Cecil Walter Challis
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 14 Jun 1883 |
| Place of Birth | Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, England |
| Death | 8 Sep 1957, aged 72 |
| Place of Death | West Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 31 years old |
| Description |
5' 4¼" (1.63m) tall ; 125 lbs 56.699 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Poultry man |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Thomas Challis |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 6249 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 20th Reinforcements, posted to B Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Sep 1916 ‒ 2 Nov 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray Fremantle to Plymouth |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 ‒ 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Cecil was elected to the management committee of the Armadale-Kelmscott Co-operative Society in July 1915.[1]
War Service
Entering Blackboy Hill camp on 12 Apr 1916, he was initially allocated to the 64th Depot Company before being transferred on 1 May 1916 to the 21st reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. Ten weeks later, on 22 Jul 1916, he was reallocated, this time to the 20th draft for the same unit.
On arrival in England he was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion, and after six weeks additional training at Perham Downs he travelled from Folkstone to France aboard the HMT Golden Eagle on 17 Dec 1916.
In France he reported to the 1st Division's Base Depot in Étaples before being sent forward to join his unit. Cecil was taken on the strength of the 11th Battalion on 17 Jan 1917 near Bresle about 5 km west of Albert during terrible weather with sleet rain falling for most of the day. He was posted to "B" Company.
His records imply that he remained with the battalion trouble free for the rest of the war.
He enjoyed a period of leave in England from 3 - 17 Jan 1919 before rejoining the battalion in France on 20 Jan 1919. He remained in France until 24 Apr 1919 after which time he returned to England via Le Havre and Southampton.
Cecil then remained in England at the No 1 Group at Longbridge Deverill until 1 Jun 1919 when it was his turn to head home. He was discharged by the 5th Military District on 18 Sep 1919.
CW Challis is shown as being expected aboard the S.S. Somali.[2]
Post War
Returned to poultry farming after the war (electoral roll 1925). Cecil's first wife Flora (nee Shingfield) who he married in 1920 died on 27 Nov 1930 (suddenly) leaving him to raise a young son who was born 10 Sep 1922. His son served in the 10th Light Horse Regiment during WW2 with Regimental Number W20831.
Cecil remarried in 1933 to Amy Ivy (nee Blight). Retired to Mandurah by the 1954 roll where he died three years later.
Son Desmond Cecil is on the 1949 - 1963 Electoral Roll at "Bonneville", on Challis Road in Armadale farming (wife Alma Beatrice from 1954). In 1968 and 1972 they are at 44 Little John Rd before moving to Paulls Road in Pinjarra by 1977. Their property "Bonneville" was in the area now occupied by the Challis shops and surrounding roads.
References
- ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The Daily News. XXXIV, (12,618). Western Australia. 24 July 1915. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "COMING HOME". The Daily News. XXXVIII, (13,826). Western Australia. 26 June 1919. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.