Valerie Anderson shares the story of her uncle Charles Francis Fincher, one of many Australian soldiers to die on the shores of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

CHARLES FRANCIS FINCHER, born in 1892 at Footscray, the second son of George and Margaret Fincher, enlisted on 18 August 1914 in the 5^th Battalion (No. 472)  and was on the flagship Orvieto when it departed Melbourne in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI.

He had been an engine driver in the mines at Lauriston and Scarsdale and it was whilst playing football in the Ballarat League that he caught the attention of the VFL scouts.  He went on to play with South Melbourne and Essendon.  He was described by Essendon Club as being “always an example to his team and well respected by all”.  A testimonial from the Russell’s Reef Mining Company (Lauriston) described him as “a willing worker, sober and honest, attentive to his duties and well liked by his mates”.

Whilst in convoy in the Indian Ocean the Orvieto picked up survivors from the German raider Emden near the Cocos Islands.  Charles, because he befriended these rescued sailors, was given some German coins which he later sent home to Lauriston.

Charles  Fincher’s Battalion went first to Egypt from where he sent home several letters describing life in the Mena camp near Cairo.

Sadly, Charles Fincher was fatally shot landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915 and was buried in an unmarked grave.  His name is engraved at the Lone Pine Memorial there.

In the book “Dear Mother” by the author Tom Austen, the letters of Will Dunn often mentioned his mate Charlie Fincher.  Will also died on landing at Gallipoli

Each year, for many years, his parents inserted ‘In Memoriam’ notices in the Kyneton Guardian in remembrance of their beloved son Charles Fincher.

Two other brothers of Charles Fincher, James Francis Fincher and George Francis Fincher enlisted to serve their country in WW1 and thankfully survived the war.  A younger brother John Alexander Fincher, a talented footballer with Richmond and Footscray, served with the RAAF in WWII.

Embarkation Record

L to R James Francis Fincher, Charles Francis Fincher, George Francis Fincher