Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sadly I'm not able to write an exciting tale of our Great Uncle's life, nor the reason why he joined up. We only discovered he existed when our eldest brother visited the War Memorial in Canberra. After researching for a few years I've only been able to discover basic information about his joining and that he was the second youngest of nine children. I've tried for some time to contact other relatives but even his own nieces and nephews knew nothing of him, sadly they have all since passed away.

Charles enlisted on 16th September 1914 at Morphettville S.A., he was placed with the 16th Battalion "H" company which trained at Broadmeadows in Victoria. They were shipped out on the 22nd December 1914 aboard the troopship "Ceramic." He was born in Kadina S.A., a mining town in those days, his occupation was given as a Miner/Driver on his Enlistment records. His war records don't show much information, so he must have kept his nose pretty clean before being thrust into the action.

Charles was the only child from his immediate family who enlisted. His poor mother must have been heart broken when finding out about his death, her husband had only passed away in January 1915. It took several months before an inquest finally confirmed that Charles was killed on 2nd May 1915. Letters were sent back and forth saying that he was missing and then missing presumed dead. Imagine how hard it was for these poor families waiting on news from their loved ones. His body was never recovered and we often hear of horrendous stories of rotting corpses and how some bodies were just throw over the cliffs to prevent disease spreading. So many beautiful young men.

We have hoped that some day another researcher will find information or know of other family who have details to pass on about our dear Great Uncle. His tale is not one of storming trenches, taking machine gun nests single handed or winning Medals. However, his courage deserves mentioning like so many other young men and women who signed up to fight the wars. Charles was 23 when he was killed, no chance for marriage or a family. We want him remembered and honoured. We feel he has been forgotten for so many years, probably not an intentional act, but the Great War especially wasn't discussed much among a lot of families, I guess it was just too painful.