MASON, Charles Alfred Robe
| Service Number: | 2388 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 June 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Forest Range, South Australia, 10 March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Forest Range, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Forest Range Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 3 October 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bellicourt British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lenswood & Forest Range War Memorial, Woodside District of Onkaparinga Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2388, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2388, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Adelaide | |
| 3 Oct 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2388, 27th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2388 awm_unit: 27 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-10-03 |
Charles Alfred Robe Mason
Charles Alfred Robe Mason was born at Forest Range on the 10th May 1895 and also went by the name of Jack. Charles served six months in the Senior Cadets and two years in the 79th Infantry, Citizens Military Forces. He enlisted on the 22nd June 1915, listing his mother Fanny Mason as his next of kin. Mason was hospitalised in both Egypt and England with illness throughout 1916, prior to rejoining his unit, the 27th Battalion in Belgium in October 1917.
Mason was temporarily appointed Lance Corporal in France on the 1st September 1918. He returned from leave in England on the 1st October 1918. Mason was killed in action in France two days later and was awarded the Military Medal for the following deed:
“During the attack south of Allaines, north east of Peronne, on the morning of the 2nd of September 1918, this soldier single – handed attacked and after a severe bomb fight, succeeded in driving a party of the enemy from a trench, killing several and putting the remainder to flight. This operation allowed his company to regain touch with the battalion. Private Mason showed conspicuous gallantry in this effort and an utter disregard for personal safety.” Sgd C. Rosenthal, Major-General, Commanding 2nd Australian Division {NAA:B2455, 2388 Charles Mason}.
Mason was buried at Mount St. Martin British Cemetery, nine and a half miles north of St. Quentin. His remains were exhumed and re-interred at Bellicourt British Cemetery, seven and a half miles north north-west of St. Quentin. Mason’s father, George Mason, received a memorial scroll and the King’s message on behalf of his son on the 24th, September 1921.
Submitted 10 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography
"OUR HEROES. LATE CORPORAL MASON.
The late Corporal C. A. R. Mason was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Mason, of Forest Range. During the attack south of Allaines, north-east of Peronne, on the morning of September 2, 1918, he single handed attacked and after a severe bomb fight succeeded in driving a party of the enemy from a trench, killing several and putting the remainder to flight. That operation allowed his company to regain touch with the battalion. Private Mason showed conspicuous gallantry in that effort, and an utter disregard for personal safely. He was awarded the Military Medal and afterwards was promoted to corporal. He was killed during the next attack on October 3." - from the Adelaide Daily Herald 04 Mar 1919 (nla.gov.au)
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