LAIGHT Charles Valentine

On the 1911 census Charles Valentine Laight, aged 49, born in Canada, Beerhouse Keeper of Royal George, Evesham Street, lived with his wife Kate Elizabeth and their 4 children still at home.

The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, Saturday 17th May 1919:
Death of Colour-Sergeant Laight, of Redditch
The death occurred at his residence, Oakly Road, Redditch, on Sunday, of Mr Charles V. Laight, who was one of the most prominent figures in the old Volunteer and Territorial movement in Worcestershire.  Mr Laight, who was 57 years of age, was for many years a member of the Redditch Company 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in which he held the rank of colour-sergeant.  He was one of the first to volunteer for service in South Africa during the Boer War, and held the rank of sergeant in the Worcestershire Volunteer Service Company, which was attached to the renowned second battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment.  Upon the outbreak of the European War he again volunteered for service as a member of the National Reserve.  He was again accepted, and was employed for some time in instructional work.  Later he was drafted for service abroad, and was attached to the 2/8th Worcestershire Regiment, and saw much hard fighting.  He was gassed and invalided home, and had since been in very indifferent health.  He was an excellent rifle shot, and represented the Worcestershire Volunteer Battalion on a number of occasions at the annual meeting at Bisley.
The funeral took place, with full military honours, on Thursday afternoon, at Redditch Cemetery. Band, firing party, and bearers attended from the Worcestershire Regimental Depot at Norton, Worcester.  The chief mourners were the immediate relatives. Representatives were also present of the Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers (local branch), old members of €œH€ (Redditch) Company of Volunteers abd Territorials, with whom deceased had served; and representatives of the local lodges of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.  A short service took place at St Stephen’s Church, conducted by the Rev. G.L. Mitchell, who, in an appropriate address, referred to the deceased’s qualities, and said throughout life he was essentially a volunteer €“ a man whose actions and activities sprang from his good will and his free will.  He gave up much so that he might serve his country.  As the funeral cortege made its way to the cemetery, the band played the Dead March in €œSaul.€  After the last rites volleys were fired, and the €œLast Post€ sounded.

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger digitised by and courtesy of Martin Stephens: http://www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk