Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born on 15 April 1894 in Calton, Victoria, Charles Henry Farrell was the son of Martin Peter Farrell (1864-1923) and Ellen Devereux (1872-1934). His early exposure to military life included a year in the Naval Cadets as a boy.

Farrell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 6 July 1915 at 19, receiving the service number 4984. His initial tenure with the 5th Battalion was brief. At some point, he went missing, and he was officially struck off the strength of the Battalion on 4 April 1916 and listed as a deserter. This pattern of enlistment and desertion was repeated when he re-attested at Langwarrin on 18 October 1916, only to desert again by 11 December 1916.

He returned to camp in Bendigo on 17 April 1917 and finally embarked for the war aboard HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917, now with the service number 6800. His military life was a checkered one. Whilst at sea, he was admitted to hospital with VD for six days. There would also be repeated punishment for unauthorised absence.

Arriving in Egypt on 15 December 1917, he disembarked at Suez, travelling by train to Alexandria, where he embarked for Southampton, stopping in Taranto, Italy on 12 January 1918. He arrived in Southampton on 24 January 1918 and was marched into the 6th Training Battalion at Fovant. On 22 April 1918, he was found out of bounds and forfeited 14 days pay as punishment.

He proceeded to France via Folkestone on 27 May 1918 and was taken on strength with the 24th Battalion AIF on 4 June 1918. Just over three weeks later, he was recorded as Absent Without Leave from 26 June 1918 until surrendering to 2nd Division Reinforcements Camp around noon on 3 July 1918. For this, he was awarded 28 days of Field Punishment No. 2 (heavy labouring duties) by the Commanding Officer of the 24th Battalion on 10 July 1918, also forfeiting 34 days' pay. Charles Farrell did not think much of this punishment, for he went AWL again three days later, staying away until 27 July 1918. This time, he was court-martialled in the field and sentenced to 50 days Field Punishment No. 2.
On 26 September 1918, he was sent to hospital. He arrived at 1 Stationary Hospital Rouen on 29 September, where his illness was recorded as 'NYD' or 'Not Yet Diagnosed'. However, this was later amended to 'Balanitis'! He finally rejoined the Battalion on 10 October 1918. He had missed the Battalion's last engagement of the war by five days. The Battalion had been used in the attack on Montbrehain and had suffered severe casualties, with approximately 70 dead.

On 24 October 1918, he was attached to the 6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery. On 1 November 1918, he was admitted to the 6 Brigade Field Ambulance, suffering from influenza, where he stayed for two days.

On 19 November 1918, his attachment to the LTMB ended, and he rejoined the 24th Battalion. He was transferred to the Australian Corps School on 7 January 1919. On 6 April 1919, whilst still with the School, he went AWL again; however, this time only for a day. On 8 May 1919, he left the Corps School and arrived in Southampton on 14 May 1919, having been selected in Quota 48 for Return to Australia. He was marched into No. 3 Group at Codford on Salisbury Plain. Astonishingly, a week later, he married Alice Maria Driver (1898-1975) in London at St Barnabas Church, Southfields on 21 May 1919. Alice had been born in Wandsworth, England. Perhaps they'd met during his four months in England at the start of 1918. Alternatively, if they had met the week before they were married then it was a very short engagement.

Post the wedding, Charles Farrell was given indefinite leave as he and Alice waited for availability on a Family Ship returning to Australia. On 25 September 1919 they returned to Australia aboard SS Mahana, arriving in Fremantle on 3 November 1919. The ship then sailed on to Melbourne where they disembarked on 10 November. Charles was discharged from the AIF in Melbourne on 3 December 1919.

Charles and Alice would have four children together, however they divorced in 1929. Alice had been named in court as having committed adultery with Leonard Austin Patterson in 1928. Charles had appeared as a witness. At the time he was working at Luna Park in St. Kilda and as an attendant at the Palais.
Charles Farrell died on 13 January 1957 in Bundalong Victoria.