Tasmanian War Casualties

WW1

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Charles, Francis John

Born 12^th October 1894 Moseley Worcestershire England the son of Edward John and Laura Jane Charles (nee Bruton) a mechanical and electrical engineer he embarked Melbourne 11^th May 1917 on board “HMAT Shropshire” with the Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements.

He was serving with the 12^th Battalion when he was killed in action 26^th February 1917 in France and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Villers-Bretonneux Area, France.

Further particulars have been received of the death of Corporal Frank Charles, who was killed in action in France on the 26th of February last.

On the evening of Sunday February 25 Frank Charles was selected, with 20 others to form a patrol to locate the enemy's trenches. This was the commencement of the advance, which ended two days later in the taking of La Vaque by the A.I.F. The trenches were successfully located, but Frank Charles of Ridgeway and Bob Muskctt, of Huonville being the two first bayonet men were hit by machine-gun fire, Frank Charles being killed instantly and Bob Muskett a few minutes later. The comrades of these Tasmanian soldiers, in writing to Mr. E. J. Charles of Ridgeway say that they died nobly, and in the eyes of all of them they were heroes. "They proved themselves true soldiers, both to their country, their King, and their God, a credit to Tasmania and their own people."

The Mercury 10^th May 1917

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Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.