Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Daniels, known as Charlie, was born on the 27th February 1891 at Bowen Hills, Brisbane, QLD. He was the second son and child of John and Sarah Daniels and Arthur was his older brother. At some stage the family moved to north Queensland, south of Cooktown, where Charlie attended the Rossville Provisional School. Prior to WW1 Charlie worked at the Bakehouse at Killarney.

Charlie enlisted for WW1 in the AIF at Brisbane on 23rd August 1915 aged 24. His service number was 2028, his rank Private and he was assigned

to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcement. He’s described as being 5ft 4ins tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

After completing his initial training Charlie embarked from Brisbane on HMAT Wandilla on the 31st January 1916. Upon arrival in Egypt Charlie

was detached briefly to serve with the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Heliopolis in Cairo then in late April he was promoted to Corporal and transferred from the 2nd Light Horse to the 4th Division Cyclist Company at Serapeum.

His unit embarked from Alexandria Egypt on 2nd June 1916 on the HMS Kinsfaun and disembarked at Marseilles France on 8th April then they made their way to Armentieres. Upon their arrival in France the 5 divisions of company cyclists were reorganised as corps troops with the 1st and 2nd Cyclist Battalions being formed and attached to the I and II Anzac Corps. Hence Charlie was now serving with the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion based at Pernes.

The cyclist battalions were organised like the infantry, and were mainly used as despatch riders. Later, during the periods of semi-open warfare in 1917 and 1918 they operated in a manner similar to cavalry, conducting reconnaissance and patrolling. The soldiers were equipped with a variety of bicycle models made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, ranging from the Mark I to the Mark IV, and were issued the standard Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle. Other tasks performed included laying communications cabling, traffic control, unloading stores from railway wagons, harvesting crops, and burial of the dead. Although the battalions were not used as fighting units, their personnel were regularly exposed to the dangers of artillery fire and attacks by hostile aircraft.

In late December Charlie was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance with pleurisy and then moved to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly. Two days later he was placed aboard the No. 23 ambulance train and the following day admitted to the 10th General Hospital at Rouen. He spent a week there before being evacuated to England on the HMHS St David on 7th January 1917. He was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Brighton then a month later transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford to convalesce for 2 weeks. He then proceeded to the Perham Downs Camp at Wiltshire and then to the No. 2 Command Depot at Monte Video Camp at Weymouth. On the 5th May 1917 he proceeded to France, embarking from Folkestone and arriving at Rouelles the following day. He re-joined the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion at Morbecque in late July. In early September the battalion moved north through Hazebrouck and Caestre closer to the Belgium border.

In mid-September Charlie was admitted to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding in Belgium with PUO (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin) then transferred to the British 22nd General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers. He then convalesced at the No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples before re-joining his unit in mid-October at Busseboom in Belgium. A month later Charlie was detached for duty to the Assistant Provost Marshal in Bailleul France then in early December he took leave to England. He re-joined his unit 2 days before Christmas at Steenwerck France.

In March 1918 Charlie was detached for duty to the Australian Corps Field Punishment Compound for 2 weeks then re-joined his unit which had now been assigned the name...Australian Corps Cyclist Battalion. In late September Charlie was downgraded to Private at his own request and in October he took leave to England. He re-joined his unit in early November at Longpre, situated between Amiens and Abbeville.

In late January 1919 Charlie took 2 weeks leave to Paris and re-joined his unit in mid-February at Hantes-Wiheries in Belgium. On the 18th April 1919 Charlie marched out to England for demobilisation, disembarking at Southampton UK the following day. He embarked from Devonport on the 4th June for Australia on HMAT Mahia and disembarked in Sydney on the 20th July. He was discharged on the 12th September 1919.

On the 16th February 1921 Charlie married Lillian Sanderson in the Methodist Church at Eumundi QLD. Their first child Lloyd was born in Cooroy in 1922, followed by Enid in 1923 then Roy in 1924 and Clive in 1927 both born in Gympie.

By 1940 the family had made several moves and was living in Maroochydore. The following year Charlie and Lillian moved to Esk, then to Morningside in 1943 and Newmarket in 1945. By 1956 Charlie and Lillian were living at Urangan when he died on the 11th May aged 65. He was buried in the Maryborough General Cemetery. Lillian survived him and died in 1982 aged 84.

Charles Daniels was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 1st February 2022

Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cycling_Corps