Charles' Cardiff Commitment
Warrant Officer Class II Charles Edward Bolton BEM Royal Signals
The Man Charles Edward Bolton was born on 15th September 1904 in Cardiff, Wales, son of Charles Edward senior, an Army Pensioner and Mary nee Kenealy. He was one of three children, John Patrick (1903-06) and Hilda Irene born 1910. By 1911 Charles and family were living 50 Clive Street, Grangetown Cardiff and in 1923 aged 18 he began working for the Railways as a uniformed employee. It seems Charles may have lived and worked in London during the 1920s and 30s most likely with the railways. In about 1924 Charles enlisted into the Territorial Amy, Royal Signals with service number 2560109 and promoted in time through the ranks to Warrant Officer Cl II. During the third quarter of 1928 Charles Married Dorothy Eveline Webb in Glamorgan, they had one daughter Lorraine Mary Bolton (1929-1996) and in 1936 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ in Army Order 154/1936 as a Sergeant. By 1939 the family were living at 115 Wilson Road Cardiff and Charles was mobilised before the start of World War II. During the War he saw active service in North Africa and Italy and reported as wounded in the War Office casualty list 1209 in Sicily on 11th August 1943. He was further awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal in 1944 as Sergeant and second clasp in 1945 in Amy Order 145/1945 as Colour Quarter Master Sergeant. For his war service he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Charles remained with the TA following the war and sadly Dorothy died young during 1951 aged just 46. It seems Charles never remarried. He was awarded the third clasp to his Efficiency Medal in 1955 aged 50 in Army Order 66/1955 as W.O. II. Little detail is known about Charles’ later life but it seems he may have become involved in charitable works in Cardiff, possibly linked to Dorothy’s early death? As he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the London Gazette supplement of 30th December 1986, for services to the Community in Cardiff. Charles died on 30th July 1995 in South Glamorgan aged 90 and was cremated on 8th August 1995 in Greenwich, London.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Charles Edward Bolton were acquired from E-Bay on 26th November 2010 and of interest because of the Civil British Empire Medal and three clasps to the Efficiency Medal. Little detail could be located on Charles, and even the London Gazette had his first names transposed, causing some difficulty with finding him. However he clearly undertook some good deeds within Cardiff. The three clasps to the Efficiency Medal had not been verified, but during September 2019 Ralph Daly, to whom many thanks are extended, made contact via this web site and kindly provided some additional priceless information he had acquired from the Forces War Record web site.
- Charles Bolton was awarded his Efficiency Medal (T) in Army Order 154/1936 as a Sergeant
- Awarded 1st Clasp 1944 as Sergeant
- Awarded 2nd Clasp Army Order 145/1945 as CQMS
- Awarded 3rd Clasp Army Order 66/1955 as W.O. II
- Reported in WO casualty list 1209 as being wounded in Sicilly on 11th August 1943.
Medal Details:
- British Empire Medal (Civil): CHARLES EDWARD BOLTON
- 19389-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 2560109 SGT C.E.BOLTON. R.SIGS.
This page last updated 12 Sep 19