Ray Charles Pte 14598167
Personnel Entry
Name Ray Charles
Army number 14598167
Rank Private.
Decorations None yet known beyond Service Awards.
Date of birth Born Sunderland 15/09/1922.
Age 21 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the General Service Staff Corps - date not yet kmown - and underwent Basic Training at a Primary Training Centre. Transferred to The Durham Light Infantry - date not yet known - and posted to the 11th Battalion DLI. Served Normandy. Listed as Wounded and Missing but now known to have been KILLED in ACTION 25/6/1944 with 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry - Auth: 104.91 Serial 609.
Company/Battery Not yet ascertained.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known but probably Rifleman.
Joined Brigade Date not yet confirmed.
Promotions None known as yet.
Wounded Yes - Normandy - injuries lead to his death. It is possible that he died of his wounds before he could be recovered for medical treatment, although officially he was listed as KILLED in ACTION.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action KILLED in ACTION 25-Jun-44. Charles was initially interred at Map reference 885.658 on the Rauray 1/50,000 map. He was re-buried in Grave II. A. 11. St Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux. The headstone inscription reads:- FREE FROM SORROW, FREE FROM PAIN, SAFE IN GOD'S KEEPING. TILL WE MEET AGAIN.
Home address Resident of Sunderland. Son of William Henry and Eleanor Emily Ray, Hendon, Sunderland. In the 1939 General Register he is shown as an Apprentice Pneumatic Driller (Shipbuilders).
Source table 11DLI