Gwent Archives
GB0218.D6436
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Gwent Archives
- Creator
- Heare Family of Griffithstown
- Title
- Heare Family of Griffithstown, Records
- ID
- GB0218.D6436
- Date
- 1914-2009
- Extent
- 0.015 Cubic Metres
- Language
- English
Biographical/Historical note
Charles Parkinson Heare (CPH) was born in Stafford Row, in Griffithstown on 29 December 1891, the eldest of six children. He attended George Street School, Pontypool, until 1898 when he was transferred to a Catholic School for another two years.
Heare’s first job was driving a portable steam engine for crushing stone at Cwmavon Quarry, but he left at sixteen to work at Tirpentws Colliery.
Heare joined the Second Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment Territorial Force in 1913, embarking for France on 5 November 1914 with his regiment.
He lived through the First World War serving on the Western Front as an orderly with 2nd Mons under the command of the 4th and then 29th Divisions. In 1918 he marched into Germany with the 29th Division where the Rhine Bridgehead was established near Cologne. There he worked as a cook and achieved a level of reconciliation with the German people.
He left the army in January 1919.
He died at the Royal Gwent Hospital on 9 January 1985, aged 93.
Aubrey Keith Heare (1931-2010), known as Keith Heare (KH), was the son of Charles Parkinson Heare.
Scope and Contents note
The Diary of Charles Parkinson Heare, Aug 1914-Jan 1919; and, folder of letters and photocopies re: Charles Parkinson Heare, kept by his son Keith Heare, on CPH's time serving, 1936-2009
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Gwent Archives
Conditions Governing Access note
Please refer to our policy document on closure periods, available at www.gwentarchives.gov.uk
Conditions Governing Use note
Usual copyright conditions apply.
Custodial History note
On the death of Charles Parkinson Heare in 1985, his diary was given by his daughter to her son, Mr PJ Williams, who at the time was living in Canada. In 2001, the diary was still in Canada.
On 30 November 2018, it was deposited with Gwent Archives.
Appraisal note
All records have been retained.
Other Finding Aids note
Copies of finding aids are available at Gwent Archives.
Charley’s War: The Diary of Charles Parkinson Heare 2nd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment 1914-1919
Eds. Christabel Hutchings and Richard Frame
Collection Inventory
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D6436/1 War Diary of Charles Parkinson Heare Aug 1914-Jan 1919 1.0 vol. Scope and Contents noteThere are many inserts within the Diary: including newspaper cuttings, a colour photograph of CPH aged 85; Photograph of CPH taken at Poperinghe, Belgium August 1916; Photograph of Charles Heare wearing overseas service chevrons, 1918 (although the Diary provides the date 1914); a letter from HL Hughes of Hughes & Son, The Griffin Press, to CPH thanking him for bringing in the War Book; inter alia |
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D6436/2 Correspondence File (originally in a red folder labelled “Pte Charles Heare’s Diary”) 1999-2009 1.0 folder |
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D6436/2/1 Copy of a letter from KH to John Dixon of Rudry. KH delighted to find mention of the diary in Mr. Dixon’s Book, “Out Since 14.” KH also gives a basic archival history of the diary, it is recorded as being in Canada in 2001, and has been since 1985, after the death of CPH 2 May 2001 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/2 Copy of a letter from KH to his nephew, Mr P J Williams, in Ontario, Canada, recommending that the diary be deposited with South Wales Borderers’ Museum 4 Aug 2001 2.0 membranes |
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D6436/2/3 Copy of a letter from Miriam Heare, KH’s niece, to a Mr. Davies nominating her uncle to attend a memorial service with the Queen to honour those who served in the First World War c.2009 2.0 membranes |
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D6436/2/4 Photocopy of an Invitation sent to KH to attend the Memorial “Service to mark the passing of the World War One Generation to be held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 11th November 2009 at 10:55am” c.2009 1.0 item |
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D6436/2/5 Copy of a letter from KH to Bruce. KH has sent Bruce a copy of “Out Since 14”. KH also provides background to the photograph of CPH with King Edward VIII – CPH had initially been asked to represent the unemployed men of Pontypool, but instead took up the invitation of the 2nd Mons 24 Jun 2002 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/6 Invoice from The South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regimental Museum of the Royal Regiment of Wales to KH for photocopying the typescript version of the diary 2 Aug 1999 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/7 List of Names and Addresses of key correspondents in looking at the history of CPH c.2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/8 Letter from Ken Clark thanking KH for allowing him to read the transcript of CPH’s diary 15 Nov 1999 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/9 Letter from David Nicholas to KH asking whether he is CPH’s son and if so, requesting access to the diary 30 Dec 2002 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/10 Letter from Gwyn Carnell to KH thanking him for allowing him to read CPH’s Diary 22 Nov 1999 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/11 Copy of a letter from KH to the Editor of the Free Press. In the original letter KH enclosed a typescript copy of the diary 7 Oct 2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/12 Copy of a letter from KH to Ray Westlake. In the original letter KH enclosed a typescript copy of the diary (Mr Westlake has written books about WW1 Graves and Memorials) 7 Oct 2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/13 Copy of a letter from KH to Mike Buckingham from the South Wales Argus. In the original letter KH enclosed a typescript copy of the diary 5 Oct 2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/14 Copy of a letter from KH to Jan Preece of Pill Heritage Project. In the original letter KH enclosed a typescript copy of the diary 7 Oct 2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/15 Copy of a letter from KH to Aubrey Black. In the original letter KH enclosed a typescript copy of the diary (It appears that Aubrey Black had previously typed up the pages of the diary) 22 Nov 2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/16 Letter from Dorothy (KH’s niece) and family to KH. In the main a newsy letter, although Dorothy mentions KH’s regular columns in the South Wales Argus and information sent to her by KH re: the family tree 28 Mar 2000 2.0 membranes |
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D6436/2/17 Letter from Dorothy (KH’s niece) and family to KH. Thanking KH for typescript copy of the diary 17 Nov 2000 2.0 membranes |
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D6436/2/18 Compliment Slip: from Rachel Hogg of the BBC to KH. This had originally accompanied a copy of "Lost Voices of Generation" 20 Nov 2009 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/19 Photocopy of Newspaper Obituaries for CPH. (Photocopy taken from D6436/1) c.2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/20 Photocopy of a Photograph of CPH wearing overseas service chevrons. (Original photograph appears in D6436.1. Although the Diary suggests 1914; external research has suggested that this photograph would have actually been taken in early 1918) c.2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/2/21 Photocopy of a Photograph of CPH taken at Poperinghe, Belgium, August 1916. (Original in D6436/1) c.2000 1.0 membrane |
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D6436/3 B/W Photograph of King Edward VIII visiting Pontypool and speaking with Charles Parkinson Heare (Originally within D6436/2) 19 Nov 1936 1.0 photograph |
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