Charles Bird
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1886 |
| Place of Birth | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Death | Not known |
| Place of Death | ? New South Wales |
| Age at Enlistment | 30 years, 1 month |
| Description | 5'4" (1.63 m) tall; weight 154 lbs (69.9 kg); brown complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. |
| Occupation | labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Kathleen Beatrice Bird |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4377 |
| Date of Enlistment | 7 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement transferred to 5th Field Company Engineers and attached to 2nd Division HQ, and AIF HQ. |
| Date of Embarkation | 31 Mar 1916 - 24 Apr 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A9 Shropshire |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 27 Jul 1916 Pozieres Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1910 Irishtown near Northam, a labourer; 1912 - 1916 a mill hand at No 6 Mill, Jarrahdale, 1917 listed at No. 1 Mill. Jarrahdale with Kathleen. Early in 1916 he married Kathleen Beatrice Gallant in Perth. In late 1917 Kathleen had moved to Helen street, Bellvue.
War Service
A week after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Charles is allocated to the 11th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. Travelling with them to Egypt, on arrival he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.
On 10 May 1916 he boarded the HMT Scotian at Alexandria for Marseilles, arriving on the 18th. While in the 2nd Division Base Depot, on 18 Jun 1916 he was sent to hospital - no details available.
At no point does his records show he joining the 28th Battalion, as on 27 Jul 1916 when he was wounded, albeit not severe enough to require a stint away from the front, the reporting authority was the Commanding Officer of the 5th Field Company Engineers. On 2 Sep 1916 he is formally transferred to the 5th Field Company Engineers.
On 5 Apr 1917 until 8 Oct 1917 he was detached to the 2nd Division Engineers HQ, and again from 14 Aug 1917 to 26 Dec 1917 he was detached, this time to the 7th Field Company. Each time as a batman for an officer. On 18 Feb 1918 he is again detached as a batman, this time to Captain Burnett who had been posted to the Australian Corps Headquarters. On 21 Aug 1918 this arrangement is made permanent.
On 15 Jan 1919 he disembarks at Folkestone and on 16 Jan 1919 he moves with his officer to the AIF Headquarters in London then managing demobilisations.
Discharged 5th Military District on 22 Aug 1919.
Post War
Detail not known In 1919 Kathleen is living in Helen street, Bellvue. Neither she nor Charles appear on electoral rolls again. Thought to have moved to NSW.
Notes