Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served
 
The final resting place for; - 315 Driver Charles Robert Lindley of Albert Park, Victoria, who prior to his enlistment for War Service on the 1st of May 1915 had been employed as a woodworker.

Charles had already served with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve prior to the outbreak of hostilities and on his being accepted to join up for overseas duties he was taken on strength with the 1st Royal Australian Bridging Train, with whom he embarked for Egypt and further training on the 4th of June.

Following his safe arrival, Charles along with his Unit were shipped over to Lemnos Island where they were disembarked on the 21st of July, and from here they would be sent to serve in support of the Dardanelles campaign. Charles’s service in the field would be continuous, and with the general evacuation of Gallipoli, they would be returned to Egypt via Mudros Island, arriving back on the 20th of January 1916.

Hospitalized for tonsillitis on the 28th of February, Charles was deemed fit enough to be returned to his Unit on the 14th of March for ongoing service in the desert.

On the 5th of April, Charles was transferred out of the 1st RANBT, and was taken on strength with the 4th Division Artillery 1st AIF, whilst still in Egypt, Charles was again evacuated for hospital treatment on the 19th of May where he was diagnosed as suffering from an irritable heart complaint and following his discharge from hospital he was sent to England for further training.

Charles would be again hospitalized whilst in England, and was admitted into the Bulford Camp Hospital on the 5th of September and would remain in hospital care until he was deemed well enough to be returned to general duties on the 11th of November.

Following his return to duty Charles was retained in England until he was sent to France with Artillery Reinforcements on the 5th of October 1917, and was then allocated to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade with which he was formally taken on strength with in the field on the 10th of October.

Charles would be present for the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium and would later go on to serve in the trenches of Northern France, with his service being ongoing aside a short spell in hospital being treated for illness during May 1918 following which he was again returned to his Unit for further service.

Charles was returned to England where he arrived on the 11th of July, and at his own request he was sent back to Australia departing for his repatriation on the 31st of July.
Having returned safely from England, Charles received his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 12th of October 1918.

Charles’s premature death at the age of 35 tragically occurred at Geelong West, Victoria, due to a drowning accident on the 22nd of November 1930.

Following his passing Driver Charles Lindley, whose service with the 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train and later the 12th Field Artillery Brigade 1st AIF, had been continuous during the ‘Great War’, was formally laid to rest within Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria.