Roll of Honour

Charles H. N. Tipler

Charles Harry Norman Tipler was born in 1888 in North End, near Felsted. He was the son of William and Sarah Tipler. He was known to his family as Harry.

The 1901 census records the family living at in North End which is recorded as being in the parish of Great Waltham

William Tipler - Head - born Great Waltham. aged 53. Agricultural Labourer
Sarah Tipler - Wife - born Black Notley. aged 53
John Tipler - Son - born Great Waltham. aged 17. Agricultural Labourer
Harry Tipler - Son - born Great Waltham. aged 13. Stockman

William Tipler and Sarah Ann Willsher were married in 1876 so John and Harry were probably not their only children.

'Harry' moved to West Ham and enlisted at Warley, Brentwood as a Regular number 7575 Essex Regiment. He was promoted Corporal on 24 August 1910 with the 2nd Battalion. He signed on to complete 12 years service with the Colours on 13 February 1911 and was posted to Warley on 11 March 1911, appearing on the 1911 Census as a Corporal, Single, age 23 on the 3rd Battalion Staff at Warley, and without trade on enlistment.
 
On 30 October 1911 he completed Group 2 o f the 1st Class Army Certificate of Education and was appointed Paid Lance-Sergeant on 22 February 1912. He was then promoted to Sergeant on 16 March 1912. He re-engaged to complete 21 years service on 20 November 1912.

He was promoted Colour-Sergeant in October 1913 and Company Sergeant Major very soon afterwards.

'Harry' married Gwenfree Ethel Jackson at St.John's Church, Stratford, on 19 October 1913.

In 1914 the 2nd Battalion were billeted in Chatham, Kent and that summer Harry and Gwenfree had a son Norman.
 

'Harry' went to France on 22 August 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, qualifying for the 1914 Star and was also entitled to the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

'Harry' served as a Company Serjeant Major with 'B' company of the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment. He was killed, aged 27, on 2nd May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, during which the German Army first used Chlorine Gas.

The Essex Weekly News of May 28, 1915 recorded Charles death in its Roll Of Honour:

KILLED IN ACTION:
Tipler, 7575, Coy.-Sergt.-Major C. H., 2nd Essex.

And among the Biographical Notes is recorded:
Mrs Tipler, of Folkestone road, West Ham, has received official notification that her husband, Company-Sergt.-Major C.H. Tipler, B Company, 2nd Essex was killed in action in France, on May 2. Deceased, who was very popular in the regiment, was born at North End, near Felsted.

 

 Menin Gate and Inscription for 'Harry' Tipler

After the war his parents continued to live in North End, Felsted. His name is not recorded on the Village Memorial, at the Memorial Hall, nor on the Memorial at Holy Cross Church, but is included on the Honour Roll at the United Reformed Church. 'Harry' is commemorated on the War Memorial at Ford End, and is also remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial for soldiers who have no known grave. (photograph of memorial courtesy www.britishwargraves.co.uk)

His widow, Gwenfree Ethel Tipler, moved to 54 King's Road, Brentwood. Gwenfree remained a widow until 1943 when she married Frank A. Geary.