Born 1897 in Fairfield, Melbourne Australia, eldest son of George (Journalist and later Sub Editor on daily morning paper) and Rosanna Eastgate. 1911: With his family at 2 Lincoln Villas, Stanley Road, South Woodford.
He left his job with Barclays Bank to enlist in the Army at St Swithin’s Lane in the City under the Derby Scheme, and was called to join the Northamptonshire Regiment. He trained at Gillingham and went to France in 1916. He served in various locations until arriving at St Quentin.
On 17th October 1918 1 Northamptonshire captured the village of La Vallee-Multatre, about seven miles south of Le Cateau. A member of the Battalion Scouts, while entering the newly captured village Charles Eastgate was killed instantly when shot through the head by a sniper. Described as “one of the best Scouts we had”, in his youth he had been a member and troop leader of 12th Epping Forest Boy Scout Troop at St Mary’s Church.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woodford Times