Royal Army Service Corps, Horse Transport S4/161838
Charles was born in January 1896 in Kingsthorpe, the son of Henry Wadhams, a county police constable, and his wife Mary Elizabeth. The family moved house a number of times because of Henry’s work and when he retired on a police pension they were living in Station Road, Spratton (now The Stone House, Brixworth Road). Of the nine children, five were still living at home in 1911 - William, John, Charles, Thomas and Agnes. On leaving school Charles became a gardener like his older brother John.
Charles was 18 when war was declared and he joined the Royal Army Service Corps in the Horse Transport division on 9 December 1915. Probably because of his young age, he was not sent overseas but served in the Home Service. He was badly injured in the course of his duties and was awarded a Silver War Badge to wear to show he had been injured in the war.
Charles returned to Spratton after the war and lived in Yew Tree Lane. He died in St Crispin’s Hospital on 14 November 1960 aged 64, giving his sister Annie as his next-of-kin.
