Charles Henry Partridge
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 2 Feb 1894 |
| Place of Birth | Plympton, Devonshire, England |
| Death | 2 Jan 1981, aged 86 |
| Place of Death | Mt Lawley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 years, 9 months |
| Description |
5'4" (1.m) tall ; 125 lbs 56.699 kg ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Storekeeper |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr A.A. Partridge |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 6312 |
| Date of Enlistment | 11 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 20th reinforcement 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 | 8 Jan 1920 ‒ 16 Feb 1920 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Cap Verde |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 25 Feb 1917 Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Three weeks after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Charles was allocated to the 21st reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but on 22 Jul 1916 this was changed to the 20th draft. He embarked with them for England aboard HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray, and on arrival they were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. On 17 Dec 1916 Charles proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Golden Eagle, a fast paddle wheeler. Taken on strength along with 29 others by the 11th Battalion at Bresle on 17 Jan 1917 where they were training, having come out of the line for a rest and rebuild.
Charles and 150 of his mates were a working party that during the night of 25 Feb 1917 were carrying rations and ammunition to the front line trenches, near Bazentin-le-Petit. Enemy artillery bombarded them, and at Turk Dump 10 men were killed and 13 wounded including Charles. Treated first by the 1st Field Ambulance which then passed him to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station, and they in turn sent him to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne. On 6 Mar 1917 he was embarked on HMHS Dieppe in Calais for England and admitted the same day to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in Brighton suffering from a wound to his left thigh.
On 13 Oct 1917, a Court of Enquiry held at Hurdcott declared Charles to be an illegal absentee who was AWOL. However, a notation on his file declared that the case against him for absence from 21 Sep 1917 until 13 Oct 1917 was dismissed. On 2 Apr 1918 he was again sent overseas to France, this time via Southampton, and he rejoined the 11th Battalion. On 18 May 1918 Charles was admitted to hospital ill, and on 17 Jun 1918 he boarded HMHS Cambria for England where he was admitted to the Herne Bay Hospital in England with a mild case of Trench Fever. Back on English soil, Charles was AWOL from his Sutton Veny base from Midnight on 27 Sep 1918 until 8:00am on 30 Sep 1918. Penalty was an admonishment and he forfeited 3 days pay. In 1919 Charles spent 127 days between 11 Jan 1919 and 17 May 1919 being treated at Bulford hospital for Venereal Disease.
On his return to Australia, Charles was discharged by the 5th Military District on 8 Apr 1920.
Post War
In 1926 Charles married Jessie Hannah Bennett. Jessie died 19 Apr 1972 in Nedlands.
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 Paterson street, Mundijong, storeman;1924 Hotel North Dandalup address used for medals; 1925 North Dandalup Hotel, hotel keeper; 1928 Blackwood road, Donnybrook, publican; 1930 - 1931 Pinjarra, publican; 1936 - 1937 Queen's Hotel, Beaufort street, North Perth; 1943 Mount Barker, Hotel keeper; 1949 at 38 Louise street, Nedlands, no occupation; 1954 at 6A Rathay street, Victoria Park; 1958 at 76 Stanley street, Nedlands; 1963 at 63 Stirling Highway, Nedlands; 1968 - 1972 at 48A Bruce street, Nedlands; 1977 at 20 Pinaster street Menora.
Charles and Jessie appear on an incoming list of passengers on the SS Bendigo that arrived from London on 28 Oct 1935. They are again on an incoming list of first class passengers on the SS Arcadia in March 1960 which gives their home address as 37 Florence road, Nedlands (they also appear on the outgoing list of passengers that left the UK on 11 Mar 1960, having stayed at the Kings Arm Hotel in Ivybridge.)
Notes