Private Charles Lunn Private Charles Lunn of the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment † 26 September 1915 died on 26 September 1915. Charles Edward Lunn was born in Greatford on 25th April 1894, the son of Caroline Amelia Lunn. Caroline subsequently married Lazarus West in 1898 and although they then lived in Barholm and later Deeping St James and Bourne, the census returns of 1901 and 1911 show that Charles lived with his grandparents (Henry and Isabella Lunn) and their children in West Deeping. Contemporary references suggest that Charles was regarded as another of Henry and Isabella’s children. Caroline died in October 1910 and is buried in Bourne Cemetery. By 1911 Henry had become a house thatcher, and Charles had become an agricultural labourer. Charles enlisted in the army in Stamford and served in the 8th Battalion of the Lincolnshire regiment. That Battalion was part of the 21st Division of the British Army which was assembled in and around Aylesbury and Berkhampstead from late 1914 and trained during 1915. The Division landed in France on 10 September 1915 and then marched swiftly the 100km to the front line near the town of Lens. It was part of the reserve for the Battle of Loos which was launched on 25 September and had to be rushed into action on the second day of the battle. 137 men of the battalion died on 26th September – little more than two weeks after arriving in France. 135 of those who died (including Charles and his uncle Tom) have no known grave and are thus commemorated on the Loos memorial. Charles is commemorated on the War Memorial in West Deeping Church.

Transcript of Stamford Guardian WEST DEEPING Mr and Mrs Lunn have been officially notified by the Record Office, Lichfield that their two sons, Lance-Corporal Lunn and Private Lunn, both of the 8th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, are missing.

8th (Service) Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment Formed at Lincoln in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under Charles’ birth certificate command of 63rd Brigade in 21st Division.

10 September 1915: landed at Boulogne. The Long Long Trail

The 21st Division was established in September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Transcript of Soldiers Died in the Great War Third New Army, K3. The units of the Division initially concentrated in the Tring area, spending some time in camp at Halton Park before winter First name(s) CHARLES EDWARD necessitated a move into local billets in Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Last name LUNN High Wycombe and Maidenhead. The artillery was at High Wycombe and Service number 12337 Berkhamsted, RE at Chesham, and ASC at Dunstable. Rank PRIVATE In May 1915 the infantry moved to huts at Halton Park, the artillery went to Regiment Lincolnshire Regiment Aston Clinton (One brigade staying at Berkhamsted) and the RE to Battalion 8th Battalion. Wendover. Rifles were received in late June 1915 and after firing their first Birth place GREATFORD, LINCS course the infantry moved from 9 August to Witley Camp. Lord Kitchener Residence WEST DEEPING, LINCS inspected the Division on the march on 12 August. Enlistment place STAMFORD, LINCS Advanced parties embarked for France began on 2 September and the main Death year 1915 body began to cross the Channel five days later. Units moved to assemble Death day 26 near Tilques, completing concentration on 13 September. The Division's first experience was truly appalling. Having been in France for only a few Death month 9 days, lengthy forced marches brought it into the reserve for the British Cause of death Killed in action assault at Loos. GHQ planning left it too far behind to be a useful Death place France & Flanders reinforcement on the first day, but it was sent into action on 26 September, Theatre of war Western European Theatre whereupon it suffered over 3,800 casualties for very little gain. Collections from Great Britain The Long Long Trail Soldiers Died in the Great War database © Naval and Military Press Ltd 2010

1901 census 1911 census