Son of Herbert and Nettie Coles, of 18 Hopkins Street, Burnt Tree, Tipton, Staffordshire, England.
He lists his address before enlistment that of a cousin in Linwood, Christchurch.
Three sons; brothers served in WW1: two with the New Zealand forces Charles Henry Coles (6/2108)] kia; James Ernest Wilks (66052) and William Coles with the RAMC.
Tipton Herald 12th January 1918 featured an article: "The Death of Sergeant Coles. As briefly announced in our last issue, Sergeant Coles is yet another Tividale boy to give his life for King and Country. He was an old scholar of the Burnt Tree School and a member of St. Michael's Church. After the death of his mother nine years ago, he emigrated to New Zealand where he was very successful and spoke of the country as "God's own land". At the outbreak of war, like many Englishmen in foreign lands, he must do his bit for the old motherland, and joined the New Zealand forces early in the war. He was among the first contingent that landed in Gallipoli. He took part in the struggle in Suvla Bay and came through unscathed. When the troops were withdrawn he was sent to Egypt for a short time, and later on transferred to France, where after nine months of active service he came home for a short leave. He returned about Christmas 1915, and was in the firing line until December 1st 1917, when he was again granted fourteen days leave. He set sail on the 14th and had only been there five days when he met his death on the 20th December.
A comrade writing to his father says there were only four in his gun team, and they had just got established in a new position when the enemy opened out with heavy fire, and a shell landed right beside their dugout blowing it all in, and Sergeant Coles was killed instantly. He was afterwards buried about 100 yards away and a cross placed at the head of the grave, this being done with considerable difficulty as heavy shellfire continued the whole of the day. He is the eldest son of Mr Herbert Coles, Hopkins Street, Burnt Tree, who has two other sons with the colours, namely Private Jim Coles, still in training in New Zealand, and Private William Coles, R.A.M.C, lately transferred from France to Italy. The latter met his unfortunate brother in the field somewhere in France only a few days before he came on his last leave. Sergeant Coles would have been 29 had he lived until the 4th of this month.
The following letter is from his officer, who was his friend when they were together in the ranks as Privates:- Dear Mr. Coles, In writing to express my sympathy with you in the loss of your son, Charlie, I would like to say how much his death is felt by his company. During the past three years I have been with him as a Private, and as his brother N.C.O., and a truer friend or a better soldier I never expect to meet. Had he been spared he would now have been Company Sergeant Major. As a soldier and a comrade his death is mourned alike by officer and man. Please accept my deepest sympathy with you and your family in your loss."
Named Charles Henri Coles by CWGC AWMM