Charleston, Allan John

No.1119 – L/Cpl Allan Charleston –

10^th Light Horse Regiment

Allan John Charleston was born in Sydney NSW in 1894 to Margaret Charleston. While he was still a boy the family moved across to Western Australia where they took up residence in Cantonment Street Fremantle. Allan went to the local school and saw service in the naval cadets and was also a member of the 86^th Infantry. He took up work as a cellar man after he left school.

On the 30^th April 1915 he offered his services to the AIF and was accepted as fit. The medical examiner found Allan to be 5 feet 6 ½ inches in height; weight of 129 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Allan was allotted to the 7^th Reinforcements to the 10^th Light Horse Regiment; for a short period he was sent to the 8^th Reinforcements but returned to the 7^th Reo’s. On the 30^th June 1915 Allan embarked at Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. “Kanowna”. After a short time in Egypt, Allan was sent on to the Gallipoli peninsula, arriving there on the 25^th October 1915. He served through to the end of the campaign and returned to Egypt on the 26^th December 1915.

Through the first six months of 1916 the 10^th Light Horse conducted much patrolling work through the Egyptian desert and in the vicinity of the Suez Canal and by August 1916 was involved in the actions around Romani. The 10^th saw further action at Magdhaba in December 1916 and Rafa in January 1917. On the 20^th January 1917 Allan was promoted to Lance Corporal.

The Turkish forces were slowly being pushed back and were soon back in Gaza. The British infantry and Yeomanry and Australian Light Horse advanced and tried to Capture Gaza on two occasions. Both attacks were unsuccessful and in the attempt on April 19^th 1917 Allan was killed in action. Due to Gaza not being captured, men who fell in the battle were not always recovered and it was reported that Allan had been left in enemy territory. However a report later came through that Allan’s remains were recovered and he was later buried by Chaplain Captain F.W. King at Belah Military Cemetery.

This cemetery is now called Deir El Belah Cemetery and is located in present day Israel. Allan lies in plot B.180