Charles Reginald Kitching was born on 12th April 1890 in Stockton on Tees and was the son of Henry Kitching, a labourer from Malton Yks and his wife Emily from Colchester. The couple had 10 children although 3 did not survive childhood.
In 1911, the family were living in Borrowdale St West Hartlepool, Charles' younger sister having been born in West Hartlepool in 1904. In 1901, the family lived in Hull where three of his siblings were born.
Charles was a labourer in 1911 prior to joining the Royal Navy. In World War 1 he served on HMS Nottingham which saw action during the bombardment of Hartlepool in 1914. On 19th August 1916, Nottingham was hit by two torpedoes south east of the Firth of Forth and sank.
His body was not recovered and his mother Emily was informed of her son's death.
