PUMFREY Charles

In 1901 Charles Pumfrey aged 11 lived in Upton on Severn with his parents Charles and Mary Ann, his older brother Edwin aged 18, brothers Albert aged 7, Benjamin aged 5 and sister Diana aged 3. His father was employed as a Foreman Bricklayer. In 1911 Charles was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers living in the Wellington Barracks in Hong Kong, China. His parents were resident in Court Street, Upton on Severn with four of their 14 children.

Charles Pumfrey Sailed from London to Melbourne, Australia on 10th May 1913 on the Makarini.  He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces at Casula, New South Wales, Australia on 16th January 1916.  On his attestation form he gave his place of birth as Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England, his age as 26 years 9 months and his occupation as a bricklayer.  He had spent 5½ years as an apprentice with Wood & Sons, The Butts, Worcester and had previous military service: 2 years in the Worcester Volunteers Territorial, 5 years in the Royal Engineers and 127 days Home service in Australia.  His next of kin was his father, Charles Pumfrey, Court Street, Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England.  Charles was 5 feet 11¼ inches tall with brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.  He sailed from Sydney on 20th February 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles on 5th May 1916, leaving the city the same day on a train bound for Hazebrouck.  Charles arrived there 3 days later on 8th May 1916 and was killed in action just 7 weeks later. His personal effects consisting of cards, photos, letters, 2 razors in case, hone, 3 books, testament, strop, comb, brush, pair gloves and 5 handkerchiefs were sent as specified in his will to his sister, Diana Pumfrey, in Upton-on-Severn.

Australian Service Records accessed via: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
Reference: Barcode 8018973 Series Accession No B2455 Location: Canberra

A photograph of Sapper C. Pumfrey can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 29th July 1916, available at Worcestershire Archives.