was also attached to the staff of Lord Kitchener during various periods, and at one memorable race meeting at Simla, Capt. Charrington rode a winner for each of his superior officers. It will be news to many people by the way that Lord Kitchener has owned racing ponies.

At the Simla meeting Capt. Charrington set up a remarkable record, for in fifteen mounts, he rode thirteen winners and one second, the remaining runner being “down the course.” He also had the distinction of winning the Indian Grand National on an animal the property of Major Wilson, the current Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green.

Capt. Charrington was on friendly terms with the Crown Prince of Germany, whom he so strongly resembled that it was almost impossible to distinguish one from the other. There is a well authenticated story to be told of this resemblance being made to serve a purpose. Whether it was purely for a joke or for more serious reasons we may not say, but it is a fact that when it was necessary to pose before the camera with others on some big occasion the two young men changed uniforms, and while Capt. Charrington appeared in the photograph in the uniform of the heir to the throne of Germany, the Crown Prince himself was disguised as a captain in the Dragoons.

As might be supposed from his skill as horseman, Capt. Charrington was a polo player of more than an average parts in club rides at least – he was a handicap 3 man in India – though he was not heavy enough ever to be included in an international team.

Capt. Charrington, who was 32 years of age, joined the Royal Dragoons from the militia in 1902. He got his captaincy in 1910. and was A. D. C. to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 1911-12. He was the younger son of the late Mr. Nicholas Edward Charrington of Bures Manor, Reigate, and of Mrs. Charrington, Offham House, Lewes.

Arthur Charrington Obituary © The Sporting Life

Born Leigh, Surrey
Son of Nicholas Edward and Isabella Charrington of Bures Manor, Leigh
Regiment 1st Royal Dragoons
Date of Death 20th October 1914
Place of Death Ypres, Belgium
Cause of Death Killed in Action
Age 32
Cemetery Ypres Town Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
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