Anderson, Charles Maurice

3838 Private Charles Maurice Anderson - 51st Battalion AIF

Charles Maurice Anderson was born in Gothenburg Sweden on the 7th August 1891 to Charles and Louise Anderson. He was educated in Gothenburg and after leaving school he took up work as a mariner.

He came to Western Australia just prior to the Great War and was working locally as a labourer and living at 18 Newman Street Fremantle which was a boarding house run by a Mrs. Mary Carlson. (18 Newman Street is no longer a property but now is the site of the City of Fremantle Administration building)

On the 30th August 1917 in Fremantle Charles enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit by the medical examiner and his physical attributes were recorded as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 170lbs;

Chest Measurement - 37-39 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Light Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Charles was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 11th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF. He trained with this group for a few months and on the 30th October 1917 embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Aeneas. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Devonport on the 27th December 1917.

The men were then disembarked and sent into the 13th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Charles had the next three months in England training.

On the 1st April 1918 he proceeded over to France and after a few days in the Base Depot Camp he was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion on the 6th April 1918.

The 51^st Battalion had just come out of the Dernancourt action and so the reinforcements were gratefully received. The 51^st Battalion were sent to reserve positions near Villers-Bretonneux, but they were soon called on, when the Germans captured Villers-Bretonneux from British units on April 24^th. A counterattack was organised on the evening of April 24^th to be carried out by the 13^th and 15^th Brigades. The counterattack was a success with the Australians encircling the village and the Germans being pushed out. During the assault the 51^st Battalion were getting heaving fire from the wooded area on their flank, but they were making good progress. Casualties were many but Charles survived his first action unscathed.

The 51st Battalion remained around Villers-Bretonneux till August 1918. On August 8th, 1918, the large advance from Villers Bretonneux commenced and after the first day the 51st Battalion went north of the Somme River and advanced towards Bray.

The 51st Battalion then joined up with the rest of the 4th Division south of the Somme. They were in action up to September 18th, 1918. After this action the 51st Battalion, as part of the 4th Division, were pulled out of the front line for a rest period. The Armistice would be announced before the 4th Division returned to the front.

On the 7th October 1918 Charles reported sick and was sent to the 13th Field Ambulance. He was diagnosed with influenza and was sent to the 41st Stationary Hospital. He spent a week there and was then transferred to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport. He was also now diagnosed as suffering from trench fever as well as influenza. He remained in hospital at Le Treport till the 3rd November 1918 when he was transferred to England where he was admitted to the VAD Hospital at Weymouth.

Charlie's condition was still very serious, and he remained in this hospital till the 2nd December 1918. He was then transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He was slowly recovering and on the 19th December 1918 he was well enough to be sent on a two-week furlough, so at least he was able to celebrate Christmas and New Year away from the hospital. After this furlough was over Charlie reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.

He did not have long to wait for a transport ship home as on the 16th January 1919 he boarded the ship Demosthenes and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 22nd February 1919.

Charles was discharged from the AIF on the 21st March 1919.

Post the Great War Charles Anderson moved to Victoria and took up residence in South Yarra. In 1921 he married Florence Perkins and had a daughter called Peggy.

Charles Maurice Anderson died on the 2nd August 1966 in Melbourne and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery.