L-R: Wal, Bern and Joel, 5 May 1917 (5 days before he was shipped to Europe). The back of this photo is printed "Tesla Studios, Q. V. Markets, Sydney"
Eldest brother of our Grandmother
Charles was born at Bombala on February 28, 1894. Prior to World War 1 Charles spent 7 months in the 44th Battalion F.A. Militia.
He served in the military as a Corporal, number 33803, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, 1st AIF from November 1, 1916 to 1918 in WW1. He enlisted at Show Ground Camp Sydney, NSW, and was described as 5’11” tall, 160lbs, medium complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, 6 scars on back of neck, scar back of right forearm, 2 scars left forearm. His religion was listed as Church of England even though all or most of his siblings were very Catholic. His unit embarked from Sydney, NSW, on board HMAT A74 Marathon on 10 May 1917. Source: Monaro Pioneers and Canberra War Memorial service records.
10/5/1917 - Embarked at Sydney per HMAT A74 “Marathon”
20/7/1917 - Disembarked at Devonport
17/10/1917 - Proceeded overseas to France
23/10/1917 - Taken on strength 4th D.A.C.
7/11/1917 - Transferred to 10th Field Artillery Brigade as Driver
8/8/1918 - To hospital sick, injury to left ankle, fractured tibula (severe) - Wal's nephew Edward Kerrison Rogers recalls that he had a truck accident in France and was sent back to London to recuperate
17/8/1918 - Invalided to UK
19/11/1918 - Discharged to furlough until 3/12/1918
3/12/1918 - Reported to No.1 Com. Depot
1/5/1919 - Promoted to Temporary Corporal at Tidworth
1/8/1919 - Promoted to ER/Corporal
26/3/1920 - Detached for duty with AIF Headquarters, London ex 37th Btry.
29/3/1920 - Granted leave subject to recall
29/3/1920 - Detached to 37 Battery ex AIF Headquarters
7/5/1920 - Embarked for return to Australia
21/6/1920 - Disembarked in Australia
8/8/1920 - Discharged from AIF
L-R: Wal, Bern and Joel, 5 May 1917 (5 days before he was shipped to Europe). The back of this photo is printed "Tesla Studios, Q. V. Markets, Sydney"
The back of this card was hand written by Wal as follows:
17 August 1917
Dear Buz (I think this was his sister Bernice),
Please do not show this rotten card to any one but Joe, for I am really ashamed to show myself, as are all the others – the sun was shining right in our eyes at the time. (There seems to be a list of names and ranks after that, probably indicating who else was in the photo). We got paid £6.10 today to go on our 4 days leave, and may go tomorrow perhaps not till Tuesday. I believe the Ausy mail is in now for certain, I am expecting our photo this time. I am transferred in No 2 Battery now, and have removed out of the tents into comfortable huts. Will write you a letter on Sunday if I do not get away on leave beforehand. Remember me to all. Am going to Blackpool. With fondest love and best wishes from your loving Bro Wal.
The back of this card was hand written by Wal as follows:
15th June 1918
My Own Dear Mum,
There is no news going the round this week except that we held divisional sports on Wednesday, which came off rather successfully for the 11th Brigade, but not for us the 10th, our battery did not score a win at all. As is my usual luck I was on duty on that day, so could not attend, but hope to have better luck tomorrow for the brigade sports (?) at which we anticipate a good time as there are some rather comical events to take place. The mates and I had this snapped last Sunday by a Froggy (slang for a Frenchman), it is not a bad rough snap but at the same time not a good one! I have not been as well the last couple of days, as I may be have got a medium attack of influenza that’s all but at the same time it is pulling my weight down a good deal. No mail at all this week. Fondest love and best wishes. Your ever loving son, Wal.
He married Edith Louise Lutz (nee Campbell - she had been married before) c. 1929. She was known to the younger ones as Auntie Ma. Edith was born at Warrnambool Victoria. Edith and her first husband, Oscar George Lutz (also known as George Oscar on some records) had been very good friends with Wal for some years before Oscar died in 1928. Wal then married Edith about 2 years later. There are quite a few photos of them in Aunty Bern's photo album.
Wal and Edith had no children together but Joan Dwyer says that she had at least 3 children from her first marriage - Ted, Ron and a daughter named Ena. Ted was a prisoner of war at Changi during World War II. Joan says she remembers "when he came back from the war how very thin and sick he looked, but at least he did come home." Joan says that Wal and Edith raised Ted's daughter, June (see photo below) because he was in no fit state to look after her. He presumably was suffering from what we today would call Post Traumatic Stress. June was about the same age as Joan and they spent a lot of time together as kids.
L-R: Kerry Rogers (Joan's elder brother), June Lutz, Joan Rogers, Bill Dwyer. 1952.
L-R: Wal, George (Pud) and Joe 1952
Charles lived in Lyons Road West Five Dock, and later at Abbotsford. Charles was known to us as 'Uncle Wal' and he owned a large fibro house at Woy Woy (or Ettalong?) on the Central Coast of NSW, where we used to holiday as children. Charles died on June 26, 1977 aged 83 years.
Anthony and Phillip Dwyer outside Wal's house at Woy Woy, about 1960
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