Charles Edward Groves was born at Jolimont in November 1882. He was the only son of his widowed mother, Fanny Nina Groves, when he went off to the First World War, but had a sister, Ida. Before enlisting, he was working in the Belgian Congo, employed by the Belgian government as a mining engineer. When war broke out, he returned to Australia and on 14 December, 1915, joined the war effort. He was 33 years old, 5'5" tall, with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair and weighed 152 pounds. He alsohad some military skill, having been a member of the Mt Ida Rifle Club in Western Australia for two years.
Charles Groves was sent to Royal Park, North Carlton, where did his training with the 16th Depot Battalion. The British War Office had formally approved the formation of trained tunnelling companies on 19 February, 1915, in response to the already established German units. On 10 September, 1915, the British Government sent an appeal to Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand to form tunnelling units to serve in northern France. Charles Groves was initially assigned to the 3rd Tunnelling Company with the grade of Sergeant. On 25 May, 1916, his Company embarked on the A69 Warilda, landing in Britain for further training before they were sent to France on 28 August, 1916.
Here they were re-named as the 'Australian Mining Battalion', but were then divided into four, with three tunnelling companies and one repairs company.Charles Groves was in the 2nd Tunnelling Company, in May relieving the 176th British Tunnelling Company in the Neuville-Saint-Vaast /Vimy area. In January 1917, they relieved the 1st Canadian Tunnellling Company and were at The Bluff in the Ypres salient. In 1916-17, they worked on deep dugouts in the Ypres salient as part of the preparations for the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres, building underground shelters. Following this, they were moved to create deep dugouts for defence to repel the German attack at Nieuport in West Flanders.
Charles Groves was wounded in action in a German gas attack on 13 March, 1918. He was returned to England on 17 March, on the same ship which had taked hi to the ear, the H.S. Warilda. On 18 March, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Lewisham, his condition noted as 'gassed, severe'. He was noted as having 'severe bronchitis, laryngitis, dermatitis, and shortness of breath on exertion' . His eyesight, however, was not affected. On 19 July, he wasc transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital and noted as having 'gas poisoning.'
He must have been an immensely courageous man, because he returned to France on 23 September, 1919, and rejoined his unit on 28 September. Three months later, he apeared before a medical board, and on 9 December, was returned to England. Here it must have been recognised that he could no longer serve in an active role, and he was transferred from the 2nd Tunnelling Company to the A.I.F. and given leave without pay from 18 January to 24 March. By 2nd April, he was in hospital, identified as having a 'dangerous and serious illness' and the decision was made to send him back to Australia.
Charles Groves died on board ship on 1 June 1919. The cause of death was noted as 'nephritis following trench fever and gassing'. His sister, Ida, as executor of her brother's estate wrote to the authorities at Victoria Barracks ion 2 March 1920. She wrote 'My brother died on the troopship Leicestershire , June 1919, two days after leaving Colombo for Australia'. Her concern was for his possessions. While in Colombo, he had bought a parcel of silk for her, which had not been returned, and his wallet contained a five hundred pound War Bond, which was not returned either. She had spoken with two friends of his from the ship, both of whom said that they had seen the parcel of silk and told her that the wallet she had received was not his. She asked for the inventory of his possessions, but neither of these things were listed there. Presumably, whoever had attended him had removed both.
Charles Groves name is inscribed on the Villers-Bretonneux memorial. His mother received a memorial plaque and scroll.
Australian National Archives, Enlistment Form