Bourne, Charles Whitbread
No.1776 – Bombardier Charles Whitbread Bourne – 12th Field Artillery Brigade
Charles Whitbread Bourne was born in Brisbane Queensland on the 1st July 1891 to Herbert and Caroline ‘Elizabeth’ Bourne. He had a few siblings, Caroline (born 1882), Ethel (1884), Herbert (1885), Jessie (1887) and Reginald in 1899. It appears Charle’s parents separated as his father remarried in 1894 and a half-brother Stanley was born in 1895. The family moved across to Western Australia while Charles was still young, and a few other siblings were born, Edith in Fremantle in 1899 and Katherine in Fremantle in 1902. The family lived in Fremantle and Perth and Charles attended Christian Brothers College.
He seems to have travelled around the state after leaving school, spending time farming in Wagin where he spent three years with the local Light Horse Unit, and also while up in Broome he was a member of the Broome Rifle Club. As a gifted athlete he also took part in many races around the state. It seems that prior to enlisting he was working as a Store Assistant in Fremantle and he was a gifted yachtsman, being often out on the Swan River. His residential address in 1914 was listed as the corner of Thompson and Scott Street in Claremont.
Charles was an early enlistee as he presented himself to the military authorities on the 17th August 1914. The medical examiner found Charles to be 5 feet 6 and ½ inches in height; weight of 153 lbs; chest measurement of 36-38 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Charles was assigned to the 8th Battery of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. This Battery was the first Western Australian allotment for the Artillery of the AIF. They left Fremantle on the 2nd November 1914 aboard the A7 H.M.A.T. “Medic”. After reaching Egypt they trained here till April 1915 when they embarked for Lemnos Island in preparation for the landing at Gallipoli.
On April 25th Artillery was not landed till very late the first day due to the unsuitableness of the terrain. However after a few days the 8th battery was landed and their guns were pushed up close to Bolton’s Ridge, near the present-day Shell Green Cemetery.
Charles survived the first few months of the campaign, but on the 22nd August 1915 was evacuated back to Mudros with a septic foot. It was serious enough for him to be evacuated back to Hospital in England. In September Charles was admitted to King George Hospital in London where he received further treatment.
He was in England until March 1916 when he was transferred back to Egypt to join the 4th Division Artillery. This artillery unit had been newly formed and needed some experienced artillerymen like Charles Bourne. Charles was assigned to the 112th Battery of the 24th Howitzer Brigade. He trained with this unit in Egypt until the 3rd June 1916 when they embarked for France. On arrival they journeyed north to the region around Armentieres. Charles was appointed a Gunner and would have served at the Battle of Fromelles and later on the Somme in 1916. In early 1917 Charles was taken on strength of the 12th Field Artillery Brigade and in August of that year was appointed to the rank of Bombardier. During this period the Australian Artillery were heavily involved in the Third Battle of Ypres and being in an area that was overlooked by German held territory the Australian Artillery were hit their hardest during the entire war.
On October 1st 1917, Charles was killed in action by German artillery fire. He was buried at The Huts Artillery Cemetery near Dickebusch, which is 3 miles south west of Ypres. His plot number is VIII.D.19.