Herbert Charles was born 1883 in Bowral and died in Crookwell in 1959. He married Winifred Collins at the Methodist Church in Wheeo.

Charles had earlier provided land for Herbert on “Sunny Mount” and had made the bricks for the home which was situated at the top of Wade’s Hill in Crookwell.

Herbert was a farmer by occupation but his passion was gold fossicking and more often than not when it was possible he would be out and about looking to improve his fortune.

Children of Herbert and Winifred were: Ida Marion b.1912, Crookwell. Died.1983, Crookwell; Donald Herbert b.1914, Crookwell. Died 2009, Crookwell; Eric Lyndsay b. 1920, Crookwell. Died 2003, Crookwell; and Frank Lindsay Willis, b. 30 December 1894 in Crookwell. He died on 4 August 1916, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

Frank grew up at “Cloverleigh”, he was a gentle person who loved animals. His sister Clara used to recount that he had a pet pigeon that would bring a piece of straw on to his bed at home and lay an egg on it! He especially loved horses and ponies and all farm animals.

The family property was a mixed farm and orchard, producing fat lambs, potatoes, and cold climate fruits such as apples, pears, cherries. He also took a great interest in the various crops grown for grain and fodder. From letters written to various friends you can tell from the content of the letters that he was keenly interested in local government issues and especially the growth and progress of Crookwell and district as well as the welfare of local residents.

In January 1911, records indicate that Frank had commenced service in the 11 th Light Horse Militia, akin to the present Army Reserve. Remembering that this was a time of heightened international tension this is no surprise. Frank’s familiarity with horses particularly, would have qualified him well for participation in this compulsory military training scheme that had been introduced in 1910. It is estimated that up to 50,000 militiamen enlisted in the First AIF during the war.

On 12 May 1915, Frank enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces for service abroad in the Australian Light Horse. His application refers to his prior service in the ‘Citizen Forces’ and in the Light Horse Militia. 

Within two days Frank was in camp at Liverpool to commence training. After final leave was taken, the 7th Reinforcements of the 1st Light Horse finally embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A21 MARERE on 16 August 1915. After six weeks at sea Frank and the 7th ALH Reinforcements arrived in Egypt, disembarking at Port Suez, Frank and his troop travelled in stages to Ishmaelia, Cairo and Heliopolis. The unit had their horses taken from them when they arrived in Egypt and most of the troops were deployed to Gallipoli.

Frank was annoyed because he was not sent to Gallipoli. For the next 12 months, Frank was in numerous engagements and patrols and in his last letter home to his mother on 30 July 1916 only five days before he was killed, he wrote “it will shortly be twelve months since we left Australia only sixteen days from now & yet it doesn’t seem nearly so long to me. Hope I am back there before another twelve months. I don’t care how soon I’m back among the chaff and spuds again they’ll do me after this is over.”

The Battle of Romani, fought from August 3 to 5 was to become one of the first Allied victories of World War One. Sadly, Frank lost his life on the first morning of that battle.