Eley, Charles Henry

No.7225 – Sergeant Charles Henry Eley – 16^th Battalion AIF

Charles was born in Birmingham England in 1888 to Charles and Elizabeth Eley. He was educated in England after which time the family moved to Western Australia. In late 1907 the family boarded the ship Orontes and set sail for WA, arriving in Fremantle on the 30^th January 1908. Charles worked as a school master in the Fremantle and Claremont regions while his parents lived in Margaret River.

On the 3^rd July 1916 Charles enlisted into the AIF at the Fremantle Drill Hall. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 7 inches tall; weight of 140 lbs; chest measurement of 32-35 inches; fresh complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Charles was initially posted to No.80 Depot and on the 14^th August was assigned to the 23^rd Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. On the 4^th September he was transferred to the 22^nd Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion though on the 16^th October 1916 was transferred back to No.22 Depot. On the 11^th January 1917 Charles was assigned to the 24^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion with regimental no.7225. He trained with this group in WA for a few more weeks until they received their departure orders. On the 29^th January 1917 Charles left Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”.

After the long journey to England the men disembarked at Devonport on the 27^th March 1917 and were then marched into the 4^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp. Charles spent the next few months in England training and it wasn’t until July 9^th that he left England for France. On the 10^th July 1917 Charles marched into the 4^th Australian Base Depot at Le Havre. He spent two weeks here and joined the 16^th Battalion in the field on the 27^th July 1917. Charles had been with the 16^th Battalion for less than a month when he was transferred to the 4^th Division APM for Traffic Control Duties.

Charles spent the next few months with the 4^th Division APM though on the 30^th October 1917 was recalled to the 16^th Battalion. Charles spent the Flanders Winter of 1917/18 with the 16^th Battalion as they held the front line trenches at both Passchendaele and Messines. In December 1917 they were sent to Peronne to act as a Reserve during the German counter attacks at Cambrai. When this duty was finished they returned to the Messines sector.

On the 18^th March 1918 Charles was granted leave to the UK and he was fortunate as three days later the Germans launched their Spring Offensive and all subsequent leave was cancelled. After his return from leave on the 8^th April 1918 he was once again detached to serve with the 4^th Division APM for Traffic duty. This detachment lasted until the 25^th April when he returned to the 16^th Battalion.

On the 4^th July 1918 the 16^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Hamel, when the 4^th & 11^th Brigades attacked and captured the village in 93 minutes. During the 16^th Battalion advance Charles was wounded in the thigh, buttock and ankle. He was evacuated back to the 4^th Field Ambulance and then to the 5^th Casualty Clearing Station. On the 6^th July he arrived at the 9^th General Hospital at Rouen where his wounds were deemed serious enough to be sent to England. On the 15^th July 1918 he was admitted to the South African Military Hospital at Richmond where he recuperated for over a month. On the 21^st August he was transferred to the 1^st Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, spending just a week here before being transferred to Weymouth Camp.

After being granted a period of leave Charles was transferred to work in the Depot Camps, firstly at Sutton Veny Camp and No.1 Command Depot, then to the Overseas Training Brigade Depot. On the 22^nd January 1919 he was promoted to Temporary Sergeant and held this rank for the rest of his time in England. In April 1919 he was detached from the Permanent Cadre at the Depots as he had requested to take part in some non military employment. From the 15^th April 1919 to the 30^th November 1919 Charles attended courses of instruction at the London Day Training College.

After reporting back to AIF Headquarters that he had completed his non military training, he was put on the list of men to return to Australia. On the 9^th December 1919 he boarded the H.M.A.T. “Borda” and set sail for home. After arriving in Fremantle he was given a medical examination at No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle on the 19^th January 1920. He was found to be coping well from the after effects of his wounds.

On the 24^th June 1921 Charles died from complications relating to his war service at home in 33 Carnac St Fremantle. He was given a Military funeral and was buried in Fremantle Cemetery