William Thomas Charley

(Confirmed)

Born: 7 September, 1867

Died: 4 December, 1932

Biographical Summary:

A motor representative who enlisted in the AIF on 28 September 1914. He embarked for Egypt on 21 December 1914 in command of A Squadron, 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment (LHR), and arrived on 1 February 1915.

His unit landed at Gallipoli on 20 May 1915. He returned to Alexandria, Egypt on 17 June 1915 on unspecified duties but returned to Gallipoli on 31 August 1915. He left again two weeks later and on 17 September 1915 departed to England where he had been invited to demonstrate the Wallaby Sniping Cage that he had invented (see link below).

He returned to Egypt in February 1916 and was transferred to the 9th ALH. In March 1916 he was seconded to take command of the 3rd Australian Light Horse Training Regiment. On 22 January 1918 he joined the 9th ALH in command of C Squadron. The 9th was one of the first units to enter Damascus on 1 October 1918.

He embarked for Australia on 23 December 1918 and arrived on 1 February 1919. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 15 April 1919. [JSB]

Recorded Names:

• William Thomas Charley

Ranks:

• Held rank of Major

Birth Records:

• 7 September, 1867 in Ballarat, VIC, Australia

Death Records:

• 4 December, 1932 in Leeton

Address:

• Ballandean Middle Head Road Mosman NSW Australia

Relationships:

• father - Phillip Charley
• mother - Catherine Thompson
• wife - Mary Elizabeth Tasker
• wife - Mary de Bourgh

Organisations:

• Member of - 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment
• Member of - 3rd Australian Light Horse Training Regiment
• Member of - 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Main Sources:

• Charley William Thomas SERN MAJOR POB Ballarat VIC POE Liverpool NSW NOK W Charley Mary Elizabeth (Webpage)
• First World War Embarkation Roll William Thomas Charley (Website)
• Wallaby Sniping Cage Gallipoli (Webpage)
• Obituary William Thomas Charley (Webpage)

Commemorations: