Charles Waller

Attack at Gommecourt

Charles David Waller
The Waller family business
Peter Daniel Collection
Queen's Westminster Rifles in the trenches at Houplines
Steve Hammond Collection

Charles David Waller was born in Croydon on 20 December, 1893. As David and Anna Waller’s only son he was expected to one day take over the family building and decorating company that his Yorkshire born grandfather had started in 1853. His father paid for him to attend Whitgift Grammar School and apprenticed him into the family firm as a carpenter upon his leaving school.

Enlistment

Waller was 21 when war broke out on 4 August, 1914. Two weeks later, he enlisted with the Queen’s Westminster Rifles at their Croydon recruiting centre. He left for France on 19 February 1915 and served in the trenches at Houplines and Ypres. The impact of this time can clearly be seen in this photograph.

Waller was one of the 689 men of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles who attacked the German lines at Gommecourt on 1st July 1916. 494 of these men were to be killed or wounded. Charles David Waller lot his life in the attack.

 

Comments about this page

  • I have letters and photo albums of this soldier Charles D. Waller for those interested. Not for sale

    By margaret hutcherson (13/03/2016)
  • Hello Margaret, I have forwarded your email to Peter Daniel at Westminster Archives who is managing the project and I am sure he will be in touch with you as he has a keen interest in Waller. Many thanks for taking the time to let us know and I apologise for the delay in getting back to you. Camilla

    By Camilla Bergman (24/05/2016)

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This page was added on 16/04/2014.