Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Charles Julius “Charlie” Perry was born on the 20th of October 1888 at Terowie, SA, the son of Rev. Isaiah Perry and Caroline Maria Paulina Roediger.

Schooling

While at school at Stirling East, Charlie played several football matches with the men on Mount Lofty Oval against teams from the city. Later newspaper reports suggest that Charlie was on the land at Gawler for four years before he attended Prince Alfred College in 1908 at the age of 20.

In December 1908 Charlie was involved in a production of Richard II at PAC. Charlie was taught the finer points of football by Mr S Reedman at PAC. He was a member of the PAC First Eighteen in 1908 and 1909 and was the vice-captain of the team in 1909, winning a gold medal for football that year.

While still at Prince Alfred College, Charlie played football for Norwood. He played for the Club from 1909 to 1920 with some breaks due to ministry in the country and WWI service. His Norwood career is detailed on the Redlegs Museum.

University

Charlie commenced studying for an Arts Degree at Adelaide University in 1911. He did not complete his degree due to the need for Methodist ministers. Charlie studied Psychology in 1911 and Philosophy in 1915 and in 1921.

University Sport

There was speculation in the newspapers that Charlie would be prevented from playing league football in 1911 by church officials who only wanted him to play in matches under the auspices of the Church Association. However, a week or so later Charlie was named in the 19 for Adelaide University in the Amateur League for the match against St Francis Xavier to be played at Jubilee Oval on 13th of May 1911. In the match results, he does not appear in the goal scorers or best players, so it is not clear if Charlie actually played in the match. By June 1911 he was again playing for Norwood.

Charlie did however represent Adelaide University in the Intervarsity match against Melbourne in Melbourne in August 1911. Unfortunatley Adelaide lost the match, but Charlie was among the prominent players for Adelaide playing in the ruck and backlines.

Early Career

In February 1910, Charlie was accepted as candidate for the Methodist ministry and he passed three Senior Examinations in December 1910.

In ‘Church Notes’, 24 July 1915 the following biography was published regarding Charlie.

“The Rev C.J. Perry, who was appointed by the South Australian Methodist Conference to be the second minister in the western suburban circuit, is a son of the manse, his father being the late Rev Isaiah Perry, who was a well-known Methodist minister in South Australia. After a term of four years on the land at Gawler, Mr Perry entered Prince Alfred College. Two years later, having satisfied the examiners, he was accepted as a candidate for the Methodist ministry.

His first appointment was to the Prospect circuit under the superintendency of the late Rev FB Angwin, and it was a coincidence that this was also his father’s first charge on arriving from England as a probationer. During the year Mr Perry was sent to Mount Gambier by the president to take up the work of his father, who had passed away. Conference again sent Mr Perry to Prospect, and he was successful in wiping off an old debt on the Prospect North church, and starting a fund, of which the fine new church is a result. His next appointment was to Tailem Bend, following that Waikerie.

Mr Perry was ordained last conference. Not only has he been keenly interested in religious affairs, but has manifested enthusiasm in football and tennis. As a footballer he is widely known. He has been on two occasions vice-captain of the Norwood Football Club, and has also been include in teams selected for inter-State honors. Mr Perry is a thoughtful and earnest preacher, and he puts commendable enthusiasm into the various duties associated with pastoral work. He secures the confidence of the young men of his churches, and displays many of the qualities of a leader and teacher.’

Charlie returned to the city and to play league football for Norwood in April 1915 when he was posted to Thebarton.

World War I

In August 1915 Charlie was appointed to the Chaplains Department and was based at the Mitcham Camp. In January 1916 a lengthy article entitled "Mitcham Military Camp Notes." By Chaplain Captain Perry was published in the Australian Christian Commonwealth, (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214059815)
(see document).

On the 23rd of February 1916, Charlie enlisted in as a Chaplain Captain in the Chaplains Service. He was described as 5’ 11½“ and 176 lbs, his mother Caroline was listed as his next-of-kin.

He embarked on 16 March 1916 onboard the HMAT A68 Anchises which arrived in the Suez on 15th April 1916. On the 28th August 1918, Charlie was attached for duty to the 1st Training Battalion, Tidsworth, England and then at the No 6 Camp, Perham Downs, England.

A letter from Charlie was published in the Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA : 1901 - 1940) on the 22 September 1916 (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214061821) and describes his early experiences of the war.

Organised by Australian Olympic swimmer, Lieutenant Frank Beaurepaire, in aid of the British and French Red Cross, an Australian football match was played at the Queen's Club, West Kensington, between teams of Anzac First League men in October 1916. Charlie captained the Australian Training Units who were defeated by a 3rd Australian Divisional Corps team captained by Lieutenant Bruce Sloss (South Melbourne). An extensive article on the game by Gerald Brosnan can be read at the australianfootball.com website (see Sources at the end of the document).

Charlie proceeded overseas to France on the 23rd of March 1917 and was posted to the Australian General Base Depot. He served with the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) from December 1917 to July 1918 and during that time he was appointed Chaplain Class 3 Temporary. In July 1918 Charlie was with the 3rd Australian Flying Corps before returning to the 3rd DAC.

He returned to England on the 20th of May 1919 and was at No. 3 Group, Codford. Charles was recommended for an Order of the British Empire on the 24th of January 1919, but it does not appear to have been awarded the distinction. He embarked for Australia as Ship’s Chaplain onboard the H.T. Prinz Hubertus on 3rd of July 1919 and his appointment was terminated on the 19th of October 1919.

Career & Family Life
Charlie arrived back in Adelaide in late August 1919 but continued on to Sydney on duty. On his return to Adelaide the church posted him to Walkerville. Charlie returned to football playing for Norwood in the 1920 season.

On the 16th September 1920, Charlie married Florence Muriel Day. Muriel was a popular and talented singer and she continued to sing and teach singing under the name of Miss Muriel Day after her marriage.

Having ‘retired’ from league football at the end of the 1920 season, Charlie returned to the game in 1921, playing one season at North Adelaide. Charlie was also credited with suggesting the creation of the North Adelaide District Football Association during this period.

In December 1921, Charlies’ uncles, the Reverends Enoch Perry, D.D. and John Perry visited Australia. Rev Dr E Perry was superintendent of the City Mission at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Rev J Perry, pastor of the first Methodist Episcopal Church at Sheboyan, Wisconsin. In November 1921 Charlie accepted an invitation to become minister to the Crystal Brook circuit.

Charlie and Muriel’s daughter Josephene Lawley Perry was born at Konetta, North Adelaide on the 23rd April 1922 (registered as Josiphene). While at Crystal Brook, Charlie played football for the local team and captained them to the premiership in the 1923 season. He was also active in the local RSL and on the School Committee.

From Crystal Brook, Charlie, Muriel and Josephene moved to the Clare circuit in April 1926. While at Clare, Charlie provided coaching to the footballers of both the teams in the town and was central umpire for a match in June 1928 when a team from Norwood travelled to Clare to play against a team from the Stanley Association. Charlie was on the Church Committee and Sports Committee for Back to Clare Celebrations in 1928.

In a large farewell function held at the Clare Methodist Lecture Hall the Perrys were thanked for their work for the church and community in general. Several ministers of other denominations spoke about Charlie, describing him as a ‘wonderful fellow’ and a ‘real friend’. Muriel was praised for her work with the Ladies’ Guild and Coral Society.

In April 1929 the family moved to the Rosefield circuit (Malvern, Adelaide). While back in Adelaide, Charlie, provided a lengthy interview to the Editor of the Australian Christian Commonwealth where he talked about football and his faith. The interview was published in July 1929, (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214089902).

On the 19th August 1929 at the Memorial Hospital, Charlie and Muriel’s second daughter, Elizabeth Lawley Perry (Eliza) was born.
In November 1929, Charlie gave an address to the Rotary Club on the topic ‘A Gift to the Nation”.

By March 1930 Charlie had been appointed Chaplain to the 9th Light Horse and padre to the Unley Toc H (a group dedicated to ‘Caring for People’). Charlie was frequently called upon to deliver addresses at Anzac Day commemorations where he payed tribute to the ‘fortitude, loyalty, and unselfish devotion to duty of the Anzacs, and of the doctors, nurses and Red Cross workers who accompanied them.’ Charles was based at the William Jeffries Memorial Methodist Church at Rosefield and was a major factor in the large proportion of male worshippers at that church.

In September 1930 Charlie held a footballer’s service at the Adelaide Central Mission and his wife was one of the singers. The picture below of a group of clergymen was published in February 1931 and the article on Charlie’s wife Muriel was published in April that year.

In 1931, Charlie attended the ANZAC Day commemorations at Moonta, SA and in October 1931 he was present at a RSL gathering at the Mitcham Sub Branch.

Although he had been retired from league football for more than ten years, Charlie’s views on football were still sought by the media and the article below was published in October 1932.

Another lengthy article on Charlie and other’s in the ministry was published in the Australian Christian Commonwealth in February 1933, (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215830964). In this article it was Charlie’s fishing talents which were highlighted.

In December 1933 Charlie recalled Christmas while on overseas service during WWI. ‘The Rev. C. J. Perry, who was a padre at the war:- In my first Christmas in France I was at Bailleul near Armentieres, as chaplain. Wonderful preparations had been made for the 3rd Division artillery to celebrate Yuletide, and we had bully beef and biscuits. After the armistice we were 30 miles from Mons, that place being our occupation. There was, of course, no fighting, but the situation had been almost cleaned out, and we had ordinary rations. During that Christmas I sent circulars to all the "divvies" to bring about a reunion dinner of old St. Peter's and Prince Alfred boys on January 2, 1919, and about 70 of us sat down to a seven-course meal in Mons.’

From April 1934, Charlie was based at the East Adelaide circuit. He maintained his interest in the Norwood Football Club referring potential talent to the club and in April 1934 he provided a coaching session to the current players on the flick pass. Muriel was at this time the singing teacher at Methodist Ladies College. In addition to his interest in football, Charlie sometimes played tennis on a Monday afternoon at Unley with the Revs AC Stevens, EH Woollacott & S Forsyth and Mr AJ Howland.

In 1936 Charlie was a member of the Pageantry Committee for National Games which were held in Adelaide. He was also appointed official padre to the event and delivered the Olympic prayer.

In April 1937 the Perry family were again on the move, this time to Port Lincoln to head up the Eyre Peninsula circuit. The family remained at Port Lincoln until April 1940. While at Port Lincoln, Charlie provided coaching to the local teams.

World War II

In November 1939 Charlie was nominated to undertake overseas work with the troop and in February 1940 he was appointed a Commonwealth Military Forces Senior Chaplain.

Charlie conducted the Anzac Day service at the Cross of Sacrifice memorial, in Pennington Gardens in April 1940 and was present at the opening of the Y.M.C.A. Huts at the Woodside Camp in July 1940.

On his return to Adelaide Charlie became a member of the football Umpires Board, but in September 1940 he was appointed a troop ship chaplain.

Charles enlisted (SN SX10218) and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His WWII record is not yet open to the public, but we do know from newspapers reports that he left Australian on a troop ship in late September 1940 and returned from Palestine in early February 1941. He preached a service at King William Road, Hyde Park shortly after his return.

His WWII Service Record is now available at:
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6410572

Post WWII

Once back in Australia from WWII service Charles resumed his role on the Umpires Board.

Charlie and Muriel’s daughters, Josephene and Elizabeth both attended Methodist Ladies College and like their mother they both sang well and preformed publically.

Josephene married Flt-Lt Robert (Bob) Blankinsee at the Kent Town Methodist Church on 1st December 1945 and moved with him to Perth, WA. In 1946, Robert was studying law at Perth University and his father was the principal of the firm of solicitors, in Perth, Messrs. Stone & James. The couple had a daughter born in July 1947 and a son born in March 1952.

Charlie and Muriel’s younger daughter Elizabeth married Dr Thomas Bowden Hunter at the Kent Town Methodist Church on the 12th January 1948.

Charlie was present at the past Footballers and Officials Association annual reunion dinner in October 1949.

Charlie preached at the Anzac Day Memorial Service at the Town Hall in April 1950 and was presiding chaplain again in 1954.

Charlie was present at the past Footballers and Officials Association annual reunion dinner for in October 1954.

Charlie was present at the past Footballers and Officials Association annual reunion dinner for in October 1954.

Death

Charles Julius Perry passed away on the 4th January 1961, aged 72, at Adelaide, South Australia. Florence Muriel Perry passed away on the 16th August 1973. The couple are both buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.