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UNDERWOOD, Charles Bennett
| Service Number: | 1010 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 April 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gumeracha, South Australia, 4 October 1893 |
| Home Town: | Mannum, Mid Murray, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Gumeracha/Mannum Schools, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Erector |
| Died: | Mannum, South Australia, 21 October 1951, aged 58 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mannum Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Mannum District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1010, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1010, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide |
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Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Underwood was born on October 4, 1893, in Gumeracha, South Australia. He attended schools in Gumeracha and Mannum, South Australia. Before the war, he worked as a sheet-iron Erector. His hometown was Mannum, in Mid Murray, South Australia. He believed in the Methodist religion. His parents were Mr. Michael Underwood and Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bennett Underwood.
In 1915, Underwood enlisted on the 28th of April in Keswick aged 22 years and 6 months.Underwood selected his father, Mr. Michael Underwood, as his next of kin. Underwood completed his oath ceremony for his military service on the 29th of April 1915 in Keswick, South Australia.
He served with the 27th Battalion, A Company, Australian Imperial Force. He embarked from Adelaide on the ship “HMAT A2 Geelong” on May 31, 1915, which was heading towards Egypt.
In 1916, on January 10, he disembarked at Alexandria from Mudros. After more than 3 months, on March 15, 1916, he proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and disembarked from Marseilles.
In France, on July 21, he was found outside of the billeting area without a pass, which was considered military offense. He was awarded a forfeiture of 3 days' pay from July 19 to July 21.
On December 2, he was admitted to the hospital in Rouen, France, due to bronchitis for more than 2 weeks. On December 18, he was transferred and admitted to the 2nd Convalescent Depot in Rouen.
In 1917, on January 2, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Finally, after a 1-month break, on January 4, he rejoined his unit.
On March 10, 1917, he was sent to a segregation camp. On April 6, 1917, he was admitted from the segregation camp according to 2 Division Base Depot. On April 7, he proceeded to rejoin the unit, and after 2 days, he rejoined the 27th Battalion in France.
In 1918, on the morning of July 7th, he was on fatigue duty, and while carrying two buckets into a hut, he slipped and bumped his knee against a form. At once, a hot fomentation was applied to the injury, and the patient was paraded sick on July 8th and ordered to light duty.
Finally, after 3 years and 349 days of service, Underwood concluded his military service and returned to his hometown of Mannum on 2 January 1919. He served abroad for 3 years and 261 days of his total service.
After returning from the war, Underwood married Gertrude Augusta Wegener in 1919. He was formally discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 11 April 1919 because of the cessation of hostilities.
Underwood died at the age of 58 on 21 October 1951. He is buried in the Mannum Cemetery, South Australia.
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