Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Served in both the South African (Boer) war and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 431, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Staff Sergeant rising to Sgt Major S.N. 76 (late 445), 1st Divisional Headquarters (late of 1st Divisional Train) AIF, WW1.

Note- when he enlisted in 1914 for WW1 he was initially recorded as Charles Parrish S.N. 445 in the 1st Divisional Train but was later reassigned as Charles John Parish to S.N. 76 in 1st Divisional Headquarters. 

When Charles John Parish enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his father C. R. Parish, Electric Telegraph, Brisbane. In the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, his N.O.K. was recorded as his father Charles R. Parish, Electric Telegraph Office, Brisbane.

When he enlisted again in Melbourne in 1914 for WW1 it was noted on his Attestation Paper dated, 20 Aug 1914, that he; was born at Condamine and was 35 years 3 months of age; he was single and a telephone mechanic; his N.O.K. was his father, late Postmaster, Ipswich, Qld; and he had previously served in the 5th QIB in South Africa. His N.O.K. was later amended to his wife Mrs. E. Parish, Waverley, Sydney, NSW, who he had married in 1914 after enlistment.

He was invalided home from the WW1 from Suez (Anzac) suffering from shell shock. During a blast incident he was impacted to the stomach region which resulted in ongoing issues and an operation after his return to Australia. Once home and recovered he again enlisted, this time for home service, in 1916 and on his Attestation Form dated 21 Nov 1916 he noted he; was born 16 May 1876 at Condamine; he was married, an electrician and living at New Farm, Brisbane.

Charles John Parish was born on 16 May 1873 at Condamine, Qld, a son to Charles Robert Parish and Jane Mary Parish (nee Leader). He married Ethel Coyle (nee Smith) in 1914 in Melbourne. Ethel had 2 children from her first marriage which Charles raised as his step children.

When he enlisted for the Boer war his father was working with the Electric Telegraph Office, Brisbane, and went on to become a Postmaster last serving at Ipswich, Qld. It appears he followed his father in that occupation and when he first enlisted for WW1 he was working as a telephone mechanic with the Post Office in Melbourne. Sometime after he was discharged from his WW1 home service in 1918 in Brisbane, he relocated the family to Randwick in Sydney.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 502; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 7; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 97; National Archive Australia- WW1 overseas and home front service records).