Usher, Charles Henry

BORN MOLESCROFT, BEVERLEY, YORKSHIRE 1894. SON OF RICHARD GEORGE USHER (1866-1954) AND ANNIE STEELE (1870-1901), OF 4 MONA AVENUE, CAVE STREET HULL (1911 CENSUS). HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE ROSINA MAY USHER AT 5 ALEXANDRA CRESCENT, ALEXANDRA ROAD, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS). THEY HAD NO CHILDREN. EMPLOYED AS A PAINT WORKS, LABLER (1911) AND SALESMAN. HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 07/12/1915. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 3 INCHES TALL, 37 INCH CHEST SIZE, 118 LBS WEIGHT. HE SERVED WITH THE 1ST EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 16/04/1918. KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 24. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL, FRANCE. HIS ARMY PENSION WENT TO HIS WIDOW.
HE LEFT BROTHER, RICHARD, AND THREE SISTERS, GERTRUDE, SARAH AND ALICE, AT 24 CAVE STREET, BEVERLEY ROAD, HULL.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.