Charles Bertram Dove

Key Information

Name: Charles Bertram Dove
DoB: July 6 1884.
Regt: Captain, Border Regiment.
DoD: 2 March 21 1918.
Academic Career:  CGS 1894-8
Other: Engineering on the L.N.W.E. Rancher in British Columbia, 1906.
Biographical Information:

  • Family Background:

    Charles Bertram was the eldest child of John Charles Dove and Jane Anderson Wood. He had a younger brother George RM Dove and a sister Jane Margaret Dove. His father came from Walker, Northumberland and was a mechanical engineer. His mother was born at Maryport. The family was living at Lismore Place, Carlisle while Charles was at the Grammar School; by 1901 they were living ay 12, Howard Place, Rickergate in Carlisle. Brother George was clearly quite a sportsman. While at the Grammar School he claimed the record the 100 yards sprint; was on the Rugby team in 1899, 1900 -1902; the hockey team 1901-03; and the cricket team from 1900-1903 (and was captain in his last year).  He was awarded the senior challenge cup in 1903. Later he became an engineer and was married to Doris. In 1949 he travelled to Argentina. Sister Jane married a doctor, Fred Hughes.

  • Academic Record:

    Carlisle Grammar School 1894-8; 1898 – 1901 Sedbergh School.

  • War Service:

    On the declaration of war Charles returned to Britain and rejoined his old regiment with his former rank of lieutenant. He went to France on Christmas Eve 1914 where he was attached to the Cornwalls and then the Devons, and was then made a captain in the Border regiment.

    He was a member of the 3rd Battalion, the Border Regiment according to records on www.ancestry.uk  and arrived to join the 2nd Battalion in May 1915, as part of a group replacing losses following the Battle of Festubert  (Wylly pg 37).

    In 1916 he was transferred to the 11th Battalion following losses on the Somme (Wylly pg 103). At some point he was attached to the 8th Battalion. Wylly (pg 179) reports that Captain Dove of the 8th Battalion was killed while marching up on 21st March as “huge artillery fire opened…and the German heavy guns bombarded the railheads, supply depots, dumps and camps in rear…” March 21 1918 was the opening of the (German) Spring Offensive. He is buried at Favreuil Military Cemetery in France.

  • Other:

    Charles received a commission to the 3rd Battalion Border Regiment but later resigned from the army and went to work at Crewe in the engineering works of the London and North Western Railway.According to the UK railway employments details Charles left in 1907 after two years eight months service. He was described as being of “Good” character with “Fair” abilities.

    In 1906 he went to Canada.

    Charles was married on the October 23 1914 in Canada to Amy Caton Thompson. She was born in Nantwich, Cheshire. Her father was chief of the electrical dept of London and North Western Railway, Charles and Amy had a daughter.

    Probate was granted to Fred Hughes Morison M.D.C.M. (physician and surgeon – his brother-in-law) and shows he left £183 5s 7d.

  • Sources:

    a)            Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924

    b)            Census: 1901 RG13/4867; 1901 RG13/4017; 1891 RG12/4288;

    c)           Marriage record from Findmypast

    d)           Wylly: History of the Border Regiment

    e)            Probate taken from www.ancestry.uk

    f)             The Cumberland News 6 April 1918