CHARLES VICTOR COLE
Private G.41291, 22nd Battalion, Royal
Fusiliers
Reported missing in action at
Oppy Woods, near Arras on 29th April 1917.
Charles Cole was born in Hove and enlisted in East
Grinstead. He was reported missing in
action, presumed dead at the age of 37.
He lived with his wife; Minnie Mary Cole in Melchbourne
Villas close to the Village Hall in North Lane.
He was an active member of the West Hoathly community being a chorister
in the choir of St. Margaret’s Church Choir and being Secretary of West Hoathly
Bowls Club.
He was buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery near to Arras.
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Information is from our own research together with extracts
from ‘Goodbye to Old England’ compiled by
Antony Smith. who is the curator of The Priest House Museum in the village.
‘Goodbye Old to England’ is a remembrance of the 180 men of
the communities of West Hoathly, Sharpthorne, Highbrook and Selsfield Common who
served and includes 48 villagers who were killed or missing in action in the
Great War of 1914-1918.