Charles Richard Irvine MM & Bar

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	16 Mar 1964
Place of Death	Jindong, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	26 years, 11 months
Description	5'7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 130 lbs (59 kg); fair complexion, yellowish eyes, fair hair.
Occupation	draughtsman
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK Arthur Head, Fremantle, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Charles James Irvine
Military Information
Reg Number	1837
Date of Enlistment	17 Aug 1914
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	8th Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment / 3rd FAB, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1914 - 3 Dec 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Date of Return	23 Oct 1918 - 12 Dec 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Port Lyttleton
Fate	Wounded in Action (gas) 29 Mar 1918 Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Medals	Military Medal & Bar 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 to time of enlistment at Arthur's Head, Fremantle as a survey officer.

War Service

Embarked for Gallipoli at Alexandria aboard HMAT A32 Themistocles arriving on the Gallipoli Peninsular on 22 Nov 1914, a month before the evacuation.

Returning to Egypt, he was AWOL from a parade on 31 Mar 1916, receiving 5 days field punishment for his lapse of memory.

In Nov 1916 he had a bout of malaria requiring hospitalisation in England (Guildford War Hospital), returning to France from Folkestone on 29 Mar 1917, and rejoining his battery on 10 Apr 1917. On 22 Jun 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal. Promoted Bombardier on 7 Oct 1917, but he reverted at his own request a month later.

In Feb 1918 attended the Xth Corps Gas School. (This may have led to responsibilities back in his unit that contributed to his being gassed on 29 Mar 1918.) Treated initially by the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, he was admitted to the 7th General Hospital in St Omer for treatment on 1 Apr 1918 and then transferred to the 15th US General Hospital in France where he remained until he was discharged to the Base Depot on 2 May 1918. While in hospital he received a bar to his Military Medal.

Promoted again to Bombardier on 18 Jul 1918, and made Temporary Sergeant on 23 Sep 1918 before his return to Australia where he reverted to Bombardier.

As a 1914 enlistment he was one of the first to begin the journey home, arriving back in England on 13 Oct 1918 on the HMT Prince George to begin the journey home.

Discharged at 5th Military District 17 Feb 1919.

Award Comment

Military Medal.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the 28th and 29th March 1917 under heavy gas and shell fire in FRANCE.

Bar to Military Medal.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near HOLLEBEKE. During the night of 28/29th March 1918 while the Battery position was under a heavy Gas and H.E. bombardment this NCO though suffering from the effects of gas passed several times through the heavy shellfire in his efforts to evacuate the wounded to a safer spot. He showed a splendid disregard of his personal danger in the carrying out of his duties and set a very fine example of coolness and determination to all concerned.

Post War

His connection with Kelmscott appears to be that, based on letters sent to his NOK Mr C J Irvine to advise of both MM awards, he had moved to Kelmscott. Charles lived in Kelmscott immediately after his return. He married Olive Rose Martin in 1925. Olive died in 1958.

Electoral Roll entries - 1918 at "Portaferry" Kelmscott, draughtsman living with father, a retired public servant; 1925 a pastoralist at Bedarlo station near Bencubbin; 1930-37 at Enaroo Station near Lake Brown (via Wubin) with Olive ; 1943 farming at "River View" Jindong south of Vasse with Olive (1954-58 + Diana Flora and Richard Yelverton); (1963 Diana and Alisa Laurel).

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial