Wyndham History

Charles Collingwood Guest (1880-1917)

Item

Placeholder image - Veteran.png

Dublin Core

Type

Title

Charles Collingwood Guest (1880-1917)

Contributor

Date

1915

Publisher

Wyndham City Libraries

Format

text

Language

eng

World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata

Name

Charles Collingwood Guest

Birth Date

Birthplace

Service Number

2649

Enlistment Date

Next of Kin

Mrs A Lynch,
Sister

Address at time of Enlistment

61 Francis Street,
Ascot Vale

Occupation

Marital Status

Single

Death Date

Place of Burial

Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs,
Peronne, Picardie,
France

Biographical Text

No.2649  Charles Collingwood Guest
Charles Collingwood Guest was born in Collingwood, Victoria, in 1880 to George Guest and Jane Guest (nee Glasgow).  Both of Charles’ parents appear to have died before he enlisted as enlistment notes advised that his parents had died, and he had no brothers and only the one sister, (a Mrs A. Lynch of Sayers Street, Midland Junction, Western Australia) who was his next of kin.  

Electoral Rolls had Charles Guest living at Metropolitan Farm as a labourer in 1914, although at the time of enlistment in 1915 he was living at 61 Francis Street, Ascot Vale Victoria.

War Service
Charles enlisted into the Army at Melbourne, Victoria on the 2 August 1915.  He was aged 34 years and 11 months and he was 5 feet and 8 inches tall.  Charles weighed 11 stone, 10 pounds and had a chest measurement of 37 to 38 inches.  His complexion was listed as medium, with Grey eyes and dark brown hair.  He signed his oath declaration to the Army as Charlie Guest.  All of this was recorded at the time of his enlistment.  

He joined the 58th Battalion on 23 February 1916 and then transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion on 4 May 1916.  He embarked to join B.E.F in Alexandria 6 May 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles.  He was kllled in action in the field on 30 January 1917 and is buried at the Guards' Cemetery (Plot V, Row ZZ, Grave No. 6), in Lesboeufs, France, which is 4 and a half miles South of Bapaume, France.

He was comrade to Lance Corporal Ralph Turner (Rank 2820) who also died in action, over a month later.  Charles’ next of kin, Mrs A Lynch, was living in Midland Junction, Western Australia when she was notified. She received the his medals.

His death was reported in the local press, noting that his middle name was from his place of birth.
Werribee Shire Banner, 8 March 1917, p.2.

Medal and Entitlements
  • 1914/15 Star Medal -12 November 1920
  • British War Medal - 30 September 1921
  • Victory Medal - 30 September 1921
  • Where the Australians rest brochure - 15 October 1921
  • Memorial Scroll - 25 October 1921
  • Memorial Plaque - 8 August 1922

A photograph of Charles Collingwood Guest also appeared on Roll of Honor - Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works circa 1920 - World War I Roll of Honour depicting or commemorating 29 'Volunteers from the Board's Service who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918'. It was 'Presented by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Workd Employes [sic] Association'. Printed by the Survey Branch, MMBW.

Bibliography

War Records
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch
http://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search/roll_of_honour/
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.html

Family Search information
http://search.ancestry.com.au/search/

Trove
Harvard/Australian citation
1917 'THE Werribee Shire Banner.', Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 - 1952), 8 March, p. 2, viewed 7 May, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74826407

Medals and Entitlements

1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Citation

“Charles Collingwood Guest (1880-1917),” Wyndham History, accessed October 4, 2023, http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/1681.

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