Eatt, Charles William

No.1222 – Sergeant Charles Eatt – 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital

Charles William Eatt was born in South Australia on the 20^th February 1876. He was educated and spent much of his early life in SA, also serving in the police force and two years in the volunteer rifles. In the 1895 he married Catherine Salter in SA and they would have two children Elsie, born in SA and Richard in 1901 in Norseman. Unfortunately young Richard died two months after being born.

Charles worked as a Blacksmith in various parts of WA and prior to the Great War, the Eatt’s were living in Cottesloe. On the 22^nd September 1914 Charles successfully enlisted in the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner stating that he was 5 feet 11& ½ inches tall; weight of 40-43lbs; fair complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic and his next of kin was his wife Catherine. Upon his successful enlistment Charlie was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Australian Army Medical Corps and soon formed a part of the 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital.

He trained in WA with his unit for the next several weeks until their departure orders arrived. They soon packed up camp and entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Kyarra. This ship set sail on the 14^th December 1914 and made their way to Egypt, arriving there in January 1915. After being disembarked the men were then sent to make camp at Mena near Cairo. Charlie had a week in hospital at Mena in April with measles but soon recovered to rejoin his unit.

The 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital would serve in a variety of sectors in the Gallipoli campaign. After arriving at Lemnos Island the personnel were split up, with some serving with the British medical units at Cape Helles, while others were with the Anzacs. Some were based on the transport ships which took the wounded soldiers back to Egypt while others helped to set up the 2^nd ASH on Lemnos Island.

Charlie served with his unit for the entire Gallipoli campaign and apart from the opening weeks of the campaign was mainly based on Lemnos Island. In August 1915 he was promoted Acting Corporal. He then had a week in his own hospital suffering from bronchitis and pneumonia. However he soon recovered and served with his unit until Gallipoli was evacuated in December 1915. The 2^nd ASH remained on Lemnos Island into January 1916 as while Anzac and Suvla had been evacuated, the British were still occupying Cape Helles. But they also soon withdrew and the personnel of the 2^nd ASH left Lemnos Island. On arrival back in Alexandria Egypt in January 1916 Charlie was promoted to Corporal.

With the majority of the Australian forces now being sent to France it was not apparent where the 2^nd ASH would be sent but for the time being they would remain in Egypt tendering to wounded and sick Australian and British soldiers. On the 29^th May 1916 Charlie was promoted Sergeant and it now seemed apparent that the 2^nd ASH would stay in Egypt. They were stationed at Tel-el-Kebir but later followed the Australian advance and in 1917 they set up hospital in El Arish.

Charlie had a heavy workload and it was taking a toll on his health, with him going in and out of hospital. In March 1917 he developed paratyphoid and influenza and spent more time in his own hospital as a patient. His good work with the unit had not gone overlooked and he was Mentioned in Despatches for his distinguished conduct. This was mentioned in the London gazette issue of July 6^th 1917.

In June 1917 he was found to be suffering from shortness of breath and was easily fatigued but like the dedicated soldier he was he carried on his duties. He reported sick to his medical officer in November 1917 and the doctor reported that Charlie had a collapsing pulse and a murmur over the heart. He had also lost 10 stone in the last two months. It was found that Charlie had problems with his aorta and so a medical board ruled that he be returned to Australia. He was admitted to No.14 AGH and remained here until there was a ship available to bring him to Australia. On the 28^th December 1917 Charlie boarded the HT Tofus and returned to Western Australia, being disembarked in Fremantle on the 21^st January 1918.

On his arrival back home Charlie spent some time in No.8 AGH in Fremantle, but also was able to see his family in Barnett Street Fremantle. Unfortunately his arrival home did not improve his health and on the 1^st April 1918 he died at No.8 AGH of his heart problem. Sergeant Charles Eatt was buried in Fremantle Cemetery in plot RC CC 616.

Catherine and their daughter Eliza would receive war pensions after Charlie’s death. In 1920 Eliza married a returned soldier and in the 1960’s she would apply for the Anzac Commemorative medal for her father and husband.