CANTWELL, Charles Eric
| Service Number: | 4613 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia , 29 November 1892 |
| Home Town: | Oatlands, Southern Midlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Oatlands State School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | War Related Injuries, 9th Australian General Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 22 February 1919, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
St Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery Oatlands |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Oatlands Soldiers Memorial, Oatlands State School Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 4613, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 4613, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Charles and Jessie Cantwell of Oatlands.
The funeral of the late Private Eric Cantwell, who died at the Military Hospital on Saturday, took place on Monday, and was one of the largest ever held here. The returned soldiers in the district were present, as well as three car loads of men from the Base Military Hospital where the deceased soldier had endeared himself to all. A service was held in the church, which was draped with the Union Jack and purple streamers, and wasovercrowded. The Rev. W. W. Gregson gave the address. At the graveside a firing party of deceased's Oatlands comrades, in charge of Sergeant Burrill, D.C.M., fired a salute and Bandmaster Hodgson sounded the "Last Post". Men of the 12th Battalion, to which the deceased belonged, acted as pall bearers. It was the first military funeral held here, and the floral tributes were very numerous, a motor-car having to be requisitioned to carry the surplus after the coffin and hearse had been covered. Amongst the floral tributes were wreaths from the returned soldiers in the Oatlands district, the local branch of the Red Cross, Colonel and Mrs. Butler, comrades of 9th A.G. Hospital, Sisters, patients, and staff of Roseneath Hospital, ward attendants of 9th A.G. Hospital, Matron and Sisters of 9th A.G. Hospital and lfrom nearly every family in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Cantwell and family have the heartfelt sympathy of the whole district. Mr. Cantwell himself more than once volunteered to serve his country and his eldest son, Sergeant Darrel Cantwell is expected home shortly, having been badly wounded in the arm some time ago.
The father, although well over military age, made several attempts to go with his boys, but was turned down. The poor lad laid to rest was a well-behaved boy, and a good son to his parents. When the war started he saw his duty, and after some trying service in France got a severe wound. He was treated for 12 months in England, and then sent home, and has been an inmate of the Base and Roseneath Hospital ever since, but despite all medical skill death claimed another hero at the early age of 26.
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