WATLING, Charles Emerson
| Service Number: | 760 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 September 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Westminster, London, 11 June 1890 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | St Stephens Vincent Square School, London |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Mouquet Farm, France, 4 September 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Courcelette British Cemetery Plot V, Row E, Grave 13, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 760, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 760, 12th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Sep 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 760, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 760, 12th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 760, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 760 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-09-04 |
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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Charles Emerson Watling was the only son of his widowed mother, who was living in Kent, England when he enlisted. He had been in Broken Hill about five years, and at the time of enlisting was employed at the North mine. He had also worked at the Junction, and was previously employed at the Freemasons Hotel in Broken Hill. Prior to his enlisting, he was living with his sister, Mrs. Allchin, in Beryl Lane, Broken Hill.
Charles served at the Anzac Landing with the 12th Battalion, and was reported as missing in the days after. He was then reported as ‘rejoined’ unit on 7 May 1915.
Watling was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry at Gallipoli, the recommendation stating, “Served the whole time on the Peninsular and did conspicuously good work on patrol and also on bringing in arms and corpses from the open. Has been brought to notice twice for bringing in wounded comrades under fire. (On patrol and at Tasmania Post). Has at all times proved himself a gallant soldier and willing worker.”
During the reorganisation of the AIF in early 1916, after the evacuation of Gallipoli, Watling was transferred to the 52nd Battalion and promoted to Sergeant.
Only a couple of weeks before he was killed Charles Watling was part of a group of thirteen men of the 52nd Battalion who were all recommended for a bravery award, for the following deed. “Some wounded men, having been left out in front of the firing line near the Farm de Mouquet, a party under Lieutenant Ralph Anderson volunteered to go out from Albert, a distance of 8 kilometres, and try and bring them in. This they did, having to make their way for a very long distance over ground and through saps that were being shelled heavily by the enemy; with much trouble in the darkness, they located the men in No Mans Land, near the enemy trenches, and brought them back to safety over ground that was being swept by our own guns and over the ground being bombarded by the enemy.”
Only one of the thirteen men received an award. It must have been a particularly hazardous little enterprise as four of the thirteen were killed in action, one was wounded, and one was wounded in the thigh and captured by the Germans.
Sergeant Watling was officially listed as missing in action as from the 4 September 1916. He was confirmed as killed in action by a court of enquiry on that date during April 1917.
His mother noted on his roll of honour circular, “I have spoken to many of his mates that were with him in the Dardanelles, and they cannot understand why his bravery and plucky deeds were never recognised.”
His remains were found by a Canadian burial party working for the Imperial War Graves Commission during March 1919. His identity disc was also recovered at the time.
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