CHARTERS, William Seward

William’s birth to Joel and Ann Charters was registered at Inverell in 1877.  He was one of five sons and his family lived near Gilgai NSW.  He was working as a Labourer when he enlisted at Liverpool NSW in July 1915 and joined the 30th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement. 

This Battalion sailed from Sydney on HMAT A72 Beltana in November and arrived in Suez, Egypt about five weeks later.  During March 1916 William was transferred to France. By the end of the year he was suffering from Trench feet and sent to England for treatment. During 1917 he married Ellen Martin in Birmingham.  William was discharged in October as ‘unfit for general service’ and granted a pension.

With his wife, William returned to Australia in 1920. They lived at Rob Roy where he ran a small farm until his death in 1929.