FAMILY LIFE

Charles Godfrey Petersen was born 1890 in Duranbah, son of Ernest Carl Christian “Christy” Petersen & Clara Jane (Brady) Petersen. His brother, Christian also enlisted and returned home in 1918. The Petersen family lived in Eungella where Christian was a farmer. His parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

APPLICATION

Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war on 4 August 1914, and both Prime Minister Joseph Cook and Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher pledged full support for Britain. Britain was Australia’s closet ally, best trading partner and the source of most of Australia’s immigrants. The outbreak of war was greeted in Australia, as in many other places, with great enthusiasm.

There were many reasons why Australian men volunteered to join the forces- the pay was good (5 shillings per day), they shared Britain’s values & culture, they thought it would be an adventure and family or friends had joined and they thought they should go as well.

Charles was single farm labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Lismore on 19^th October 1914 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, Ernest, of Eungella.

His medical showed he was 24 years 9 months old, 5ft 5 inches tall (1.81m), weighed 10stone 10lbs (63kgs), with a fair complexion, grey eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Charles “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Charles Godrey Petersen, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.”  He was Presbyterian and was enlisted as a private into the 15^TH Infantry Battalion with service No 937

AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On 22^nd December 1914 the recruits left Melbourne on the HMAR Ceramic. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

TEL EL KEBIR TRAINING CAMP

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons. 

Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause.  Training was essential to integrate new recruits and prepare the unit for the more intense and industrialized warfare expected in France.

WILL MADE APRIL 1915

On 6^th April 1915 Charles made a will leaving all his assets to his father, Ernest

GALLIPOLI APRIL TO MAY 1915

QUINN’S POST MAY 1015

The 15^th Btn landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, as part of the 4th Brigade under Colonel John Monash. It was actively engaged in combat at Quinn’s Post on the Gallipoli Peninsula. This position was one of the most exposed and fiercely contested areas within the ANZAC sector. On that night, a party from the 15th Battalion conducted a daring operation, creeping out under the cover of darkness to capture a Turkish trench directly in front of Quinn’s Post. This action was part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen and secure the ANZAC front lines against persistent Ottoman counterattacks

The fighting at Quinn’s Post was intense and perilous, with the 15th Battalion enduring significant casualties during this period. The battalion's efforts in holding and defending this critical position were crucial in maintaining the integrity of the ANZAC line during the Gallipoli campaign.

WOUNDED IN ACTION MAY 1915

One of the casualties of this action was Charles who was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right scapula (shoulder blade).

HOSPITALISATION

Charles was evacuated to the 1^st Australian Hospital, Harefield. He had a bullet wound entry & large exit wound. The inferior angle of the right scapula has been removed & patient now has limitation in upward movement of arm. An operation was performed draining an abscess as well as a sequestrectomy, which is the surgical removal of a piece of dead bone. Charles spent many months in hospital

ADVICES TO PARENTS

Base records advised Charles’ parents that Chaplain Green visited him on 16^th July 1915 and stated he was doing very well

CONVALESENCE

All wounded soldiers were admitted to a command depot. Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1916

Charles rejoined his unit on 25^th March 1916 in Alexandria

TRANSFER TO 47^TH BATTALION MAY 1916

Charles was transferred to the 47^th Battalion in May 1916

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

On 14^th June 1916 he arrived in Marseilles to join his new unit.

The soldiers now found themselves fighting the German in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.  He was taken on strength on 19^th July 1916

47^TH BATTALION BETWEEN JULY AND NOVEMBER 1916

Between July 1916 and November 1916, the 47th was engaged in some of its first and most intense combat operations on the Western Front, particularly during the Battle of the Somme in France.

BATTLE OF POZIÈRES (JULY–AUGUST 1916)

The battalion entered the line at Pozières, a small village in the Somme region, which had been heavily fortified by the Germans.

Mid-to-late July 1916: The 47th fought in relentless shellfire and trench warfare.

They endured heavy casualties, not only from enemy fire but also from the chaotic and deadly conditions of the shell-blasted battlefield. Pozières was one of the bloodiest battles Australians faced in WWI, and the 47th’s baptism of fire

MOUQUET FARM (AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 1916)

Following Pozières, the 47th was involved in attacks on Mouquet Farm, another German stronghold near Pozières.

The operation aimed to push further north toward the German defensive system. The fighting here was brutal and largely unsuccessful, with high casualties for little gain.

PROMOTED TO TEMPORARY CORPORAL

On 13^th September he was promoted to temporary corporal

RECOVERY AND ROTATION (SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 1916)

After Mouquet Farm, the 47th was withdrawn from the front line for rest, reorganization, and reinforcements. The battalion spent time in rear areas, rotating through training, support roles, and garrison duties.

HOSPITALISATION MUMPS OCTOBER 1916

On 12^th October Charles was admitted to hospital with mumps. He was admitted to the 7^th General Hospital and while there he had some dental work done as well. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Soldiers would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing

TRENCH HOLDING AND PATROLS (OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 1916)

As the weather worsened into autumn 1916, the 47th returned to holding quieter sections of the front line, likely around the Somme or Armentières sectors.

Duties included:

·      Trench construction and repair

·      Night patrols and raids

·      Guarding against German raids

REJOINED UNIT NOVEMBER

Charles rejoined his unit on 2^nd November 1916

PROMOTED TO CORPORAL NOVEMBER 1916

On 9^th November Charles was promoted to corporal

KILLED IN ACTION 18^TH NOVEMBER 1916

On 18 November 1916, the 47th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was stationed on the Western Front in France, engaged in routine trench duties and recovery operations following the intense battles of Pozières and Mouquet Farm earlier that year. Charles was killed in action on 18^th November 1916

FOR HIS SERVICE

Charles’ effects were returned to his father and consisted of his diary, 2 discs, 2 note books, correspondence, cards & photos. His mother received his Memorial Scroll on 6^th August 1921, his Memorial Plaque on 8^th August 1922 & his Victory Medal on 21^st October 1922. For his service Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll and Plaque Murwillumbah

His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour  in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 144 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War. He is memorialised at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Departement de la Somme, Picardie

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