Charles William HINDMOOR Private 10194, 2 nd Durham Light Infantry. Died 21 st May 1915. Charles William Hindmoor was born in Tow Law in County Durham in 1878, but by the time of the1881 Census the family was living in Howden-le-Wear. By the age of 13 Charles William was a coal miner, and later became a colliery hewer. By the time of the 1911 Census, Charles William, now aged 33, still single and living with his parents, is still shown as a colliery hewer, but is shown as out of work. He was, however, now a Special Reservist in the Durham Light Infantry. The first fragment of his enlistment form shows his age as 32 years 6 months, which would place his enlistment in mid-1910. He was placed in the 3 rd Battalion, DLI, and classed as a Special Reservist. The second fragment of his enlistment form shows that he re-enlisted, and states that his "Service towards engagement reckons from 31 st August 1914". Now that he was in the army as a full-time soldier, he was posted to the Expeditionary Force with the 2 nd Battalion, DLI. The battalion landed in France at St Nazaire on the 10 th September 1914, being moved to the front the following day. Here, on the 19 th September, for the first time in France, the battalion took over the front line. Over the following months the battalion was involved in various battles, including the Battle of the Aisne, which marked the beginning of trench warfare, but mainly in a defensive role. On the 16 th May1915 the battalion commenced another tour of the line in the Le Touquet sector. Here they remained for eight days, and it was during this tour, on the 21 st May 1915, at the age of 37, that Charles William Hindmoor was killed in action and was buried in Strand Military Cemetery.

Remembering Our Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society

Private Charles Hindmoor’s statement of service. It shows he enlisted on the 31 st August 1914. He had several conduct issues when he was ‘absent without leave‘ and for one period of 6 days for which he forfeited 6 days' pay. The record is one of the ‘burnt records’ which survived the London Blitz in 1940. Only 40% of all records still exist. Image courtesy of www. ancestry.co.uk