Charles (Charlie) BANNON

BANNON, Charles

Service Number: 3456
Enlisted: 15 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 60th Infantry Battalion
Born: Terang, Victoria, Australia, 30 January 1893
Home Town: Terang, Corangamite, Victoria
Schooling: Terang State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Blacksmith/ labourer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 23 years
Cemetery: Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix
Plot II, Row A, Grave 1
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Terang War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

15 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 21st Infantry Battalion
29 Dec 1915: Involvement Private, 3456, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: ''
29 Dec 1915: Embarked Private, 3456, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne
19 Jul 1916: Involvement Private, 3456, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3456 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19
Date unknown: Involvement 60th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

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Biography contributed by Brian Lamb

Charlie Bannon was born in Terang, Victoria. His parents were Patrick and Sarah. Sarah was also born in Terang, her father, Thomas Wheatley being an early settler there in 1854 and the town's first carrier, operating a bullock team from Warrnambool to Geelong. Charlie went to the Terang State school and served an apprenticeship as a blacksmith at A J Thomas, coach builders in Terang. He met Ivy Wright when she, with her mother and sisters moved to Terang for work in 1909. At the outbreak of war in 1914, Hugh Baker, aged 18, the younger brother of Charlies best mate, Percy Baker, was enthusiastic to enlist. Percy's father said, "you better go with him, to keep an eye on him.." Charlie the told Percy, "well I better go too, to keep an eye on you!" So the three Terang boys made their way to Melbourne in February 1915 to enlist in the AIF. They spent months in Bendigo and Broadmeadows camps, with Charlie writing to Ivy as often as he could and visiting her when he could get leave. In August 1915, his daughter, Margaret was born and he married Ivy at Geelong. Charlie, Percy and Hugh embarked on the troop ship Demosthenes on 29th December and celebrated the New Year aboard ship, sailing to Egypt as 8th batallion reinforcements. The 60th batallion was formed in Egypt, however Percy moved to the 57th and Hugh the 37th. All 5th Division batallions. The 5th Division marched into France in June 1916 and took their place at Fromelles in mid July. Hugh became ill and missed the battle on the 19th July but Charlie and Percy were both killed. Percy was lost in no mans land and is commemorated at VC corner, Charlie is buried Ru Du Bois Militery cemetery, Fluerbaix.

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