Major Charles Nugent of Grimshaw Lane, Middleton Junction, died at Valenciennes on November 19th, 1918. As a youth, Major Nugent lived at Middleton Junction where he had many friends but the principal sphere of his activities was St Peter's Middleton. At the early age of 18 he joined the Army Veterinary Corps and gave himself seriously to the work of educating himself. He rose step-by-step obtaining a commission in August 1909, and proceeded to India with his Regiment. On the outbreak of war he was promoted first lieutenant and drafted to France with the 2nd Royal Berkshires. After a few months in France he was further promoted and made captain early 1915, and was wounded in the same year. In the autumn of 1915, whilst on leave, he was married at St Peter's by the late Cannon Wigman. He returned almost immediately to France, and was actively engaged in some of the severest fighting of 1916-1917, being gassed several times. He attained the rank of Major early in 1917, which rank he held when hostilities ceased on November 11th, 1918. Eight days after the Armistice Major Nugent fell victim to the influenza epidemic, and was buried at Valenciennes Communal Cemetery on November 19th, 1918, with military honours.
The end of such a brilliant career at the early age of 35, after going through the whole campaign from 1914 to 1918 is truly one of the tragedies of the war. Major Nugent left a wife and little son to mourn his loss.
A sad tale today, for someone to go through the whole war, and to die days after the Armistice.
CWGC lists him as a Captain, which is incorrect, and a quick look on Google tells you his private correspondence to his wife and letters from other officers detailing his death are stored in the Royal Berkshire Regimental Museum.
He is laid to rest at Valenciennes Communal Cemetery,
