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  Charles was born on the 23rd of February 1888 in Casino, near Lismore, Australia. His father was Michael Herbert (he died before the war) and his mother was Elizabeth Doyle/Fitzhenry. He had many sisters and brothers who got married. Charles was Roman Catholic. Physically, he had dark hair, he was suntanned or had a black skin and he had bluish eyes.

    Before the war, Charles worked for the Australian Naval Force for 3 years. His service number was (the) 865. He was an ordinary seaman. He served the ANF for only 3 years because he was discharged.

    After that, he was a shearer and lost his little finger (on his hand.)

    On the 21st of September 1914, Charles joined the army known as William Doyle, the reasons of his modifications are unknown. Doyle was his grand-mother’s family name. His service number was the 1126. He went to the 9th Infantry (like Alister, my second soldier who moved to Lismore with his brother).

    During the war, Charles was sick, but, it wasn’t serious. Charles fled the trenches during the New Year and was punished. He was in captivity for 168 hours and wasn’t paid for 20 days. But, on the 12th of August 1918, Charles was wounded at his head and was unconscious. His friend, called Mister Carr, saw Charles and helped him. Charles was admitted to a very big Australian hospital but stayed unconscious and died on the 21st August 1918. He hadn’t got any children. I’ll go to Le Tréport to see Charles’ tomb and take photos.

  Alexander had blue eyes, dark hair, a suntanned skin and a tattoo on his right forearm (Scottish thistle). His parent were: Alexander McAndrew Ross, a Scottish publisher and his mother was Annie Marie Jane Ross (nee Medows) who lived at: 1 Harpers Court, Dingwall. He had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I remember that some of the brothers died during the war... 

 

    Alexander was born on the 6th August 1894 in Dingwall in Scotland. He worked for C & J Urquhart, ironmongers.

Later, he moved with his mother to Australia (Hilton of Cadboll),where he worked in a butter factory (handmade).

 

    Alexander joined the army known as Alister John Ross on the 20th January 1915 after initial training spent some time on Gallipoli before being evacuated to Malta and then Gibraltar...

After spending time in hospital in the UK at the beginning of 1916 he returned to the Australian Army Forces in Egypt. From here he was drafted to an Australian unit in France, in February of the same year.

    On his arrival to the 9th battalion he was promoted to caporal on the 5th August 1916 but sadly died in action few days later.

 

I know how he died:

"was fatally wounded on 21st August, while fighting with his regiment in France. The sad News was forwarded by the chaplain of the 9th Battalion , 3rd Brigade, A.I.F. . The chaplain him great praise or his bravery, he having been wounded early in the action, and, although asked to retire by his commanding officer, he carried on until he was again wounded fatally"

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