ATTWOOD, Charles James
| Service Numbers: | VX5156, VX5156 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 November 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Headquarters 17th Brigade |
| Born: | Coleraine, Victoria, Australia , 6 June 1918 |
| Home Town: | Portland, Glenelg, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Portland, Victoria, Australia , 1957, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 9 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1939: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 , 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength with Unit during initial recruit training at Puckapunyal, Victoria | |
| 14 Apr 1940: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 , 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion, Embarked with Unit in Melbourne for service in Middle East. Disembarked Kantara, Egypt on 18 May. | |
| 25 Mar 1941: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Headquarters 17th Brigade, Taken on strength ex 2nd/6th Infantry Battalion | |
| 31 Mar 1941: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 , Headquarters 17th Brigade, Embarked for service in Greece | |
| 20 May 1941: | Imprisoned "Operation Lustre" Greece 1941, Reported missing in action in Crete following German invasion of 20th May. Confirmed on 19 June as POW in Stalag VIII-B in Lamsdorf Germany. | |
| 24 Nov 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 , Headquarters 17th Brigade, Embarked in Middle East per Hospital Ship MS "Oranje" for return to Australia, following release on POW exchange on 27 Oct 1943. | |
| 28 Mar 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX5156 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Charles James ATTWOOD was born in Coleraine Victoria on 6th June 1918, to John Carter and Mable Elizabeth (née MEEK) ATTWOOD.
A single labourer living in Portland, Victoria, Charles enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force at Geelong on 9th November 1939, aged 21. He was enlisted as a Private with the regimental number VX5156, and completed his recruit training at Puckapunyal and Broadmeadows as a member of the 2nd/6th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 14th April 1940, Charles embarked with his Unit in Melbourne for active service in the Middle East, arriving in Kantara Egypt on 18th May.
On 25th March 1941, Charles was taken on strength with Headquarters of the 17th Australian Infantry Brigade, and embarked for Greece 6 days later. They were in Crete when it was invaded by the Germans in May 1941, and Charles was reported as missing in action soon after. On 19th June 1941, he was confirmed as being interned by the Germans as a prisoner of war in Stalag XVIII-A in Austria, and later in Stalag VIII-B in Lamsdorf, Germany.
On 27th October 1943, Charles was released on a German POW exchange, after nearly 2 and a half years of internment. He was returned to Australia on the Hospital Ship MS "Oranje" on 24th November 1943, and subsequently discharged medically unfit on 28th March 1944. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and the Australia Service Medal for his service, as well as Returned from Active Service Badge number A30736. He also qualified for the award of the Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940-41, which was instituted by the Greek Government in 1947.
In 1945, Charles James ATTWOOD married Dorothy Jean TURNBULL, in Victoria. He died in Portland Victoria in 1957, aged 38.
Lest we forget...
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, and Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
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