BORN HULL 1891, IN THE SCULCOATES PARISH. ELDEST SON OF JOHN McCOLL (17/4/1858 -1907) AND ANNIE OR ANNA HOPE (1864-1928), OF 209, HEDON ROAD (1901 CENSUS), 6, STUDLEY TERRACE, RIPON STREET, HULL (1907 PROBATE ADDRESS) AND 6, BRANHAM AVENUE, WOODHOUSE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION & CWGC ADDRESS).
CHARLES MOTHER WAS BORN IN HULL AND THE ELDEST OF SEVEN SISTERS. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF HULL PUBLICAN, ROBERT HOPE AT 163, HIGH STREET, HULL
HIS FATHER , JOHN McCOLL WAS A SHIP WRIGHT, BORN IN ARGYLESHIRE, SCOTLAND AND DIED ON 9 JAN 1907 WHEN CHARLES WAS AGED 16. HIS FATHER LEFT £116 IN HIS WILL TO HIS WIDOW ANNIE.
CHARLES FREDERICK McCOLL WAS THE SECOND OF SIX CHILDREN.
HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A PLATER, AT EARL’ES SHIPYARD AND BOARDED AT 100, EGTON STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS).
DESPITE BEING IN A RESERVED OCCUPATION, HE ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 07/09/1914. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO JOIN BECOMING PRIVATE, 11/81, IN THE 11TH EAST YORKSHIRE (HULL TRADESMEN) BATTALION.
HE TRAINED WITH THE 11TH, 12TH EYR (HULL PALS) AND TRANSFERRED TO THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE BATTALIONS.
DURING THIS TIME HE WAS CHARGED WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFENCES AND QUICKLY ATTAINED A POOR MILITARY RECORD. HE WAS DUE TO BE POSTED IN EGYPT, BUT WENT ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
EVENTUALLY, SENT TO FRANCE IN MARCH 1916. HE SERVED WITH THE 1/4TH BATTALION, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS WOUNDED WITH ‘SHELL SHOCK’, AT NEUVE CHAPELLE, IN SEPTEMBER 1916. HE WAS INVALIDED TO ENGLAND WITH ‘HEART FAILURE’.
SENT BACK TO FRANCE AGAIN. HE LEFT HIS TRENCH, DURING THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. HE WAS FOUND BY MILITARY POLICE IN CALAIS, TRYING TO RETURN TO ENGLAND. TRIED BY FIELD COURT MARTIAL. HE WAS UNDEFENDED AT THE TRIAL AND SHOT FOR DESERTION ON 28TH DECEMBER 1917, AGED 26. HE IS BURIED AT YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY, BELGIUM. APPARENTLY HE WAS REFUSED A CHRISTIAN BURIAL, BY THE PADRE, AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS UNPRECEDENTED EVEN FOR SOLDIERS FACING EXECUTION.
HE LEFT ELSER SISTER ANNIE LIZZIE, AND YOUNGER SIBLINGS, CHRISTINA EUPHEMENIA, HARRIET LILY & NEIL ALEXANDER McCOLL.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE RETURNED TO HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, ANNA. CHARLES’ WAR PENSION CARD RECORDS “SHOT FOR DESERTION”.
HIS MEDALS FORFEITED. HIS NAME DOES NOT APPEAR ON ANY MEMORIALS IN HULL. IT APPEARS THAT HIS MOTHER WAS TOLD THE REASON FOR HIS DEATH AND KEPT IT SECRET WITHIN THE FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS. HIS STORY HAS SINCE BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS BETTER KNOWN.
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