Private Charles Robert Eady
Service #: 103
Summary
BACKGROUND
Charles Robert Eady was born on the 10th January 1886, in Bromley, London, England, son of Robert Haworth Eady and Emily Harriet (Haughton) Eady. He and his wife are both buried in Murwillumbah cemetery.
ATTESTATION
Charles visited the Murwillumbah enlistment office on the 21st September 1914 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his father, Robert Howarth Eady, of Stokers Siding.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
PAGE 2
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Charles Robert Eady, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
PAGE 3
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Charles was 28 years 8 months old. He was 5ft 5 ¼ inches tall (1.62m) and weighed 9st 7lbs (61kgs). He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He had good eyesight. He had one scar on his right leg above his ankle. Charles was Church of England
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Charles was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 8th December 1914. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him a private with the 5th Light Horse Regiment (Qld) B squadron, with service number 103
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
LIGHT HORSE TRAINING
The Light Horse Depot was a lively place — rows of tents and stables stretched across the paddocks, with constant movement as new recruits learned the routines of mounted service. For the Light Horsemen, horsemanship was essential. Many recruits already came from rural backgrounds and were experienced riders, but the army still needed to train them to work together as mounted troops.
They would have spent their first weeks learning the fundamentals of soldiering: drill, physical fitness, and discipline, before moving on to the skills that defined the mounted man. They were taught to ride with a military saddle, to control their horse at all paces, and to manoeuvre in close formation. Daily sessions included mounting and dismounting at speed, guiding the horse with knee and rein, and practising extended trots and canters across open ground.
They practised:
· mounted drill and manoeuvres
· riding in formation
· caring for horses in military conditions
· rapid mounting and dismounting
· scouting and reconnaissance work
· fighting on foot after leaving the horses behind with designated horse-holders
The Australian Light Horse was technically mounted infantry rather than cavalry. The men rode horses for mobility but usually fought dismounted with rifles. The instructors — many veterans of earlier campaigns — were firm but fair, ensuring each man could care for his mount as well as himself.
So, horsemanship was only one part of the training. They learned the use of the Lee-Enfield rifle both on foot and in the saddle, as well as the sword or bayonet for close work. They were trained to move quickly from mounted to dismounted action — the Light Horse fought on foot, using their horses mainly for mobility. Camp life also included route marches, stable duties, grooming and feeding routines, cleaning tack and gear, and long days of drill under the Australian sun.
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO EGYPT
On the 19th December 1914 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 21st December, they embarked on the HMAT A34 Persic. Alongside his comrades, Charles marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.
SAILING WITH HORSES
When Charles stepped aboard the Persic, he was not only beginning his own long journey to war but also taking responsibility for a living companion — his horse. Unlike the infantrymen who embarked with little more than their rifles and kit, the Light Horsemen spent much of the voyage tending to the animals that would carry them through future battles.
Below decks, the Persic had been fitted with rows of stalls. Each morning at first light, Alexander and his comrades made their way down into the cramped, airless hold to feed, water, and clean up after their horses. The heat, smell, and flies could be overpowering, but the routine was strict and unrelenting: feed measured out carefully, water rationed, and the heavy work of mucking out stalls done daily to keep the animals healthy. When weather allowed, the horses were brought on deck to stretch their legs, led slowly around the ship, or lifted in slings to keep their muscles supple.
The rest of the day was divided between horse duty, parades, and training. On deck, the men drilled with their rifles, practised bayonet work, and kept up their physical fitness. The ship was crowded, hammocks and bunks jammed together, and meals were plain—bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—but the men kept themselves occupied with cards, writing letters, or impromptu concerts. Seasickness was common, especially in the early days, and many struggled with the reek of horseflesh combined with the rolling sea.
There were lighter moments, too. The men organised boxing matches and games, and the bond between soldier and horse grew stronger each day. Charles, like many of his regiment, came from country life and was used to handling horses; brushing down his mount or leading it carefully around the deck gave him a small sense of normality amid the voyage’s monotony.
The journey was not without loss. Some horses sickened and died despite the best efforts of their handlers and veterinary officers. Their bodies were solemnly hoisted up from the holds and buried at sea, a sight that reminded the men of the fragility of both beast and soldier in the campaign ahead.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.
APPROACHING EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.
EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP EARLY FEB 1915
Like the rest of the regiment, he was almost certainly sent to the great training camps established around Cairo, particularly at Maadi and nearby desert training areas. The regiment had been raised only a few months earlier and there was still much work to do in turning enthusiastic volunteers into effective mounted soldiers.
FEBRUARY TO JULY 1915
During the months between February and July 1915 Charles would have undergone intensive training. Although Light Horsemen were skilled riders, military service required far more than horsemanship. Daily life involved rifle practice, bayonet fighting, route marches, signalling, entrenching, field exercises and learning to operate as part of a cavalry regiment. The men also became accustomed to the harsh Egyptian climate, camp discipline and the routines of military life. The regiment spent much of this period preparing for operations that were still uncertain. As events unfolded on Gallipoli, however, it became clear that reinforcements were urgently needed.
GALLIPOLI JULY 1915
The 5th Light Horse Regiment left its horses behind in Egypt and sailed for Gallipoli as dismounted troops. Charles was taken on strength at Gallipoli on 7 July 1915. Like all Light Horsemen who served there, he fought not as a mounted soldier but as infantry. The regiment occupied trenches in the Anzac sector during one of the most difficult periods of the campaign.
JULY TO NOVEMBER 1915
From July until November 1915 Charles would have experienced the exhausting routine that characterised Gallipoli service. Days were spent repairing trenches, carrying supplies, improving defensive works, standing watch and enduring constant danger from enemy snipers, shellfire and disease. Water was scarce, flies were everywhere and sanitation was poor. Men often worked at night to avoid enemy observation. During August the regiment participated in the diversionary operations associated with the great Allied offensive that included the attack on Lone Pine and the fighting around Hill 60. Even when not directly involved in assaults, the men were subjected to relentless strain and danger.
SICK NOVEMBER 1915 JAUNDICE- MEDICAL CHAIN
On 16 November 1915 Charles was evacuated sick from Gallipoli. Two days later his illness was identified as jaundice and he was embarked for Mudros on the island of Lemnos. Jaundice was not uncommon among Gallipoli troops and could result from several illnesses affecting the liver, often aggravated by poor nutrition, contaminated food and the general conditions of the campaign.
After transfer from Mudros he was admitted to No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis on 21 November. Here he received treatment and rest while doctors monitored his recovery. By 10 December he was considered sufficiently improved to be discharged to the Overseas Base Depot at Heliopolis.
The same day he appears to have been admitted to what is probably Ghezireh Hospital, another major Australian medical facility in Cairo. Such apparently contradictory entries are not unusual in service records. It often reflected movement between medical and administrative authorities rather than a fresh illness. For the next fourteen days Charles was likely undergoing convalescence, medical observation and administrative processing to determine whether he was fit to return to active duty.
TRANSFER TO REGIMENT DECEMBER 1915
On 24 December 1915 he was transferred to rejoin his regiment. However, rejoining a unit was rarely immediate. The Gallipoli evacuation had just been completed, and thousands of soldiers were being reorganised throughout Egypt. Charles would have travelled through reinforcement and training depots while awaiting instructions and transport to his regiment.
DECEMBER 1915 TO FEBRUARY 1916
Between Christmas 1915 and 23 February 1916 he was almost certainly undergoing further training, rebuilding his fitness after illness and waiting for the regiment's location and future role to be determined. During this period the Australian Light Horse regiments were recovering from Gallipoli and preparing for a completely different campaign in Egypt's Sinai Desert.
SINAI CAMPAIGN FEBRUARY- SEPTEMBER 1916
On 23 February 1916 Charles moved to Serapeum, situated near the Suez Canal. This marked the beginning of the Sinai campaign. The 5th Light Horse Regiment became part of the forces defending Egypt against Ottoman incursions. Life at Serapeum involved mounted patrols, reconnaissance duties, desert training and preparing for offensive operations eastward across the Sinai Peninsula. Unlike Gallipoli, Charles was once again able to serve as a mounted trooper with his horse.
The following months were spent in increasingly active operations across the desert. The regiment participated in the advance through Sinai and helped secure vital positions that protected the Suez Canal.
THE BATTLE OF ROMANI AUGUST 1916
All was quiet, then, in the early hours of 4 August 1916, the silence of the desert shattered. Turkish troops surged forward under cover of darkness, aiming to punch through the thin defensive line and sweep around the escarpment to outflank the Australians. The fighting was chaotic and brutal. William’s regiment, part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, was thrown into the fray—charging, retreating, and counterattacking across the dunes.
The battle raged for two days. The Australians, though outnumbered, used their mobility and knowledge of the terrain to devastating effect. Chauvel had anticipated the Turkish maneuver and placed troops on the high ground, who now sprang into action and repelled the flanking force. By 5 August, the Ottoman dream of capturing the canal was shattered. Over 9,000 enemy casualties, including 4,000 prisoners, marked the scale of the defeat.
For the soldiers, Romani was more than a battle—it was a turning point. The victory secured the canal and marked the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, where the ANZAC Mounted Division would shift from defence to offense, pursuing the retreating enemy deep into the desert.
APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL SEPTEMBER 1916
Charles evidently proved himself a capable soldier during this period, as on 7 September 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal. Promotion in the Light Horse was generally earned through reliability, leadership and demonstrated competence, suggesting that he had established a good reputation among both his comrades and superiors.
SEPTEMBER 1916 – NOVEMBER 1916
Following the major battles of Romani in August 1916, the 5th Light Horse Regiment was heavily engaged in the advance across the Sinai Desert. During September and October Charles would have spent most of his time on mounted patrols, reconnaissance duties and escort work as the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division pushed eastward towards the Turkish positions. Life was demanding and monotonous. The men spent long hours in the saddle, often travelling through harsh desert country where water was scarce and temperatures remained extreme.
The regiment's greatest concern was often its horses. Every horse required constant attention, watering, feeding and grooming. A Light Horseman might spend as much time caring for his mount as he did fighting. Camps were established and abandoned frequently as the force moved eastward, and Charles would have been involved in digging defensive positions, maintaining equipment and participating in training exercises designed to prepare the regiment for further operation
TEMPORARY PROMOTION NOVEMBER 1916
On 17 November 1916 Charles was appointed temporary Corporal. This suggests that he had demonstrated sufficient reliability and experience to be entrusted with additional responsibility, perhaps supervising a small group of troopers or assisting with horse lines and camp administration.
However, on 24 November he reverted to Lance Corporal upon the return of the Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant. This was not a punishment. Temporary promotions were often granted to fill vacancies while senior men were absent through illness, leave or detached duties. Once the regular holder returned, the temporary rank ceased.
DECEMBER 1916 – APRIL 1917
By December the regiment was operating around the frontier region and camps such as Rafa and El Arish. The Sinai campaign was reaching its conclusion and preparations were underway for an advance into Palestine.
The disciplinary entry of 23 December 1916 appears to relate to the loss of rations, possibly beef, through neglect. Such offences were taken seriously because supplies were difficult to transport across the desert and every pound of food mattered. The punishment appears relatively minor and indicates the matter was viewed as carelessness rather than deliberate misconduct.
During the opening months of 1917 Charles was involved in preparations for the First and Second Battles of Gaza. Training intensified, horses had to be maintained in peak condition and large quantities of supplies were moved forward through the newly constructed railway and water pipeline that crossed the Sinai.
In March and April 1917, the 5th Light Horse Regiment took part in operations associated with the First Battle of Gaza. The regiment undertook reconnaissance, screening and mounted operations designed to support the infantry assault. Conditions remained difficult, with dust storms, water shortages and long hours in the saddle.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA MARCH 1917
The first battle of Gaza took place on 26 March 1917. Two British infantry divisions were to attack it from the south while the mounted troops of the Desert Column would attack from the flanks and north. When the attack was launched the infantry made slow progress but the mounted troops succeeded in capturing high ground to the north of the city and advancing into it. Concerned by the lack of progress made by the infantry, and fearing the water supplies vital for the mounted troops would not be captured that night, Lieutenant General Dobell, the British officer commanding the operation, ordered a withdrawal at dusk. The next morning, after realising his mistake, Dobell attempted to resume the battle with the infantry, but with the troops exhausted and the Turks having received reinforcements, the attack floundered.
The British suffered 4000 casualties during the battle (523 dead, 2,932 wounded and 512 missing), the Turks only 2,450 (300 dead, 1,085 wounded and 1,061 missing). The victory encouraged the Turks to defend Gaza with more determination, while the realisation of how close they had come to victory encouraged the British to believe that a second attack might succeed. The resulting second battle of Gaza (17-19 April) was a heavy British defeat.
DISCIPLINED APRIL 1917
On 13 April 1917 Charles received seven days Field Punishment No. 2 for neglect of duty while in charge of horses. This offence again highlights how seriously horse management was regarded. A neglected horse could quickly become unfit for service, placing both rider and unit at risk. In field punishment No2 a soldier had to undergo hard labour, made to march in full order with packs and rifles twice daily, usually morning and afternoon. The soldier’s rifle equipment was inspected and if not satisfactory would be further punished. Soldiers under field punishment no.2 were not allowed to smoke or drink any rum; pay was also lost during this time. If the prisoner messed up, they were sent straight to the bottom of the leave roster and also did at least an hour pack drill every day. The prisoners were only allowed blankets and to sleep on the floor and were under guarded supervision in a room from between the hours of 6pm and 6am.
THE SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA APRIL 1917
The second battle of Gaza took place three weeks later, beginning on 17 April 1917. In the interim the Turks had extended and improved their defences. Dobell launched another frontal assault on the Turkish defences, which was supported by six tanks and gas shells. The tanks and the gas were both dismal failures and the attacking forces could make little headway against well-sited Turkish redoubts. After three days of fighting the attack was called off, having not gained any significant ground.
APRIL 1917 – JULY 1917
Following the failure of the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917, the campaign entered a lengthy period of stalemate. The British and Dominion forces occupied defensive positions stretching from the Mediterranean coast into the desert while preparations were made for a new offensive under General Sir Edmund Allenby.
For Charles, this period would have involved continuous patrol work, manning outposts, reconnaissance missions and maintaining the regiment's horses. There were frequent small-scale clashes with Turkish patrols, but much of the time was spent enduring heat, flies, dust and the endless routine of camp life.
DISCIPLINED JULY 1917
The care of horses remained an essential part of daily duties. Troopers rose before dawn to feed and water their mounts and often worked until late evening cleaning equipment and attending stable lines.
On 7 July 1917 Charles was again punished, this time forfeiting seven days' pay for neglect of stable duties. Repeated offences of this nature suggest he may have been less enthusiastic about horse-line duties than his superiors expected- he forfeited 7 days’ pay. Nevertheless, these were relatively minor disciplinary matters and did not prevent him continuing his service.
JULY 1917 – AUGUST 1917
Throughout July and early August, the regiment remained engaged in defensive operations and training while preparations continued for the offensive that would eventually break the Gaza-Beersheba line.
The climate was particularly harsh during the summer months. Heat exhaustion, intestinal complaints and various illnesses were common among the troops.
SICK- NO DETAILS AUGUST 1917- MEDICAL CHAIN
On 8 August 1917 Charles was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at El Arish. The exact illness is unclear from the record, but the sequence of transfers indicates he required further treatment.
From El Arish he was transferred through the medical system, travelling by hospital train and eventually reaching the 14th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia near Cairo on 14 August. General hospitals such as the 14th AGH treated more serious cases and offered facilities unavailable at forward hospitals.
DISCHARGED AUGUST 1917
On 25 August he appears to have been transferred to another medical facility in the Cairo area before eventually being discharged to the Moascar training camp on 5 September 1917 as an "A Class" patient, meaning he had recovered sufficiently for full military duties.
SEPTEMBER 1917 – NOVEMBER 1917 PREPARING TO REJOIN UNIT
After discharge from hospital Charles was taken on strength of the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar. This was a standard procedure. Men returning from illness rarely went directly back to their combat units. Instead, they spent time at training depots rebuilding fitness, refreshing military skills and proving themselves medically fit for field service.
Moascar, near Ismailia on the Suez Canal, was one of the principal Australian training camps in Egypt. Charles would have resumed riding, weapon training, route marches and horse management duties while awaiting a vacancy for return to the front.
During these months the mounted divisions were preparing for the great offensive that would culminate in the capture of Beersheba and the eventual fall of Gaza. Although Charles was not yet back with his regiment, he would have been following news of these operations closely.
REJOINED UNIT NOVEMBER 1917
On 28 November 1917 he was transferred from the training establishment back to the 5th Light Horse Regiment.
NOVEMBER 1917 – DECEMBER 1917
Following his transfer, Charles would have undergone the administrative process required to rejoin an operational unit in the field. This involved equipping himself, drawing stores, obtaining a horse and travelling forward through the reinforcement system.
The 5th Light Horse Regiment at this time was participating in the successful advance through southern Palestine following the capture of Beersheba and Gaza. The regiment was involved in pursuit operations and the advance towards Jerusalem.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH DECEMBER 1917
On 17 December 1917 Charles was officially taken on strength of the 5th Light Horse Regiment. He was therefore rejoining the regiment at a particularly significant moment. Only days earlier, Jerusalem had fallen to British forces, marking one of the most important victories of the Palestine campaign. Charles was now back with his comrades and ready to participate in the operations that would continue through 1918 and ultimately lead to the defeat of the Ottoman forces in Palestine.
This period of Charles' service shows the reality of life in the Light Horse: endless horse care, long patrols across the desert, occasional disciplinary troubles, a spell in hospital, and then a return to duty just as the campaign entered its most successful phase.
REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1917
DECEMBER 1917 – JUNE 1918
When Charles rejoined the 5th Light Horse Regiment on 17 December 1917, the regiment was operating in Palestine following the capture of Jerusalem on 9 December. The Australian Light Horse had played a major role in the advance that broke the Turkish Gaza-Beersheba line and now found itself engaged in operations north and east of Jerusalem.
During the opening months of 1918, Charles would have been involved in constant patrols, reconnaissance work and outpost duties. The mounted troops screened British advances, guarded communication routes and watched Turkish positions across difficult country. Unlike the sweeping cavalry charges often associated with the Light Horse, much of the work involved long hours of observation, escort duties and maintaining contact with neighbouring units.
The winter of 1917-18 was particularly unpleasant. Heavy rain turned tracks into mud, tents leaked and cold nights replaced the heat of the Sinai Desert. Horses required continual care and feeding, while the men endured periods of discomfort that were every bit as exhausting as active combat.
In February and March 1918, the regiment participated in operations east of the Jordan River. The Australian Mounted Division crossed the Jordan and advanced towards Amman in modern-day Jordan. These operations involved difficult mountain country, extreme weather and fierce Turkish resistance. Although Charles' individual role is not recorded, he would almost certainly have shared in the hardships of these operations if present with his squadron.
By April and May 1918, the regiment had returned to a pattern of patrols, defensive duties and training while preparations were made for future offensives.
At some point during this period Charles became ill again. The surviving entries are difficult to read, but the sequence suggests he was evacuated through the normal medical chain.
JUNE 1918 –ILLNESS
On 5 June 1918 Charles appears on the records of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance. The Light Horse Field Ambulance was not a hospital in the modern sense but a forward medical unit. Here wounded and sick men received initial treatment before being transferred further to the rear if necessary.
By 11 June he had been admitted to the 48th General Hospital. This indicates that his illness required more extensive treatment and observation. The exact nature of the illness is unfortunately not recorded. During this period common complaints included influenza, malaria, dysentery, enteritis, skin diseases and the various fevers that plagued troops serving in Palestine.
REJOINED UNIT JUNE 1918
On 19 June he was discharged to Moascar Training Camp. As before, men recovering from illness generally passed through a training depot before being returned to active service. On 28 June he was taken on strength once more and resumed military duties.
JULY 1918 – AUGUST 1918: INFLUENZA
Only weeks after returning to duty Charles again became ill. On 21 July 1918 he was admitted to the 31st General Hospital in Cairo suffering from influenza. Influenza was a significant problem among troops in Egypt and Palestine. Large military camps, crowded troop movements and harsh living conditions encouraged the rapid spread of infection. This was just before the devastating worldwide influenza pandemic reached its peak later in 1918.
Charles was transferred on 2 August to the Convalescent Depot at Moul Azah, near Cairo, where recovering soldiers regained strength before returning to duty. His treatment would have consisted largely of bed rest, careful nursing, fluids and nourishment. There were no effective antiviral drugs available at the time.
PREPARING TO REJOIN UNIT
On 16 August he was discharged as fit for duty. The following day he entered the Convalescent Depot system at Moascar and continued rebuilding his health and fitness.
AUGUST 1918 – SEPTEMBER 1918
One unusual entry records Charles being sent to the Soldiers' Club at Kantara (often written Kantara or Qantara) on 19 August. The Soldiers' Club was not a punishment posting. It was essentially a welfare and recreation establishment operated for troops passing through the Canal Zone. Such facilities provided accommodation, meals, recreation, reading rooms and a temporary holding area for soldiers awaiting movement orders.
Men often spent short periods there while travelling between camps and units or while awaiting transport. On 9 September he again appears in connection with the Soldiers' Club at Moascar, suggesting he was still moving through the reinforcement and holding system.
On 12 September he received orders to return to the 5th Light Horse Regiment.
SEPTEMBER 1918 REJOINED UNIT
On 15 September Charles rejoined the regiment at Auja or Auja el Hajla in the Jordan Valley. This was an important moment because the regiment was about to participate in the final great offensive of the Palestine campaign.
Only days later, on 19 September 1918, General Allenby launched the Battle of Megiddo. The Turkish front collapsed under the combined assault of infantry, artillery, aircraft and mounted troops.
THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO 19TH TO 25TH SEPTEMBER 1918
The Battle of Megiddo was fought between 19 and 25 September 1918, on the Plain of Sharon, in front of Tulkarm, Tabsor and Arara in the Judean Hills as well as on the Esdralon Plain at Nazareth, Afulah, Beisan, Jenin and Samakh. Its name, which has been described as "perhaps misleading" since very limited fighting took place near Tel Megiddo, was chosen by British commander Edmund Allenby for its biblical and symbolic resonance.
The battle was the final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. The contending forces were the Allied Egyptian Expeditionary Force, of three corps including one of mounted troops, and the Ottoman Yildirim Army Group which numbered three armies, each the strength of barely an Allied corps. The series of battles took place in what was then the central and northern parts of Ottoman Palestine and parts of present-day Israel, Syria and Jordan. After forces of the Arab Revolt attacked the Ottoman lines of communication, distracting the Ottomans, British and Indian infantry divisions attacked and broke through the Ottoman defensive lines in the sector adjacent to the coast in the set-piece Battle of Sharon. The Desert Mounted Corps rode through the breach and almost encircled the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth armies still fighting in the Judean Hills. The subsidiary Battle of Nablus was fought virtually simultaneously in the Judean Hills in front of Nablus and at crossings of the Jordan River. The Ottoman Fourth Army was subsequently attacked in the Hills of Moab at Es Salt and Amman.
These battles resulted in many tens of thousands of prisoners and many miles of territory being captured by the Allies. Following the battles, Daraa was captured on 27 September, Damascus on 1 October and operations at Haritan, north of Aleppo, were still in progress when the Armistice of Mudros was signed ending hostilities between the Allies and Ottomans.
The Australian Light Horse played a crucial role in the exploitation phase of the offensive. Once the Turkish line broke, the mounted divisions surged northwards, capturing prisoners, seizing transport columns and cutting off retreating enemy forces.
Although Charles had only recently returned from illness, he would have witnessed one of the most dramatic victories achieved by Australian mounted troops during the war.
The offensive rapidly destroyed organised Ottoman resistance in Palestine. Within weeks Damascus had fallen and Turkish forces were in full retreat.
ARMISTICE OF MUDROS OCTOBER 1918
The Armistice of Mudros, ending hostilities with the Ottoman Empire, came into effect on 31 October 1918.
By November the war in the Middle East was effectively over. The regiment's duties shifted from combat operations to occupation, administration and preparation for eventual demobilisation.
NOVEMBER 1918 – DECEMBER 1918
On 22 November Charles was sent back to Moascar.
Like thousands of other Australian soldiers, he now entered the lengthy process of demobilisation. Medical examinations were conducted, records checked and transport home arranged.
The excitement of victory was tempered by impatience. Many soldiers had been away from Australia for four years and were eager to return home.
DECEMBER 1918 – JANUARY 1919 GOING HOME AND DISCHARGED
On 26 December 1918 Charles embarked for Australia aboard the transport Burma. The voyage home was undoubtedly very different from the eager journey he had made as a young volunteer four years earlier. He was now a veteran of Gallipoli, the Sinai Desert and Palestine campaigns. He had endured illness, disciplinary setbacks, exhausting desert patrols and the hardships of mounted warfare.
After several weeks at sea, he arrived back in Australia and was discharged on 29 January 1919.
Charles' military service had spanned almost the entire war. From the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915 to the final victorious advance through Palestine in 1918, he had served through some of the most significant campaigns undertaken by the Australian Light Horse. Like many veterans, his record contains not only battles and promotions but also periods of sickness, routine duty and minor disciplinary offences—details that reveal the reality of a soldier's life rather than merely its heroic moments. By the time he stepped ashore in Australia in January 1919, he had completed more than four years of wartime service and could finally return to civilian life after a remarkable military journey.
For his service Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour
AFTER THE WAR
Charles married Valetta Emily Walker in Waverley in 1923. They had a daughter, Lynette, in 1924 in Murwillumbah, a son, Charles, born in Stokers Siding in 1926 and another son, Robert, born in Stokers Siding in 1928
DEATH
Charles died on the 16th September 1938, aged 52, in Murwillumbah. He is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery Plot CofE H32
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour
Buried Location
Murwillumbah General Cemetery Plot CofE H32
