RUSHTON, Charles William
| Service Number: | 819 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Epsom, Victoria, Australia, November 1894 |
| Home Town: | California Gully, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Steele's Post, Gallipoli, Turkey, 12 July 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 6 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Eaglehawk Loyal Darling Lodge Honor Roll WW1, Epsom School No 2367 Honor Roll, Huntly Memorial Hall Honor Roll, North Bendigo State School No 1267 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 819, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 819, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 819, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 819, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Gallipoli landings (second wave). GSW to lower back and stomach (severe). Evacuated to Egypt. | |
| 12 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 819, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Steele's Post |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Charles William Rushton, known as ‘Chick’, was born in Epsom. He was the son of James & Anna Elizabeth Rushton, of Upper Road, California Gully. ‘Chick’ was a Labourer, employed at Mr. A. Victor Leggo’s Metallurgical Works, at California Gully. Aged 19 years & 9 months old, he was currently serving in the 67th Infantry. He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no. 819 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion. His cousin, Wilfred Leslie Tucker, had also been appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
In September a 7th Battalion Band was formed. ‘Chick’ had been a member of the The Golden City Brass Band and immediately joined the 7th Battalion Band. The Band was able to use instruments donated in Melbourne and music donated from Eaglehawk. The Band played at Broadmeadows, and, later, on board ship and while the battalion was in camp in Egypt.
Prior to embarkation he was presented with a Gold ring by members of the Golden City Band; Presented with a Shaving outfit by Employes at Leggo’s Metallurgical works; and Presented with a memento by the Borough of Eaglehawk (Pocket wallet, wristlet watch, or shaving outfit).
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. Charles William Rushton was Wounded during the Landing, sustaining GSW to his lower back and stomach.
Rushton recorded in his Diary: “Drove enemy off 2nd ridge where they were intrenched[sic]. During morning’s work enemy retired about 2 miles. We advanced onto the 3rd ridge and were firing at the enemy at 1200 yards but we were under heavy shrapnel fire. I got wounded here at about 1.00 pm. I was bandaged up with my field dressing and then left the firing line with my rifle and five cartridges and water bottle. After proceeding about 200 or 300 yards on my hands and knees I met some fellows I knew and I sat there for a spell and while I was talking to them I got shot again. This time through the lower portion of my stomach and out the back. The mates then bound me up with a handkerchief and a puttee. I left them and two 7th chaps came with me. Shrapnel was firing everywhere. It was awful. Before we got to the 2nd ridge a sniper was firing at us and we had some narrow escapes. . . . . .We crawled around hills for two hours being pelted by lead all the time. . . .Well we arrived at the beach where the AMC were about 5.30 pm. I was there dressed and I lay around the beach till 6 pm when I was put on a boat to be taken to the ship. While we were going there shells landed all around us spraying us with seawater. I was put on the Seang Choon along with a good many others at about 12 midnight Sunday. Our two hospital ships had been filled before this time.” [ Rushton Diary Typescript. Bendigo District RSL Museum]
On 20/6/15 he rejoined the 7th Battalion in the trenches at Steele’s Post. The downward slope behind Steele’s Post was directly overlooked by the Turks, who were in position on the higher ground. Turkish riflemen made this area particularly unsafe. The trenches were under almost constant bombardment by the Enemy Howitzer.
Charles William Rushton was KIA on 12/7/1915. He was Buried in the Shrapnel Gully Cemetery, now designated Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, by Rev. W. E. Dexter. His Diary was signed, on this date, by his cousin, Wilfred Leslie Tucker.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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