Weller, Charles
He volunteered for service at the outbreak of war and was sent to France to No.1 Clearing Hospital. Promoted to Captain after a year’s service, and was M.O. with the 3rd Cavalry Field Ambulance for another year. He took four months leave to attend to his own practice and returned to France, March 24th, 1917, and was M.O. at No.11 General Hospital until May when it was given over to the Americans. He then joined the 2/3rd London Field Ambulance and at the time of his death had been lent as M.O. to the 1st London Regiment.
On August 16th the division were in action and the 1st Londoners, to which the late Captain was attached, were in the trenches, word came down to the Regimental Aid Post that the Batt. Headquarters had been shelled and that officers were buried. Captain Weller decided to go forward and took with him two squads of stretcher bearers. When he reached the communication trench the enemy began their counter-attack. And the late Captain decided it was unsafe to proceed at least for a time. Several wounded men were lying near and he visited most of them, and then took shelter in the trench. After he had been there a few moments, he turned and said ‘I am hit’. He was bleeding from the upper part of his forearm and whilst I was trying to stay the flow of blood his head fell over my arm. I removed his steel helmet and found his brains protruding from his forehead, and he expired in a few moments. He met his death nobly carrying out his duty in this diabolical war.” This was written by a corporal who was with him by orders of Colonel Ducat. Col. Ducat adds he was greatly liked and respected by all and both myself and the rest of my officers feel his loss deeply, having lost a gallant officer and a friend. Guy’s Hospital Reports Vol LXX, War Memorial Number
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Weller |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Charles |
| Family details | Only child of Charles and Alice Weller, of 9 High Street, Redhill, Surrey; husband of Elizabeth Mary Weller, of “Aylesbury” 223, London Rd. Twickenham, Middlesex |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1903-1910 |
| Dept / course | L.D.S.; M.R.C.S. |
| Qualifications | L.D.S., 1905; L.R.C.P. and M.R.C.S., 1910 |
| Military unit | R.A.M.C., London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) attd. 1st Btn. |
| Date enlisted | Joined the R.A.M.C., November 4th 1914 |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Campaigns | Served with the 2nd/3rd London Field Ambulance almost continuously from Nov., 1914, to July, 1917 |
| Date of death | 16/08/1917 |
| Age at death | 35 |
| Rank at death | Captain |
| Place of death | In the trenches at Ypres |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Burial place | Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium |
| Commemoration(s) | Guy's Hospital Memorial |
| Sources | Guy’s Hospital Archives at King’s College; Commonwealth War Graves Commission |