Garland, Charles Evan
14205 Private Charles Evan Garland - 1st Division Signal Company
Charles Evan Garland was born in Fremantle WA on the 21st July 1896 to Archer and Jane Garland. He was one of eight siblings, with, Morgan 1883, William 1887, Herbert 1891, Marion 1892, Dorothea 1894, Edgar 1897, John 1900 and Idris 1904.
After his birth the family moved to Subiaco in 1900 and then Maylands.
Sadly he lost both his parents within a year of each other; on the 21st December 1912 his father Archer died and on the 23rd September 1913 his mother died. He then was taken under the care of his elder brother Morgan.
Charles had completed his education in Maylands and after leaving school he took up a Fitter's Apprenticeship with WA Government Railways. He also served for 18 months with the 13th Field Company Engineers of the Citizens Military Forces.
On the 13th February 1916 Charles enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 10 inches;
Weight - 126lbs;
Chest Measurement - 31-35 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Charlies was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.1 Depot Training Company. Ge spent two weeks undergoing basic infantry training and was then sent to the Signalling School. Charles showed very good aptitude on the signals course and on the 3rd April 1916 was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements to the 4th Australian Division Signal Company.
On the 17th April 1916 Charles and his group embarked from Fremantle aboard the transport ship HMAT Aeneas. The ship then set sail for Egypt arriving there on the 18th March 1916. On arrival in Egypt Charles was assigned to the Signalling Section of the Engineers Training Depot. Charles remained there till the 24th May 1916.
He was then sent to the 4th Division Signal Company and had a couple of weeks with his unit in Egypt. On the 7th June 1916 they then proceeded to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 15th June 1916. The Australians were then sent north to the Armentieres Sector where they had their first experience of the Western Front. Charlie and his unit only had a few weeks there as they were then transferred to the Somme battlefield.
Charles served through the actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm with his Signal unit. However, on the 29th August 1916 he was transferred to England where he was assigned for duty to the Engineers Training Depot. Charlie worked in England till the end of March 1917. On the 2nd April 1917 he arrived back in France and was initially sent to the Royal Engineers Training Depot at Abbeville.
Charlie remained there till the 24th April 1917 when he was transferred for duty to the 1st Australian Division Signal Company. He worked at the 1st Division HQ for the remainder of the Great War.
On the 4th November 1918 Charlie was given a fortnight leave to the UK which corresponded to the end of the war. No doubt he had a wonderful time in England celebrating the end of the war.
He then returned to his unit in France and remained with them till April 24th 1919. He then returned to England to prepare for his departure home.
On the 1st June 1919 Charles boarded the transport ship Somali, and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.
Charles was discharged from the AIF on the 2nd September 1919.
After returning home from the war, Charles only remained here for a short time as he moved to Victoria.
Sadly in 1925 his brother Edgar died but Charlie was able to return to WA for the funeral.
Charles married on the 4th December 1926 to Vera Victoria Mercer in Melbourne Victoria and a son John was born on the 4th March 1929. The family lived in Mentone Victoria and Charles was working as a clerk.
Charles died on the 31st October 1937 at Glen Iris Victoria. He was buried in Springvale Cemetery.