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to join up. He went to France with the 9th Battalion on 29th
June 1915 after training in England. He later transferred to the
16th Battalion. The 16th Battalion was known as the Church
Lads Brigade.
In October 1916 the British were trying to capture the Ancre
Heights. Occupation of this strategic point gave the Germans
good observation over the British lines near Albert, and
conversely, if it was captured by the British it would give them
a corresponding view of the German lines around Beaumont
Hamel.
Attacks were made on the 1st, 8th, 21st and 25th October.
Whenever ground was gained, it was fiercely counter-attacked
by the Germans, as there was no useable place to retreat to
nearby.
Further attacks were planned for 10th-11th November but there
was no specific battle on 6th November when Charles died.
However, there was continuous shelling and sniping and, most
nights, there were aggressive patrols into no-man’s-land.
The Stamford & Rutland News reports on 29th November 1916:-
“Kings Cliffe – Another Soldier Killed – Mr and Mrs Wootton of West
Street have received the sad news of the death of their son, Lance-
Corporal Charles Thomas Wootton, of the Kings Royal Rifles. He
was killed leading his section forward over a German trench. Only a
fortnight ago he received the Military medal for bravery in the field.”
He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial, panels 13A and
13B.
WOOTTON Frederic Arthur
Private M/300208 Army Service Corps Motor Transport
Division
Born in 1887 in Kings Cliffe, Frederic was the eldest son of Mark
and Eliza Wootton of West Street.
In 1911 he was living with his parents and working as a steam-
roller driver.
He was not called up until March 1917. His health was rated as
256
June 1915 after training in England. He later transferred to the
16th Battalion. The 16th Battalion was known as the Church
Lads Brigade.
In October 1916 the British were trying to capture the Ancre
Heights. Occupation of this strategic point gave the Germans
good observation over the British lines near Albert, and
conversely, if it was captured by the British it would give them
a corresponding view of the German lines around Beaumont
Hamel.
Attacks were made on the 1st, 8th, 21st and 25th October.
Whenever ground was gained, it was fiercely counter-attacked
by the Germans, as there was no useable place to retreat to
nearby.
Further attacks were planned for 10th-11th November but there
was no specific battle on 6th November when Charles died.
However, there was continuous shelling and sniping and, most
nights, there were aggressive patrols into no-man’s-land.
The Stamford & Rutland News reports on 29th November 1916:-
“Kings Cliffe – Another Soldier Killed – Mr and Mrs Wootton of West
Street have received the sad news of the death of their son, Lance-
Corporal Charles Thomas Wootton, of the Kings Royal Rifles. He
was killed leading his section forward over a German trench. Only a
fortnight ago he received the Military medal for bravery in the field.”
He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial, panels 13A and
13B.
WOOTTON Frederic Arthur
Private M/300208 Army Service Corps Motor Transport
Division
Born in 1887 in Kings Cliffe, Frederic was the eldest son of Mark
and Eliza Wootton of West Street.
In 1911 he was living with his parents and working as a steam-
roller driver.
He was not called up until March 1917. His health was rated as
256
