Charles Alfred Melbourne Derham

Date of birth13 November 1887
Place of birthSouth Melbourne, Victoria
SchoolMelbourne Grammar School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationInspector
Address'Harptree', Sir William Street, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27.3
Height5' 9.25"
Weight124 lbs
Next of kinFather, F. T. Derham, 'Harptree', Sir William Street, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 15 months in the 29th Light Horse, Citizen Military Forces; discharge 'Character: very good'.
Enlistment date3 March 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name29th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/46/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 27 September 1917

FateReturned to Australia 13 April 1919
Medals

Military Cross


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 57
Date: 18 April 1918

Discharge date23 July 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 10 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Promoted Lt, 20 February , 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June v1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Promoted Captain, 20 July 1916.

Detached to School, 16 October 1916; rejoined Bn from School, 30 October 1916.

Wounded in action, 3 March 1917 (gun shot wound, face and left hand); admitted to 1st Red Cross Hospital, Le Touquet, 5 March 1917; transferred to England, 10 March 1917, and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 11 March 1917; discharged to Command Depot, Perham Downs, 4 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 12 June 1917; rejoined 29th Bn, in the field, 21 June 1917.

Detached to 2nd Army Infantry School, 10 November 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 21 December 1917.

Awarded Military Cross.

On leave to United Kingdom, 4 March 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 20 March 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 8 August 1918; remained at duty.

On leave, 13 October 1918.

Transferred to 32nd Bn while on leave.

Joined Bn from leave, 29 October 1918.

Proceeded to England, 3 February 1919, for return to Australia.

Commenced return to Australia from Liverpool on board HT 'Wyreema', 13 April 1919; appointment terminated (discharged), Melbourne, 23 July 1919.

Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Also served in World War II: enlisted 12 March 1943; discharged, 31 October 1945, as V354829 Captain, 1st Victoria Bn.
SourcesNAA: B2455, Derham Charles Alfred Melbourne