JELL, Charles (1888-1973)
Born in 1888 at Yarra Flats. Eldest child of George Jell & Mary Ann Fletcher of Yarra Glen.
Charles enlisted in Western Australia on 19 November 1914 aged 26 years and sailed with the 16th Battalion, 2nd reinforcement from Fremantle on the Itornus on 22 February 1915. He was 26 years old and gave his occupation as labourer. Charles landed at Anzac Cove on the afternoon of 25 April 1915. On the 9 May 1915 he was wounded in the leg. A more serious shrapnel wound to his arm in August resulted in him being transferred to the London General Hospital and he did not re-join his Battalion until April 1916. He was then taken on strength into the 48th Battalion which was in France. Charles suffered shell shock a couple of months later and then was wounded in action for a third time in June 1918. Charles arrived back in Australia in January 1919 aged 30.
Charles was awarded the Military Medal in September 1918 for his fearless work as a Scout on 8-9 August 1918. As part of the advance on Proyart he went out repeatedly under machine gun and rifle fire and returned with invaluable information for his Battalion.
Charles married a war widow, Annie Lillian Rankin (née Goodall) in 1919. Annie died in 1951 at Surrey Hills and Charles died in 1973 at Geelong.
Charles war service is commemorated on the Steels Creek Honor Roll.
