12798
HOUSTON, Charles Ernest
| Service Number: | 3620 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 March 1917, Alt enlistment date per nominal Roll 18 Dec 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Dublin, Mallala - South Australia, Australia, 1880 |
| Home Town: | Westbourne Park (Cottonville), Mitcham, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Westbourne Park, 1 November 1935, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mitcham Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Dublin Lower Light Methodist Honor Roll, Dublin WW1 & WW2 Roll of Honor, Dublin War Memorial, Rose Park Gartrell Memorial Methodist Church Roll of Honour, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Mar 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3620, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Alt enlistment date per nominal Roll 18 Dec 1914 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3620, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Chares Ernest Houston was from Dublin and lived at South Australia Sussex Terrace, Westbourne Park, South Australia. Charles had a wife named Kate Ella Houston and believed in the Methodist religion. Charles had no prior military service, Charles enlisted twice once at the age of 33 1/2 and again at 35 1/2 after being injured in action and being discharged the first time. His day job was as a sales rep or agent, and he had no known education before joining the army.
Charles Ernest Houston was a tall man and of average weight, he was 5,10 ft and weight 181 lbs which are 69.8 Kg. He had grey eyes and a medium complexion with dark brown hair. Charles was a fit man with a 35-inch chest this indicated that he was a lean man.
Charles enlisted in Adelaide first on the 18th of December 1914 then later on the 9th of March 1917. Charles was given the same service number on re-joining the army, his service number was 3620. He was assigned the 32nd Reinforcement of the 9th Light Calvary Unit. When Charles enlisted, he immediately went through NCO training and became a Staff Sergeant. He was first posted in Gallipoli where he stayed until he was injured on 9/9/15 and suffered deafness and shellshock (also known as PTSD) from a mortar strike. He returned to Australia on 15/11/15 on board Hmat Borda, Charles would later be discharged for his injuries on 6/3/16.
Charles reenlisted on 9/3/17 (although it is worth noting that in the year and a half, he had aged considerably reportedly gaining 30lbs and losing his dark brown hair for grey hair). On Charles’ second trip he first had to undergo officer training again in Adelaide he started training on 9/3/17 and his training would not be complete until 24/10/17. He would later embark for Egypt on 2/11/17 aboard the HMAT Commonwealth. He would spend the rest of the war in Egypt training new troops for the fight in Europe. He stayed there until the war was concluded on 11/11/18.
Charles returned to his old life after the war and died of an unknown disease on 13/11/35. Charles is buried in Mitcham General Cemetery.
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