LINDSAY, Charles Henry

NAME: Charles Henry LINDSAY Poppy

SERVICE NO: 2052

YEAR OF BIRTH: 1888

PLACE OF BIRTH: Heywood

DATE OF ENLISTMENT: 23 September 1914

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT: Hamilton

AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 26

UNIT: 6th Battalion, D Company

EMBARKED: 19 October 1914

TROOP SHIP: Transport A20 Hororata

FATE: Killed in Action – 8 May 1915 – Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey

Charles Henry LINDSAY. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial. Image no, H06462 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H06462/

Charles Henry Lindsay was born in Heywood in 1888 to Francis Lindsay and Clara King. His family moved to Ballarat, where father Francis died in 1909. By 1912, Clara had moved with her family to Wallacedale and by 1914, they were living in Hamilton. During his short time in Hamilton, where he worked as a cook, Charles had become popular among those who knew him.

On 23 September 1914, Charles enlisted for the 2nd contingent. An account in the Hamilton Spectator recalled Charles stating at the time of his enlistment, ” I have had a bit of voluntary training. I’m able to go, and I’m not going to wait to be sent.” When asked if he was going as a cook, his response was “No. I’m going straight to the front to have a go at those Germans.”

With the 6th Battalion, Charles sailed on 19 October 1914. After time in Egypt, the 6th was part of the second landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. In early May, the 6th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Brigade, moved from Anzac Cove to Cape Helles, where there was an attempt by the allies to take Krithia.

VIEW OF KRITHIA, GALLIPOLI. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

The second Battle of Krithia was on 8 May 1915, and the 2nd Brigade suffered 1000 casualties. Among them was Charles Henry Lindsay. With no known grave, Charles is remembered on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli.

Charles was honoured in Hamilton on the War Memorial and with a tree along Anzac Avenue. His mother Clara died in 1921 aged 54.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre-The Battle of Krithea, 8 May 1915

Australian War Memorial-6th Battalion

Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour-Charles Henry Lindsay

Australian War Memorial – WW1 Embarkation Roll-Charles Henry Lindsay

Commonwealth War Graves Commission -Helles Memorial-Charles Henry Lindsay

National Archives of Australia-WW1 Service Record-Charles Henry Lindsay

Newspaper articles from Trove-Charles Henry Lindsay

The AIF Project-Charles Henry Lindsay