Charles William Bayliss was born in Putney, Surrey on 2nd March 1880 to Ann Taylor and John Bayliss. John was a bricklayer by trade who was born in Apperley, Gloucestershire and Ann had been born in Birmingham. Baptised as Charles William, he was known as William to his family. In his early life he lived with his family at 4 West End Cottages in Mortlake, South West London.
By the time of the 1891 Census the family had moved to 7 Albert Grove, Welling. William was 12, his sister Rose 13 and brother John Arthur was 9 and all three children were at school. They were still living in the same house at the time of the 1901 Census, although by then Rose had left home and she emigrated to Canada in 1907. At the time of the war John Arthur was married with 4 children and working in the Deptford Power Station and was not called upon to fight.
William enlisted at Bexley Heath after the beginning of 1916 and was initially a Private in the 21st London Regiment, Service no. 6192. He then served as a rifleman in 7th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Service no. A/201063.
It is likely that Charles fought and lost his life in the Battle of Passchendaele (The Third Battle of Ypres). The infantry attack began on 31st July 1917. An offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. Within a few days, the heaviest rain fell for over 30 years and had turn the soil into a quagmire. This produced thick mud that clogged up rifles and immobilised tanks. The mud was so deep that men and horses drowned in it. Constant shelling had churned up the clay soil and smashed the drainage systems. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.
Charles William Bayliss died of wounds on 27th August 1917 aged 37 years. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium on Panel 115 to 119 & 162A & 163A. He has no known grave, and appears never to have married.
Photos taken with thanks from Charles Bayliss’ family trees on Ancestry.
Charles William Bayliss was considered for the East Wickham War Memorial, but in the Minutes of the War Memorial Committee of 30th March 1921 his name was crossed off, probably as a name that they could not verify. His relative was given as Mrs A Wright, Albert Grove, and it is probable that his parents had moved. He was however listed on the tablet unveiled in the Memorial Hall in 1930.
The Trust will be adding Charles William Bayliss to the East Wickham and Welling War Memorial over the Centenary Period.
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This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Charles William Bayliss, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.