Private Charles Biscomb

East Lancashire Regiment, 6^th Battalion, Service no. 22422

Son of Thomas Biscomb and Elizabeth Clayton of 10 Cliff Crescent, Kippax

Died 11^th July 1916, aged 32

Buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Grave ref. X1.C. 5

Story

Charles Biscomb is recorded on the 1911 Census as living with his parents in Well Lane. He was then 27 years-old, single and a Coal Miner. There had been 14 children born in the family, but at that time, only 9 had survived. His younger brother Thomas also served in the same theatre of combat as his brother, and wrote home in June 1916 describing the difficult conditions due to heat, flies, and poor water, whilst expressing his certainty the war would be over by Christmas. A month after Thomas’ letter, his brother Charles Biscomb committed suicide.

Where were East Lancashire Regiment 6th (Service) Battalion at the time of Charles Biscomb’s death?

In January 1916 the Division moved to Egypt landing at Port Said and then defended the Suez Canal. In February 1916 they moved to Mesopotamia landing at Basra 6^th March 1916, and the Division engaged in various actions including the attempts to relieve Major General Charles Townshend in the besieged town of Kut.