Pte 23800 Charles Edward Prue

• Age: 31
• From: Chester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• Died Saturday 6th March 1915
• Commemorated at: Kirkdale Cem Liverpool
  Panel Ref: Screen Wall IV.CE.64

Charles Edward was born in the Chester district in late 1883 and was the son of Charles William Prue and his wife Sarah Louisa (nee Coates) who married in 1882.  Charles had two younger sisters who sadly died young: Mary Louisa, who died at 5, and Lucy Margaret, at the age of 3. The family lived in Chester until 1890/1.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Grange Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire. His father, Charles William, is aged 34, born in Shawbury, Shropshire in 1857 is a railway clerk. His mother, Sarah Louisa, is aged 29, born in 1862 in Birkenhead, has no occupation listed. At the time of the Census they have one son Charles Edward aged 7, born 1884 in Chester, he is a scholar. 

In 1901, Charles William and his wife, Louisa, are living at 30 Willmer Road, Tranmere. His father is still working as a railway clerk, and his mother is now a milliner working on her own account. Charles Edward is not listed on the Census. 

Charles is missing off the 1901 and 1911 Census, as he was at sea.

There is a crew record in March 1903 to St. John’s, New Brunswick where he is aged 20, born Chester on board Elder Dempster ship Lake Erie. His address was given as 30 Willmer Road, and he had previously served on the Orissa.

Charles Edward Prue married Florence (known as Cissie) Reed Parsons on the0 9th May 1909 at St Philip's Church, Litherland. They both gave their age as 27; Charles gave his occupation as steward, and his address as 12 Hermitage Grove. No records have been found of children born to the marriage.

The 1911 Census shows his parents living at 12 Hermitage Grove, Orrell, Bootle. Charles senior is 54, now shown as a retired railway clerk, his mother is 49.  They state that Charles Edward was their only surviving child. There is no record of Charles or his wife. Also listed is a 20-year old boarder, Herbert Redfern from Holywell.

Charles enlisted in Liverpool, most likely in November 1914 on the formation of the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He served as Private 23800.   

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall.

Charles Edward died of meningitis/tuberculosis, contracted on active service, on 06th March, 1915.

His death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 10th March 1915:

“March 6, after a short and painful illness, Charles Edward, the dearly-beloved husband of Florence Prue, and only son of Charles and Louisa Prue. Internment at Kirkdale Cemetery today (Wednesday) at 3 p.m. 

  Long days and nights he bore great pain,

    To wait for cure but all in vain.

  Till God above knew what was best,

    And took him home with Him to rest.

- Wife.”

He now rests at Kirkdale Cemetery in a war grave plot and his name appears on the Screen Wall No. IV, CE plot 64.

There are 519 First World War burials in the Cemetery. 

Screen Walls are a type of memorial for Commonwealth War Dead, they are predominantly used to record the names of individuals who have a known grave but where it is not possible to erect a CWGC headstone or the exact location of the grave is no longer known.

His name was originally inscribed as G Prue but CWGC amended the stone in August 2016 to show his correct initial as C.E.

Soldiers effects state he died in Seaforth Military Hospital, Liverpool. His outstanding Army pay was paid to his widow Cissie Prue. Charles was not eligible for the War Gratuity as he had served for under 6 months.

Pension to widow, Florence, who was awarded 10 shillings a week.

CWGC records that he was the son of Charles and Louisa Prue, of Birkenhead; and the husband of Florence Reed Prue, of 207, Claughton Road, Birkenhead.

His parents were then living at 8 Albert Road. Birkenhead.

His father died in 1931 aged 74, and his mother in July 1933, after suffering injuries in a fall at home in March.  

Florence died a few months later, in November 1933, at the age of 51, and was buried in Flaybrick Cemetery in Birkenhead.

We currently have no further information on Charles Edward Prue, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.