BURROWS, Charles Davis
| Service Number: | 3607 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 July 1917, Enlisted in Newcastle and assigned to 10th reinforcements for 53rd Infantry Battalion. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Merewether, New South Wales, Australia , 4 October 1899 |
| Home Town: | Dudley, Lake Macquarie Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Packer |
| Died: | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia , 21 November 1975, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Dudley Public School WW1 Roll of Honor, Dudley War Memorial, Newcastle W Winn & Co Ltd Roll of Honor, W Winn & Co's War Heroes Pictorial HR |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jul 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3607, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Newcastle and assigned to 10th reinforcements for 53rd Infantry Battalion. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug 1917: | Involvement Private, 3607, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Aug 1917: | Embarked Private, 3607, 53rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Sydney | |
| 12 Feb 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength in France. | |
| 17 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3607, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Gassed in Villers Bretonneaux, France. | |
| 9 Mar 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3607, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Embarked in England aboard HMAT Kashmir for return to Australia. | |
| 25 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3607, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Discharged in 2nd Military District Sydney due to termination of period of enlistment. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Charles Davis BURROWS was born on 4th October 1899 in Merewether, a suburb of Newcastle New South Wales, to parents Mary Ann (nee HIGGINS) and George BURROWS. He was one of seven children.
A single, 18 year old packer who was living with his parents in Dudley at the time, Charles enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Newcastle on 7th July 1917. He was assigned as a Private, regimental number 3607, with the 10th reinforcements for the 53rd Infantry Battalion. After completing his recruit training with 1st Depot Battalion at Liverpool, Charles embarked aboard HMAT Miltiades in Sydney on 2nd August 1917, for active service overseas.
On 3rd October 1917, Charles marched in at the 14th Training Battalion in Hurdcott, England. He remained there until 5th February 1918, when he proceeded to France, arriving in Rouelles on 7th February, and being taken on strength in the field with the 33rd Australian Infantry Battalion five days later.
Whilst serving in Villers Bretonneaux, Charles was gassed by the enemy on the morning of 17th April 1918, when the building occupied by his Company suffered a direct hit by a gas shell, overcoming a number of soldiers asleep in the cellar. Charles was evacuated back to England, and was admitted to the Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol on 27th April. On 21st May, Charles was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield, then once recovered, to No. 4 Command Depot in Hurdcott on 12th June, to prepare for return to his Unit.
On 1st October 1918, Charles marched into the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, near Sutton Veny. On 18th October, he was transferred to the 9th Training Battalion at Fovant, where he remained until after hostilities ceased. It's likely that he assisted to dismantle this Camp, before being transferred on 15th January 1919 to the No. 15 Concentration Camp at Codford.
On 9th March 1919, Charles embarked aboard HMAT Kashmir in England, for return to Australia. He was subsequently discharged in 2nd Military District Sydney on 25th May 1919, due to the termination of his period of enlistment. Charles was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. He was also presented with a 9ct gold fob medallion by the Dudley Patriotic Committee, in appreciation of his service.
Following the War, Charles moved to Griffith, a suburb of Canberra, ACT, where he married Hilda WHITE. They had two daughters, Narelle and Thalia.
Charles Davis BURROWS died in Canberra on 21st November 1975, aged 76. He was cremated on 25th November following a funeral service at the Methodist National Memorial Church, Forrest, Australian Capital Territory.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record), the Australian War Memorial (33rd Infantry Battalion Unit War Diaries), and various newspaper articles on Trove.
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