Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Service Record – Charles Williams (2650)
Unit: 5/43rd Battalion
Rank: Private (Pte)
Header Details
Surname: WILLIAMS
Other Names: Charles
Regimental No.: 2650
Unit: 5/43rd Btn.
Embarked: Fremantle per Argyllshire on 9/11/16
Military District: 5th M.D.

🪖 Service Timeline (Chronological)
1917
5/2/17 – Admitted to Tidford M.H. (V.S.D.)
15/3/17 – Discharged to Depot from Tidworth Mil. Hosp. (G.D.)
5/2/17 – Marched into 11th Training Battalion, Durrington from Australia
5/2/17 – Admitted to Military Hospital Tidworth (N.Y.D.)
22/4/17 – Attached for duty to Headquarters in U.K., ex No.1 C.D.
8/5/17 – Transferred to A.M.C. Details from 43rd Btn ex A.I.F.C. Training Depot No.2 Parkhouse
28/7/17 – Attached for duty with 1st A.A.H. ex A.A.M.C. Training Depot
8/5/17 – Taken on strength of A.A.M.C. Details on transfer from 43rd Btn
28/7/17 – Detached from duty with 1st A.A.H. from A.A.M.C. Details
12/11/17 – Detached from attached duty with 1st A.A. Hosp Harefield and marched out to No.2 Command Depot Weymouth
1918
10/8/18 – Joined from A.M.C. Reinforcements
26/8/18 – Joined from Reinforcements ex attached 2nd A.G.H. (proceeding to 3rd Field Ambulance)
25/8/18 – Ceased to be attached to 2nd A.G.H. on proceeding to 3rd Field Ambulance for duty
14/3/18 – Crime: A.W.L. (Absent Without Leave) 16/3/18 – Awarded 10 days C.B. (Confined to Barracks), total forfeiture 1 day

France Service
2/4/18 – Proceeded overseas to France via Southampton ex A.A.M.C. Training Depot Parkhouse
3/4/18 – Marched into A.G.B.D. Rouelles from U.K. ex Reinforcements
26/10/18 – Disembarked to Unit (3rd Field Ambulance)
Medical & Movements (France/UK)
10/5/18 – To Hospital sick from No.1 Medical Board Depot Havre
10/5/18 – Admitted L. of C. Hospital, sick from Base Depot (A.A.M.C. Details)
14/5/18 – Discharged to Base Depot from L. of C. Hospital, ex sick
1919
15/2/19 – Admitted Bethnal Green Military Hospital (I.C.T. Left Hand) (3rd Field Ambulance)
15/2/19 – Invalided to England ex No.4 General Hospital (I.C.T. Left Hand)
26/10/18 – Rejoined Unit (noted entry position as per record)
1–15/3/19 – Discharged from Hospital, furlough & reported to No.2 Command Depot (I.C.T. Left Hand)
26/2/19 – Transferred to 1st A.G.H. (I.C.T. Left Hand), still 3rd Field Ambulance
Return to Australia
Returned per “Ormonde” – 24/7/19
Discharged: 1/9/19 – 5th M.D. (3rd Field Ambulance)


He started infantry (43rd Battalion)
Got pulled into medical corps duties fairly early
Served mostly with 3rd Field Ambulance (frontline medical unit)
Did go to France (April 1918 onward)
Had medical issues + a left-hand injury
One small discipline slip (AWL → 10 days CB)
Returned home mid-1919

Charles Williams (Later aka musselwhite) WW1 SN# 2650A
RANK- Private/Lance Sergeant
Name at Enlistment: Charles Williams
Service Number: 2650A
Date of Enlistment: 29/9/1916
Unit(s):
5th Reinforcements, 43rd Infantry Battalion
3rd Australian Field Ambulance (3rd A.F.A.)
Embarkation Ship: Fremantle Argyllshire
Embarkation Date: 09 November 1916
Theatre of Service: United Kingdom and France (briefly)
Return to Australia: H.T. Ormonde, arriving 16 June 1919
Discharge: Medically unfit due to dysentary/hand injury
Service Summary – Private Charles Williams (2650A), later known as Charles Musselwhite SN# NX10065

Australian Imperial Force – First World War
Charles Edwin David Williams, born 8 January 1899 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I under his birth name, Charles Williams, with the service number 2650A. He was under-age at his time of Enlistment but after his first failed attempt with parents consent signatures (denied due to missing right testicle) he tried again and stated his age at 21 years 1 month ("coincidentally" the minimum age requirement for overseas service being 21 years).

He embarked with the 5th Reinforcements of the 43rd Battalion. His age at one point was questioned by superiors. He later served in the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, contributing to the final stages of the Great War.

He later became known as Charles Musselwhite (going by his mother's maiden name) in WW2 using different surname and place of birth assumedly to avoid linking prior military service files and also because at 41 years he was then too old. He shaved 8 years off his true age stating he was 32 instead and became part of "The old and the bold" HQ guard Battalion.

His two service histories can be linked via next of kin at enlistment- naming his father & parents adress in ww1 enlistment attempts/documents and his daughter Margaret in ww2.