DENT, Charles Hodgett
| Service Number: | 2429 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 May 1916, Enlisted at Portland, Victoria. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 37th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Portland, Victoria, Australia, 21 October 1896 |
| Home Town: | Portland, Glenelg, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, November 1970, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo Section MON G4A, grave no. 17417 |
| Memorials: | Bolwarra Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 27 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2429, 39th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Portland, Victoria. | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2429, 39th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2429, 39th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
| 15 Jun 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 37th Infantry Battalion, Transferred to 37th Infantry Battalion. | |
| 29 Jul 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2429, 37th Infantry Battalion, Wounded in action (at duty). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Andreena Hockley
Private Charles Hodgetts Dent was born on the 21st October 1986, and was the thirteenth of fourteen children born to Thomas & Olivia Henrietta (nee Hodgetts) Dent.
Charles enlisted at Portland, Victoria. He was aged 19 years, 7 months; as he was underage, his father signed the consent form for his enlistment. Charles had dark hair and blue eyes, and stood at 5 feet 9 1/2 inches. Prior to enlisting, he had worked as a butcher.
Charles embarked on the 20th October 1916 from Melbourne aboard the HMAT "Port Lincoln", by which time he was 20 years of age. He transferred to the troop ship "Borda" at Sierra Leone.
Charles served in the 39th battalion - 4th reinforcements, 14th platoon, D company. On arrival in England, he was sent to Fargo Military Hospital suffering influenza and scabies.
While at Durrington Camp, he was reprimanded for using filthy language to an NCO, and was awarded 28 days detention by the Major.
Charles proceeded overseas to France where he was transferred to the 37th battalion. He required dental care in September 1917 in France where he was serving, and rejoined his unit afterwards. Here he stayed until gaining a period of leave in England in February 1918. After returning to France and his unit, Charles was wounded in action on the 29/7/18, although his record does not state the nature of his wounds.
He spent a month in hospital in August/September 1918 suffering another bout of influenza, rejoining his unit again after his hospital stay. Clearly not recovered, influenza sent him back to the field hospitals in October/November and from there he was sent to the Australian Corps School in January 1919. He returned to France once again, but by the May 1919 was back in England preparing to return to Australia. Charles returned to Australia on the "Plassy" and arrived home on 25th October 1919.
Before enlisting, Charles had married Catherine Lavinia Cain Robins in Hamilton in 1915. Catherine was the sister of William Henry Robins - Charles and William are both listed on the Bolwarra Parish Roll of Honour. Charles and Catherine had two children; a daughter, Violet Margaret Isabel on 23/3/17 while Charles was on active service in France, and a son, William George, in 1919 after Charles had returned home from the war. Tragically, William died in 1924, and Catherine died in 1928, aged 33 years.
A letter to Army Base in 1923 requested a description of him for the police as he owed £23 and could not be located. In 1931, Charles wrote requesting a copy of his discharge papers as he had lost them. The letter also stated that he had been under a doctor for 18 months as he'd had a nervous breakdown. In 1946, Charles was living in Richmond and working as a salesman. A letter in 1958 which listed his address as the Heathcote Post Office, requested a £10 refund he says was due to him regarding the abuse of the NCO.
Clearly, Charles' return home was not easy with the loss of a son and then his wife.
During WW2, Charles signed up for the Citizens Military Force. He enlisted in Melbourne under service number V80605.
Charles died in November 1970 at Bendigo, aged 74. He was buried in the White Hills Cemetery.
Researched by Fiona Rundell for her book "The Family History and Lives of 15 Servicemen of World War 1". Used with permission - thank you, Fiona.