Chivers, Charles

No.3867 – Private Charles Chivers – 16^th Battalion AIF

Charles Chivers was born in Fremantle Western Australia on the 16^th January 1894 to Joseph & Mary Chivers. He attended a local school before leaving to take up work as a milk carter. The family resided in Beaconsfield and South Fremantle including Hampton Road up to the time of his enlistment. In 1914 unfortunately his mother Mary died in Fremantle. Soon after Charles offered his services to the AIF in September 1915 when he was 21 years old.

He was given a medical examination at the recruitment office in Perth and was found to be 5 feet 5 inches in height; weight of 122 lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Initially allotted to No.28 Depot, on the 16^th October 1915 Charles was allotted to the 12^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion AIF. This group trained in WA until the 17^th December 1915 when they embarked upon the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ajana”.

After arriving in Egypt the men were sent to the 4^th Training Battalion and Charles was only taken on strength of the 16^th Battalion on the 7^th March 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir. He trained with his unit for the next few months in the Egyptian desert, his only break being in May when he spent five days in hospital sick.

(Below - Charles Chivers in photo from Claremont Showgrounds Camp - photo Army Museum of Western Australia)

He had soon recovered and was well again when the battalion departed Egypt on the 1^st June 1916.

On the 9^th June 1916 they disembarked at Marseilles and were sent north to the region around Armentieres and Fleurbaix where they would gain vital experience in conditions on the Western Front. They were in this region until early July when they were sent south to take part in the Battle of the Somme.

Charles survived the 16^th Battalion’s actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in August during which time they had taken heavy casualties. In early September 1916 the 16^th Battalion were withdrawn from the Somme as their division, the 4^th, was sent to recover their strength at a quieter part of the front line. In September 1916 this was at Ypres. The 16^th Battalion took up positions near Clapham Junction and on the 21^st September while holding the line Charles was killed in action. He was buried at Chester Farm Military Cemetery in Plot II.E.1.

His brother Harold Chivers served through the war with the 28^th Battalion AIF, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and returned home in 1919.