Charles Cecil Forster

Key Information

Name: Charles Cecil Forster
DoB: August 10 1888
Regt: Sergeant 202243, 2/4 Leicestershire
DoD: September 26 1917
Academic Career: CGS joined 1904; left July 1907 Pupil Teacher class
Biographical Information:

  • Family Background:

    Charles was born at Great Orton, Cumbria where his father was teaching. He was the fourth of eight children of James Forster (1857-1937) and Elizabeth Ann Harrison (1857-1915). James was born at Branxton, Northumberland to Scottish parents. He taught in Middlesbrough and Great Orton , and by the 1901 Census the family was living at Hesket in The Forest, as he was by now head of Calthwaite school where he died. Elizabeth was born at Great Ouseburn, Yorks. Her parents had been in service (butler/cook) and then in the hotel/innkeeping trade.

    In the 1911 Census Charles was resident at 41 Broad St. Carlisle working as an assistant teacher. His younger siblings, Florence, Ethel, and Harold were  living with him.

    Charles married Eliza (Leila) in 1917 a few weeks before he died. She was born at Dovenby to parents William and Fanny Marshall – William was head of Dovenby School.

     Eliza never remarried. She died in 1962 and is buried in Carlisle cemetery (11 C 68) with her mother and sister, with whom she lived after Charles’ death at Greystoke Rd., Carlisle

  • War Service:

    During the Great War Charles was in the 2/4th Bn Leicestershire Regt and was awarded Victory and British medals (he probably did not serve in 1914/15) The Battalion was in Ireland in 1916 for the Easter Uprising and returned to England in Jan ’17 when Charles married.  The Battalion returned to France on 24 Feb 1917. Charles was almost certainly killed on the first day of the Battle of Polygon Wood. His service record has not been found. He is also commemorated on the memorial at Calthwaite church. His death is recorded in the school log by his father who added, on the day the news was received: `no singing in Assembly today as headmaster not in a singing mood’.

  • Battalion:

    2/4 Leicestershire Regt

  • Sources:

    a)      Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924

    b)      1901 Census RG 13/4857

    c)      Diana Fuller (Granddaughter of Charles’ eldest sister, Catherine)