In World War I, Charles Worsley served as a lieutenant in C Squadron of the Royal Horse Guards during hostilities in Flanders, commanding a machine gun section.

[1] Worsley's body was buried by German soldiers, and a map of his burial location was later passed on via diplomatic channels to the British, which enabled them to relocate his grave in December 1918.

In January 1919 a replacement wooden cross was erected, and Lord Worsley's widow subsequently purchased the plot of land.

[citation needed] Lord Worsley's body was exhumed in 1921 and reburied in Ypres at the Town Cemetery Military Extension.

[2] On the spot where Lord Worsley's body was originally buried by the Germans now stands the Household Cavalry Memorial in the centre of Zandvoorde.