FINCH Charles Alfred

Charles Finch was a reservist, recalled to the Colours in August 1914, and first entered a theatre of war as a Private with 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in France on 12th August 1914.

He was awarded a 1914 Star, a British War Medal and a Victory Medal.  He was entitled to an Aug- Nov Clasp for the 1914 star, but his family do not seem to have claimed it.  He was probably involved in Gheluvelt battle, October 1914.

The memorial shows post-nominal letters M.M. indication that he was awarded a Military Medal.  This cannot be confirmed in the records.

He was killed in action at Infantry Hill, during the Battle of Arras.

He worked on Croome Estate as a land drainer.

Family per 1911 census, living at Baughton:-
Father William Finch. Age 66. Born 1845 at Hill Croome. Drainer on Estate.
Mother. Susannah Finch. Age 65, Born 1846 at Hill Croome. Married 41 years.
Wife. Alice Finch. Age 22, Born 1889 at Birmingham. Married 18 months
Son. Charles Alfred Finch. Age 11 months. Born 1910 at Severn Stoke.

The following report appears in the Upton News, 9th June 1917:
The sad intelligence has reached Mrs C.A. Finch, of Kinnersley, that her husband, Sergt. Charles Finch, of the Worcester Regiment, has been killed instantaneously having been shot through the head on April 23rd whilst leading his platoon in an attack on the German lines.  The deceased, who was 33 years of age, was a reservist, having seen 13 years service, and at the outbreak of hostilities was sent out with the Worcester Regiment.  He was with his regiment at Ypres, at Loos and in the battles of the Marne and Aisne, and was one of the men in charge of Gheluvelt, where he was wounded after nearly two years active service.  He had had many narrow escapes, his tunic and cap having been punctured by bullets several times.  Sergt. Finch was much respected in and around his native village, and his loss will be felt by his fellow employees on the Croome Estate.  He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss.

A photograph of Sergeant C.A. Finch of Kinnersley can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 9th June 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Charles Finch has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Arras Memorial.