Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

18/10/1915

Place of Enlistment

Liverpool NSW

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Also referred to as Alfred Bute Charters

Date of Birth

14/05/1889

Place of Birth

Yarralumla ACT

Address (at enlistment)

'Hilltop' via Bingara NSW (previoulsy Yarralumla ACT)

School(s) Attended

Rockdale College

Occupation

Station manager

Next of Kin

Son of Daniel and Caroline Charters of 'Hilltop' via Bingara NSW

Burial Place

Grave D.64, Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel

Service Number

1154

Final Rank

Lance Corporal

Final Unit

12 Light Horse Regiment (B Squadron) AIF

Died, (killed in action) on 31 October 1917, Beersheba, Palestine aged 28 years

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 8, Canberra ACT

Charters was born in 1889 at Yarralumla where his father was the overseer for Frederick Campbell. His family had strong connections with the community at Gundaroo. Charters joined the Light Horse in January 1915 and enlisted in October 1915, embarking a few days later with reinforcements for the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He was hospitalised with mumps in February 1916 and with diphtheria in July 1917 by which time he had been appointed a Lance Corporal. He rejoined the 12th Light Horse in Palestine a few weeks before his regiment was involved in the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. Charters was killed in action during the charge and was buried about two miles south east of the town.

Description - height 5 feet 11 inches, weight 182 pounds, chest 36-37 inches, fair complexion, hazel eyes, fair hair, Church of England, scar from hernia operation in right groin.

Biographical Register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930. Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc., 2001 (p.47)
AWM Roll of Honour circular
AWM Collections Record : P09625.001
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?
Lyall, Gillespie, 'A Pictorial History of the Read/ Reid Family in Australia 1849-1979'
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)