Grave of Missing Windsor Soldier of World War One Identified in Belgium

A rededication service, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), often known as the ‘Conflict Detectives’, was held on the Commonwealth Conflict Graves Fee’s (CWGC) Bedford Home Cemetery, Belgium, this morning (18 March 25). 

JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark, stated: 

I’m grateful to the researcher who initially submitted proof suggesting the situation of Charles Dean’s grave. In rededicating his grave right now, we’ve got reunited his mortal stays together with his identify, making certain that his sacrifice is not going to be forgotten.

Corporal of Horse Charles Edward Dean, 1877 – 13 Could 1915 

Charles Edward Dean was born in 1877 to James Albert Dean and his spouse Fanny, in Wiltshire. James was a boiler maker, and Charles grew up with six siblings – 4 older and two youthful. 

In 1900 Charles joined the Family Cavalry, signing up for 12 years lengthy service with the Life Guards on 9 March. He had been promoted to the rank of Corporal by the point he married Ada Josephine Taylor in Rotherhithe on 25 April 1908. Shortly after the marriage Charles and Ada moved to Windsor the place that they had 4 youngsters collectively – Edward born in 1908, Ada in 1910 (who died in infancy), Elsie in 1912 and Charles who was born two weeks after his father’s loss of life in Could 1915. 

Being a daily soldier, Charles was put into motion shortly on the outbreak of battle in 1914, and we all know that the primary detachment of the 2nd Life Guards sailed for Belgium on 6 October 1914. By Could 1915 the Life Guards had been within the Ieper (Ypres) space, digging trenches and receiving instruction on easy methods to use gasoline masks, following the primary use of gasoline within the space just some weeks earlier. On the evening of 12 -13 Could they had been tasked with relieving The Buffs from the trenches close to Potijze. The Battalion Conflict Diary is scant on details about what occurred that evening, however in complete 35 males of the 2nd Life Guards misplaced their lives on these two days, Charles being one in all them. Half of those males don’t have any recognized grave to this present day. 

In July 1921 a casualty of the battle was found by the groups searching for area graves. His resting place was not marked in anyway, however was close to Crump Farm, between Potijze and Verlorenhoek. The group liable for documenting the invention of the physique and making certain his reburial may discover nothing to establish him by identify, so that they recorded as an alternative that he was an unknown Serjeant Main of the 2nd Life Guards – an outline they derived from his clothes, the crown and chevrons on his uniform, and his numerals. Two different males from the 2nd Life Guards had been additionally recovered from the identical spot. All three had been buried just a few miles from the place they had been discovered at Bedford Home Cemetery. Solely one of many three was recognized by identify, Lance Corporal WH Butler who was carrying a disc together with his identify on it. The third man had solely a numeral which meant he may very well be recognized as a member of the 2nd Life Guards, however no rank may very well be attributed to him. 

In 2020 a case was submitted to the Commonwealth Conflict Graves Fee by which a researcher claimed to have recognized the unknown ‘Sergeant Main’. They accurately identified that this rank doesn’t exist within the Family Cavalry, however that the identical insignia may be attributed to the rank of Corporal of Horse. Analysis confirmed that just one man of this rank was lacking on this space right now, and as such he may very well be recognized as Charles Edward Dean. 

The service was supported by serving troopers of the Family Cavalry.

The service was performed by the Reverend Tom Sander, Chaplain to The Family Cavalry. 

The Reverend Sander stated: 

It’s an honour to officiate at these companies of rededication for fallen servicemen who gave their lives within the service of our nation. In these companies we unite their closing resting place with their earthly identify and, what was as soon as recognized solely to God, is now recognized within the signal of all. Could their names be held in eternal remembrance, and will they relaxation in peace and rise in glory.

The gravestone was changed by CWGC. Director for the Central and Southern Europe Space on the CWGC, Xavier Puppinck, stated: 

We’re honoured to mark the ultimate resting place of Corporal of Horse Charles Edward Dean. We thank the researcher and all these concerned who helped to substantiate Corporal Dean’s beforehand unmarked grave. His sacrifice is now formally recognised with a brand new gravestone, and we’re dedicated to preserving his grave, together with these of his comrades, in perpetuity.