Cecil Walter Challis
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 14 Jun 1883 |
| Place of Birth | Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, England |
| Death | 8 Sep 1957, aged 72 |
| Place of Death | West Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 31 years old |
| Description | 5' 4¼" (1.63m) tall; weight 125 lbs (56.7 kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair |
| Occupation | poultry man |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Thomas Challis |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 6249 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 20th Reinforcements, posted to B Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Sep 1916 - 2 Nov 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour]] |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Cecil is elected to the management committee of the Armadale-Kelmscott Co-operative Society in July 1915.[1]
War Service
Entering Blackboy Hill camp he was initially allocated to the 21st reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but 10 weeks later he was reallocated to the 20th draft. After six weeks additional training in England, he travelled from Folkstone to France on the HMT Golden Eagle, and is taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on 17 Jan 1917 near Bresle about 5 km west of Albert during terrible weather with sleet rain falling for most of the day.
His records imply that he remained with the battalion trouble free for the rest of the war.
He enjoyed a period of leave in England in early Jan 1918 before rejoining the battalion in France on 20 Jan 1919,and another leave in Jan 1919. He remained in France until 24 Apr 1919 after which he transferred to England via Le Havre and Southampton.
Cecil then remained in England until 1 Jun 1919 when it was his turn to head home. Discharged 5th Military District on 18 Sep 1919.
CW Challis is shown as being expected aboard the S.S. Somali.[2]
Post War
Returned to poultry farming after the war (electoral roll 1925). Cecil's first wife Flora (nee Shingfield) who he married in 1920 died on 27 Nov 1930 (suddenly) leaving him to raise a young son who was born 10 Sep 1922. His son served in the 10th Light Horse Regiment during WW2 with Regimental Number W20831.
Cecil remarried in 1933 to Amy Ivy (nee Blight). Retired to Mandurah by the 1954 roll where he died three years later.
Son Desmond Cecil is on the 1949 - 1963 Electoral Roll at "Bonneville", on Challis Road in Armadale farming (wife Alma Beatrice from 1954). In 1968 and 1972 they are at 44 Little John Rd before moving to Paulls Road in Pinjarra by 1977. Their property "Bonneville" was in the area now occupied by the Challis shops and surrounding roads.
References
- ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The Daily News. XXXIV, (12,618). Western Australia. 24 July 1915. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "COMING HOME". The Daily News. XXXVIII, (13,826). Western Australia. 26 June 1919. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.