Lieut. Col. Charles Walter BLACKALL

  General Notes:

http://www.longfordatwar.ie/soldiers/14

of Coolamber Manor, Clonshannagh, Co. Longford

Charles Waler Blackhall was born c.1877 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, son of the Irish-born Robert Blackhall who was a Major in the British Army, but was largely raised in Folkstone, Kent.

Charles married Alice Evelyn Feutrell Briscoe in April 1910 at St. Luke's, Chelsea. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, Charles and his wife were actors and were living in Kent. They even travelled to New York in September 1912, to perform 'The Whip' in the Manhattan Opera House; there were a number of other famous artists of the day on board including Ada Reeve as well as Ambrose Manning and Marie Illington who appeared in The Whip. Charles was also a talented writer and poet; he published a collection Songs From The Trenches in 1915.

Lt Col Blackhall had a distinguished military career, having served in the Boer War and was made Captain in 1904, and again in 1914 on the outbreak of WW1. He was promoted to Acting Major and in 1917 to Acting Lieutanant Colonel. During the war Blackall was attached to a number of regiments, including the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Cheshire Regiment, and the South Staffordshire Regiment. Charles was killed in action during the opening days of Operation Michael. He was mentioned twice in Despatches for this Great War service.

Full life story:
http://www.stepshort.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Charles-Walter-Blackall-golf.pdf

Charles married Alice Evelyn Foutrell BRISCOE on 25 Apr 1910 in St. Luke's, Chelsea, London, England. (Alice Evelyn Foutrell BRISCOE was born about 1884 in England.)