Ellis, Charles Frederick

288 Private Charles Frederick Ellis - 44th Battalion AIF

Charles Frederick Ellis was born 23rd August 1896 to Frederick and Sarah Ann Elizabeth Ellis. He was one of five siblings born into the family, with Maud 1898, Edward 1901, Winnie 1904 and Ida 1913.

The family lived at 33/37 Charles Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 13 Charles Street)

Charlie had been educated locally and had seen service with the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. After leaving school he went to the country for a while working as a stockman, but returned to Fremantle. He was living at 42 Chester Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 50 Chester St) prior to enlistment, boarding with the Dearm family.

On the 4th January 1916 Charlie enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found as fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording Charlie's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches;

Weight - 143lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Fair.

Upon his successful enlistment Charlie was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp where he was assigned to No.44 Training Depot. On the 28th January 1916 he was then assigned to "B" Company of the 44th battalion with the regimental number 288.

He trained with this group in WA for the next four months.

On the 6^th June 1916 Charlie and his Battalion boarded the HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 21^st July 1916. After being disembarked, the men were sent to the 3^rd Division Training Camp on the Salisbury Plains, where they would remain for several months. It wasn’t until the 25^th November 1916 that the 44^th Battalion left Southampton England for the journey across to France.

After arriving they were sent to the sector around Armentieres where they would gain experience of Western Front life. The 44^th Battalion remained in this sector for the next few months over the French winter.

The 44^th Battalion soon moved from Armentieres in France to the Ploegsteert sector in Belgium. From March to June 1917 they would remain in this sector. In the first few months as well as the usual routines of trench warfare, the men also undertook trench raids on the German positions. The amount of raids seemed to increase, the closer it got to the start of the Messines Offensive. There had been over 20 mines dug beneath the German lines which would be exploded underneath the German front line on June 7^th 1917.

As part of the preparation for the offensive, the 44th battalion were to take part in a trench raid on Germans positions at Ploegsteert Wood. During the action on June 3rd 1917 Charlie was wounded by a shell burst, the shrapnel from which struck him in the thigh and feet.

After initial treatment at the Field Ambulance, Charlie was sent to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station where further treatment was given. He was then put on an ambulance train and was sent to the French town of Wimereux. He was then admitted to the 14th General Hospital.

Charlie was only here for a few days and then on the 7th June 1917 was shipped to England. On arrival Charlie was sent to Hill House Hospital at Warwick. Charlies wounds were severe and he was a patient here till the 24th October 1917.

Charlie was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.. He spent a week here and on the 2nd November 1917 was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

Charlie was being sent back to Australia, and would wait here for a berth on a transport ship home. On the 20th December 1917 Charlie boarded the transport ship Runic, and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 6th February 1918.

After being disembarked Charlie was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle.

Charlie was discharged from the AIF on the 15th July 1918. He was then given a war pension of 40/- per fortnight.

Charlie would live at 17 Charles Street South Fremantle after the war. (later renumbered to 3 Charles)

Charlie died on the 8th December 1928 in South Fremantle aged 33. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON AA 1235.