King, Charles Franklin
463 Private Charles Franklin King - 28th Battalion AIF
Charles Franklin King was born in Perth WA in 1898 to William and Ethel King. He had five siblings, Eileen (1896), Doreen (1901), Ray (1902), George (1905) and Tessie (1911).
The family lived at 22 Price Street South Fremantle and Charlie was educated locally. He also served in the Naval Cadets during his school years and then continued on with the Naval Reserves.
After leaving school Charlies found employment as a Clerk.
On the 3rd March 1915 the 19 year old Charlie enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical examiner recorded his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 inches tall;
Weight - 115lbs;
Chest Measurement - 31-35 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Charlie was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to "C" Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion AIF. He was given the regimental number 463.
The 28th Battalion trained in WA until they embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” on the 29th June 1915. After their arrival in Egypt in late July they were given further training and were soon told to prepare to head for Gallipoli.
On the 4th September 1915 the Battalion embarked from Egypt and made their way to the peninsula. After the 28th Battalion arrived at Anzac they were sent to part of the newly captured territory in the northern portion of the Anzac battlefield to hold the new trenches around positions such as the Apex and Rhododendron Ridge. The 28th Battalion were not involved in any major actions on Gallipoli but still had a steady stream of casualties from enemy fire and sickness. Charlie remained with them until the Battalion was withdrawn from the peninsula in late December 1915.
The 28th Battalion firstly was taken to Mudros and then returned to Egypt on the 10th January 1916. When the battalion was at Lemnos Island Charlie was hospitalised with jaundice and so didn't leave for Egypt with his unit. On the 4th January 1916 he left Lemnos Island on a hospital ship bound for Egypt.
On arrival in Egypt on the 11th January he was sent to No.3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital. He had a few weeks in hospital and was then released to a rest camp. Charlie rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 3rd March 1916.
On the 16th March 1916 the 28th Battalion arrived at Alexandria Harbour and proceeded to board a troopship which took them to France, where they arrived at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. Charlie was promoted to Corporal as the Battalion made their way by train to the north of France. They arrived near Armentieres and took up a position on the Western Front for the first time near Fleurbaix.
The 28th Battalion remained in this sector until June 1916 when they transferred for a short period to Messines. However shortly after arrival in France in April 1916 Charlies was hospitalised in Bailleul. He was diagnosed with venereal disease and spent time at the 26th General Hospital and was then sent to the 9th Stationary Hospital at Le Havre.
Charlie recovered quickly and in May 1916 was transferred to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. Charlie rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 2nd June 1916.
In early July the 28th Battalion were then transferred to the Somme battlefield. On July 22nd the 1st Australian Division had captured Pozieres village and they remained under heavy German shellfire until they were relieved by the 2nd Division a week later. The 28th Battalion came into the line and almost immediately were ordered to attack the German trench line known as OG1 as part of a general advance by the 2nd Division. The 28th Battalion had the hardest task as they were attacking along the highest elevation on the battlefield and were subject to heavy German machine gun fire. The survivors made it to the German line and found an unbroken stretch of thick barbed wire and as they were attempting to get through, many men were shot down.
Charlie was one of the fortunate men to survive this assault unscathed though there was to be no rest for the 28th Battalion. The next attack being ordered for August 4th, and while the 28th Battalion; due to their heavily reduced numbers were kept in reserve, when the other battalions got into difficulty the 28th Battalion were again sent forward and amazingly they managed to capture the majority of the heavily defended windmill position. Charlie again survived this latest attack and further action against Mouquet Farm in August 1916.
The 28th Battalion then spent several weeks in Belgium before returning to the Somme battlefield in October 1916.
Charlie was involved in an attack on Flers on November 5th 1916, though again survived unscathed. He remained with the 28th Battalion through most of the French Winter on 1916/17. On the 8th February 1917 Charlie was evacuated from the cold and muddy conditions suffering from trench feet. He only spent a week recovering at the 8th Field Ambulance then returned to his unit.
In February 1917 the Germans began to withdraw to their pre-prepared defensive positions at the Hindenburg Line. They conducted a fighting withdrawal and hotly contested the advance of the Australians and British. The Australians fought bravely to capture the Hindenburg Line Outpost villages.
On the 26th March 1917 the 28th Battalion supported the 26th Battalion to capture Lagnicourt. The 28th Battalion saw further action through April and May 1917 including at Bullecourt.
On coming out of the line after Bullecourt, Charlie was sent to the Anzac Corps Rest Station. He had over two weeks there and rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 28th May 1917. The 28th battalion were then sent on a three month rest period out of the lines and much time was taken on resting up after a strenuous last twelve months and then on training and sporting activities.
On the 23rd June 1917 Charlie was sent to hospital suffering from trench fever. He spent the next few months in hospital in France, rejoining the 28th Battalion on the 8th September 1917.
Charlie rejoined his unit just prior to their taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion took part in the action at the Battle of Menin Road. They took their objectives but during the action Charlie was wounded by shrapnel in the chest.
After medical attention at the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station Charlie was sent to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport. He had nearly a month here and then on the 18th October 1917 was transferred to England.
On arrival in England Charlie was sent to Queen Mary's Hospital at Whalley Lancashire. He remained here till the 16th November 1917. Charlie had now improved enough to be granted a two week furlough. He was supposed to report into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny on the 30th November but he decided to take another eight days unofficial leave, understandable considering he had spent the last two months in hospital.
However when he reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp on the 8th December he was charged with being AWL. As a result Charlie had to undergo eight days of Field Punishment No.2 and was fined 16 days pay.
Charlie's fitness level was now graded as B1a4 which meant that he was not yet fit enough to return to his unit. Charlie would remain in England for the next several months.
On the 6th August 1918 Charlie was transferred from No.1 Command Depot Camp to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He spent a few more weeks here and on the 29th August 1918 was transferred back to France. He had a few days at the Base Depot Camp and was then sent to rejoin his unit, being taken on strength on the 6th September 1918.
The 28th Battalion had just helped take Mont St Quentin and Peronne and the Germans were retreating to the Hindenburg Line defences.
On October 3rd 1918 the 28th Battalion were involved in an attack on the German line near Montbrehain. During the advance Charlie was shot in the leg and thigh. He was initially treated at the 7th Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent on an ambulance train to the French village of Rouen where he was admitted to the 12th General Hospital.
Charlie remained there for six days and then on the 10th October 1918 was transferred to England. He was admitted to the County War Hospital in Dorchester. Charlie remained there for the next five weeks and was still a patient there when the Armistice was announced.
On the 19th November 1918 Charlie was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. A few days later he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth to prepare for a return home.
On the 7th February 1919 Charlie boarded the transport ship Lancashire and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 21st March 1919.
After being disembarked Charlie was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for further medical checks.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 20th June 1919.
In 1920 Charlie married Dellar Muriel Collins and they would have two sons, Arthur (1921) and Alan (1922).
In 1921 they were living at 80 Alma St Fremantle (Later renumbered 22 Alma) and Charlie resumed his work as a Clerk.
The following year in 1922 they moved to 59 Solomon St Fremantle (later renumbered 29 Solomon). In 1928 the family moved to 35 Fortescue St in East Fremantle. During this time Charlie was still working as a Tally Clerk at Fremantle Harbour.
Charlie lived at 35 Fortescue Street for the rest of his life.
Charlie died on the 2nd April 1963 in Mandurah. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.