There were 10 C Beasley casualties on the CWGC database but only 1 was from Liverpool so I have identified him as our man. I do not currently have a link to Holy Trinity Church but his family were Church of England and they lived at times in the Toxteth area. I'm hoping to find more information in the Industrial School or church records about the commissioning of the memorial.
Charles Richard Beasley was born on 18th July 1891 and baptised on 2nd August that year in St Clement's Church, Toxteth, the baptism record shows that his parents were John and Ellen Jane Beasley, they lived at 28 Dove Street and his father was a store keeper.
At the time of the 1901 census, the family lived at 178 Crown Street. John Beasley was head of the house, he was 44 years old, worked as a brewer's store-keeper and was born in Houghton, Leicestershire. His wife Ellen Jane was 40 years old and was born in Bala, Merionethshire (Wales). Their children were John William aged 16, Joiner's Apprentice, Arthur Peter aged 11, Charles R aged 9, Ellen aged 7 and Thomas Phillips aged 1. The children were all born in Liverpool.
The 1911 census shows the family were still living at 178 Crown Street and John Beasley was still a store keeper - brewery stores. Ellen's record shows that they had been married for 28 years and had 7 living children and 2 who had died. All 7 living children were at home with them, John William aged 26, single and working as a barman, Arthur Peter aged 21 apprentice - plumbing, Charles Richard aged 19 apprentice plumbing, Ellen aged 18 dressmaking, Thomas aged 11 at school, Ruth aged 8 at school and Robert Daniel aged 6 at school. (Clearly the 2 children who died were Ellen and Thomas Phillips)
Charles Richard Beasley's service records have survived in the Pensions collection. They shows us that he joined the Territorial Force on 31st May 1915. His address was 178 Crown Street, occupation plumber and he had no previous military service.
This early in the war, it was still possible to volunteer for home service only with the Territorial Force and Charles's enlistment form is marked "Depot" suggesting that this is what he did. Towards the end of 1915 Territorial Force volunteers signed the waiver for overseas service on enlistment and later in the war the home-service TF were asked/required to sign it so they could be deployed overseas.
Charles' medical assessment shows that he was 5 feet 7 inches tall (above average) with chest measurement 34 inches and 3 inches chest range of expansion. His vision and physical development were rated satisfactory.
Charles was first posted to the Cheshire Field Company Royal Engineers as Sapper 1009, on 14 Dec 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Reserve Infantry Brigade, Brockton.
On 9th January 1917 he was transferred to the 9th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment as Private 34949 and embarked for France then on 2nd Feb 1917 he was transferred to the 9th Battalion the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35004.
After just 2 weeks with the 9th KLR, on 175h Feb 1917, Charles was admitted to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Wimereux, confused and with memory loss. He was diagnosed with General Paralysis of the Insane (which could be shell shock or syphilis) his condition rapidly deteriorated and on 20th Feb 1917 he was invalided to England on the Hospital Ship St David.
On 23rd Feb 1917, Charles was admitted to the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington with General Paralysis of the Insane. Medical records show that he was "dull, confused and unable to talk much sense. His habits are wet and dirty. He is noisy and restless at night. He has slurring speech, tremor of hands and tongue and pupils immobile with light"
The doctor also wrote "said by his brother to have been bright and intelligent 5 months ago." The Lord Derby War Hospital conducted blood tests and diagnosed Charles with Syphilis, the symptoms show he was suffering from neurosyphilis. It is estimated that about 6% of British soldiers had a syphilis infection during WW1, and of those who were hospitalised with neurosyphilis, about 87% died.
Charles was discharged from military service on 14th April 1917 due to being permanently unfit for service. His disability was assessed as total and aggravated by active service.
Charles Richard Beasley died on 28th March 1917, aged 25.
He was buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool in section C14, plot 597A. The grave has a family headstone and a CWGC headstone.
The CWGC headstone reads:
35004 Private / C. R. BEASLEY / The King's Liverpool Regt. / 28th June 1917 age 25
The inscription on the family headstone reads:
In / loving memory of / Sapper Charles Richard, / beloved son of John and Ellen BEASLEY, / who died in a military hospital 24th June 1917, / aged 25 years. / *Tho death divides, fond memory clings.* / Also John, / beloved husband of Ellen Jane BEASLEY, / who died 4th November 1929, / aged 72 years. / *Only sleeping.* / *Beloved by all.* / Also of Ellen Jane, / beloved wife of the above, / who died 7th February 1937, / aged 75 years. / *Love;s last gift, remembrance.*
(The family headstone records his rank as Sapper, which was his rank for the majority of his service, and all of the time he was based in the UK, he was only a private from 1st Jan 1917.)