SAPPER CHARLES VALENTINE
5090 – Aust. Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company & 13th Field Company Engineers
Born at Jarrahdale, Western Australia (WA), Charles Calder Daws Valentine was the son of Charles Calder Valentine, Engineer, and Sarah Ann (nee Daws).
He signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’, as ‘Charles Valentine’ at Melbourne, Victoria, on 8 November 1915.
A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 21 years and 11 months of age; that he stood 6ft tall and weighed 11 stone. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Vaccination marks and some scars were recorded as distinguishing marks.
He had been apprenticed as a Turner at the Sons of Gwalia Gold mine, WA. Previous service was 3 years with the Senior Cadets (84A Battalion) around 1894.
He named as his Next-of-Kin his father, Mr. Charles Valentine of the Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine, WA.
He was found to be ‘fit for active service’ and on 16 December 1915 at the Engineer Depot, Moore Park, he was appointed to the 13th Reinforcements to the 2nd Field Company Engineers (2FCE)
Charles embarked at Sydney on 17 December 1915 on board HMAT A35 Berrima.
On 31 January 1916 Charles was admitted to the 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, with a mild case of measles. His Next-of-Kin was advised on 12 February 1916 that he had been hospitalised at Cairo. Discharged to duty on 19 February, Charles was admitted to the 15th General Hospital at Alexandria on 26 February.
He was transferred to the Engineer Training Depot at Serapeum on 13 May 1916 and embarked on Ionian on 7 June to join the British Expeditionary Force, disembarking at Marseilles, France on 15 June.
On 5 August he proceeded to join the 13th Field Company Engineers and was taken on strength on 8 August.
On 29 November 1916 he was awarded forfeiture of 2 days pay for using insulting language to his NCO.
On 21 May 1917 Charles was charged with being absent without leave from 4 p.m. on 19 May until 9 a.m. on 20 May and with being absent from parade on 20 May. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No.2 and forfeiture of 9 days pay.
He was admitted to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance on 27 May. He was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 29 May, the to the 7th Convalescent Depot on 30 May and finally to the 39th General Hospital at Havre on 1 June. Charles was discharged to Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Havre on 28 June. He rejoined his unit on 7 July.
On 13 July he was admitted to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance. He was transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Havre on 17 July and discharged to the AGBD on 27 August 1917, rejoining his unit on 7 September.
On 13 September he was detached for duty with the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC). Charles was officially transferred to the AEMMBC and taken on strength of that unit on 3 November 1917.
His Blue Chevrons were due about this time. Each blue Service chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A Red chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.
Charles was charged with: while on active service on 26 June 1918 (1) using abusive and threatening language to a sentry and forcing same; and (2) contravention of Standing Orders in as much as he left camp after 9.45 p.m. and remained absent until 12.10 a.m. He was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1.
While working with the C.R.E. XXII Corps Troops he suffered an accidental injury to his right hand on 27 September and was admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, rejoining his unit on 1 October.
Charles enjoyed some leave from 23 November until 7 December 1918.
On 26 December 1918 he was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.1 for (1) refusing to obey an order given by an officer and (2) causing a disturbance in the billet.
On 8 March 1919 Charles marched out of his unit for demobilisation and marched in to the AGBD. He left France on 17 March and marched in to No.2 Training Battalion at Codford, England on 18 March.
The AEMMBC he had just left, with a strength of little more than 300 men, was employed along the entire Western Front providing lighting and ventilation to dugouts and boring for water supplies where needed. They worked with all 5 Armies of the British Expeditionary Force.
Charles left London on 11 May 1919 on board Zealandia for return to Australia. He disembarked at Albany, WA on 22 June 1919. On 17 June 1919 his Next-of-Kin had been advised of the date that he was returning to Australia.
He was discharged from the A.I.F. at Perth, WA on 15 August 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In 1921 at Fremantle, WA Charles married Isabel Charity Bowden. Isabel was born in 1901 at Leonora, WA, the daughter of George Bowden, a Miner, and Juliana (nee Maloney).
The Electoral Rolls record:
1925
Valentine Charles Calder - 119 Wittenoom Street, Boulder - Fitter
Valentine Isabel Charity - 119 Wittenoom Street, Boulder – home duties
1931/1936
Valentine Charles Calder - Tower Street, Gwalia - Fitter
Valentine Isabel Charity - Tower Street, Gwalia – home duties
1943
Valentine Charles Calder - 13 Agett Road, Fremantle - Fitter
Valentine Isabel Charity - 13 Agett Road, Fremantle – home duties
1949
Valentine Charles Calder - 63 Tuckfield Street, Fremantle - Fitter
Valentine Isabel Charity - 63 Tuckfield Street, Fremantle – home duties
1954/1958
Valentine Charles Calder - 78 McKimmie Street, Palmyra - Turner
Valentine Isabel Charity - 78 McKimmie Street, Palmyra – home duties
Charity Isabel Valentine died on 29 April 1960 at Fremantle, aged 58 years.
In March 1961 Charles’ medical and military records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Perth.
The Electoral Roll for 1963 records:
Valentine Charles Calder - 78 McKimmie Street, Palmyra - Turner
Charles Calder Valentine died on 16 October 1966 at age 69. He is commemorated at the Fremantle Crematorium Garden of Remembrance: A1 – 0009.
Note: If his age at death is accurate, it would seem Charles was closer to 18 years of age when he enlisted, rather than the 21 years 11 months he told the recruiting office.
© Donna Baldey 2013