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95219   Lieutenant Francis Richard Charles
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 06/01/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 12/04/1919
Died: 19/11/1941 (Killed in Action)
Age: 22
Summary      
Francis Richard Charles was the son of Dr. Richard Charles of Ipswich, Suffolk. He was the Grandson of Mr and Mrs. Richard Charles, Loy Hill, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Francis Richard Charles received a commission with the 8th Royal Irish Hussars on 1st July 1939 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1st January 1941. The 8th Royal Irish Hussars were part of the 7th Armoured Division, better known as the Desert Rats. On 18th November 1941, Operation Crusader was launched. The objective was to relieve Tobruk. It was during this action that Lieutenant Francis Richard Charles was killed in action on 19th November.
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Cemetery Details
Cemetery: Alamein Memorial
  Alamein, Alexandria
Grave Ref: Column 17
CWGC Casualty 2217353
Summary      
Alamein is a village, bypassed by the main coast road, approximately 130 kilometres west of Alexandria on the road to Mersa Matruh. The first Commission road direction sign is located just beyond the Alamein police checkpoint and all cemetery visitors should turn off from the main road onto the parallel old coast road. The cemetery lies off the road beyond the ridge, and road direction signs are in place approximately 25 metres before the low metal gates and stone wing walls which are situated centrally at the road edge at the head of the access path into the cemetery. The Cross of Sacrifice feature may be seen from the road.
Local Institute / Local Book Details

No Name Page
1 Cookstown War Dead Book WW2 328
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 British Army Officers 1939-1945 Details of Lieutenant Francis Richard Charles
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023