Private Charles Frank Church, 8th Battalion A.I.F.

Private Charles Frank Church, 4752, 8th Battalion A.I.F.

Born in Dorking, Surrey, England.

Son of John Edmond Church and Dora Annie Edith Church, of 68, McLaren St., Adelaide, South Australia.

Enlisted at Adelaide, South Australia on 16th November 1915.
Age given at enlistment 18 and 2 Months. (But was 15 or 16)
He was 5’6” tall, weighed 9st 6lbs had grey eyes and dark hair.

He was a Labourer before he joined up.

Name of next of kin on enlistment papers was Uncle James Edward Cole, Dorking, Surrey. (This was probably done to hide his real age).

22nd November 1915 at 2nd Depot Ballarat.
3rd December 1915 To C Company, 14th Depot Broadmeadows.
13th January 1916 Transferred as a Reinforcement.
25th May 1916 Embarked on the “Tunisian” from Aleaxandria
4th June 1916 Arried in Marseilles
7th June 1916 arrived at Etaples
29th July 1916 Joined the 8th Battalion , 15th Reinforcements.
18th August 1916, Killed in Action by machine gun bullet aged 16.

He is buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La-Boisselle.

The Red Cross report of his death:

“I knew Church well: he used to be in my tent. A man called Johnson told me that he saw Church’s dead body lying in No Man’s Land in the attack later that day.” Pte J.Hawkins 4796 1.A.D.B.D

“On August 18th at 9.pm we made a raid on the German trenches. Church, Johnson and myself were in a shell hole together at one time during the raid. When we got back Johnson told me that Church was killed by a machine gun bullet before he got to the German trench.” Pte. J.Hawkins 4796, 8th Battalion.

“He was killed on 18th Aug at Mouquet Farm, just after we left Gordon Dump to go to the trenches. He belonged to my section (number etc. checked from my section roll). Lt Mair C.Co was in charge of the party Church was with. I heard about the casualty about a fortnight later. The facts were given to me by Pte S,H. Diamond, 5077, C. Co. He was an eyewitness.” Pte C.M.Owen 4282, C.Co 1A.D.B.D.

“I was Company clerk in C Co. Church was also in C.Co. A relative of his came to the Battalion to make enquires about him 5 or 6 weeks from when we were in billets at Buire. I don’t know his name. I introduced him to two men, George Boden and J. Lawton who told him they had seen Church killed right on the parapet as they “hopped over” the second time at Pozieres on 18th August 1916.” L/Cpl A. Morris 5163, C.Co. No 5 General Hospital Rouen.

“About Pte. C. Church. He was about 5’6” fairly stout and had a fair complexion. He was about 18 years of age and was a happy young chap. He was with the Battalion 3 or 4 weeks up to the 18.8.16.” Letter from Pte.G.S.Boden. France 14.6.17.

“He was in C Company and was killed straight out at night in our trenches at Pozieres by machine gun bullets. He was buried in a spot just behind our lines. I do not think his grave was marked.” Pte F.H Kells 4245, C.Co. 8TH Battalion.

“Pte F. Keys of C. Coy. 8th A.I.F told me just after the 18th Aug. /16 “Stunt” at Pozieres that Church had been killed during the attack. I last saw Keys on the 14th April/17. I knew Church personally and was enquiring about him when Keys gave me this information.” Pte. O. Laughlin. 5429. B.coy.

A letter from John Thomson, Agent Mutual Life Assurance Company furnished these details.

“Corporal A. Lawton 803, C Company 8 Batt saw Church lying alongside platoon Sergeant dead. Killed by concussion – 18th August 1916.

Pte. C.R.Bowen, No 5373, B Co. 8th Batt. 2nd Brigade saw church go over the parapet, but did not see him come back.

Pte. A.R Muirhead, Machine Gun Company, 8th Batt. Visited camp where Sergeant Neck took Muirhead to Church’s mates who told him Church was killed on the parapet.

The last named (Muirhead) used to write often to Church’s people, but has lately ceased to do so, and probably has himself made the supreme sacrifice.”

Source :National Archives of Australia