Charles was born in Saxlingham Nethergate, Norfolk on 7 May 1894.
His parents were William and Marion Agnes (nee Cutts) Shemming. His father was a brick maker and the family lived on Saxlingham Green. There was a brick works and kiln near Saxlingham Thorpe Church, which is near Saxlingham Green.
George’s father William Shemming
Charles came from a large family. His siblings were;
Emily born 22 August 1878 (she lived with her grandparents as a child). She died in June 1911 and is buried in Saxlingham Churchyard.
Ada A born 1881
William James born 1882
Alfred Cutts born 18 March 1883
Hilda Agnes born 6 October 1884. She died January 1885
Kate Victoria born 1887. She died December 1906
George Herbert born 30 December 1888
Maurice Arthur born 13 August 1890
Mabel born 1896
He was baptised at St. Mary’s Church, Saxlingham Nethergate on 1 July 1894.
The family continued to live on Saxlingham Green. In 1901 William and his sister Emily were living at Woodhouse Farm. She was a servant and he was a brick maker.
William, George and Charles Shemming
In 1911 Emily was a servant at the Old Hall, Saxlingham, Maurice was an under gamekeeper, Alfred was a carpenter, George was a baker and Ada was a parlour maid in Sussex. It is not known where William was or his occupation. In later life William was also a baker.
Charles in 1911 was 16 years old and working as a gardener’s labourer.
In the First World War Charles enlisted with the Norfolk Regiment and his Service number was 16831
Charles in Uniform, with Norfolk Regiment Cap Badge
. At some point he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, Service number 13270 and he became a corporal. His service records have not survived. He served in France and Belgium and arrived there on 25 May 1915. He was discharged from the army on 22 March 1919.
He came back to Saxlingham and lived with his father and sister on Saxlingham Green. His mother had died in May 1915.
On 9 October 1930 he married Alice Ina Newstead in Cromer Church. Her father was a gardener and her family had been living in Alby when she was younger. She was born on 22 April 1901. After their marriage they lived on the Green near his father. Charles worked as a gardener.
They had a daughter Ina Elizabeth Shemming (known as Betty) who had been born on 8 September 1927 before they were married.
They had two other daughters, Ruth M Shemming born in 1932 and Jennifer born in 1942.
There is an entry in a local directory of 1933 where Charles is listed as being a market gardener in Saxlingham Thorpe.
Alice Ina Shemming
In 1939 Charles and his family were living at Wayside, Tharston, Norfolk and he was a general road worker.
Ina, Ruth, Betty, Charles,
Jenny, Linda Brenda
They lived in later life in Aldborough in North Norfolk. In 1960 they were living in Doctors Lodge Aldborough.
Charles died in Aldborough on 29 November 1964 and Alice in March 1987.
They are buried in Aldborough Churchyard.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
British Army Medal Roll Index cards, 1914-1920
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)1920-1932
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal and Burial Records, Saxlingham Nethergate.
Photographs are from Family Trees on www.ancestry.co.uk For more information about other members of the family see that site.
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person, please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk