MACNAGHTEN, Charles Melville
| Other Name: | MacMILVILLE, Ciam - aka |
|---|---|
| Service Numbers: | Officer, 7101 |
| Enlisted: | 15 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rhutenpore, India, 18 November 1879 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Eton and Trinity Colleges, England |
| Occupation: | Solicitor |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Notre Dame de Grace, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 4 February 1931, aged 51 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, With the raising of the Australian Imperial Force, Macnaghten was appointed second-in-command of the 4th Battalion on 15 August 1914 | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, On Gallipoli on 26 April 1915, when a verbal order for a general advance was mistakenly received, it was Macnaghten's impulsive advice to Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Onslow Thompson ('I'll take the right, Colonel, if you'll take the left') which sent the 4th Battalion on an unplanned attack without objective against Lone Pine. Macnaghten was shot twice in the chest and throat Source: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macnaghten-charles-melville-7426 | |
| 14 Jul 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Infantry Battalion, Macnaghten returned to the unit in June and on 14 July was appointed to command with rank of lieutenant-colonel. Source: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macnaghten-charles-melville-7426 | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, During the Turkish counter-attack on Lone Pine on 7 August Macnaghten was wounded in the knee, and evacuated to England. Source: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macnaghten-charles-melville-7426 | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 7101, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 7101, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 26 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Just Soldiers" written by WO1 Darryl Kelly, published 2004, refer chapter 22, pages 143 to 148. Charles was born 18th Nov 1879 in India. Educated in Britain. Arrived in Sydney and employed as a solicitor. Joined the NSW Scottish Rifle Regiment as a 2Lt in March 1909 and was promoted to Lt June 2011. He was Officer Commanding the Woomooloo Cadet Unit at this time, moulding the boys to be men and soldiers. He was posted to the 25th Infantry Battalion militia in June 1912 as a Lt and promoted to Captain June 1913 and to Major Dec 13. When war was declared he was transferred to the AIF 4th Infantry Battalion as 2nd in charge. Men of the 4th were landed at Gallipoli on the 25th April. He was wounded 26th April, hit twice but continued to lead the Battalion until he collapsed due to the loss of blood. When he regained consciousness, he was told that the CO had died of wounds in the same attack. The medical staff evacuated to Egypt and did not return to duty until the middle of July, as the CO of the Battalion, with the rank of Lt Col. Wounded again 7th Aug and evacuated, the wounds were severe and also he was sick with trench illness. He received the award of CMG in the New Year list of 1916 and Mentioned in Dispatches for activities at Gallipoli. He never returned to the battle, declared medically unfit and evacuated to Australia. He was given an appointment at Duntroon to teach future officers, but he went awol, he went to Qld and volunteered for service, being posted to 9th Battalion reinforcements under an assumed name. Transported to the Western Front, promoted to the rank of 2Lt and posted to 13th Battalion, but old illnesses took over. He was again evacuated, this time to the UK, his illnesses caused him to be discharged and evacuated to Australia. He had employment after the war in the UK 1919 to 1927, and in Canada from 1928. He died in Montreal Canada 6th Feb 1931. May he Rest in Peace -- Lest We Forget.
Submitted 20 February 2020 by Maxwell HILL
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