Charles Newman STOCKHAM

STOCKHAM, Charles Newman

    Service Number: 6665
    Enlisted: 8 January 1917
    Last Rank: Private
    Last Unit: 17th Infantry Battalion
    Born: Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia, 1898
    Home Town: Rockdale, Rockdale, New South Wales
    Schooling: Bexley PS and Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia
    Occupation: Jackeroo
    Died: 1995, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Not yet discovered
    Memorials: Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour
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    World War 1 Service

    8 Jan 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6665, 17th Infantry Battalion
    7 Feb 1917: Involvement Private, 6665, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: ''
    7 Feb 1917: Embarked Private, 6665, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney

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    Biography contributed by Sydney Technical High School

    Stockham, Charles Newman was born in Arncliffe, Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia in 1898 (1). As a young Australian he joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War One to serve his nation (2). 

    Walter Stockham was his father and he worked for WS Friend and Co. in Sydney, and Emily Maude Stockham was his mother (4). His family lived in Rockdale, a Sydney suburb. Stockham was raised as a congregational Christian (5). He went to Bexley Public School and later Sydney Technical High School in 1913. Before he enlisted he worked as a Jackeroo, which meant he was gaining skills in sheep or cattle management (6). That type of work needed resilience and physical strength.

    He enlisted on 8 January 1917 at Liverpool, New South Wales, at the age of 18 years and 4 months (7). Records show that he was 5 ft 6 in, 130 pounds in weight, and had a dark complexion. He also had brown eyes and dark hair. His service number was 6665 (7). A month later, on 7 February 1917, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Wiltshire (A18) and disembarked on 11 April 1917 at Devonport, England. He was assigned to 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp. He then joined the 17th Battalion of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division (8).

    He and his battalion fought in the ‘Third Battle of Ypres’ (1917) at West Flanders, Belgium. His battalion received generic battle honours for it (9). The first fight was Menin Road (20–21 September 1917). Next was Polygon Wood (24–25 September 1917), Broodseinde (4 October 1917), and Poelcappelle (9 October 1917). It ended with Passchendaele, which started from 24 October and continued to 10 November 1917. Each battle had heavy casualties and was a fight against German forces. The main goal of the campaign was to gain high ground around Ypres and a key rail junction in the east and later, ports occupied by German forces on the Belgian coast (10).

    On 26 December 1917, Stockham fell ill and was sent to hospital (11). He left the 5th Training Battalion at Fovant on 27 December 1917. Two days later he was sent to the 39th General Hospital at Havre. He remained for 83 days until 20 March 1918 (12). He rejoined the 17th Battalion after recovery. His battalion was then sent to the German Spring Offensive (March–April 1918). The AIF was sent to help stop the German advance near Villers-Bretonneux and Albert (13).

    His battalion then fought in the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918 in France. It was an Allied victory under General John Monash (14). Stockham, on the same day, received a severe gunshot wound to both the pelvis and back (15). He received emergency treatment at a field unit hospital in France before being evacuated to England. He was admitted to Southwark Military Hospital in London on 15 July 1918. Medical notes described other serious injuries: gunshot wound causing a fractured right thigh, iliac injuries, left-leg weakness from psoas damage, a compound ilium fracture, and pelvic scarring (16).

    His condition was considered long-term and serious. He was sent to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital for further treatment on 3 September 1918. A later medical review deemed him unfit for combat. On 30 October 1918, he was sent to a command depot for convalescence (17).

    Stockham boarded the Ulysses at Devonport, England, and returned to Australia on 18 January 1919. He was discharged on 15 March 1919 as medically unfit for service (18). The war had thus left him with lasting injuries. He had to adapt to such changes in his later life and his accomplishemnt of building a long and active post-war life highlights his resilience.

    Stockham returned to Sydney and was employed as a customs agent. He was the best man at the wedding of Eslie Helen and Claude Stanley Newman in 1922 (20). In 1928, he became engaged to Rose Dolreen Dodwell (21). They married in 1929 and raised a family in Sydney, including children Ruth and Donald. They had grandchildren and great-grandchildren and were married for 66 years and 6 months until his passing (22).

    Electoral rolls in 1968 and 1980 show that he and his wife lived on Provincial Road, Lindfield (23). He lived a long life, passing away in 1995 at around 97 years old, despite his WW1 injuries. His funeral was held at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Delhi Road, North Ryde (24).

    Stockham was one of the many young men of the AIF whose service reflects personal and national values. As a private he fought through several battles, endured illness and injury, demonstrating his determination. He contributed to the Allied victory in the “Great War,” later known as WW1. He fought through illness, showing determination and grit. He endured 2 years, 2 months, and 7 days of service for the AIF (25). His experience,  perseverance and sacrfice showcases the Anzac Spirit, shaping Australia’s identity.

     

    Endnotes

    1. NAA: B2455, STOCKHAM C N, Service Record, p. 3 (Attestation Paper).

    2. Ibid., p. 8 (Enlistment and deployment details).

    3. Australian War Memorial, “17th Battalion Unit History.”

    4. NAA: B2455, STOCKHAM C N, Service Record, p. 17 (Parents’ names).

    5. Ibid., p. 6 (Attestation Paper – religion).

    6. Ibid., p. 5 (Attestation Paper – occupation).

    7. Ibid., p. 3 (Physical description, enlistment details).

    8. Ibid., p. 8 (Battalion assignment details).

    9. Australian War Memorial, “17th Battalion Unit History.”

    10. Australian War Memorial, “Third Battle of Ypres – Campaign Overview.”

    11. NAA: B2455, STOCKHAM C N, Service Record, p. 8 (Wounded/illness details).

    12. Ibid., p. 40 (Medical movement record leaving hospital 20/3/18).

    13. Australian War Memorial, “17th Battalion Unit History.”

    14. Ibid.

    15. NAA: B2455, STOCKHAM C N, Service Record, p. 8 (Wounded/injury details).

    16. Ibid., p. 9 (Medical details describing injury); p. 42 (Hospital admission after Hamel wound).

    17. Ibid., p. 35 (Movement record during convalescence).

    18. Ibid., p. 41 (Dispatch record from vessel).

    19. Ken Stevenson, Research on Charles Newman Stockham (Google Drive shared notes).

    20. Newspaper article in Ken Stevenson, Research on Charles Newman Stockham (Google Drive shared notes).

    21. Sydney Morning Herald, “Recent Engagements,” 26 February 1928, p. 39.

    22. Funeral notice, STOCKHAM Charles Newman (Google Doc).

    23. Electoral roll of 1968 and 1980, in Ken Stevenson, Research on Charles Newman Stockham (Google Drive shared notes).

    24. Sydney Morning Herald, Funeral Notice, October 1995.

    25. Calculated from NAA: B2455, STOCKHAM C N, Service Record (Enlistment and Discharge dates).

     

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