Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles was the son of George NEWBON & Caroline WILKINSON and was born on the 26th of September 1889 in St Kilda, Victoria.

His parents were married on the 5th of August 1883 in St Mary Church, Putney, England.

His father was the son of William Henry NEWBON & Jane QUARTERMASS and was born on the 4th of May 1857 in Shoreditch, Middlesex, England.
His mother was the daughter of William WILKINSON & Oline MATHAMS and was born on the 14th of July 1862 in Rotherhithe, England.

Charles was the fourth child born into the family of 6 children.

As soon as his parents had married they immigrated to Australia, Arriving in Pt Adelaide on the 31st of October 1883 on board the Aldergrove.

His father was a cabinet maker and upon arrival in South Australia he worked with his 2 brothers in Adelaide and Charles’s first 2 siblings were born in Prospect; George Alfred & Olive Alice.

Work became scarce and his parents then moved to St Kilda by 1887 as Florence was born there.
By 1892 the family moved back to South Australia and his father decided he wanted a change and went to “Charra” to learn farming under Mr. Albert Edwards at Denial Bay.
After 12 months his father then selected land at Perlubie in 1894 and named the property Aldergrove.

After his schooling Charles worked with his father on the family farm.

In September 1912 his father hosted a meeting at their home to arrange the formation of the Perlubie Cricket Club.
His father was appointed Patron, Charles was appointed Secretary & Treasurer and George Jnr was appointed on the selection committee.

In July 1916 Charles took out the lease of sections 8 & 9, Hundred of Karcultaby, containing 1130 acres.
This property joined the Karcultaby Area School on the Ayre Highway.

At the age of 27, Charles enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 29th of March 1917 in Streaky Bay, SA and allotted the service number 3685 and posted to B Company at Mitcham Camp. He was then transferred to the 48th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on the 16th of July 1917.

He served in France before embarking from England on board HT Suevic on the 23rd of July 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of September.

He returned home to Perlubie and on Monday evening, the 23rd of September Charles was given a welcome home social by the Cheer-up girls in the Haslam Hall and he was presented with a wallet and notes.

Charles was discharged, from the AIF on the 6th of December 1919 and awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

By 1929 Charles was the Secretary of the Wudinna Agricultural Bureau and he also successfully competed with his draught horses in the local shows.

Charles married Hilda Marks RAYNEY nee FORISTAL in early 1931.
Hilda was the daughter of Robert FORISTAL & Elizabeth CATHCART and was born on the 2nd of January 1894 in Chiltern, VIC.
*Hilda was previously engaged to Alfred Leslie KING in March 1916. Alfred enlisted into the AIF on the 4th of June 1915 (4533) and was initially posted to the 8th Battalion, 14 Reinforcements.
He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on the 28th of January 1916 and was transferred to the 58th Battalion.
Sadly Alfred was wounded on the 30th of November 1916 in Needle Trench at Montauban and succumb to his wounds the following day in the 14th Australian Field Ambulance.

In 1918 Hilda had then married William Ambrose Rayney in 1918 in Victoria
He was the son of John Fredrich RAYNEY & Emma Millissa SORE and was born on the 6th of May 1893 at Wellington Lodge, SA
William had served with the AAMC and the 37th Battalion (2930 under the alias of Hayney) and had managed to get himself Court Martialled.

In late 1919 they were living at 133 Victoria Street, Footscray and Alma Evelyn was born here on the 30th of November 1918.
By November 1919 they had moved to South Australia and were renting a room from Mrs Loftus at 4 North Terrace Hackney.
William then left at the end of November to find work in Pt Lincoln, but Hilda never heard from him again and on the 19th of December Hilda and Alma left to live with her parents in Pt Pirie.

Little Alma attended the Whyalla Public School and her guardian was noted as her grandfather.
By 1932 she attended the Wudinna Public School and Charles was noted as her guardian.

In July 1937 Charles took out the Crown Leased of Section 18, Hundred of Wudinna, containing 1011 acres.
The property was located on the north east corner of Hynes & Dubois Road, Wudinna and they called their home “Picardy”.
In 1943 he also took out the Crown Leased of Section 16, Hundred of Wannamana, containing 1746 acres.
This property was located on the west side of Bedford Road, Kyancutta.

Hilda was President of the Wudinna CWA and she made and decorated cakes for them.

They sold their farm in March 1948 and purchased a little home at 3 Bowman Road, Ardrossan.

Charles died on the 31st of July 1956 in Ardrossan and was buried in the Ardrossan Cemetery; Plot 372.

His grave is only marked by a small council marker.

Hilda died on the 20th of July 1977 in Prahran, VIC.

Military

At the age of 27, Charles enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 29th of March 1917 in Streaky Bay, SA and allotted the service number 3685 and posted to B Company at Mitcham Camp.
He listed his father, of Perlubie, SA as his next of kin.

On the 1st of May he was transferred to the 48th Battalion, 10th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp.

Charles embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on the 16th of July 1917, disembarked in Liverpool on the 16th of September and marched into the 12th Training Battalion in Codford.

He proceeded to France on the 8th of December and marched into the Australian Divisional Base Depot (ADBD) in Le Havre.

On the 24th of December he was taken on strength with the 43rd Battalion who were at billets in Erquinghem.
The following day was Christmas and they were given the day off before moving into the front line the following day at Bois Grenier.
On the 3rd of January 1918 they were relieved and moved to Waterland, Camp which was 1 mile west of Erquinghem.
They then moved to Lochre on the 5th where the ground was frozen and the snow was constantly falling.

It was here on the 22nd of January that Charles suffered from boils to his left leg and was admitted into the 11th Australian Field Ambulance at Bailleul.
Four days later Charles was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Blendeques and then the following day he was transferred by the 31st Ambulance Train to the 53rd General Hospital in Wimereux.

After six weeks recovering he was discharged on the 17th of March to the 1st Convalescent Depot at Marlborough Camp, Boulogne.
The following day he was transferred to the 5th Rest Camp in Octeville and four days later he was discharged to the Australian Divisional Base Depot (ADBD) in Le Havre.

On the 18th of April he rejoined his Battalion at the Somme and the following day Charles was back in the front line in wet and miserable conditions.
They were relived by the 33rd Battalion on the 5th of May and moved to Le Houssoye and then to Querrieu on the 9th.
They remained here in rest and training until they moved into the front line at Bois l’ Abbe on the 20th and were then relieved on the 29th and moved into the front line at Villers-Bretonneux.

They spent most of June in and out of the front line here before moving to Cardonette on the 29th of June.
They then began offensive training with the tanks 10 kilometres away at Hill 86.

After the midday meal on the 2nd of July, they left their billets at Cardonette and marched by platoons to the Valley of the L'Hallue River, near Bussy, arriving in time for tea, and remaining there until dusk. The secrecy of the situation had apparently been well maintained, for when moving through the area of a sister brigade enquiries were made as to why the unit was moving forward and where it was going.
While waiting on the banks of the river many availed themselves of the swimming facilities as a refresher after the march from billets during the dusty afternoon.
The final issue of stores was also conducted here, and at 9.45 p.m. the approach march was resumed through Daours, along the Somme Canal, to Hamelet, relieving the 51st Battalion in the line during the early morning.

At two minutes past three on the morning of the 4th, light harassing fire was opened, with the object of assisting the aircraft in drowning the noise of approaching tanks and then eight minutes later an intense barrage fire opened, under cover of which the attack commenced.
A and C Companies' inner flank lay on the outskirts of the village Hammel, which, with the assistance of tanks, B Company was to mop up. On the right trouble was soon encountered from a strong position known as "Pear Trench," the advance being temporarily held up until the brave action of Private Shaw, who, with his Lewis gun, silenced several enemy machine guns and enabled the company to again move forward.
Charles and his Battalion had taken Hammel but Charles suffered gas poisoning during the attacked and was admitted into the 11th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station two days later.

He was then transferred by Ambulance Train to the 2nd Stationary Hospital in Abbeville on the 19th. After eleven days he was discharged to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot in Le Havre where he remained until the 15th of August when he was transferred to the ADBD in Le Havre.

He rejoined his Battalion on the 26th of August at Ceylon Wood, but five days later he suffered from Bronchitis and was admitted into the 37th Casualty Clearing Station at Vecquemont.
He was then transferred by Ambulance Train to the 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen on the 1st of September.
Three days later he was discharged to the 11th Convalescent Depot in Aubengue and after three weeks here he was discharged to ADBD in Le Havre.

Charles rejoined his Battalion on the 4th of October at Templeux and the following day they entrained at Peronne for Arrains and then marched into their billets at Metigny.
They remained here resting and training until the 21st of October when they marched into their new billets at Vergies.
On the 8th of November Charles was detached to Brigade Officer School for six days and whilst he was here the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.

He rejoined his Battalion on the 17th at Vergies and the rest of the month was spent with training and sports days.
Charles then gained two weeks leave, which included Christmas Day 1918.
They then moved to Ramburelles for all of January and February where they continued routine marches and attended lectures and classes.

On the 13th of March Charles proceeded to England on extended leave and non military employment.
Four days later he was admitted into the Military Hospital in Edmonton and discharged four weeks later.

Charles embarked from England on board HT Suevic on the 23rd of July 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of September.

Charles was discharged, from the AIF on the 6th of December 1919 and awarded the British War and Victory Medals.