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I've just received this photo of the memorial plaque for Charles E. Battson, a member of Upminster Congregational Church, Essex. The plaque was originally placed in the church when it was in St. Mary's Lane; the church was rebuilt in 1911, in Station Road, and is now called Trinity United Reformed Church, where the plaque can be seen.



My thanks to Mrs Chris Willis, Trinity's secretary, for her assistance, and to the lady who very kindly took the photo for me.

It is with regret that we have to record the death of Charles Edwin, the third son of Mr. Edwin Battson, dealer and pork butcher, of Upminster. The deceased, who bore an excellent character, was a corporal in the 14th (King's) Hussars, and sailed from Southampton for South Africa in December last. He was in several engagements, and also at the relief of Kimberley, and was fortunate enough to go through all without sustaining any personal injury, but alas, like many hundreds more, he had a serious attack of enteric fever, from which he never recovered. He died on Sunday, the 3rd inst., at Wynberg. He had been in the Army over four years, and was 23 years of age at the time of his death.

The Essex Newsman, Saturday 16th June 1900
The good memory of Charles Edwin, third son of Mr. Edwin Battson, of Station-road, Upminster, who died in South Africa in June, 1900, has just received further recognition by the placing of a brass tablet over his father's pew in the Upminster Congregational Church. This tablet has been presented by the deceased's fellow soldiers in the 14th Hussars, and the inscription reads thus: "In memory of Corporal Charles E. Battson, 14th King's Hussars, of this parish, who died in service at Wynberg, S.A., on June 2nd, 1900. Erected by his comrades." On Sunday evening the Rev. A. M. Carter delivered an excellent sermon on the subject. He spoke upon the prominent points and conditions of a soldier's life, such as obedience, endurance, fatigue, privation, comradeship, etc., keeping up throughout the comparison of his life with that of the spiritual soldier fighting under the banner of Jesus Christ.

Essex County Chronicle, Friday 23rd October 1903

Another superb memorial to a chambermaid, no expense spared with these plaques, Batson appears to have been subsequently buried at St Johns, Wynberg.