Charles Daubeny Bateman

Charles Daubeny Bateman was born in 1892, the 8th child of 11 known children born to Dr. Arthur Wigley Bateman and Anna Louisa Kennedy. Dr Arthur Bateman built the family home ‘Ravensthorpe’ at Albion Park in 1893 and had a small surgery in a detached building next to the house. He lived there with his family until his death on 1899 when he was just 54 years old.

Charles’ eldest sister Mary Louisa Daubeny Bateman married John Raftery and they lived at the Commercial Hotel at the crossroads at Albion Park which was operated by the Raftery family for 74 years. About 1921, John Raftery purchased ‘Ravensthorpe’ from his wife’s parents for 1900 pounds and the Raftery family lived there until 1974.

Charles followed in his father’s footsteps, also becoming a doctor. He studied at the University of Sydney Alumni; graduating Bachelor of Medicine in 1915 and Master of Surgery in 1916.

On enlistment with the AIF on 3 April 1916, he was 23 years old and was living at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown.  Charles was enrolled as a Medical Officer with the rank of Captain, and embarked at Sydney aboard HMAT A18 Wiltshire, on 22 August 1916.

Charles served on the Western Front with a number of units, including the 7th Field Ambulance, the 21st Battalion, No 32 British Hospital & the 1st Anzac Corps.

Although he arrived back in Australia on 25 October 1919, per the RMS Orontes, his military commission was not officially terminated until 20 February 1920.

In 1922 Charles married Dorothea Loveday in Sydney and lived in Windsor and Newport for many years.

He died in 1979 aged 86 years and is buried at the Albion Park Anglican Cemetery.

Charles' service is commemorated on the Albion Park Anglican Church 1914-1919 Honour Roll.