Caesar, Julius Augustus

2335 Trooper Julius Augustus Caesar - Imperial Camel Corps

Julius Caesar was born on the 27th March 1887 to Frederick and Lilly Caesar. The family lived at 183 Queen Victoria St Fremantle.

He was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after leaving took up work as a railway employee for WA Government Railways.

In 1910 at just 18 he married Mary Maxwell in East Fremantle, and they would have a daughter Lillian born in 1910 and a son called John in 1912. They would live in Fraser Street East Fremantle.

Julius was a keen sportsman and also spent time in the citizen military forces, having served in the 18th Light Horse and 86 Infantry Regiment of the Citizen Military Forces.

On the 3rd February 1916, Julius enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical officer who passed him as fit for service, recorded Julius's physical details as;

Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;

Weight - 148lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-38 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Julius was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment. He trained in WA until the 16th May 1916 when his group boarded the HMAT Surada in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.

After arriving in Egypt Julius was sent into the 3rd Light Horse Reserve Regiment and instead of joining the 10th Light Horse was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps.

On the 13th September 1916 Julius reported sick and was diagnosed with Nile Fever. He rejoined his unit on the 9th October 1916 and served with them at the actions of Maghdaba and Rafa. In January 1917 he had a short stint in hospital with Malaria.

Through 1917 Julius served with both the 3rd & 4th Anzac Battalions of the Imperial Camel Corps.  He survived the actions at Gaza in April 1917 unscathed and served at Beersheba and the successful campaign through the desert and Jordan Valley.

In 1918 the Imperial Camel Corps was disbanded and Julius was transferred to the 14th Light Horse Regiment and saw out the war with this unit. Julius departed on a transport ship for home on the 7th April 1919.

Julius arrived back in Fremantle on the 5th May 1919 and after a medical examination at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace he was able to return to the family home in Fraser street East Fremantle.

Julius was employed locally as a Motor Driver. Through the 1920's there were articles in the local papers when Julius Caesar was involved in a traffic accident. It seemed to hit the funny bone of the local newpaper editors though fortunately Julius wasn't hurt in any of these accidents.

On the 20th August 1940 Julius put his age down to enlist into the Second World War. He was assigned to the 5th Garrison Battalion (W31606). He rose to the rank of Sergeant and was based in Fremantle and Swanbourne during the war years.

He was discharged from the Army in 1944.

Julius died on the 29th June 1957 aged 70