Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles’ father, David Erdman Rosenberg was born in Lobethal (meaning ‘Valley of Praise’) in the Adelaide Hills, an area settled by Prussian immigrants. He moved to live in Victoria where he met his first wife, Florence who died within three years with the birth of their only son, Adolphus David Thomas. David later married Isabella Alice Jean Saunders in 1911. They had four children with David Charles being born in Beechworth, Victoria on the 13th September 1913. He had two sisters, Muriel Phyllis Emma and Zelma Norma, plus a younger brother, Lawrence Lorraine born in 1919.
David Rosenberg had been the licensee of several hotels, including the Post Office Hotel and remained in this profession until his death. Charles was 10 years old when his 56-year-old father, then the licensee of the Star Hotel, died unexpectedly in January ‘21 in Chiltern, Victoria. Isabella (Alice) eventually moved the family to live in Adelaide with Charles gaining work as a gardener.
With the outbreak of WWII 26-year-old Charles and 21-year-old Laurie both enlisted on the 1st July ’40 with Charles being SX7312 and allocated to the 2/48th battalion and Laurie as SX7307 in the 2/7th Battalion. Their initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before they and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
Prior to being posted overseas, Charles proposed to Merle Irene on 1st October ’40, the youngest daughter of Walter Nicol of Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills. Typical of the Nicol family, Merle was a talented netballer for her local team, (the sport then being called basketball).
Unfortunately, just days after the announcement of his engagement, on the 5th October ‘40 Charles and Laurie attracted headlines in all of the South Australian newspapers including The Mail, Advertiser, Recorder and Chronicle. ‘Two brothers (soldiers), of Wayville Camp, were injured when the motor cycle on which they were riding collided with a motor car on Greenhill road, Burnside, tonight. They were Laurie Rosenberg, 22, and Charles Rosenberg, 27. They were taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a police ambulance, and admitted, Laurie suffering from injuries to a leg and abrasions and Charles from injuries to his jaw.’
Not only was Charles injured in the accident and the bike damaged, but having enlisted in the army, a Court of Inquiry was held at Wayville in February ’41 to investigate the incident. It was concluded that the mishap occurred whilst the brothers were on leave, rather than being on duty, so therefore was due to Charles’ own negligence. Because of his injury, Charles was forced to spent time recuperating in Kapara House at Glenelg during December ’41, prior to his Christmas leave.
With an overseas posting looming, Merle and Charles married in the Summertown Methodist Church on Saturday, March 15th, ’41. Charles chose his brother, then Corporal Laurie Rosenberg as his best man. Being wartime, an informal reception was held at the home of the bride's sister, Mavis Miller at Crafers. (Mavis’ husband Ernest, had also enlisted in June as SX4488 with the 2/43rd). Charles’ gift to his bride was a gold chain and locket, and Merle’s to her bridegroom was an A.I.F. watch.
By April ’41 Charles embarked for the Middle East, arriving in May. The 2/48th Battalion then spent time at the Amiriya Training Camp where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. Charles was to become one of the now famed Rats of Tobruk in a battalion which was to be highly regarded and decorated.
Conditions in the Middle East were responsible for illnesses to inevitably be shared, contributing to Charles contracting the first of several bouts of tonsilitis.
By ’42 Charles was wounded in the battle to capture West Point of Tel el Eisa in a dawn attack. In late June ‘42 with Rommel crossing into Egypt, the 2/48th were in an offensive to capture Trig 33, which was achieved on the 10th July. In doing so, over 400 Italian prisoners were taken. The 2/48th battalion then advanced south, capturing the Tel el Eisa station and repelling numerous counter attacks. However, they were eventually forced to withdraw, having suffered over 100 casualties. The 2/48th battalion suffered 215 casualties between the 7th July and 23rd October. Of that number, 64 men were killed and six, died of their wounds, including Art. 125 other men were wounded but survived.
In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John G. Glenn described the ferocious encounter;
‘When the troops were well forward of the start-line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left and suffered heavy casualties. With the slow deliberate movement of perfectly trained soldiers both companies continued the advance in perfect formation, over ground that trembled and erupted with vicious explosions. Through this, sometimes obscured by the smoke and dust, the men moved, and, as they advanced, the fire kept place with them, leaving behind the still shapes of fallen men among the camel bush and sand.’
Throughout August, the Adelaide based newspapers released the names of those killed or wounded in that battle. Included as being wounded with Charles were several others from his battalion. They were SX7666 Pte. E. J. Chuck, Kalangadoo SX14872 Pte. James S. Darwent, Coonawarra. SX13569 Pte. Kenneth. J. Grindell. Mundalla. SX7996 L/Sgt. Colin R. Jacka , Adelaide. SX13300 Pte. Leon W. Jackson, Cowell. SX8019 Pte. Elliot Maloney, Birdwood. SX9555 Cpl Charles T. Matthews. Iron Knob. SX7312 Pte. Charles D. Rosenberg. Adelaide. SX7933 Cpl. Walter H. Stewien. Verdun. SX11860 Pte. Eric R. Teakle. Ungarra and SX13709 Pte. Laurence C. Walker. Beverley.
Charles had sustained a gunshot wound to his head on the 22nd July ’42 and was transferred to a British General Hospital. He was eventually released in October, then spent some time with the Infantry Trig Battalion before re-joining the 2/48th again. Finally, he was able to leave the Middle East behind, embarking for Australia in February ’43, via Melbourne.
By ‘April ’43 while training in In the damp, tropical conditions of Queensland for a very different conflict, the conditions under which Charles had been fighting and living contributed to him again catching tonsillitis and spending time in hospital. He recovered to then head to New Guinea, disembarking at Milne Bay. A high fever (PUO) surfaced to again cause hospitalisation but once Charles recuperated, being promoted to L/Corporal in October ’43. Despite returning to Australia, Malaria was the next illness to emerge and again caused Charles time in hospital. By January ’44 he received a further promotion to Corporal, a fitting recognition for his service. Finally able to leave Tarakan and return to Australia via Queensland, Charles was discharged in October ’45. His younger brother Laurie was discharged the following month.
Their mother, Alice, lived to see her sons safely return from war and enjoyed several years with them until her death, aged 70 in November, ’54. She was buried at Centennial Park. Charles and Merle lived at Uraidla where he continued to work the Nicol gardens. They had no children. Aged 48, Charles died on the 7th August ’62 and rests in the Summertown Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.