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Bacchus Marsh
Avenue of Honour

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Surnames beginning with [ ] - Results 281

Private Charles William Bird

Service No.:
2539B
Unit:
12th Battalion
Tree No.:
S016
Planted by:
Samuel Charles Bird (Father)
Image of plaque on tree S016 for Charles William Bird
See Notes (1) (2)
Image of Service Medal - British War Medal Image of Service Medal - Victory Medal

Charles William Bird was born at Ararat, VIC, in 1887, to Samuel Charles Bird and Catherine Simpson. He had a brother, Lionel, who is also remembered in the Avenue.


click to enlarge
Private Charles William Bied
Courtesy of
Balliang (Soldiers) Memorial Hall
Committee of Management.

He was working as a Mail Contractor when he enlisted in the AIF at Kellerberrin, WA, on the 31st of July 1916, at the age of 29 and was allocated to the 43rd Battalion, 5th Reinforcements. Embarking from Fremantle, WA, aboard the HMAT Argyllshire in November, he disembarked at Devonport, England, in January 1917. Before embarking for France he was hospitalised for two months with Mumps.

In France he transferred to the 12th Battalion in June 1917. In September he was again hospitalised, this time with Trench Fever. June 1918 again saw him in hospital suffering from influenza. After rejoining his unit he was Wounded in Action, shell wound to the left foot, in September 1918. After spending two months in hospital in England he embarked for Australia as an invalid on the 18th of January 1919, aboard the Ulysses.

Charles returned to Australia in March 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 2nd of April 1919. He married Elizabeth Mary Forster in 1919 (she died at Bacchus Marsh in 1943 aged 45).

In May 1942 Charles enlisted at Bacchus Marsh, VIC, in the Volunteer Defence Corps and was discharged in October 1945 with the rank of Lance Corporal.

Charles died at Geelong, VIC, in 1963, aged 76.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Balliang & District Honor Roll, Balliang.

Notes

  1. Initially in the 43rd Battalion but transferred to 12th Battalion
  2. A B was appended to his original Service Number when he joined the 12th Battalion

Location of Tree Number S016

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Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.67770188945169, 144.45024413822054

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Last updated by lee, Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:32:25