Edward Charlton was born near Gateshead, County Durham in 1920. He moved to Stretford aged 5 and attended St Hilda's Primary School and Old Trafford Senior Boy's School. At the start of the 2nd World War he enlisted in the Guards Brigade and was called up to the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, on 19th September 1940. In 1942 he joined the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Irish Guards and a short time after D Day was sent to the Guards Armoured Division 1st Squadron as a tank co-driver. On 21st April, he was co-driver of a tank which, with platoon of infantry, seized the village of Wistedt, Germany. When attacked by the enemy, Guardsman Charlton, on his own initiative, decided to counter attack, inflicting heavy casualties. Despite being wounded several times, he continued firing until he collapsed from his injuries; he died later of his wounds in enemy hands in Elsdorf, Germany. He was awarded the VC, received by his family at Buckingham Palace. His remains were exhumed from their original burial place and were finally laid to rest with military honours at Becklington British War Cemetery at Soltau in February 1947. Images TL9493 & TL9494 available on Trafford Lifetimes. Further information available on the Local Studies Catalogue.
