Charles Maul Glover
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1886 |
| Place of Birth | East Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 3 Sep 1916 |
| Place of Death | Mouquet Farm, Poziéres, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 28 years, 1 month |
| Description |
5' 8¼" (1.73m) tall ; 149 lbs 67.585 kg ; fair complexion ; grey blue eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Miner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Boulder, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Mary Ann Glover |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 659 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Aug 1914 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, transferred to 51st Battalion / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division at Gallipoli; 13th Brigade, 4th Division on Western Front |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 Feb 1915 ‒ 17 Mar 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A50 Itonus Fremantle to Alexandria |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 16 Jul 1915 at Anzac Cove Killed in Action 3 Sep 1916 Mouquet Farm |
| Monument |
Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel) Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Attended Kelmscott State School - links to the area. Mother had moved to Kalgoorlie (sister's) after Father was killed in an accident at Kelmscott in 1912.
War Service
Entering Blackboy Hill camp Charles was placed in a Depot Company until 4 Sep 1914 when he was allocated to the 11th Battalion which was being raised in the camp at that time. His early records are incomplete. On 1 Feb 1915 he was admonished for being drunk in Cairo. On 2 Mar 1915 he embarked at Alexandria on the HMAT A23 Suffolk to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force destined for the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on Lemnos Island on 1 March 1915 before they sailed to Gallipoli. Therefore amongst the first ashore. Although the battalion was 'out of the line' the day Charles was wounded, he and about a half of the battalion had been loaned to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade who were in the front line. Survived the entire period at Gallipoli and was transported back to Alexandria on HMT Empress of Britain, arriving there 7 Jan 1916.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 11 Feb 1916 at Habieta in Egypt. He was one of the experienced troops transferred from the 11th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir to establish the 51st Battalion at Serapeum, Egypt on 1 Mar 1916. Charles was promoted Corporal six days later, and on 26 May 1916 to Lance Sergeant.
With the 51st Battalion, he sailed from Alexandria for Marseilles in France from 5 to 12 Jun 1916 aboard the HMT Ivernia. Confirmed as a Sergeant on 21 Jul 1916. On 3 Sep 1916 the 51st Battalion participated in an attack designed to capture Mouquet Farm. Although they quickly reached their appointed targets, the Germans had a very extensive, interconnected underground bunker system that allowed them to cut off the Australians who quickly suffered very heavy casualties. Stephen was one of the casualties that day, which, together with five other attacks by the Australian units, resulted in 11,000 casualties during those attacks on Mouquet Farm.
Charles' records indicate a memorial cross being erected for him at a map reference. However, at the end of the war the grave could not be found, so his name has been added to others who do not have a gravesite on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Notes
VILLERS-BRETONNEAUX MEMORIAL Son of John James and Mary Ann Glover of Kalgoorlie, WA. Born at East Perth, WA.
References