Enlistment Address

Warrenderi, Tooraweemah Road, Gilgandra, NSW

Service Number

4848

Unit

13th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement

Comment

Gilgandra, NSW

Fate

Returned to Australia July 1916

Information

Private Charles Edmond Marchant 4848

Charles Edmond Marchant was a 22 year farmer on ‘Warrenderi’, Tooraweenah Rd, Gilgandra NSW when he enlisted in Gilgandra on October 1915. He stated no previous experience and was single. His medical examination described him as 5’ 8” tall, 11stone 4 lb (71kgs), dark complexion, brown eye and dark hair. His religion was Anglican.

Charles joined the Coo-ee March after passing his medical examination by Dr Peet in Gilgandra.He trained in Liverpool with the 13^th Battalion and embarked for Egypt on the Star of England on March 8, 1916. He trained in Egypt and transferred to the 45^th Battalion in April 1916.

Later that month Charles was in Serapeum, Egypt when he suffered an accidental gun shot wound to his elbow and was admitted to the 3^rd Australian General Hospital at Abbassia in Egypt. He returned to Australia on the Hospital Ship Karoola in July 1916 and was discharged in Sydney on September 13, 1916 without seeing any action.

Charles died on May 8, 1926 and is buried in Gilgandra Cemetery with his military history proudly recorded on his headstone. “In Loving Memory of Pte. C. E. Marchant; No 4848 13^th BATT 1^st AIF”.

Charles is commemorated on the Gilgandra Cooee Gateway Memorial and the Gilgandra Honor Roll.