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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Lance Corporal Charles Warwick Fountain

Description

TitleLance Corporal Charles Warwick FountainAlternative NameCharlieSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionCharles, known as Charlie, was born at Christchurch on 2 February 1891, son of John Henry and Henrietta Fountain. He was educated at the Normal School in Cranmer Square and was of a quiet disposition. After leaving school he took up farming, and was well known in the Southbridge district. At the time of enlisting he was employed on the farm of Mr H. W. Foster, Hororata. He had previous military experience with the Normal School Cadets although the Territorials had rejected him as unfit. He was 5ft 10in tall with a ruddy complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.

Charlie enlisted on 25 July 1916 and was assigned to 19th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8 November 1916 just before he embarked from Wellington on 15th November 1916. He disembarked at Devonport on 29 January 1917 and marched into Sling Camp where as was usual he reverted to the rank of private. He left for France on 1st March and marched in to Base depot at Etaples where he was attached to the strength. On 28th April he marched out to the Segregation Camp supposedly intended to keep newly arrived soldiers who might be infected from passing on infection. He returned to the main camp on 21st June 1917. On 25th he joined 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field.

A few months later conditions took their toll and he was sent to the field ambulance with diarrhoea re-joining the battalion on 1st September. However he was not quite well for he was ill with diarrhoea again two weeks later. He was discharged to the on 17th September and re-joined the 2nd Battalion in the field again. He spent a month with F Company NZ Engineers re-joining 2nd Battalion again on the 20th October 1917. He was sent to England on leave on 18th January 1918, returning on 4th February. He fought with them for the rest of the campaign being killed in action on 24th October, aged 27, only two weeks before the Armistice. The 2nd Battalion had received orders that two companies were to establish a line on the Ruesnes-Ghissignies road, north-east of Beaudignies. He was buried in the Beaudignies Communal Cemetery. In New Zealand Charlie is remembered on the Southbridge Plaque of the Ellesmere County and the Hororata War Memorials. His initials are given as A. H. on the Hororata Memorial.

Beaudignies was cleared by the 1st Canterbury Regiment on the 23 October, 1918. There are now over 10, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. All fell in October, 1918 after the capture of the village.
First NameCharles WarwickLast NameFountainAddress175A Onepu Rd, Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand.FamilySingleSon of John Henry and Henrietta Fountain Date of Birth2 February 1891Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death24 October 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27

Collection

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageHororata War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryBeaudignies Communal CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialHororata War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmer Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details25th July 1916Service Number31485Embarkation15th November 1916Place of EmbarkationWellington

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license

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Lance Corporal Charles Warwick Fountain