Died
at age 31
in Fleurbaix, Pas-de-Calais, France
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Biography
CHARLES CLAPHAM GREGORY (Gregory-3615)
BIRTH. Jan 1885
MARRIAGE. never married
DEATH (1916). GREGORY.-Killed in action, in France, on the
19th July, Charles Clapham Gregory, third son
of the late J. B. Gregory, barrister-at-law.
IN MEMORIAM (1920). GREGORY - In loving memory of Charles Clapham
Gregory 59th Battalion, Lewis Machine Gun Co ,
son of late John Burslem Gregory, barrister at
law, Melbourne and of Alice Gregory, killed in
action at Fleurbaix, July 19, 1916
STORIES FROM THE MEMORIAL BOARD: A Supreme Court of Victoria and Legal Profession First World War Commemoration:
Charles Gregory was born in St
Kilda. He had attended Haileybury
College and completed his Law
Degree at Melbourne University.
Thirty at the time of his enlistment
in August 1915, Gregory was
practicing as a solicitor with
Crockett and Kemp solicitors in
Collins street.
Enlisted as a
private, Gregory was originally part
of the 60th Battalion and departed
for Egypt in November 1915 on the
Wiltshire. By March 1916, he had
joined the machine gun section of
the 59th Battalion.
Charles Gregory arrived in France
in June 1916 and was killed in his
first engagement on the 19 July
1916, at Fromelles, one of the first
and most deadly of the Australian
engagements on the Western
Front.
Although originally reported
as missing, Gregory’s body was
later identified and he was buried
at the British cemetery at Aubers
Ridge, near Armentieres.
On his enlistment papers
Gregory’s complexion is described
as “fresh” and interestingly his
religion as “agnostic”. This photo
gives credence to the description
“fresh”.
Melbourne Law School: Gregory, Charles Clapham
Enrolled 1907
Haileybury College; LL.B.; taught at Berwick Grammar School and Haileybury College; admitted to bar in 1912.
Enlisted 2 August 1915; sailed for Egypt 18 November 1915; to 60th Battalion 26 February 1916; to 59th Battalion 15 March 1916, attached Lewis Machine Gun Section; after service at Heliopolis, Tel-el-Kebir, Canal Zone, and Desert, went to France June 1916, and was killed in his first action, at Fleurbaix, on 19 July 1916. He was buried in the British cemetery at Aubers Ridge, near Armentieres.
Roll of Honour:
Charles Clapham Gregory
Service Number: 3110
Rank: Private
Unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918
Date of death: 19 July 1916
Place of death: France
Cause of death: Killed in action
Age at death: 31
Place of association: St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Cemetery or memorial details: Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, Aubers, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army
Melbourne University Hockey Club (MUHC): Roll of Honour 1914-1918:
GREGORY, Charles Clapham
MUHC: Reserve for first InterVarsity match 1909; played IV 1910; Half Blue
Education: LLB, admitted to bar 1912; Haileybury College
War Service: Enlisted 2-8-1915 in 59th Battalion
Sailed for Egypt 18-11-1915
Attached to Lewis machinegun section
Served at Heliopolis, Tel-el-Kebir, Canal Zone, and Desert
Went to France June 1916
Killed: Fleurbaix, France, on 19th July 1916, in his first action after Gallipoli
Memorial: Buried at Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, Aubers, Nord Pas de Calais
Regimental number 3110
Place of birth St Kilda, Victoria
School Haileybury College, Brighton Beach, Victoria
Religion No religion
Occupation Solicitor
Address 184 Inkerman Road, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 30
Height 5' 2.5"
Weight 126 lbs
Next of kin Mother, Mrs A Gregory, 184 Inkerman Road, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 2 August 1915
Place of enlistment Melbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 21st Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/38/2
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 59th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular: 'He was fond of athletics, was a good footballer & hockey player, also had literary taste. While in Egypt he joined the Lewis Machine gunners.' (details from mother)
Fate Killed in Action 19 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records 31
Place of burial Aubers Ridge British Cemetery (Plot I, Row E, Grave NO. 10), Aubers, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial 167
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records
Parents: John and Alice GREGORY, 184 Inkerman Street, St Kilda, Victoria
Other details
War service: Egypt, Western Front
Taken on strength, 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916.
Transferred to 59th Bn and taken on strength, 15 March 1916.
Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.
Posted missing, 19 July 1916.
Subsequently declared 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.
Statement, Red Cross File No 1211003, 3113 Corporal J. MOSS, D Company, 59th Bn, 19 June 1917: 'Gregory was in the M.G.S., D Company. I have never spoken to him, but I have seen him in the Company for about five or six months. I saw his grave in the big Military Cemetery at Fleurbaix last August where a number of men of the same Battalion are buried. There was a cross with his number, name and battalion on it.'
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal