Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

45th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. and 13th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement

He was 27 and the son of George and Eliza Roffey, of 20, Ulverscroft Rd., East Dulwich, London.

Enlistment date 23 August 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 29 November 1915
Rank on enlistment Private
 
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/30/3

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on 20 December 1915

Age at embarkation 24

Unit from Nominal Roll 45th Battalion.

Probable birth record

Births Jun 1891   Roffey  Charles Camberwell 1d 863

Died of Stricture of Oesophagus resulting from accidental ingestion of caustic soda - Dysphagia

Deaths Mar 1919   Roffey Charles 27 St. Geo. H. Sq 1a 820

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 1st March …… Charles Roffey  was born at East Dulwich, London, England in 1892 to parents George & Eliza Roffey (nee Arthur).

According to information supplied by his mother for the Roll of Honour – Charles Roffey came to Australia when he was aged 19. Charles Roffey, Cricket Bat Maker, was a passenger on Commonwealth which departed from the port of London, England on 7th December, 1911 bound for Sydney, Australia.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 23rd August, 1915 at Holsworthy, Sydney, New South Wales as a 24 year old, single, Labourer (as listed on Embarkation Roll, however his trade was listed as Sports Manufacturing on his Attestation Papers) from “Gleniffen”, Bellingen, New South Wales.

Private Charles Roffey, Service number 2796, 20th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements requested through Military District Pay Office, Liverpool, Sydney, NSW on 14th October, 1915 that “on and after Embarkation 1915 and during my service in the Expeditionary Force, you will be good enough to pay on my behalf the sum of 4/- (four shillings) per day to George Richard Johnston (Friend) Glennifer, Bellinger R.”

Another set of Attestation Papers were dated 29th November, 1915 at Liverpool, Sydney, New South Wales. These Attestation Papers have a Service number of 3907.

He was posted to 12th Reinforcements of 13th Battalion.

Private Charles Roffey, Service number 3907, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 20th December, 1915 (date as per Embarkation Roll, however the Service and Casualty Form Part 1 & Casualty Form – Active Service both have recorded he embarked on 23rd December, 1915) with the 4th Infantry Brigade, 13th Infantry Battalion, 12th Reinforcements.

On 6th March, 1916 Private Roffey was transferred to 45th Battalion from 13th Battalion. He was allotted to & proceeded to join 45th Battalion from Zeitoun on 6th March, 1916 from 4th Training Battalion.

He proceeded from Alexandria on 2nd June, 1916 on Kinfauns Castle to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 8th June, 1916.

Private Charles Roffey was reported to be “Still with Bn” in France on 22nd May, 1917. (This was usually reported when there had been no entries (eg. Illness, wounding or transfers) on Casualty Form – Active Service for a period of time)

On 12th October, 1917 Private Charles Roffey was wounded in action. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 12th October, 1917 with shrapnel wound/s to Face then transferred the same day to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station. Private Roffey was admitted to 56th General Hospital at Etaples, France on 12th October, 1917. He embarked for England on 18th October, 1917 on Hospital Ship Newhaven.

He was admitted to Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, England on 19th October, 1917 with shell wound/s to Face. Private Roffey was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent on 26th November, 1917 with G.S.W Face. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “On Oct 10th 1917 received SW face, upper lip cut & upper central lapuac incisors broken also 1 lower central incisor. Wound healed to have dental treatment.” He was discharged to Depot at Hurdcott on 28th November, 1917.

Private Roffey was marched in to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 28th November, 1917 & was medically classified as B1 A2 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 3 – 4 weeks). The Hospital Admissions form recorded that Private Roffey was being treated for Scabies from 22nd December, 1917 till 4th January, 1918. He was medically classified as B1 A4 on 3rd January, 1918 (fit for Overseas Training Camp when passed dentally fit).

[Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.]

On 12th January, 1918 he was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire.

He was A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) while posted at Larkhill, Wiltshire from midnight on 29th January, 1918 until 11 pm on 30th January, 1918. He was admonished by Major R. A. Geddes on 31st January, 1918 & forfeited 1 days pay.

Private Roffey proceeded overseas to France on 7th February, 1918 & was posted to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 8th February, 1918. Private Roffey was marched out to his Unit on 10th February, 1918 from A.I.B.D. He rejoined 45th Battalion in the Field on 16th February, 1918 from being wounded.

On 21st May, 1918 Private Roffey reported sick & was admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance on the same day with Influenza. He was transferred & admitted to 5th Casualty Clearing Station on 21st May, 1918 & was discharged to duty on 24th May, 1918. Private Roffey rejoined 45th Battalion in the Field on 24th May, 1918.

He was sent to 4th Army Cookery School from 1st June, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion on 24th June, 1918.

Private Roffey was granted Leave to UK on 17th November, 1918. He was on Leave to UK from 18th November, 1918 & rejoined 45th Battalion from Leave on 6th December, 1918.

On 21st January, 1919 Private Roffey reported sick. He was admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance then transferred to 48th Casualty Clearing Station on 21st January, 1919 with Dysphagia. Private Roffey was transferred & admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux, France on 27th January, 1919 with Dyspepsia. He was transferred to England on 2nd February, 1919 on Hospital Ship Jan Breydel.

He was admitted to Mile End Military Hospital, Bancroft Road, London, England on 2nd February, 1919 with Dysphagia. He was transferred to Lewisham Military Hospital, High Road on 6th February, 1919 with Oesophageal Stricture. (The Hospital Admissions form recorded “… about c__ed cartilage due to swallowing caustic solution on Boxing Day. Capacity for swallowing varies. Transferred to Millbank.”)  Private Roffey was reported to be dangerously ill with a Throat Obstruction on 7th February, 1919. He was transferred to The Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Extension Census on 11th February, 1919.

Private Charles Roffey died at 12.35 pm on 1st March, 1919 at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Extension Census, Millbank, London, England from Stricture Oesophagus. (Cause of death was listed on some forms as Dysphagia)

He was buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery, Forest Hill, London, England. His place of burial is now recorded by Commonwealth War Graves Commission as Screen Wall Reference: 85. 25874. He does not have a headstone but is instead remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/camberwell-old.html