Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles was the son of George Valentine GOW & Eliza FRASER and was born on the 1st of March 1893 in Mabel Street, Yatala, SA.

His parents were married on the 14th of December 1881 at George’s residence in Yatala, SA.

His father was the son of Charles GOW and was born in 1847.
His mother was the daughter of Alexander FRASER and was born in 1849 in Inverness, Scotland.

Charles was the youngest child born into this family of 6 children.

His father was a general carter and teamster and Charles grew up in Mabel Street, Yatala, SA.

His father died suddenly from Heat Apoplexy on F & A Cooper Company’s wharf at Pt Adelaide whilst unloading timber from his dray on the 7th of January 1910 and they buried him in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section K, Drive C, Path 20, Site Number 307N.

After Charles had completed his education he gained employment as a labourer and at some point in his life he had his pinkie finger on his right hand.

At the age of 21 Charles enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 5th of September 1914 in Morphettville and was allotted the service number 591 and posted to the newly raised 12th Battalion, E Company in Pontville, Tasmania.
Charles trained at Morphettville Camp for 2 weeks before entraining to Melbourne on the 21st of September and then embarking for Tasmania and arrived in Pontville Camp on the 26th of September.

He embarked on board HMAT Geelong 20th of October 1914, disembarked in Pt Suez on the 10th of December, and entrained to Mena Camp, near Cairo.

Charles was hospitalised and diagnosed with an Inguinal Hernia, which left him medically unfit for service.

Charles embarked from Port Suez on HMAT Ulysses on the 21st of March 1915, disembarked in Melbourne on the 15th of April and entrained to Adelaide the following day.
Ten days later the 12th Battalion was one of the first Battalion’s to land at Gallipoli.

Charles was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 17th of July 1915 and awarded a War Pension of 40/- which later increased to 60/- per fortnight.

Charles returned home to his mother and on the 15th of May 1915 he was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital for 4 weeks suffering from the Inguinal Hernia that had caused him trouble in Egypt.

On the 9th of August 1915 Charles’s elder brother George, enlisted into the 1st AIF (2658) and served with the 10th Battalion until he was severely gassed.

Now aged 22, Charles re-enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 21st of September 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2187 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.

On the 1st of November he was transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion and his War Pension was ceased the following day.
He was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements on the 1st of December.

Charles embarked from Adelaide on board HMT Miltiades on the 7th of February 1916, disembarked in Port Suez on the 11th of March and marched into Tel-el-Kebir Camp where he joined the 8th Training Battalion.

He was hospitalised here and then embarked for England with the 8th Battalion for further training.

Charles proceeded to France on the 11th of September 1916 where he served before being hospitalised on a few more occasions before he was invalided to England in May 1917.
Then with more hospitalisations he was medically deemed unfit for service and embarked from England on the 24th of August 1918 on board HT Medic.
He disembarked in Melbourne on the 11th of October and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

Charles was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 6th of December 1918.
Charles returned home to his mother and gained employment as a labourer.

His mother died on the 18th of March 1923 and they buried her in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section K, Drive C, Path 20, Site Number 307N, with George.

Charles died on the 7th of June 1932 in the Keswick Military Hospital and was buried 2 days later in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section K, Drive C, Path 20, Site Number 307N, with his parents.

Military

WW1 – 1st Enlistment

At the age of 21 Charles enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 5th of September 1914 in Morphettville and was allotted the service number 591 and posted to the newly raised 12th Battalion, E Company in Pontville, Tasmania.
He listed his mother, of Dundas Street, Alberton, SA, as his next of kin.

The 12th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Half of the battalion was recruited in Tasmania, a quarter was recruited in South Australia, and a quarter from Western Australia.

Charles trained at Morphettville Camp for 2 weeks before entraining to Melbourne on the 21st of September and then embarking for Tasmania and arrived in Pontville Camp on the 26th of September.

The official march through Hobart took place on the 4th of October, when the Battalion entrained at Brighton Junction at 8am and proceeded to Moonah where they detrained. They then marched along the Main Road as far as Augusta Road, where they halted and fixed bayonets.
It was a particularly hot day and the march through the city with rifles at the slope was long and tiring. However, the constantly changing crowd which lined the streets and packed the verandahs all along the route was sufficiently interesting to make them forget the fatigue, although the lack of enthusiasm which was displayed tended to prove that the seriousness of the war was not appreciated in those early days.

Parties were then detailed almost daily to proceed to the troopships "Geelong" and "Katuna" for loading purposes.
On the morning of the 20th of October Charles had a particularly early "reveille", about 4.30am, and breakfast shortly after. They rolled and stacked their blankets, struck their tents and marched out for the last time.

The troop train took them right on to the Ocean Pier, where the "Geelong" was berthed, and they commenced embarking soon after 10am.
Almost the whole of Hobart was there, but no one from the country or outlying districts, for their departure was kept very secret and no mention of it was made in the press.
The troopship commenced to hoot about 2pm, but it took some time to collect the stragglers who had eluded the sentries and got away for a last bit of liberty and to enjoy a last drink at their favourite hotel. The calling of rolls was impossible, and when the piquets at last came back and reported that everyone that could be found had been brought or ordered aboard, it was assumed that the troops were all mustered, and at 4pm the ropes were cast off and they drifted away amid cheers and wishes of "God speed."

Charles watched the crowded pier recede and listened to the band playing "Rule
Britannia" and "The Girl I Left Behind Me," until the sounds were lost in the intervening distance.
The army, however, knew no sentiment, and before they had passed the Iron
Pot they were fallen in and received their issue of mess utensils, hammock and blankets. Charles leaned over the ship's side and watched the receding shores of Tasmania, and wondered when he would see Australian shores again.

The trip across the great Bight was not bad, considering the weather one does encounter at times in that sea, but the old "Geelong" rolled pretty well and was quite sufficient to make the majority of the men sick until they got their sea legs.
It used to cause great joy on the troop deck at meal times, during this period, as the companion-way which led from the top deck to the troop deck was very steep.
One day they had curry for dinner and the mess orderly had to carry a brimming dish of liquid curry, together with a dish of vegetables.
It was alright until he commenced to descend the steep ladder and then the boat gave a roll, upon which he overbalanced and fell to the bottom - curry and all.
The greasy curry on the deck now made matters worse and 3 mess orderlies suffered the same catastrophe on that particular day.

When they were a few days out they were all inoculated against typhoid fever.
They were afterwards inoculated so many times for so many diseases that they ceased to be interested.
One or two of the soldiers aboard refused to be inoculated and were sent home from
Albany.

They reached King George Sound, Albany on the 28th of October and found some of the troopships already assembled there. Others continued to arrive daily until the convoy was complete, consisting of 28 Australian troopships and 10 New Zealanders.
On Sunday the 1st of November they set sail in 3 long lines, the "Orvieto" with Divisional Headquarters aboard being the flagship for the “Geelong”.

They were escorted by battleships, amongst which were the "Melbourne”, "Sydney," "Minotaur", "Hampshire” and "Aboukir” and after they were out a day or so they were joined by 2 Japanese warships.
There was not sufficient deck space for all the units to parade at the same time and therefore a roster was drawn up and the different decks were allotted to different units at varying times during parade hours.
Parade work generally consisted of physical exercises, rifle exercises, musketry, lectures and kit inspections.

The one outstanding feature of the voyage was the sinking of the “Emden”.
At 7.30 am on the 9th of November, the "Sydney" was seen to belch forth volumes of black smoke and dash off across their front and disappear over the horizon, whilst the other battleships, although they did not leave the convoy, appeared excited.
Some ours later, they were officially told that the "Sydney" had actually engaged the "Emden" and defeated her.

They reached Colombo on the 15th of November where they anchored for 2 days in the extremely war weather, but did not go ashore, before sailing on the 17th for Aden.
Aden was reached on the 25th and they anchored overnight and the following morning they sailed for Port Said.
Two days later they received orders that they were to complete their training in Cairo so they then reached Suez on the 1st of December and entered the Canal the following afternoon.

The Canal was fortified at intervals by strong posts and block houses, garrisoned by English and Indian troops. Questions were freely asked as they slowly passed, which gave plenty of scope for witty and humorous replies.
Of course, the stock quest was “Who are you", and on one occasion a wag from the top boat deck replied, in a shrill, falsetto voice, " We are the Light Horse", which brought forth a roar of laughter.
The climax, however, was reached one evening when out of the darkness someone asked, "Where are you from”?, to which they naturally replied, "Tasmania", and then felt very humiliated when the unknown voice again asked "Where's that?"

It was a very hot passage through the Canal, a hot wind blowing across the desert carrying with it a fine, sandy dust, which made the atmosphere very parched.
Port Said was reached at 12:30pm the following day and after 5 days in anchorage they sailed for Alexandria on the 8th of December and arrived at their berth at 2:30pm the following day.
They disembarked on the 10th of December and entrained to Mena Camp, near Cairo, where Charles obtained his first glimpse of the Pyramids.

They began their Battalion and Brigade training and Christmas 1914 was spent here.

On the 24th of January 1915 Charles was late for parade and was awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks.

Charles was then hospitalised and diagnosed with an Inguinal Hernia, which left him medically unfit for service.
On the 27th of February his Battalion received orders that they were to embark from Alexandria on the 1st of March for an unknown destination.
However, Charles was still unfit, so when the Battalion embarked on the 1st of March on board HMT Devanha, Charles remained in Mena Camp.

Charles embarked from Port Suez on HMAT Ulysses on the 21st of March 1915, disembarked in Melbourne on the 15th of April and entrained to Adelaide the following day.
Ten days later the 12th Battalion was one of the first Battalion’s to land at Gallipoli.

Charles was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 17th of July 1915 and awarded a War Pension of 40/- which later increased to 60/- per fortnight.

2nd Enlistment

At the age of 22 Charles re-enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 21st of September 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2187 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of Mabel Street, Yatala, as his next of kin.

On the 1st of November he was transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion and his War Pension was ceased the following day.
He was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements on the 1st of December.

Charles embarked from Adelaide on board HMT Miltiades on the 7th of February 1916, disembarked in Port Suez on the 11th of March and marched into Tel-el-Kebir Camp where he joined the 8th Training Battalion.
On the 19th of April Charles suffered from Indigestion and was admitted into the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in Tel-el-Kebir for 6 days. Then 10 days later he was readmitted into the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital suffering from Varicocele.
He spent 2 weeks here receiving treatment before being discharged back to the 8th Training Battalion.

Now, as the AIF prepared for deployment to Europe, the training Battalions were to be reformed in England.
Son on the 5th of June Charles embarked for England with the 8th Training Battalion on board HMTS Franconia and marched into their new location at Larkhill for further training.
On the 10th of July Charles overstayed his leave pass by 13 hours and when his was apprehended he was awarded 14 days Confined to Camp and forfeited 1 days pay.

The following month he went AWOL for a day and was arrested and awarded 14 days Confined to Camp and forfeited 11 days pay.
Charles proceeded to France on the 11th of September, marched into the 5th AIBD (Australian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, and proceeded to join the 32nd Battalion on the 26th of September at Armenteries.
The following day they moved into the front line and relieved the 31st Battalion before moving to Strazeele and into billets on the 14th of October.

They then marched to Bailliuel, entrained to Longpre, marched 8 miles to Gorenflos and then were transported by motor lorry to Buire, arriving on the 20th of October.
The following day they marched to Mametz Wood near Montauban where they commenced training.
Seven days later they relieved the 31st Battalion in the front line in Crest and Carlton Trenches, near Factory House.
On the 9th of November they were relieved and moved to St Vast and began further training.

Nine days later they embussed to Ribemont and the following day Charles was late to parade and was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No.2.
Their next move was back to Montauban and into the trenches at Trones Wood and then Le Transloy where they rotated in and out of the tenches for the majority of December.
On the 20th of December they entrained to Dernancourt where they began training and Christmas 1916 was spent here.

Whilst here, Charles suffered from ingrowing Tonsils on the 2nd of January 1917 and was admitted into the 13th Australian Field Ambulance.
Three weeks later he was admitted into the 1st ANZAC Casualty Receiving Station and the following day he was transferred to the 1st South Midland Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen on the 31st.
The following day he was discharged to No.2 Convalescent Depot in Rouen where he spent a further 2 weeks before being discharged to the 5th AIBD in Etaples.

Charles rejoined his Battalion on the 17th of March at Trones Wood, but the following day he was admitted into the 8th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 5th Dressing Station suffering from Varicocele.
Six days later he rejoined his Battalion in a camp near Gueudecourt where they were engaged in road making.

On the 16th of April they moved to Haplincourt and began digging a series of strong points.
Three days later Charles suffered from Varicocele again and was admitted into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 5th Dressing Station.
Five days later he was transferred to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station at “Edgehill” (Somme).

On the 28th he was admitted into the 12th General Hospital in Rouen and 2 days later was discharged to No.2 Convalescent Depot. The following day he was discharged to the 5th AIBD in Etaples and medically classified “A” (fit to stand active service conditions).
Within 2 weeks however, Charles suffered from Trench Fever and was admitted into the 6th General Hospital in Rouen.
Charles was invalided to England on the 21st of May on board HS Cambria and admitted into Kitcheners Military Hospital in Brighton.

He spent the next 2 weeks here before he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 6th of June.
Another 2 weeks was spent here before he was well enough to be discharged to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth on the 22nd.
Charles remained here until the 31st of August when he was transferred to No.4 Command Depot in Codford and then on the 8th of September he was posted to the Overseas Training Battalion in Longbridge Deverill.

Six days later he suffered from Haemorrhoids and was admitted into the Tidworth Military Hospital.
Two months later he was finally discharged to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny on the 12th of November and medically classified “B1A2” (Fit for overseas training camp in three to four weeks).
He spent Christmas 1917 here and then on the 8th of January 1918 he was reclassified to “A3” (Fit for overseas training camp, to which transferred for hardening, prior to rejoining unit overseas).

However, 7 days later Charles suffered from Gastritis and an inflamed stomach and was admitted into the Sutton Veny Military Hospital.
After 9 days of treatment he was discharged back to No.1 Command Depot, but on the 11th of February he suffered from persistent vomiting and was readmitted to hospital. He spent a further 9 days here before he was again discharged to No.1 Command Depot and then classified B1A2 once again.

On the 13th of March Charles went AWOL for 1 day and was awarded 1 days forfeited pay. Ten days later he was charged with neglecting to obey an order and was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2.
On the 15th of April he was posted back to the Overseas Training Battalion in Longbridge Deverill for 7 days before being transferred to the 3rd Training Brigade, 14th Training Battalion in Codford.
Here he attended the 5th Division Signal School for course of instruction for 7 days before suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis on the 7th of May and was admitted into the Brigade Clearing Hospital for 8 days.

On the 20th of July Charles was transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth awaiting return to Australia.

Charles embarked from England on the 24th of August 1918 on board HT Medic, disembarked in Melbourne on the 11th of October and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

Charles was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 6th of December 1918 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.