Dunbar, Charles Thomas

No.2348 – Private Charles Thomas Dunbar – 27^th Battalion AIF

Charles Thomas Dunbar was born in Horsham Victoria in 1889 to Robert and Ulrica Matilda Dunbar. He was one of nine children born into the family. The family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Queen St Fremantle, and Charles was educated locally.  He later worked as a labourer around Fremantle and also served in the Fremantle Company of the 11^th Australian Infantry Regiment.

Charles went across to South Australia for work purposes and enlisted there on the 22^nd June 1915. He was given a medical examination at Keswick Barracks where he was passed as fit and found to be 5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall; weight of 160 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. Charles was sent to Mitcham Camp and on the 24^th June 1915 assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 27^th Battalion.

His reinforcement group trained in South Australia for the next two months. At Mitcham Camp on the 6^th August Charles got into trouble for disobeying a lawful command and was given 7 days confined to camp as a punishment. The 5^th Reinforcements to the 27^th Battalion left Adelaide on the 14^th September 1915. After arriving in Egypt in October, the men were marched into the Infantry Depot and remained there until the 27^th Battalion had returned from Gallipoli. Charles was taken on strength of the 27^th Battalion on the 12^th January 1916. He trained with them in the Egyptian desert for the next two months.

On the 16^th March 1916 the 27^th Battalion left Egypt and proceeded to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21^st March. The 27^th Battalion were put onto trains and sent to the north of France where they were put into the front line just south of Armentieres. They spent the next few months in this sector, but in July proceeded south to take part in the Battle of the Somme. The 1^st AIF Division had captured Pozieres village on July 23^rd and they were relieved by the 2^nd Division a week later. The 27^th Battalion were involved in operations on July 29 and August 4^th. On the 4^th August during the assault on the Windmill position Charles was killed in action.

Unfortunately there is no record of his burial and he is therefore commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial