Charles Henry Witt (1880 - 1918)

Born 14 Jun 1880 in Blenhiem Melborough, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Caroline (Dowsey) Witt — married 1908 in NZ

Died 10 May 1918 at age 37 in Somme, France

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Link to WikiTree Roll of Honor

Biography

Charles was born in 14 Jun 1880 to Robert Witt and Cecelia Eyles in Blenhiem, Marlborough, New Zealand ^[1] He married Mary Caroline Dowser in 1908 ^[2] He passed away in 1918 age 37 ^[3]

Prior to WW1, Charles was employed as a labourer, living on Mountain Rd in Stratford, New Zealand. Charles Married Mary Caroline Dowsey in Stratford, New Zealand on the 10 Jun 1908. Caroline was from Melbourne, Australia.

Charles Witt is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Charles Witt was Killed in Action during World War I.

Charles Henry Witt (Service number 62192) served in the army during World War One. Initially, Charles enlisted at 36 yrs old and was posted to G-Coy of the 30th on the 25th July 1917, then transfered to G Coy, 31st, then G Coy 32nd, then F Coy, 31st then D Coy 31st, and then by 24 Nov 1917, he was transfered to the D Coy 33rd (4th Battalion, 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade).

On the 31st Dec 1917, Charles embarked with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 33rd Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company, arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on the 26 Feb 1918. Charles first spent time in Larkhill Camp on the Salisbury Plain which was designated as a School of Instruction for the Royal Horse and Artillery and also Brocton.

In May 1918, the 4th Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade was stationed on the Western Front during World War I.

On the 28 Apr 1918 during the Spring Offensive, Charles left for France, marching in on Estaples, France on the 30 Apr 1918. There, Charles joined his Company, most likely near La Signy Farm before being Killed in Action on the 10 May 1918, just 10 days after arriving in France.

Charles was buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, France. Grave reference I. AA. 13 ^[5]

Charles Witt was the son of Mrs. C. Witt, of Mountain Rd., Stratford, New Zealand. He listed his next of kin on embarkation as Mrs Mary Witt (wife), 573 Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.

A descendent, Margaret Johnson, offers the following: In family folk lore I learned that Charles and Mary had had a difference of opinion and her being an Australian returned to her home and that is why her address in the military records is Melbourne. He said that if she didn't come back he would sign up to go to war and that is what he did and was killed on his first few days on the battlefield. Mary meanwhile returned from Australia with daughter Carrie to find he had gone and she then lived in Stratford with his parents and worked for them in the tea rooms that they owned. ^[6]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Birth registration 1880/10139
2. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1908/4052
3. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Death registration 1918/85923
4. ↑ New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 Archives
5. ↑ Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
6. ↑ personal email to the profile manager, May 2018 from Margaret Johnson.

See also:

a photo of his grave in France at http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=3410212