Daniel McCARTHY

Regimental number	16051
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Instrument repairer
Address	Traralgon, Victoria
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	29
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs Norah McCarthy, Traralgon, Victoria
Enlistment date	16 August 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll	15 August 1916
Rank on enlistment	Staff Sergeant
Unit name	Australian Wireless Squadron 1, Reinforcement 5
AWM Embarkation Roll number	22/16/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board RMS Mooltan on 22 August 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Staff Sergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll	1st Wireless Signal Squadron
Fate	Returned to Australia 22 March 1919

Story:
Sergeant Charles Daniel McCarthy enlisted in the army at just 19 years of age.

Charles Daniel McCarthy. Photo: Australian War Memorial PO5650.001

He was among the first Australian soldiers on the beach in Gallipoli.

The first child of Joseph and Jane McCarthy of 'Clear View' Narromine, Sergeant McCarthy was born in 1894.

Charles went to Narromine Public School where he was a member of the cadet corps and won many prizes for his marksmanship.

Local paper, The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, published an article on December 22, 1909 about Corporal Charles McCarthy winning the Award of Best Shot in Narromine.

In 1910, Charles won the Gold Medal for Champion Aggregate Score and top scored in musketry section at Cadet Rifle Meeting of the 11th Battalion of cadeters held at Nyngan on April 23, 1910. The Sydney Morning Herald reported 130 cadetrs from Cobar, Nyngan, Bourke and Narromine attended.

Charles was chosen to attend the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in June 1911 as a part of the Australian Coronation Cadet Contingent, because of his markmanship.

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate reported the town helped the family raise the money so he could attend the auspicious occasion.

Charles' enlistment papers show he enlisted eight days after the British declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

He was assigned to 'C' Company, Second Battalion, First Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

Charles was enlisted as a Private but was soon appointed to a Lance Corporal because of his cadet experience. It is reported within a few months he requested a demotion to Private.

He trained in Cairo, Egypt and then departed by ship for the Gallipoli Peninsula with troops from New Zealand, Britain and France.

Charles was a part of the Second Battalion which landed at Anzac Cove at on April 25, 1915 until July 1915.

Charles was also stationed in Pozierers on the Western Front in France.

Before arriving at Pozierers in April of 2016, he was promoted to Corporal on February 15, 1916 and on March 24 he was promoted to Sergeant.

He was killed during action on July 24, 1916.

He was one of the 10 officers and 500 men killed or wounded during the Pozierers battle.

The Australian World War One Official historian, CEW Bean, said the Pozierers Ridge "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth''.

Charles Daniel McCarthy's name can be found on the Narromine Cenotaph.

This story was compiled by Charles' great niece, Mrs Judith Cahill.

Documents - Official Record