Charles KHAN MSM

Badge Number: S79825, Sub Branch: Renmark
S79825

KHAN, Charles

Service Number: 2395
Enlisted: 6 April 1915, Enlisted Broken Hill
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 50th Infantry Battalion
Born: Calcutta, India, date not yet discovered
Home Town: Noarlunga, Onkaparinga, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: 4 February 1936, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Men from Renmark and District Roll of Honor Boards (4)
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World War 1 Service

6 Apr 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2395, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted Broken Hill
23 Jun 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2395, 10th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: ''
10 Feb 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion
8 Aug 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2395, 50th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days"

Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (presented by General Birdwood on his post war visit to Australia 6 March 1920)

Meritorious Service Medal

'As a Company Cook under all circumstances this man has proved himself a most willing, conscientious and able worker. he is responsible in no small degree for the general good health of all the men in his company. His work is always carried out efficiently and his cheerfulness and willingness even under adverse circumstances have made his services very valuable to the Battalion at all times.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 113
Date: 6 October 1919

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Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge

Charles Khan, MSM (189?-1936)

An extract from Trove -  Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 - 1942)  
Thu 6 Feb 1936  Page 10  
OBITUARY FINE SOLDIER PASSES

Charles Khan (India) passed away in the Renmark Hospital on Tuesday after a short illness, the direct result of war service. Before the Great War he had resided in Renmark and joined up as soon as war was declared.

His Battalion was the 50th, and Khan never flinched from duty, being awarded the Meritorious Medal for devotion to duty. As a cook he fed his comrades well, being known throughout the whole of the Australian Army. Cooking under intensefire became second nature to him.

He was a member of the local sub-branch of the R.S.A, and flags were half-masted in his honour.  He leaves five. children, one of whom
is married.

The dead soldier was a very well known Renmark identity.  At 3 o'clock on Wednesday the soldier's body was lowered into the grave in the presence of his comrades.

Pallbearers were Messrs. K.Tamblyn, T. Dixon, G. Kubank, and S. Coombs. Wreaths marked his resting place. The Rev. Stribley recited the solemn ritual for the dead, and said that comrades had gathered to see a comrade buried. It was 41 years a go since Charles Khan had arrived in Australia.  He had joined the Australian forces at the outbreak of the War. For his gallant services, under fire, he had been awarded the Meritorious Medal and had always made light of the manner in which he had gained such a decoration. Khan, said the clergyman, had often been very ill but when under acute pain made little of his sufferings. He was ever a fighter.

They met to pay last respects to one who had upheld the unity of Empire. Trumpeter Don Mitchell blew the "Last Post."

General Birdwood presented his Meritorious Service Medal on 6 March 1920.

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