Charles Joseph Spillane

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 28/01/2016 - 16:31

First Name:

Charles

Middle Name:

Joseph

Last Name:

Spillane

Mother's Name:

Delia Spillane nee McCann

Father's Name:

Thomas Spillane

Date Enlisted:

Monday, November 1, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Driver

Unit:

Machine Gun Squadron

Company:

2nd Light Horse Brigade

Service:

Cavalry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Balmain

Details:

Charles Spillane (Service No 1515) was born in Albion Park, N.S.W. around 1894.

At the time of Charles' enlistment he was 21 years old, single and employed as a labourer. He had served 18 months with 28th Squadron Light Horse Albion Park Militia.

Charles embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with 11th Rreinforcements, 6th Light Horse on 2nd November 1915.

The troops arrived in Egypt on 27th December 1915. On 26th March 1916 Charles became ill and was admitted to hospital, returning to his unit on 5th April 1916.

On 13th June 1916 Charles was wounded during fighting and admitted to hospital for treatment of a wound to his eye. After his discharge from hospital, Charles was transferred to 2nd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron and sent to various machine gun schools for training, finally joining the Machine Gun Squadron on 5th July 1917. Like most of the men who served in the harsh desert conditions he had a number of hospital admissions for various diseases.

Charles returned to Australia in June 1919 and was discharged medically unfit on 14th December 1920.

Charles does not appear to have married. He died in Balmain, N.S.W. in 1966.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SPILLANE CHARLES JOSEPH