Charles Huntley Thompson Private – RN 789. Born 23 August 1889, West Maitland, New South Wales at the age of 25 joined the 13th Battalion G Company on the 8th September 1914.

Embarked on the transport ship A38 Ulysses 22nd December 1914 from Melbourne.

The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War.

The battalion was recruited in New South Wales, and with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions formed the 4th Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash.

The 4th Brigade landed at ANZAC Cove late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915.

Two days later, 1km South near Kaba Tepe, a Lieutenant Shout showed conspicuous courage by continually exposing himself to the enemy while organizing, planning and leading a successful bayonet charge against the Turks.

Following their charge, in the course of which their newly acquired position was secured, Shout and a Corporal (L/Cpl Alexander Ross McQueen) left the trench which was being continually swept with machine-gun fire, and advanced further into no-mans land, where they dug in before proceeding to snipe at the Turks.

In the words of Private Charles Huntley Thompson of the 13th Battalion, “That was the bravest thing I ever saw.”

For these actions, Shout was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches.

By inference, this means that Private Charles Huntley Thompson was there, fighting alongside Alfred, and so in context of the era, people would never talk of their own actions and efforts, but rather praise those of others.

Charles was a genuine hero himself, but like many men of that period, sought not power nor glory, but were self-effacing regarding their own meritorious actions.

Thompson was wounded twice at Gallipoli, wounded in the left arm needing hospitalisation at Lemnos and wounded in the right leg resulting in his leg being amputated above the left knee in Malta.

Both Pte Charles Huntley Thompson, from Maitland NSW, and L/Cpl Alexander Ross McQueen from Gloucester, NSW were repatriated back to Australia during the latter part of 1915.

Thompson returned to the NSW railways initially at a desk job and later as an engine driver. Charles Huntley Thompson passed away 8 August 1971 aged 82 years.
Charles Huntley Thompson was my Grandfather.