Charles Henry Partridge

Personal Information
Date of Birth	2 Feb 1894
Place of Birth	Plympton, Devonshire, England
Death	2 Jan 1981, aged 86
Place of Death	Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 9 months
Description	5'4" (1.m) tall; weight 125 lbs (kg); dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.
Occupation	storekeeper
Religion	Church of England
Address	Mundijong, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr A.A. Partridge
Military Information
Reg Number	6312
Date of Enlistment	11 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 20th reinforcement posted to B Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division.
Date of Embarkation	18 Sep 1916 - 2 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray
Date of Return	8 Jan 1920 - 16 Feb 1920
Ship Returned On	SS Cape Verde
Fate	Wounded in Action 25 Feb 1917 Returned to Australia
Monument	Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Three weeks after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Charles was allocated to the 21st reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but on 22 Jul 1916 this was changed to the 20th draft. He embarked with them for England, and on arrival they were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains

On 17 Dec 1916 Charles proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Golden Eagle, a fast paddle wheeler. Taken on strength along with 29 others by the 11th Battalion at Bresle on 17 Jan 1917 where they were training, having come out of the line for a rest and rebuild.

Charles and 150 of his mates were a working party that during the night of 25 Feb 1917 were carrying rations and ammunition to the front line trenches, near Bazentin-le-Petit. Enemy artillery bombarded them, and at Turk Dump 10 men were killed and 13 wounded including Charles. Treated first by the 1st Australian Field Ambulance who passed him to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station and on to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne.

On 6 Mar 1917 he was embarked on HMHS Dieppe in Calais for England and admitted the same day to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in Brighton before being released recovering from a wound to his left thigh to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital 2 May - 7 Jun 1917. Next stop was No.2 Command Depot in Hurdcott, followed by No.3 Command Depot Weymouth before being admitted to the Fovant Military Hospital on 20 Aug 1917.

On 13 Oct 1917, a Court of Enquiry held at Hurdcott declared Charles to be an illegal absentee who was AWOL. However, a notation on his file declared that the case against him for absence from 21 Sep 1917 until 13 Oct 1917 was dismissed as it would appear that he was in the Salisbury Road Hospital in Weymouth during that time. On 15 Oct he was admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital at Plymouth and was released to a Command Depot on 14 Dec 1917.

The next 3 months were spent in Command Depots, until 2 Apr 1918 when Charles was again sent overseas to France, this time via Southampton, to rejoin the 11th Battalion. On 18 May 1918 Charles was admitted to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with a mild case of trench feet. Passed on to the 32nd Stationary Hospital (aka Australian Voluntary Hospital) at Wimereux , and on 17 Jun 1918 he boarded HMHS Cambria for England where he was admitted to the Herne Bay Hospital in England. Released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 1 Jul 1918 he was transferred to No.3 Command Depot on 5 Jul 1918.

Charles was AWOL from his Sutton Veny base from Midnight on 27 Sep 1918 until 8:00am on 30 Sep 1918. Penalty was an admonishment and he forfeited 3 days pay.

In 1919 Charles spent 127 days between 11 Jan 1919 and 17 May 1919 being treated by 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for VD.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 8 Apr 1920.

Post War

In 1926 Charles married Jessie Hannah Bennett. Jessie died 19 Apr 1972 in Nedlands.

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 Paterson street, Mundijong, storeman;1924 Hotel North Dandalup address used for medals; 1925 North Dandalup Hotel, hotel keeper; 1928 Blackwood road, Donnybrook, publican; 1930 - 1931 Pinjarra, publican; 1936 - 1937 Queen's Hotel, Beaufort street, North Perth; 1943 Mount Barker, Hotel keeper; 1949 at 38 Louise street, Nedlands, no occupation; 1954 at 6A Rathay street, Victoria Park; 1958 at 76 Stanley street, Nedlands; 1963 at 63 Stirling Highway, Nedlands; 1968 - 1972 at 48A Bruce street, Nedlands; 1977 at 20 Pinaster street Menora.

Charles and Jessie appear on an incoming list of passengers on the SS Bendigo that arrived from London on 28 Oct 1935. They are again on an incoming list of first class passengers on the SS Arcadia in March 1960 which gives their home address as 37 Florence road, Nedlands (they also appear on the outgoing list of passengers that left the UK on 11 Mar 1960, having stayed at the Kings Arm Hotel in Ivybridge.)

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial