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DUFFY, Charles Henry
| Service Number: | 2218 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 September 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Second Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company |
| Born: | Milang, 14 June 1882 |
| Home Town: | Birkenhead, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | 5 July 1953, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: KO, Road: 10, Site No: 54 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Sep 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Corporal, 2218, Reinforcements WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Corporal, 2218, Reinforcements WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Mar 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Corporal, 2218, 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Charles Henry Duffy (1882–1953)
Marine Engineer • Railway Corps Corporal • Volunteer Defence Corps Member
Born in Milang, South Australia • Served in World War I & II
Early Life and Birth
Charles Henry Duffy was born on 14 June 1882 in Milang, located in the Strathalbyn District, South Australia.
Father: Michael Duffy
Mother: Mary Daw
Birth Registration: Book 285 / Page 340
Marriage and Family
On 1 December 1904, Charles married Bertha Akeryod at the residence of Rev. J. W. Bamber in Semaphore, South Australia.
Charles’s Age at Marriage: 22
Bertha’s Age: 28
Charles's Father: Michael Duffy
Bertha's Father: Jonathan Akeryod
Marriage Registered in: Port Adelaide District (Book 221 / Page 904)
They had at least two sons:
Ronald Charles Duffy, born 21 January 1907 in Exeter (Reg. 777/363)
Wallace Arthur Duffy, born 22 June 1910 in Exeter (Reg. 845/394)
The family lived in Birkenhead, Port Adelaide area.
Occupation
Charles worked as a Marine Engineer and Stationary Engine Driver. These professions are noted in multiple military records and suggest technical maritime and mechanical expertise, likely employed in South Australia’s port regions.
Military Service
World War I Service
Enlisted: 21 September 1917
Rank: Corporal
Service Number: 2218
Unit: 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company (AIF)
Embarked: 9 November 1917 aboard HMAT Port Sydney
Served Abroad: 1 year, 171 days
Discharged: 21 May 1919
Medals: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Notable Details: Treated for debility in London; return voyage on Plassy
World War II Service
Re-enlisted: 17 April 1942, aged 59
Service Number: S66726
Unit: 1st Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, South Australia
Medical Notes: Temporarily unfit for Class I; fit for service in VDC
Discharged: 19 March 1943 for non-attendance
Distinctive Marks: Top of left thumb missing scar on back of neck
Address: 7 Hilton Street, Birkenhead
Religious Affiliation: Methodist
Later Life and Death
Charles Henry Duffy passed away on 5 July 1953 at Parkside, South Australia, aged 71. He was widowed at the time of death. His residence remained Birkenhead, Port Adelaide.
Relative Listed: W. A. Duffy (Son – Wallace Arthur)
Death Registration: Norwood District (Book 798 / Page 3348)
Burial: West Terrace Cemetery, AIF Section, Adelaide
His wife Bertha Duffy (née Akeryod) died on 2 April 1949 in Birkenhead, aged 73, and was survived by Charles at that time.
Death Registration: Port Adelaide District (Book 739 / Page 1517)
Relative Listed: Charles Henry Duffy (Husband)
Legacy
Charles Duffy’s dual service in both World Wars and dedication as a marine engineer mark him as a stalwart contributor to both civil and military life in South Australia.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 25/10/2025
Click images to start slideshow.