BX November 6, 1918

On Tuesday of this week Mr. and Mrs. John L. Charles received official notification that their son, Lieutenant George Harold Charles, had been killed in action on October 31. The late Lieut. Charles enlisted at Hamilton as a private in the Mounted Rifles. After his arrival in England he was transferred to the infantry, receiving his commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was stationed in Great Britain for some time, performing clerical work of an important nature at different locations. Quite recently he was transferred to France, reaching the firing line for the first time on October 12, and making the supreme sacrifice only 19 days later. Lieut. Charles was 32 years of age and previous to his enlistment was a well known and popular Burford citizen, occupying for some time the position of head bookkeeper at the canning factory. He was a gifted entertainer, being the possessor of a rich baritone voice, and also a reader and impersonator of much ability. He was a man of exemplary habits, a true Christian, and an all round good citizen ever willing to do a good turn where opportunity presented itself, and whose demise will cause a vacancy hard to fill. To the bereaved parents the sympathy of the entire community will go out in the loss of a dutiful and loving son. He was a man!
 
BX November 9, 1918

Word has been received by his relatives at Scotland of the death in action of Lieut. George Harold Charles, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Imperial Forces, on Oct, 31. The young man, who was 33 years of age, left with the C.M.R. from Hamilton three years ago, in December, 1915. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. John Charles of Burford. After service in France with the Canadians, he was sent to Ireland for duty with the Fusiliers. He was then transferred to France where he had been for the last two months.

Previous to his enlistment he was bookkeeper for the Burford Canning Company. He leaves a wife now residing in New York City, and two sisters, Mrs. A.C. Eddy and Mrs. E.G. Murray, of Scotland. Ralph Eddy of this city is a nephew and Miss Vera Murray of Scotland is a niece.

BX December 14, 1918

Mr. John L. Charles, whose son, Lieut. George Harold Charles of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, made the supreme sacrifice in the latter days of the Great War, has received the following letter of sympathy from H.F. Ponsonby, keeper of the Privy Purse.

Privy Purse Office,
Buckingham Palace, S.W.,
November 19, 1918

Dear Sir,

The King and Queen deeply regret to hear of the loss you and the army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country, and I am commanded to convey to you the expression of Their Majesty’s true sympathy with you in your sorrow,

Yours very truly,

H.F. Ponsonby,
Keeper of the Privy Purse