Private Charles Ernest Beaver was born on 1 April 1895, the son of John Beaver and his wife. He was a gardener and joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on 17 September 1914 as one of Kitchener's volunteers, shortly after the war began. He went out to France on 29 July 1915, and took part in the Battle of the Somme when he was killed by a shell 14 July 1916 in Mametz Wood as his battalion attacked Bazentin Le Petit. George Phillips wrote: "He was the only soldier servant taken up into the fight and keenly appreciated the honour of being chosen to accompany his captain." His Commanding Officer wrote: "His unrivalled popularity, great keenness, and quiet capability made him a great asset to us all." Charles has no known grave and is remembered on Pier 3A of the Thiepval Memorial and also on the war memorial in Ashwell.

See where all our Rutland soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme on our interactive map.