BROWN, Charles James
| Service Number: | 580 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 March 1915, Enlisted from Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia, in Private rank. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Cobden, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Memorials: | Cobden Church of England Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 580, 13th Light Horse Regiment, Enlisted from Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia, in Private rank. | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 580, 13th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 28 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 580, 13th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Persic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Charles James Brown was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Shortly after he was born, he and his family relocated to Cobden, a small town 200 kilometers southwest of his birthplace where he was raised as a Methodist. He was an average-sized man for his age at 5 foot 6 and he had a medium-toned complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair.
It was in Cobden when Charles James got a job as a Labourer and married his wife and soon-to-be next of kin, Mrs. Emily Ethel May Brown. Before his enlistment, Charles James Brown ensured that his wife would be looked after financially with a letter from his father-in-law to the Head Quarter Military regarding their claim for the usual wife’s allowance.
At the age of 24, on the 30th March 1915, Charles enlisted in the AIF. After completed training he embarked on the 28th of May 1915 traveling on HMAT Persic from Port Melbourne in Victoria to Port Suez, Egypt. He then proceeded to Gallipoli and was taken on strength 3rd November 1915.
Soon after arriving at Gallipoli Charles was admitted to hospital with an infection and was transferred for recovery to a convalescent depot in Mustapha, a suburb in Alexandria, Egypt. This resulted in him getting struck off strength (being no longer counted as part of the battalion) for the period of his absence. He returned to his unit on 12th November but 8 days later returned to hospital for a few days before being discharged. He was hospitalised several other times due to the same disease during his service.
Charles fought on the Western Front, proceeding to France in June 1916 disembarking at Marseilles on the 14th June.
Several 'crimes' were also committed by Charles. These offenses included actions such as being absent from duty without leave for up to 5 days and as a result, forfeiting the equivalent number of days’ pay and additionally, being awarded up to 21 days of field punishment, or being spotted in town without a pass, which also had the similar repercussions.
In November 1918 Charles was hospitalised with influenza and was sent to England for treatment. After his treatment he was granted furlough from 18th November and reported back to the Convalescent Depot at Weymouth.
Charles left England to return to Asutralia 5th March 1919 per 'A Nevasa List 228'. He arrived safely back in Australia 25th April 1919 and was discharged 4th August 1919.