Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date – 22nd December..... Private Charles Calvo was born at Brighton, Sussex, England. He signed on with the Royal Navy on 25th September, 1896 for a period of 12 years & stated his date of birth was 25th September, 1878. Boy 2nd Class Calvo was issued with a number of 189839 (Portsmouth) & served on Northampton from 8th May, 1898. He served on several vessels & was promoted up through the ratings until he was an Able Seaman. His last vessel he served on was Prince George which he left on 26th June, 1900 & was marked as “Run” (or deserter).

Charles Calvo married Emma Ellen Bowles in 1899 in the district of Brighton, Sussex England.

The 1901 England Census listed Charles Calvo as a 22 year old, married, Able Seaman as a member of the crew of H.M.S. Prince George which was a 1st Class Battleship of the Royal Navy & part of the Channel Squadron. H.M.S. Prince George was positioned at Gibraltar Bay on Sunday, 31st March, 1901 – the night of the 1901 Census.

The 1911 England Census recorded Charles Calvoas a 32 year old, married, Labourer living at 30 Blakely Buildings, East Greenwich, London, England in a 3 roomed dwelling with his wife & 5 children.
Charles Calvo, Farm Hand, aged 34, was a passenger on the Zealandic which had departed from the port of Liverpool, England on 4th October, 1913 & arrived at the port of Fremantle, Western Australia on 8th November, 1913.

The Greenwich Workhouse, Woolwich Road, England recorded Thomas Calvo, aged 5, being admitted to the Workhouse on 20th December, 1913 & was discharged from the Workhouse on 22nd December, 1913 as he was destitute & was being transferred to the Infirmary. Charles Calvo, aged 12, was also listed at the same Workhouse & had been admitted on 23rd December, 1913 – destitute. He was transferred to Sidcup.

[Note: The four Calvo children – Charles, Nellie, Thomas & George – from 30 Blakely Buildings were all admitted to the Greenwich Workhouse on 26th July, 1917.]

Charles Calvo was a 36 year old, married, Farm Hand when he enlisted at Perth, Western Australia on 9th August, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs E. E. Calvo, 31 Cobden Road, London North, England.
Private Calvo embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Benalla (A24) on 1st November, 1915 with the 16th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements. He was admitted to Field Ambulance on 25th March, 1916 with Lumago. He was transferred to Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir & rejoined his Unit on 31st March, 1916.

Private Calvo arrived in France on 9th June, 1916. He was sent sick to Hospital on 9th October, 1917 with a Septic Foot & rejoined 16th Battalion on 16th December, 1917.

Private Charles Calvo was on leave from 12th March, 1918.

Private Charles Calvo was illegally absent in France from 29th March, 1918.

Private Charles Calvo was declared by a Court of Inquiry held on 2nd June, 1918 to be an illegal absentee. He had illegally absented himself on 29th March, 1918 by overstaying Leave to UK & was still absent on 7th June, 1918.

Illegal Absentee Private Charles Calvo completed a form stating he had first reported back on 27th April, 1920 at Australian Imperial Force Headquarters, Horseferry Road, London. The reason for his absence “Wife deserting, neglect of home & children, & leading a deplorable life with other men and giving me no heart to rejoin my Unit.” He stated he wanted a discharge in the UK for the following reasons “I have constant work and I feel secure in supporting my children and I feel that in returning to Australia I shall be punished causing severe suffering to my children”. He did not desire to return to Australia & stated on the form he was married with 6 children. He did not know his wife’s address as she was living with another man. Charles Calvo had received instructions to report to Record Office at Horseferry Road, London on 12th May, 1920. He signed stating that the “foregoing particulars are correct and authorize deduction from my pay account for the periods of illegal absence.” George Calvo witnessed.

A Court of Enquiry was held to investigate on Illegal Absentee Private Charles Calvo. It was recommended on 13th October, 1920 that he be discharged as of 12th April, 1918 & not be made available for repatriation to Australia.

Ex-Private Charles Calvo died on 22nd December, 1920. He was buried in Brighton City (Bear Road) Cemetery, East Sussex, England where 28 other Australian WW1 Soldiers are buried.

Private Charles Calvo would have been entitled to 1914/15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal but these were automatically forfeited when he was declared illegally absent.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/bear-road.html