Mexborough and Swinton Times February 17, 1917

Lance Corporal C.E. Rolfe (Royal Engineers)

28, Pitt Street, Mexborough has died in France of nephritis. He was a married man, with 10 children and one grandchild, and had a son-in-law in the West Riding Regiment and two brothers also serving.

Before enlistment in July 1915, he was employed at Denaby Main. Before settling in Mexborough he resided at Thurnscoe, and was for some time Thurnscoe correspondant for the “Mexborough Times.”

His widow has received from Lt Frank Denton (Royal Engineers) the following letter of sympathy:

“I regret to tell you that your husband has died in hospital here, having contracted nephritis, due to extreme cold we have been experiencing here these last two or three weeks. He only reported sick on the second (February), and was given some medicine, but on the third, when he reported again, he was immediately taken into hospital, where he only lived until the evening of the fifth.

He is buried in the cemetery adjoining the hospital, and his grave is marked with a small wooden cross.

We are all very shocked at the suddenness of his death, and our sympathy is for you and your family. I have an intimate knowledge of how dear you all were to him, and how hopeful he was of getting his long delayed leave that he might see you all again. He has been with me practically all the time since the Doncaster days, and I knew in what high respect he was held by both officers and men.

You have the satisfaction of knowing that he did his duty under all circumstances, and was a man to the end.”

From C.W.G.C.:

Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 106687
Date of Death: 05/02/1917
Age: 43
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers 40th Div. H.Q.

Grave Reference: B. 62.
Cemetery: LA NEUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, CORBIE
Additional Information:
Son of Edward and Mary Ann Rolfe, of Suffolk; husband of Eliza Rolfe, of 28, Pett St., Mexborough, nr. Rotherham, Yorks.