ABEL, Charles Alfred
| Service Number: | 1777 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Strahan, Tasmania, Australia, 12 July 1885 |
| Home Town: | Burnie, Burnie, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer / Miner |
| Died: | Strahan, Tasmania, Australia, 21 June 1971, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Strahan Cemetery D - 035 |
| Memorials: | East Devonport St Paul's Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1777, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 1777, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 1777, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne |
War Service
Born Strahan, Tas.
Husband of Clara Ethel ABEL
Of Wilmot St., Burnie, Tas.
Occupation prior to enlisting: Labourer/Miner
Enlisted 19 June 1915 at Hobart, Tas.
Embarkation: 14 July 1915 from Melbourne per ‘Orsova’
Age: 27 years
Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, France & Belgium
Wounded in Action: 1 October 1917
Returned to Australia: 13 September 1919 per ‘Valencia’
Discharged: 31 October 1919
Photograph - Tasmania Weekly Courier 02 September 1915 Insert 5
Submitted 29 January 2016 by Daryl Jones
Biography
Husband of Clara Ethel ABEL
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Charles Abel enlisted in the 26th Battalion, leaving his wife, Mrs Clara Ethel Abel, living in Burnie, Tasmania. He enlisted in June 1915 just a few weeks after his brother, 1155 Pte. Arthur Edward Abel 15th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 May 1915.
Charles served on Gallipoli from August 1915 until the evacuation. In 1916, he had a lot of trouble with military discipline, constantly going absent without leave and falling out with N.C.O.’s. He was tried by District Court Martial, 24 March 1917, on charge of being absent without leave,20 November-26 December 1916; escaping lawful custody; sentenced to 9 months' detention. The sentence was commuted.
He was recommended for a mention in despatches for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Polygon Wood in Belgium on 20 September 1917. No award was confirmed.
Charles Abel was wounded in action, 1 October 1917 (gunshot wound, right buttock). Evacuated to England he eventually returned to Australia 20 July 1919.
Charles Abel passed away in Strahan, Tasmania, during 1971 at 86 years of age. His headstone states “Fought at Gallipoli, The Somme, Pozieres, Ypres, Hindenburg Line. Discharged 1919. Miner, Soldier, Timber Worker, Prospector & Explorer.”
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