Charles Mawson was born at Pannal in 1890, one of five children born to Charles and Jane Mawson. In the 1911 Census, Charles is recorded as a 20-year-old waggoner working at Horn Bank Farm, North Rigton.
Charles would have attested to serve under the Derby Scheme towards the end of 1915 and was called up on 11th February 1916. Within four months, he was sent overseas to join the 12th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment.
The battalion moved into trenches on the Somme over the night of 8th/9th July, and played a successful part in the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on 14th July, though with heavy casualties: 6 officers and 46 other ranks were killed, 7 officers and 170 other ranks were wounded, and 24 other ranks were recorded as missing. Just eight days later, the battalion was warned that it would probably be required to make another attack and that the men were to rest as much as possible. The battalion war diary gives a brief account of the events that followed:
At 10pm [on 22nd July] received orders to move in 15 minutes and meet guides at MONTAUBAN. Shelled whilst on the way and had about 15 casualties amongst Lewis gunners and bombers. On arrival at MONTAUBAN were sent on to LONGUEVAL and formed up for attack on SUNKEN ROAD. Attack started at 3.45am [on 23rd July] but did not succeed and battalion retired later and formed up again on SUNKEN ROAD being heavily shelled all day.
The casualties in this second attack were noted to be 3 officers
killed, 5 officers wounded (one of whom was missing), and 155 other
ranks killed, wounded or missing. The battalion was relieved about 3am
on 24th July, yet suffered further casualties that day of two other
ranks killed, and four other ranks wounded.
At some point during the period 22nd-24th July, Charles Mawson lost
his life. As his body could not be identified, he is commemorated on
the Thiepval Memorial.