Gunner Charles Wallace (# 1085136) WW2

[IfanyonecanMaccacan]

Gunner Charles Wallace (#1085136) hailed from Liverpool & was sadly killed at TOBRUK in WW2 on 26th June 1942......he was aged just 29 years old & never married to the best of my knowledge.

He was a close friend of my favourite Uncle Bill & whilst going through some family documents (as you occasionally do !), I came across a letter written by Charlie to Bill
on 5th May 1941 whilst Charlie was stationed at Burton-on-Trent.

It's just a regular 'chit-chat' kind of letter that two soldier friends would share, but special nonetheless.

It occurred to me that perhaps a member of Charlie's extended family would appreciate having this letter (?).

My Uncle Bill Roberts was in 2/4 South Lancashire Paratroopers stationed in Cheltenham at that particular time & lived in Lamb Street (now demolished) but it was close to Boundary Street / Great Howard Street, Liverpool, so reasonable to assume that Charlie will have hailed from that area too. (?)

However, my wan attempts using 'Google' have been fruitless.

The address on his letter was;

Gunner Charles Wallace (#1085136)
'P Troop' 'X Battery'
1st Reserve Field 'RG-T. RU'
Burton-on-Trent,
Staffs
Dated 5//5/1941

I'd appreciate any ideas / links etc.........I'm aware that 'Columbo' or even Hercule Poirot probably wouldn't touch this with a barge pole but you never know.

Cheers & Seasons Greetings :-)

[Jool]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat 

I found this newspaper article in the Liverpool Echo dated 28 August 1942 in a list of men reported missing.  It may be the man you are looking for.

[Jool]

Charles Wallace in the article above is listed at that address in the 1939 Register with what appears to be his parents and sister.  Unfortunately we are not allowed to post details of the 1939 Register here but if you can get access to Ancestry or FindMyPast you can view the record yourself. Your local library may have free access.

Good luck finding his family.

[ALAMO2008]

Adviced Paul (Macca) this was the Forum with Expert Genies to find the answer to his quest.
So quickly, something from nothing , unbelievable!!!!

[IfanyonecanMaccacan]

Dear "Jool".......WoW.......Thanks for your amazing detective work. It left me speechless.

I'll certainly follow up your advice, let's see where that will all end.

His poor family must have been in agony......he perished in June '42 & his family are posting about his whereabouts  in the Liverpool Echo (not an inexpensive thing do in 1942) in August 1942.

Thanks again & have a Happy Xmas.

Cheers

"IACMC"  :-)

[Jool]

Hi IACMC, glad to be of help. 

If you feel we have the correct Charles Wallace I will do a bit more digging (in between wrapping presents  )

There is a clue to follow up on his sister on the 1939 and I have also found his parents and older siblings (before Charles was born) on the 1911 census.  Unfortunately we cannot post details of the 1911 census here either.  Any children born to his siblings may still be alive so we cannot name them on a public forum either. 

As this is all sensitive information I will send you a p.m. if I find any more information.

Cheers and Merry Christmas
Jool

[ShaunJ]

There's a photo and a short obit in the Echo of 28 May 1943:

(62a County Road was a flat above a Costigans grocery shop).

[IfanyonecanMaccacan]

Hi JOOL & Shaun J........That's 'Bang on the Money'.....he's our man.

Charlie attended the same school as my favourite Uncle Bill Roberts, & Bill's older brother Jim & my mother Rose.

So therefore they were all old school friends.

Thanks again, I'm amazed.

Cheers, Happy Xmas.

'IACMC'

[Jool]

Great find Shaun!  We can now be sure we have the right Charles Wallace.