Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Herbert Hansen known as Charles "Charlie" Hansen served in both World War I and World War II. During WWI Charlie enlisted at Victoria Barracks Sydney, NSW on the 30th of October 1916, Regimental No. 6326, age at enlistment was recorded as 23 years 3 months (he was actually 26 years of age as born 21 July 1890).

Charles embarked for active service abroad on the 11th of November 1916 on HMAT “Suevic” and disembarked at Devonport on the 30th of January 1917, and marched into the 5th Training Battalion on the 4th of February 1917 at Rollestone. On the 8th of May 1917 Charles boarded a troop ship near Rollestone and proceeded to Folkstone in France where he disembarked on the 9th of February 1917. Charles then marched into the 18th Battalion on the 29th of May 1917.

Charles was the wounded in action on the 20th of September 1917 suffering from a gunshot would to his left thigh, this was recorded as severe. He was then recorded as being taken in the field to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance casualty clearing station for stabilisation for evacuation. He then was transferred to the 56th General Hospital at Estaples on the 21st September 1917. Charles was taken to a hospital ship and embarked from France on the 24th of September 1917 for England and later the same day was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital, where he stayed for just over 2 months. On the 2nd of January 1918 Charles was transferred from the Northampton War Hospital to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.

On the 8th of January 1918 Charles was discharged from the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. He then embarked on the HMAT “Balmoral Castle” on the 1st of February 1918 for return to Australia. Charles disembarked in Australia on the 22nd of March 1918 and was discharged on the 13th of July 1918.

Charlies discharge certificate shows that he served 1 year 257 days of which 1 year and 169 days were abroad. He was discharged effective 13th July 1918 in Sydney, NSW with the rank of Private, the reason being medically unfit Not-Due-To-His conduct, G.S.W. (gun shot wound) left thigh causing Hyperthyroidism.

Charlie is described on discharge as being:

Age: 24 1/4 years.
Height: 5' 5".
Complexion: Medium.
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: Brown.
Marks or Scars: G.S.W. left thigh.

Charlie enlisted a second time to serve during WWII, he enlisted at Randwick (discharge papers show Paddington) on the 24th June 1940 to the Australian Military Forces. His attestation papers show that Charles was already assigned to the 1st Machine Gun Regiment as of 12 Noon on the 16th June 1940. He also recorded his age as being 39 years of age born near Orange, NSW, on the 19th July 1900 (he adjusted his age again by 10 years this time). Charles also recorded his trade as a Cook but did not mention his prior WW1 service when he was wounded and later discharged from service due to his injury. Charles was married by this time to Irene, she was recorded as his next of kin and residing at 204 Canterbury Road at Bankstown. Later Irene’s address changed to 42 Hillcrest Avenue at Bankstown.

On the 24th of June 1940 Charles marched in to R.R.D. and was later posted to the 9th Battalion at Liverpool. He was then taken on strength at the 9th Battalion at Ingleburn on the 31st of July 1940 and then marched in to the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion at Liverpool on the 1st of August 1940. Charles was later appointed to the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion Specialist Group II at Cowra on the 30th of September 1940. Charles was granted Pre-Embarkation Leave at Cowra on the 26th of November 1940.

On the 27th of December 1940 Charles embarked from Sydney (no ship listed) and disembarked on the 30th of January 1941 (no ship listed) the destination was recorded as Australia which is incorrect. During the voyage Charles was A.W.L. between 1800hrs to 1900hrs on the 14th of January 1941 and was fined £5/- by his C.O. on the 16th of January 1941. There is nothing between his disembakation date and July 1942.

On the 21st of July 1942 Charles was recorded as being evacuated to the 19th B.G.H. with arthritis to his knee (may have been his left) in the Middle East, he was then transferred to the 6th AGH on the 31st of July 1942. Charles was discharged from the hospital on the 2nd of August 1942 and marched in to the Machine Gun Training Company on the same day. On the 23rd of September 1942 Charles marched out of the Machine Gun Training Company back to the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion and was back with his unit on the 27th September 1942.

On the 10th of November 1942 he was evacuated to the 7th AGH sick (actual illness unreadable), he was discharged from the 7th AGH on the 17th November 1942 and marched in to the A.I.F. (M.E.) on the same day. On the 19th November 1942 he was assessed by the doctors and evaluated fit for duty with small restrictions. On the 23rd of November 1942 Charles marched out to Depot Battalion and was taken on strength as of the 24th of November 1942. Charles was with the Depot Battalion until he was admitted to the 6th AHG with (unreadable illness) and bronchitis. He was assessed by the doctors on the 4th of January 1943 and given a medical classification of “Temporarily unfit for service for a period of six months” this meant he was going to be shipped home to Australia and discharged.

There is no date of embarkation from the Middle East but he disembarked from the 1st Netherlands Hospital Ship “Orange” in Sydney on the 1st of March 1943 and then assigned to the G.D.D. on the same day. Charles was diagnosed in Sydney as suffering from chronic bronchitis and a dislocated left medial meniscus on the 18th March 1943, the medical board ruled on the 22nd of April 1943 that Charles was now “Class D” Chronic Bronchitis to be discharged effective 9th June 1943. Charles discharged on the assigned date at Sydney.

Charles discharge certificate shows the following:

Service No. NX32463.
Rank: Private.
Name: Charles Hansen.
Regiment or Corps: 2/2 First Machine Gun Battalion.
Born: Near Orange, NSW, on the 19th July 1900 (he adjusted his age again by 10 years this time).
Enlisted at: Paddington, NSW on the 24th June 1940 to the Australian Military Forces.
Reason for discharge: Being medically unfit for service not occasioned by his own default.
Period of Service: 2 years 352 days of which 2 years and 165 days were of active service.
Discharge to take effect: 9th June 1943 in Sydney, NSW.

Charlie’s physical description is as follows:

Age: 42 years.
Height: 5' 4 and 1/2".
Complexion: Medium.
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: Brown.
Marks or Scars: G.S.W. left thigh.
Trade: Cook.

During WWI Charlie earned the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, he also earned during WWII the 1939/45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and the Africa Star with the 8th Army Clasp.

The National Archives of Australia have both of Charlie's service records on file, both files are on open access WW1 as from 21 September 2001 and the WW2 file as of 3 September 2002. Both files are available as a digital copy. The two records are usually combined into the WWII record but for Charlie's records this has not happened due to his changing of dates of birth and not giving details of his WW1 service due to his injury which saw him discharged from service. You will have to look at the files separately.