Charles WILLIAMS

Regimental number1279
Place of birthLaunceston, Tasmania
ReligionMethodist
OccupationCabinetmaker
Address27 Mountfield Street, East Brunswick, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 7.5"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinMrs R Williams, 74 Cimiture Street, Launceston, Tasmania
Previous military service Served for 18 months in 15th Battery, Australian Field Artillery; serving in 60th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces, at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date21 August 1914
Place of enlistmentAlbert Park, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentBatman
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 2, Battery 6
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/30/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollGunner
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Field Artillery Brigade
FateReturned to Australia 8 November 1918
Discharge date27 August 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 8 April 1915.

Admitted to hospital, Alexandria, 20 June 1915 (dental trouble); transferred to Convalescent Hospital, Helouan, 16 July 1915.

Admitted to St David Hospital, Malta, 6 November 1915 (debility); transferred to Ghain Tufficha Convalescent Home, 13 December 1915; rejoined unit, Tel el Kebir, 13 January 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 22 February 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 March 1916.

Found guilty by Field General Court Martial, Sailly, 29 June 1916, of (1) whilst on Active Service stealing goods the property of a comrade; (2) while on Active Service being absent without leave from 4 pm, 16 June, to 1020 pm, 18 June 1916: awarded 6 months' imprisonment with hard labour.

To Detention Barracks, 23 July 1916; admitted to Military Prison, Havre, 29 December 1916; released from Military Prison, 29 December 1916.

Taken on strength, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, and posted to No 2 Section, 12 January 1917.

Transferred to 31st Field Artillery Brigade, 14 January 1917; to 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 24 January 1917.

Admitted to 6th Field Ambulance, 23 February 1917 (burns, right foot), and transferred to 45th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 31, 28 February 1917, and admitted to 7th Canadian General Hospital; transferred to England, 5 March 1917, and admitted to Graylingwell Military Hospital (septic right foot: slight); transferred to 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 29 March 1917; discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 31 March 1917.

Accident enquiry, 16 February 1917, concluded accident occurred in Battery Wagon Lines while packing rations: soldier not to blame.

Found guilty, Perham Downs, 10 May 1917, of being absent without leave from 9.30 pm, 4 May, until reporting back at 8 pm, 9 May 1917: awarded 10 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 16 days' pay.

Found guilty, Larkhill, 3 August 1917, of being absent without leave from 10 pm, 28 July, until apprehended at 10 pm by Police in Cosham, 31 July 1917: awarded 4 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 10 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 September 1917; taken on strength, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, 28 September 1917, and posted to 6th Battery.

Wounded in action, Belgium, 30 October 1917 (gas), and admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, 31 October 1917; to 7th Convalescent Depot, 9 November 1917; to Base Depot, Havre, 22 November 1917; rejoined unit, 3 December 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board Ht 'Gaika', 8 November 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 29 December 1918; discharged, Melbourne, 27 August 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WILLIAMS Charles