GIDDINGS, Charles Robert
| Service Number: | 1736 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Geurie, New South Wales, Australia, 2 March 1897 |
| Home Town: | Geurie, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Geurie Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 21 November 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Section O, Plot II, Row F, Grave 10. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Geurie Honour Roll, Wellington Cenotaph, Wellington Hall of Memory Honour Roll, Wellington St. John The Baptist Church Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1736, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 1736, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 1736, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 21 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 1736, 1st Machine Gun Company, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1736 awm_unit: 1st Australian Machine Gun Company awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-11-21 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Charles Robert Giddings was known as ‘Charlie’ to his family and friends. He was the son of Thomas and Emma Giddings, of Geurie, New South Wales. His mother had died in 1897, only a few months after he was born.
His older brother, 1333 Pte. Oliver Thomas Giddings, an original member of the 3rd Battalion AIF, had been killed in action at Mouquet Farm only five months previous on 18 August 1916, aged 24.
Chales was transferred to the 1st Machine Gun Company when he arrived in Egypt. When he arrived on the Western Front he did further training at Etaples in France and rejoined the 1st Machine Gun Company on 2 August 1916. He was mortally wounded in France on 11 November 1916, (gunshot wound thigh) and he died of wounds 10 days later in hospital at Rouen.
Charles’s death was reported in the Wellington Times 30 November 1916.
“GEURIE. Another victim of the war is Private Charles Giddings, son of Mr. Thomas Giddings, of 'Gentle Rise,' Geurie. Mr. Giddings was notified of his son being severely wounded a fortnight ago, but the family hoped for the best. However, the sad information that Private Giddings had succumbed to his wounds on 21st inst. was received from the Defence Department on 28th inst. (Tuesday). "Charlie" Giddings, as he was known to Geurie folk, was but a lad of 19 years, and had been at the front some 12 months. Though but 18 years at the time of his enlistment, he has not hesitated to play a man's part. That such youths are not spared to later use their grit in the up building of their country is perhaps one of the saddest phases of this world-wide war. But 'tis said those whom the gods love die young. And the spirit of sacrifice which prompted a boy to leave an affluent home and assured worldly prospects to play a man's part for the sacred cause of liberty will not have been in vain. It is but a few weeks ago since the Giddings family were bereft of another son and brother, Olly, who also fell in France, and now are the wounds of anguish reopened by Charlie's death. The sympathy of the district goes to them who have given their son and brother for their country's liberty.”
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