Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles William Vacher FINCHAM was born in Horsham, Victoria in 1897

His parents were Randall George FINCHAM & Annie Jane WATSON

CHARLES WILLIAM VACHER FINCHAM who died on 18th February 1919 from influenza in the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at the front, was the son of the late Mr. R. G. Fincham. He was born in 1897 and was at the Preparatory School from 1909 till 1911 when he entered the School, and stayed there until 1913, when he left after passing the Junior Public Examination.

He entered the University as a Law student, but owing to his growing too rapidly he gave up the work for some time and was in Queensland when his pressure to go.to the war front became too strong to be resisted by his parents. He was under 19 years of age, but his military connection with the Grammar School, where he was a Lieutenant of Cadets for about two years, and as a Lieutenant in the Citizen Forces, made him desire to serve, while his pride in the magnificent spirit of patriotism  amongst his old schoolfellows became so strong that he would not be denied.

As he was a fine motorist he joined that branch of the service when he enlisted in August 1916 and became a Corporal in the 2nd Mechanical Transport Co. While at the front he applied to go into the Air Service and did some flying. In his letters he mentioned having travelled through Italy with some American and  Dutch friends and amongst the latter members of the family of the representative of Holland in that country.

It is happy to know that he had a particularly enjoyable time then, for he contracted pneumonic influenza in a most virulent form shortly after his return, to which he succumbed. He had mentioned that he had been recommended for his commission and later on his C.O. confirmed this, at the same time expressing his distress at his sudden fatal illness.