Sir Thomas Charles Callis WESTERN, 2nd Life Guards

[stephen p nunn]

Another memorial, this time in the churchyard at Rivenhall church,. Although now rather worn, this is to Sir Thomas Charles Callis Western, of the 2nd Life Guards, died 1/2/1917.

Regards.

Stephen (Maldon).

[PRC]

Thomas Charles Callis WESTERN, 3rd Baronet.

Born 29th August,1850, probably at Tattingstone Place, Suffolk. His'mother died shortly after the birth 20th Sept.1850; she was Giulietta Romana Western,daughter of Sir Edward Manningham~Buller,Bt. She was buried in the family vault in Tattingstone-Church.. The young Thomas C.C.Western grew up without the benefit of a mother; he went to school at Eton from whence he studied at Christ Church, Oxford; he matriculated on 15th Jan.1869, aged 18. He was said to have been very good looking,when as a very young officer in the 2nd LifeGuards, he took-up his residence in Surrey.

At the age of 26, Thomas Charles Callis Western became the 3rd baronet. He soon showed himself quite generous and in agreement with his late father's executors, gave £100 towards the refurbishment of Rivenhall Church, the largest donation. As patrons of the living, the Westerns' donation was double that of the next highest contribution.

Evangeline Bradhurst, née Wood, wrote of young Charles Western thus:-

""Mr. Charlie, his life so full of promise and lifelong luxury, admired by everyone in Essex and in London Society - the Life Guards being so smart a regiment sadly ruined his prospects by marrying beneath him a barmaid, neither beautiful nor young....  News came that Sir Charlie had given way to drinking habits and was seldom sober, of course, he had to leave the regiment."

The wedding to Elizabeth Ellen Newton, daughter of Sir Isaac Newton, took place when she was about 23 years old, in 1883. The idea that she was a barmaid seems highly improbable, but she did her level best to reform Sir Charles from his craving for alcohol; her efforts were much appreciated by the family, although they met with little success.

Extracts from Dr.A.E.Western's 'Outline of The Western Pedigree' 14th June, 1921 sourced http://www.maximiliangenealogy.co.uk/Rivenhall/western family portraits2.htm

But by the 31st August 1883 he had been declared a Bankrupt, (London Gazette October 16, 1883 gives notice of a General Meeting of Creditors). https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25278/page/4956/data.pdf

The Eton College Archive has a studio picture of a pupil C.C. Western from 1866, which would seem likely to be him. I've darkened it, sharpened it and tidied a few blemishes, but no new IP is claimed and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owner.

Image courtesy https://catalogue.etoncollege.com/object-pa-a-262-45-2019

But no service in the Great War as far as I can tell.

Cheers,
Peter

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you Peter. How sad. just goes to show, I assumed Life Guards and date of death meant KIA - but clearlly not.

Thank you for posting this research.

Best regards.

Stephen (Maldon).

[George Rayner]

I can't find a reference to him being in 2nd Life Guards anywhere other than the grave marker.

George

[George Rayner]

From Ancestry tree.

Reproduced by courtesy of the Feering & Kelvedon Local History Museum at Kelvedon, Essex.

George

[stephen p nunn]

3 minutes ago, George Rayner said:

I can't find a reference to him being in 2nd Life Guards anywhere other than the grave marker.

George

Odd - Peter seems to have sources (above) that reference him being in the Guards?

[George Rayner]

Ah...London Gazette

The London Gazette

Publication date:

13 August 1875

Issue:

24236

Page:

4072

George

[stephen p nunn]

5 minutes ago, George Rayner said:

Ah...London Gazette

The London Gazette

Publication date:

13 August 1875

Issue:

24236

Page:

4072

George

Does that evidence his membership?

[George Rayner]

Notes that he became Lieutenant from 2nd Lieutenant

George

[stephen p nunn]

14 minutes ago, George Rayner said:

Notes that he became Lieutenant from 2nd Lieutenant

George

Thank you.