Charles Montgomery was the son of Robert James and Agnes Montgomery. He was born on 23rd May 1888 in Ballymena. He was one of five children, all boys. By 1890, the family had moved to Cookstown. They lived in Killymoon Street. Charles was a worker in flax store. He enlisted in Glasgow, Scotland. Guardsman Charles Montgomery was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards when he was killed in action on Wednesday 11th November 1914.
Further Information
Charles Montgomery was the third son of Robert James and Agnes Montgomery. Robert Montgomery married Agnes Middleton on 22nd September 1883 in the district of Ballymena.
Charles Montgomery was born on 23rd May 1888 in Ballymena. He was one of five children, all boys.
By 1890, the family had moved to Cookstown.
Family: Robert James Montgomery, Agnes Montgomery, David Montgomery (born 14th February 1884, Ballymena), John Montgomery (born 7th March 1886, Ballymena), Charles Montgomery (born 23rd May 1888, Ballymena), Robert James Montgomery (born 8th July 1890, Cookstown), William Montgomery (born 17th November 1892, Cookstown).
The 1901 census lists Charles as 13 years old, living with the family at 68 Killymoon Street, Cookstown. Charles was still at school. His father was a Linen farm Winding Master.
The 1911 census lists Charles as 23 years old, living with the family at 68 Killymoon Street, Cookstown. Charles was a worker in flax store.
Charles Montgomery enlisted with the Scots Guards in Glasgow, Scotland.
Guardsman Charles Montgomery arrived in France in August 1914 with the British Expeditionary Force as part of First Army Corps, 1st Division, 1st Guards Brigade.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th August 1914:
Mr R J Montgomery, Killymoon Street, has received a post card from his son Charles, who is a Private in the Scots Guards. The post card bears the postmark ‘British Army Base’ and contains several printed sentences, with instructions, that whatever is inappropriate is to be struck out, and nothing written. Private Montgomery deleted allt he sentences, except the one reading – ‘I am well.’
Guardsman Charles Montgomery was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards when he was killed in action on Wednesday 11th November 1914.
Guardsman Montgomery has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 11 on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.
Charles is also commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph and on the family plot in Cookstown Cemetery.
The CWGC record Guardsman Charles Montgomery as the son of Robert J and Agnes Montgomery of 10 Killymoon Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
