FOOKS, Charles Philip
| Service Number: | 7833 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 June 1917, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | Tunnelling Companies |
| Born: | St Peters, New South Wales, Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | New South Wales, Australia , 9 June 1977, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Camden Park Cemetery, NSW General section. Headstone inscription reads: Fell asleep 9 June 1977. With Christ |
| Memorials: | Parramatta Dundas Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jun 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 7833, Tunnelling Companies, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement Sapper, 7833, Tunnelling Companies, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked Sapper, 7833, Tunnelling Companies, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 23 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 7833, Tunnelling Companies, Discharged at the 2nd Military District |
Charles Philip Fooks; The War
He was born in 1888 in Dundas, NSW as son of William John Fooks and Mary Thorp Fooks grew up on his parents dairy farm in Gloucester, which is Northwest of Newcastle and Southwest of Port Macquarie. He lived a typical farm life for that time, hand milking with his brothers, 100 cows every morning & afternoon, he was an accomplished horseman and a good shot with his rifle, like many in the era. These things helped develop his accuracy, skills, and resilience, which would help him later on.
As an engineer, his job was critical—he built and repaired bridges so troops could cross safely, and fixed damaged equipment like guns and tanks under dangerous conditions. He came back with stories such as getting shrapnel in his hand. He also had a separate incident where another bit of shrapnel nearly killed him but an object which may have been a wallet or book in his breast pocket saved him. His biggest story we know of however was when he shot down a German Fighter biplane with only a 303 Military rifle. He also created vases with unusual shapes out of used cannon shells, which he brought back home.
After the war, he came back and lived a normal life continuing engineering work and married Cathrine Sandeman, he later passed his stories down to his grandson, who is now my grandfather. Much of his engineering work after the war was very innovative, he was involved in the design of the first Australian milking machine, he also designed a gun that can kill the invasive prickly pear.
Charles Phillip Fooks died in 1977 at the age of 89 nearly turning 90.
Lest We Forget. -Tim Bird (Descendant)
Submitted 18 May 2026 by Tim Bird
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of William T. (John) Fooks and Mary Fooks of Kissing Point Road, Dundas, NSW
Commenced return to Australia 1 August 1919 aboard HT Argyllshire disembarking on the 23 September 1919
During 1924c Charles married Catherine McIntosh Fooks in Ryde, NSW
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal