BACKMAN, Charles James
| Service Number: | 77 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia , 11 April 1884 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Hindmarsh School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker's Assistant (S.A.R.) |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 25 April 1915, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey Panel 32 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 77, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Sergeant, 77, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' |
|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 77, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 77, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Answer the call to arms in 1914.
"Charles (Rappy) Backman was one of the thousands of Australians to answer the call to arms in 1914. He enlisted for service with the AIF on 29/8/1914 in Adelaide and embarked for Egypt on the Ascanius in October. He was a sergeant in 'C' Company of the 10th Battalion. In Egypt they trained further for action against the Turks in the Dardenelles.
An account of the Gallipoli landing given to the authorities and included in Rappy's war service record, confirms he made it to the beach but was lost sight of after this. Another unsubstantiated report was that he died on the beach. The roll call for the 10th was not taken until 28/4/1915 and this is when Rappy was reported wounded and missing.
In June 1916 his status was changed from missing to killed. On 8 November 1916 , The Register Newspaper reported that his parents received official notification of his death. His I.D. tag was found and returned to his family. His body was never located and his name is one amoung the 3268 Australians with no known grave listed on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli.
C. J Backman was a 1st Class Cricketer described as a Right-handed batsman, right-arm medium pace and we believe he once played for South Australia possibly against England. He was 30 when he died and unmarried. His religion was given as Congregational. His trade was recorded as boilermaker with the South Australian Railways - Islington Loco sheds..."
Submitted 8 April 2015
Adelaide Cricket Club Annual Meeting (Adelaide Daily Herald 3/9/1915)
The annual meeting of the Adelaide District Cricket Club was held in the Prince of Wales Hotel last evening, when the vice-president (Mr. P. F.Kiley) occupied the chair. The hon. secretary (Mr. E. McCarron) submitted the 10th annual report, which set out the result of the season's play in detail and dealt with other matters of interest.
The secretary made reference to the members who had enlisted.
He said that nine were now in the trenches, and a number of others were in camp. He wished them Godspeed, and trusted that after they had witnessed the setting of the Crescent and the glorious sunburst of peace, they would return and once again join their comrades on the cricket field.
The roll of honor at present contains the names of Sergeants C. Backman, G. Whiting, G. S. Down, L. S. Waye, L. Hosking, Quartermaster-Sergeant D. Irwin and F. Barry. Lieutenants G. C. Campbell, H. Elms, Privates L. S. Kelly, S. Bartlett, E. Kiban, D. T. DuRieu, Dr. C. Dolling, and Hon. J. Mulholland (the Governor's private secretary).
The following officers were elected:- Patron, Mr. H. Blowman; vice-patron, Mr. H. Shields; president, Mr. J. Richardson; secretary Mr. E. McCarron; assistant secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. Healey; committee, Messrs. J. F. Tra- vers, H. McCarron, J. Ardill, D. Gillispie, J. Keppel, A. Roberts; delegates to A Grade, E. McCarron and J. F. Travers. Sergeant C. Backman was elected a life member of the club. At the conclusion of the business, musical items and refreshments were supplied."
Submitted 8 April 2015
The Late Sergeant C J Backman (Adelaide Chronicle 11/11/1916)
News has reached the parents of Sergeant C. J. Backman (Rappie) that he was killed between April 25 and 28, 1915.
He had been reported missing for some months.
He was born in Adelaide, and was educated at the Hindmarsh school. He was a good cricketer, having played with West Torrens, and also with the A grade Adelaide team. He took part in a match between South Australia and England. He was employed at Islington workshops, where they held him in high esteem. He took the captain's place with the team which played at Port Augusta, Iron Knob, and Quorn. When the war broke out he was one of the first to volunteer. He was in the famous landing at Gallipoli. A good son and brother, his loss will be felt by his people and friends, of whom he had many. He was 31 years old."
Submitted 8 April 2015
Biography contributed by Glenunga International High School
Charles James (Rappie) Backman
Australia was called into action when Britain became a part of the war. Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought in many battles within the war, including the 10th Battalion. This was the first Battalion that was raised in South Australia. It started in August of 1914 and spanned for almost a year against the Turks in Gallipoli. Most of the soldiers were wiped out, and it has since sparked the celebration where we all remember and acknowledge those who died in this battle.
Charles James Backman was born and schooled in Hindmarsh with his father, brother and mother. He was born in April of 1884 and was a very talented cricketer, representing and captaining a game against England. He was one of the best cricketers of his generation. He was held with very high regard in his community as his Grandfather was also a part of the Army. When the war broke out in late July 1914, he was among the first to sign up not only across South Australia, but the entire country.
He signed up for the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) on the 19th of August 1914, just one month after the war broke out. It was not long after that he embarked for Egypt to complete his training at the rank of Sergeant. It was from Egypt that he would travel to Gallipoli. Authorities have confirmed that he made it to the beach but wast lost a couple of days after this. His status of “missing” was confirmed when he was absent from the first roll call just three days after arriving at Gallipoli. Over a year later, he was confirmed dead and no longer a missing person. It is assumed that he died on the 25th of April 1915 at the age of 31, as no sightings of him was reported after this date. He never returned home and was confirmed to be wounded, although his body was never found. All that was found was his ID tag, and this was returned to his family immediately.
Charles was never buried as his body was never located. He was still given a gravestone with his late Grandfather in the Hindmarsh Cemetery in Adelaide. He was one of just over 3000 soldiers whose body was never found. His name is commemorated on Panel 32 on the Lone Pine Memorial, and is also commemorated in Canberra. He was and still is missed by his large loving family.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
News has been received by the parents of Sgt. C.J. Backman, who had been reported as missing since the Gallipoli operations in April of last year, notifying his death. Prior to the receipt of the last communication it had been thought that he was a prisoner of war in Turkey. The deceased solders was born in Adelaide, but in childhood went to reside with his parents in Bowden,w here he was educated at the local State school. Subsequently he was a prominent West Torrens cricketer, and figured in A-grade matches. He was employed at the Islington workshops, and was widely esteemed among a large circle of friends.
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