Charles Clifton CHAPPELL

CHAPPELL, Charles Clifton

Service Number: 3799
Enlisted: 21 August 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 22nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia, 1896
Home Town: Yarrawonga, Moira, Victoria
Schooling: Yarrawonga State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Killed in Action, France, 5 August 1916
Cemetery: Courcelette British Cemetery
Plot IV, Row G, Grave No. 19
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Yarrawonga St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Great War Honor Roll, Yarrawonga War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

21 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3799, 22nd Infantry Battalion
8 Feb 1916: Involvement Private, 3799, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: ''
8 Feb 1916: Embarked Private, 3799, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Charles was the son of Alfred Moffat and Sarah Chappell of Yarrawonga, Victoria. His father was a prominent builder and contractor. 

Charles Chappell enlisted at the age of 19 from Yarrawonga. He was probaly working with his father at the time as he gave his calling as carpenter. He only joined his unit in France two months before his death.

His Roll of Honour form is a little hard to read but seems to state, "One of the first to raid the German trenches at Armentieres 1916, took part in 14 raids and was last in taking the Hill at Pozieres"-Father

His service file does state that "He took part in a raid on enemies trenches on the night 29-30 June 1916."

According to his Red Cross file Charles appears to have been killed in the German 2nd line of trenches at Pozieres on the 5 August 1916. Initially listed as missing his death was confirmed a few months later. It seems his remains were discovered and identified by some letters and a paybook during 1923 and were interred in the Courcelette British Cemetery.

His headstone is inscribed "IN MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON & BROTHER AN AUSTRALIAN HERO."

The Tungamah Express reported in late 1916, The MISSING SOLDIER.

Mr. A. M, Chappell, Yarrawonga, is making every effort in his power to settle the question as to what has become his son, Private Charles Chappell, who has been posted as missing since the great battle of Pozieres, on the Somme in France, but as yet his efforts have been futile. He recently received the following brief note in the matter from Captain A. R. Wiltshire, commanding "C" Company, 22nd Battalion, A.I.F., dated from the firing line 30th September, 1916.— Dear Mr. Chappell, Your son, 3779, Pte. C. C. Chappell, has been missing ever since we went through the heavy fighting beyond Pozieres, and I fear that there is little chance of him being alive. Inquiries among his comrades can throw no light on his fate, but in the terrific shell barrages we had to pass through a man could easily be buried by an explosion, or meet his death some other way, without being noticed. If he had been taken prisoner we should have heard by now, I think. He was a good lad, who bore the hardships of campaigning without complaint, and you can rest assured that if he is dead he died fighting bravely and helping to win the victory we ultimately gained."

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