Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Douglas Mansfield was born in the year of 1894 in a town called Angaston, Barossa, in north-east of Adelaide, South Australia. Mansfield worked as a gardener, specifically an orchardist, who managed or cultivated an orchard. His next of kin was his father, Mr Charles Mansfield who was another orchardist. Mansfield enlisted at Keswick, South Australia, on the of 3rd March 1915. Mansfield was described as 187 cm for his height, weighed 82 kilograms and had dark brown hair. He was also described as having a fresh complexion and grey eyes. Mansfield’s religion was Methodism.

Mansfield and his unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board the HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June, 1915. Reinforcements for the 9th, 10th, 11th Battalions including Mansfield embarked on his Majesty’s Australian Transports ships, which sent them off to Cairo, Egypt, to be trained for the Gallipoli campaign.

Mansfield joined the 10th Battalion on Gallipoli on 4th August 1915. He became ill on 3th October 19195 and was evacuated off the peninsula. He was then sent to England. He rejoined the 10th Battalionm this time in France, on 30th July 1916, meaning he fought at Mouquet Farm. After further illness (this time trench feet) over the winter of 1916/17, Mansfield joined the Provost Corps on 24th May 1917. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1918.

While in England in 1917, Mansfield married a woman called Beatrice Mitchell, and later had children with her. Mansfield’s father-in-law worked as a house decorator. When Mansfield married, he worked as an orchardist and gardener, like his father, Charles Mansfield. Mansfield and his wife later divorced.

 Trench Conditions

 During the War, Mansfield became sick regularly in the trenches. The conditions in the trenches were unclean and contributed to bad hygiene (bathed once a month, urine waste and poisonous waters), sicknesses e.g. trench foot, infectious and contagious diseases. The corpses attracted rats, which brought diseases. This meant that Mansfield and fellow soldiers suffered.

Hospital Stay and Discharge

 Mansfield was transferred to a hospital in 03/10/1915 because he caught Gastro-enteritis, known as stomach flu. His admittance number was recorded as 1 A.C.C.S and later as L.H.F.A. Following this, Mansfield was sent to G.H. Edgbaston, and was recorded as “sick.” In France, Mansfield re-joined the Australian Battalion from 10th Battalion Infantry. He became ill again for the second time after suffering from diarrhoea and was sent to the hospital a second time. Mansfield transferred from Abbey Weed to Monte Video Weymouth on the 5th April 1916. Mansfield was recorded as sick in France on the 10th November 1916. Moreover, he suffered from trench foot and was transferred from the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital to the 5th General Hospital, Edgbaston on the 6th March 1917. He was discharged from the 3rd Australian Auxiliary hospital on the 24th March 1917.

 Life after war

 After the difficult Gallipoli campaign that led to the high casualty rate of the ANZACs, Mansfield and other soldiers evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula. Mansfield returned safely to his home in Angaston on the 23rd of October 1919. Mansfield retired from his former orchardist job and passed away of old age, in his 80s in 1973.

 Reflection on Anzac Spirit  

 After World War One, Mansfield will be remembered for his ANZAC Spirit by displaying recommended characteristics of Australian soldier went through the traumatising conditions of trenches or enemies he and his battalion fought with. He has awarded World War One medals including 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and a Victory Medal for displaying his courage when he suffered from several illnesses. He also faced the enemy repeatedly. He displayed mateship by helping his friends and spending time with them during his duty. Determination or resilience was displayed constantly by never giving up. Patriotism was shown when he enlisted for his country and fought for his nation.     

 Honour Roll

Mansfield was honoured on Nominal Roll of Australia, listed as Angaston Congregational Church Honour Roll WW1, Angaston Methodist Honour Board WW1 and Australian Imperial Force - Nominal Roll - continued.  For during duty of patronising for his home town, Angaston, Barossa, South Australia, Australia.

Burial

Mansfield was buried with his family, including his former wife, and his father and mother, in Angaston Cemetery, 1973.

Bibliography

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 Australian War Memorial 2004, Collection search, Australian Government, Treloar Crescent, Campbell, ACT 2612, accessed 24 March 2019, <https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search>.

State Library of South Australia n.d., Advanced keyword search, Government of South Australia, South Australia, accessed 20 March 2019, <http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au/search/X>.

 https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/z8sssbk