THIS week we remember 39-year-old Charles Styler, who died 100 years ago on Wednesday (October 26) fighting for his country in the Battle of the Somme.
If there are any doubts Redditch was the needle making centre of the world, the upbringing of Private Styler of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment should banish them.
He was born about 1877, one of six children born to Uriah and Anna Maria Styler of 13 Ipsley Street.
Uriah worked as a maker of sail needles and Charles became a needle scourer.
In 1898 he married Agnes Gertrude Rodgers, a needle eyer and the couple had two children, only one of whom, Tharace Charles Styler, born in 1903, survived.
With the outbreak of war in 1914 Charles enlisted, joining the 10th Battalion of the Warwicks which landed in France on July 17, 1915, so it is likely he would have already had considerable combat experience by the time his unit, part of the 19th (Western Division) found itself marching into the line as the Battle for Ancre Heights, part of the Somme campaign, was reaching its climax.
By capturing the German positions on the heights the British would have clear line of sight of German troop movements far to the east.
There followed a bloody month-long battle and although the positions were captured desperate German counterattacks ensured there was no rest.
Pte Styler’s unit arrived at the frontline on October 22 and records show that at 5am on October 26 the Warwicks suffered a major German assault.
Casualties were heavy on both sides and it is likely that Pete Styler, who died in combat, was among them.
He is remembered on the St George’s War Memorial.
• With thanks to the book Remembering Redditch’s Fallen Heroes and http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk
4th Jun, 2026
