Charles Cecil MERRITT

Regimental number318
Place of birthCamberwell, Victoria
SchoolWelshpool School, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressWelshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 9"
Weight159 lbs
Next of kinFather, Thomas Merritt, Welshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date24 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll24 September 1914
Place of enlistmentToorac, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/13/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Machine Gun Squadron
FateDied of wounds 1 November 1917
Place of death or woundingBeersheba, Palestine
Age at death25
Place of burialBeersheba War Cemetery (Row B, Grave No. 49), Palestine
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial		180
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 319 Pte Frank Leslie MERRITT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 11 April 1916; 28370 Gunner Roy Vernon MERRITT, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 25 March 1919. Uncle: 231 Sgt David CRAWFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 23 June 1915.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine

Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915.

Admitted to New Zealand Field Ambulance, Gallipoli, 28 June 1915 (bomb wounds, both legs); transferred to Hospital Ship, 28 June 1915; admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, 8 July 1915; to No 2 General Hospital, Mena, 4 August 1915; to Anzac Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 5 August 1915; transferred to Zeitoun for duty, 11 August 1915.

Admitted to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 28 September 1915 (dysentery); transferred to No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 28 September 1915; to Anzac Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 16 October 1915; discharged to duty, 29 March 1916; marched into Convalescent and General Base, Zeitoun, 30 March 1916.

Transferred to 3rd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron, Moascar, 1 August 1916.

To Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 27 October 1916; passed as 1st Class Machine Gunner in Lewis Gun Course.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Belah, 31 March 1917 (diphtheria); transferred to 34th Casualty Clearing Station, 31 March 1917; to Convoy Station, 31 March 1917; to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, El-Arish (tonsilitis), 2 April 1917; discharged to duty, 11 April 1917; rejoined unit, 23 April 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Shellal, 17 June 1917 (diarrhoea); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 19 June 1917; to Hospital Train, 20 June 1917; to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 20 June 1917; to Base Hospital, 21 June 1917; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 21 June 1917; to Citadel Military Hospital, Cairo, 23 June 1917; to Convalescent Depot, Abbassia, 20 July 1917; discharged, 3 August 1917; taken on strength, 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 3 August 1917.

Detached to Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 26 August 1917; passed as 1st Class Machine Gunner; returned to duty, 15 September 1917.

Transferred to Machine Gun Details, 15 September 1917; taken on strength, Machine Gun Training Squadron, 15 September 1917.

Transferred to 3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron, 19 September 1917; taken on strength, 22 September 1917.

Wounded in action, Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917; admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 31 October 1917 (bomb wound, chest); transferred to Australian Receiving Station, 1 November 1917 (bomb wounds, thorax and abdomen); died of wounds, 1 November 1917; buried, 1 November 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, MERRITT Charles Cecil