87396 Private Charles William Marchant, 12th King's Liverpool Regt

C W Marchant is probably Charles William Marchant who was born at Chailey in 1896, his birth registered at Lewes in the September quarter of that year. 

He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a four year old living at 3 Chapel Row Cottages, Plumpton, Sussex with his family.  The family comprised: Charles Marchant (head, aged 46 and working as a carter for a contractor), Lois Marchant (his wife, aged 41) Florence Marchant (daughter, aged eight), Charles Marchant (son, aged four), and Lily Smith (grand-daughter, aged two).  In addition two lodgers, James Best (aged 20) and Eliza Bailey (aged 21) were also staying at the cottage. 

He first appears in Chailey’s Parish Magazine in December 1917 where he is recorded as,  Marchant, Pte C W, 7th Reserve K L R.  In January 1918 the magazine notes that he has transferred to the 12th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment and in May 1918 records the fact that he has been wounded.  This information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

The National Archives’ medal index card gives Charles Marchant’s number as 87396.