Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for this research.
Charles Alfred Upfold was born either on 25th or 29th May 1892 in Dorking to Elinor Upfold. The mother and the baby lived at the Dorking Union Workhouse. Charles was baptised on 2nd June 1892 at St Martin’s church in Dorking.
Charles was “fostered” by Louisa Worsfold. Louisa was born about 1842 in Rusper, Sussex.
The Dorking British School Admission Register reads that Charles was admitted on 23rd April 1900, having previously attended the Falkland School. Charles lived at 28 Orchard Road in Dorking and his mother is stated as Mrs Worsfold. Charles left the Dorking British School on 21st May 1901 for the St Martin’s Church of England School.
During the 1901 Census, Charles resided at 28 Orchard Road. He was, together with Horace Holden, Louisa Worsfold, a widow of 59 years old and children’s nurse Louisa Worsfold. The household further consisted of four lodgers: house painter James Tugwell, bricklayer Walter Mulley, and laundress Eliza Croucher with her grandchild Ernest Croucher.
On 1st July 1901, Charles was admitted to St Martin’s Church of England School for boys in Dorking. He lived at 28 Orchard Road and left the school on 7th December 1906.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Charles is stated to be a boarder of his “foster mother” Louisa at 28 Orchard Road. Louisa is stated to be a boarding house keeper and Charles was working as a labourer in a timber yard. The household further consisted of foster children Mary and Fred Web and boarders Emily Cox, a needlewoman, and James Tugwell, a labourer. The accommodation had five rooms.
Charles enlisted in Dorking where he also resided. At this time he was working for Mr Brooker’s timber yard. He became part of the 1st/5th Battalion, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. His regimental number was T/1979 and at the time of his death he was a Lance Sergeant.
Charles was sent with the Queen’s Territorial’s to India. On 21st November 1915 he disembarked to the Asiatic Theatre of War. In December 1915 he went to the Persian Gulf.
LCE-SERGT. C. A. UPFOLD
(Queen’s R. W. S. Regt.) Killed in Action.
Mrs. Worsfold of 18 Cotmandene Square, Dorking, received information from the War Office of the death of her adopted son, Lce-Sergt. C. A. Upfold, who was killed in action in Mesopotamia on September 11th. Prior to the war he was employed at Mr. Brooker’s timber year. He was sent out the with the Queen’s Territorials to India, and in December last went to the Persian Gulf.
Charles Upfold Death Notice Dorking Advertiser © findmypast.co.uk
A POPULAR NCO’s DEATH
In a recent issue we recorded the death in action in Mesopotamia of Lce-Sergt. C. A. Upfold, of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, adopted son of Mrs. Wosfold, of Cotmandene, Dorking. Mrs. Worsfold has since received the following letter from Lieut-Col. W. L. Hodges, the Officer Commanding: “Doubtless by this time you have heard the sad news of the death of your friend, Sergt. Upfold. He was killed in action here on the 11th September, when we had to attack an Arab village and destroy it. During the action he had behaved with great coolness with his platoon, and his death is very much regretted by the whole Battalion. I personally had known him for a long number of years; in fact, he had spent all his soldier career with me, so that I am well aware of what a good non-commissioned officer we have lost, and I now desire to offer to you our sincerest sympathy. He gave his life for his country, and I know one could wish for a nobler death than his.”
The Chaplain has also sent a letter of sympathy in which he says : “Sergt. Upfold was a very popular man with his company and regiment, who deeply mourn their loss. He died a noble death, doing his duty, and has joined that great band of noble-hearted men who have unflinchingly given their lives for their country.”
Charles Upfold Death Notice Dorking Advertiser © findmypast.co.uk
Charles Alfred Upfold was killed in an action on the 11th of September 1916 in Mesopotamia.
Lieutenant Colonel W.L. Hodges, the Commanding Officer wrote: “Doubtless by this time you have heard the sad news of the death of your friend, Sergt. Upfold. He was killed in action here on the 11th September, when we had to attack an Arab village and destroy it. During the action he had behaved with great coolness with his platoon, and his death is very much regretted by the whole Battalion. I personally had known him for a long number of years; in fact, he had spent all his soldier career with me, so that I am well aware of what a good non-commissioned officer we have lost, and I now desire to offer to you our sincerest sympathy. He gave his life for his country, and I know one could wish for a nobler death than his.”
The Chaplain wrote: “Sergt. Upfold was a very popular man with his company and regiment, who deeply mourn their loss.”
Charles Albert Upfold was buried at Basra War Cemetery in Iraq. His grave reference number is: V.W.13.
Charles was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Elinor Upfold | |
| Foster Son of | Louisa Worsfold | |
| Regiment | 1st/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | T/1979 | |
| Date of Death | 11th September 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Mesopotamia | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 25 | |
| Cemetery | Basra War Cemetery, Iraq |
