MEHARRY, Charles Hawthorn Scott
| Service Number: | 1159 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 October 1914, Helena Vale, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kerang, Victoria, Australia, 24 February 1889 |
| Home Town: | Katanning, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Marracoonda Public School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Pneumonia, At sea (HMAT Themistocles A32), 18 January 1915, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, Coburg General Cemetery, Coburg, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, Katanning Marracoonda School Honour Roll, Woodanilling War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1159, 11th Infantry Battalion, Helena Vale, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1159, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1159, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 18 Jan 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1159, 11th Infantry Battalion, Died at sea on route to Aden |
Charles' life summary
Charles was born in Kerang on the 24th of February 1889, the youngest of the 11 children of William Meharry and Sarah Fellows. He and his siblings lived in Kerang with their mother as his father, uncle and eldest brother Robert went to WA. They would follow them to Katanning in 1902, and were established as one of the first settling families in Marracoonda. He pursued a career in farming until 1913, when he became a travelling representative for Thomson and Meharry, a local timber and hardware store owned by his father and WA politician and Katanning chairman, Alexander Thomson. Charles was an active member of the Woodanilling and South Katanning football club, and was the first of his brothers to enlist to fight in The Great War at the age of 25, being assigned to the 1st reinforcements of the 11th Battalion on October 16, 1914.
After two weeks of preliminary training, Charles boarded HMAS Themistocles A32 with the 1st reinforcements December 22, 1914, destined for the port city of Aden. Less than a month into the voyage, Charles developed symptoms of pneumonia, and died on January 18, 1915. He was buried at sea. A few months later, his brother Thomas would have his first child. He and his wife named him ‘Charles Hawthorne Scott Meharry’ in his memory.
Charles' mother was distraught after learning of his death, and made her sons promise not to enlist while she was alive. On June 12 1916, she passed away from a tumour in her bladder. Two days later, Charles' brother George enlisted, followed by Robert and Samuel.
Submitted 16 December 2024 by Hayden Beasy
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Charles Hawthorn Scott MEHARRY was born on 24th February, 1889 in Kerang, Victoria
His parents were William MEHARRY and Sarah FELLOWS
He enlisted 0n 16th October, 1914 in Helena Vale, Western Australia with the 11th Infantry Battalion and left Melbourne with the 1st Reinforcements on 22nd December, 1914 on the ship Themistocles
Charles died at sea of pneumonia on 18th January 1915 on the ship Themistocles on route to Aden - he is remembered at the Chatby Memorial, the Australian War Memorial & the State War Memorial in Perth, WA - he was awarded the British War Medal
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His brother Samuel Fellows MEHARRY (SN4166) served in the Camel Corp in the Middle East
Another brother George Hugh MEHARRY served in WW1 (SN237) & WW2 (SN W75197)
Brother Robert John MEHARRY also served (SN4865) - they all returned to Australia
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Southern Districts Advocate (Katanning) WA 27th Jan, 1915
Death of Private Charles Meharry, at sea
Very ddep regret was expressed last weekend when it became known that Pte. C Meharry had passed away. The news arrived from the Minister for Defence, who extended his sympathy, the message intimating that death had occurred at sea from pneumonia on the 18th. Deceased was 25 years of age and was a native of Kerang, Victoria. he came to Katanning with the family some 17 years ago and had lived in and around the district ever since
His schooldays were spent at Marracoonda, where he afterwards folllowed farming pursuits till a couple of years back, when he took the post of travelling representative to the firm of Thomson & Meharry.
He joined the 2nd contingent and was drafted into the first reinforcements, which left about New Year
For many years Charlie was a prominent member of the Woodanilling & South Katanning football clubs, and was held in high regard for his manly qualities both by his colleagues and opponents.
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