Paul Alfred Charrier (1868 - 1914)

Born 3 Dec 1868 in Dānāpur, Bihār, India [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1914 at age 45 in Etreux, Aisne, Picardie, France

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Biography

Paul was born on December 3rd, 1868, and baptised on December 25th 1868 in Dinapore, India.^[1]

Paul was the son of Paul Antoine Charrier.^[2]

Paul married Annie Logan Charrier in 1890, with whom he had five children.^[3]

Paul joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers from the Kerry Militia on 28th June 1890 as a 2nd Lieutenant.^{[2] [4][5]}

On Sunday April 5th 1891, he was registered as lodging at St Mary's Barracks, Brompton, Gillingham.^[5]

He became Lieutenant on 13th or 14th April 1892. Between April and November 1899 he was employed with the Central African Regiment (or British Central African Rifles, Second Battallion). He was promoted to Captain on 23rd March 1900.^[4][6] He was Adjutant of the West African Regiment from December 1900 to October 1901.^[2]

On 30th September 1900, while fighting in the War of the Golden Stool (a quelling of an Ashanti uprising) in present-day Ghana, he was "slightly wounded".^[7]

Paul fought in the Second Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry, and was present at operations in province of the Cape of Good Hope (then the Cape Colony) in May, 1902, and received the Queen's medal with two clasps.^[8]

Paul was a captain in His Majesty's regiment the Royal Munster Fusiliers in August 1902.^[9]

Paul served in Somaliland in East Africa from November 1903 to 1904 on the Staff (Special Service Officer), and on Transport duty from November 1903, for which he was again awarded a medal with clasp.^[8][6]

Paul lived in Ballymullen, Trallee Urban, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1911.^[3]

Paul was in the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1914.^[10]

Paul was killed in action at age 47 near Etreux, France, on 27th August 1914^[11], as part of the Rearguard Affair of Étreux defending the retreat from Mons, outnumbered 6:1.^[2][12] Having been wounded twice in two previous assaults, he was killed by a bullet to the head during an assault on a key German position, after the Munsters had been encircled.^[13]

Paul is buried in Grave II of the Etreux British Cemetery, alongside eight other officers.^[14]

His daughter Constance Maud Charrier, born 27th February 1894, was a recipient of a government pension from 28th August 1914. Additionally, his daughter Gladys Florence Charrier, born 17th April 1895, was a recipient of a government pension from 1st May 1915, ceasing 17th April 1916.^[15]

On 3rd February 1921, Paul's rank was posthumously promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptisms solemnized at Dinapore 1868, via the British Library Board
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} IWM (HU 119821)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Ireland Census 1911 (The National Archives of Ireland) via Lives of The First World War
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} The New Annual Army List, Militia List, and Yeomanry Cavalry List for 1900 (vol 61) P353, via The National Library of Scotland
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Census of England and Wales, 1891: Return of All the Persons Who Slept or Abode In This Institution on the Night of Sunday, April 5th, 1891, St Mary's Barracks, Brompton, Gillingham
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919
7. ↑ The London Gazette, Friday March 8, 1901, via thegazette.co.uk
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} The Bond of Sacrifice: A Biographical Record of All British Officers Who Fell in the Great War, Vol 1 (Aug - ec 1914), 1917
9. ↑ Last Will and testament of Zoë Eugenie Moran, 1902
10. ↑ World War I Dead: Kerry-related fatalities in World War I by Tom Burnell, via the Kerry Library
11. ↑ Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England: "CHARRIER Paul Alfred of The Laurels Alexandra-road South Farnborough Hampshire died 27 August 1914 at near Epeux in France on active service Administration (with Will) London 14 January [1915] to Annie Logan Charrier widow. Effects £1857 13s 6d."
12. ↑ Royal Munsters Fusiliers Association
13. ↑ Chapter 1 (The Retreat from Mons), The Irish at the Front, Michael MacDonagh, 1916, via Project Gutenberg
14. ↑ Major Charrier, Paul Alfred: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} British Army Compassionate List, 1914, entry 950