Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Charles Poole (1841 - 1898)


Charles Poole was an Army musician, being Trumpeter with the 17th Lancers and progressing to Bandmaster with the 7th Dragoon Guards.


It is believed he was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1841. It is not known when he joined the 17th Lancers as a Trumpeter. The 17th Lancers took part in The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854. (Charles would have been only 13-years-old then, and although trumpet boys and drummer boys were taken as young as 13, it seems unlikely that he served in the Crimean War). In December 1857, the Regiment was sent to India to help suppress the Mutiny. An Army record shows that in 1861, Charles Poole, Trumpeter, was based at Secunderabad, where he received the Indian Mutiny Medal, although he was not eligible for any of the 5 clasps.


It is not certain when Charles moved to the 7th Dragoon Guards. This regiment had famously taken part in the Battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy during the War of the Austrian Succession in 1743. However, in 1857, it was posted to India, returning home in 1867, where it remained until the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War.


In 1880, Charles Poole married Jane Walder at Farnham in Surrey. Jane was born in 1854 in Bangor, Sussex. Shortly afterwards they had a daughter, Maude Louise, who was born on 8th April 1880 and baptised on 23rd July at the Garrison Church, Aldershot, Hampshire.


The Norfolk Chronicle of 26th November 1881 reported, "The citizens of Norwich may hope to enjoy, from time to time, the rich musical treat from the 7th Dragoon Guards band under Bandmaster Mr Charles Poole, currently stationed in Norwich. The band is now in possession of a pair of kettledrums that were captured by the 7th Dragoon Guards at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743.


The Thetford and Watton Times of 25th November 1882 reported, "7th Dragoon Guards. At the First Officers Mess on Tuesday evening the excellent band of this Regiment played a varied selection of music, that from "Israel in Egypt" being particularly well rendered and admired. Great credit is due to Bandmaster Charles Poole for the efficiency of the band, which at Aldershot, was considered to be the finest cavalry band in the service."


The Manchester Courier of 17th November 1883, reports the arrival of the famous, French Engineer, Ferdinand de Lessops at Central Station. "The band of the 7th Manchester Artillery Volunteers, under the conductor-ship of Mr Charles Poole, Bandmaster of the Dragoon Guards, played the "Marsellaise."


A Death notice in Manchester Times of 25th February 1898 read:  POOLE – February 18th at 221 Morton Street, Longsight, Charles Poole, late Bandmaster 7th Dragoon Guards and formerly 17th Lancers, aged 56. And in Manchester Evening News, 18th February 1899, In Memoriam, POOLE – In ever-loving memory of my dear husband Charles Poole, late Bandmaster Seventh Dragoon Guards, died February 18th 1898.