A letter written by Alf Power.

Charles William Power

Service Number: 821

Enlisted: 20 August 1914, An original of G Company

Last Rank: Private

Last Unit: 11th Infantry Battalion

Born: Birchip, Victoria, Australia, 1895

Home Town: Birchip, Buloke, Victoria

Schooling: Birchip State School, Victoria

Occupation: Farmer

Died: Pneumonia, At sea (HMAT Ascanius), At sea (HMAT Ascanius A11), 11 November 1914

Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Buried at Sea, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt

Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Birchip War Memorial, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial

Biography: Private Charles William Power was the second man of the 11th Battalion AIF to die on active service, the first having died at sea the day before, aboard the Ascanius on the way to Egypt. Charles was a single man, a farmer 19 and a half years of age, and his next of kin were his parents Mary and Alfred Power, who were farmers at Birchip in Victoria.

On his roll of honour form "Three brothers original Anzacs", by his Dad, Alfred.

His younger brother Gordon Albert Power was serving with the 24 Battalion, No.2 Company Training Depot when he died, reportedly of meningitis at Broadmeadows Camp on 24 May 1915, five months after his brother.  A Court of Inquiry on his service record show he died at the Birchip local hospital of pneumonia and septicemia.

Another brother Alfred served with the 14th Battalion as a Private and later with the 5th Machine Gun Battalion as a Sergeant. He suffered a gun shot wounds to his left thigh in 1918, had his leg amputated at the thigh and was consequently discharged on medical grounds on 11 November 1918, 4 years to the day after his brother Charles died at sea on the Ascanius.

Another brother Walter Power served with the 13th Battalion at Gallipoli and later with the 45th Battalion  in France, he was discharged on family grounds in 1918.

Walter James Power

Service Number: 1515

Enlisted: 12 September 1914

Last Rank: Private

Last Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion

Born: Birchip, Victoria, Australia, 1896

Home Town: Birchip, Buloke, Victoria

Occupation: Labourer

Died: 1987

Biography: Walter Power enlisted in 1914 at 18 years of age and served at the Anzac landing with the 13th Battalion. He served at Gallipoli for the duration, despite being evacuated twice, once with gastritis and once with influenza. He transferred to the 45th Battalion during the reorganisation of the AIF during early 1916. He had served in France for over 2 years when the authorities decided to send him home for “family reasons”. He was the only fit survivor of four brothers, 2 of whom died on active service and a third who had his left leg amputated. Their father was invalided in hospital with Bright’s disease and Walter Power was now the only fit male in the family having to provide for his mother and four sisters by working the family farms at Birchip.

Brothers: 821 Pte Charles William Power, 11th Bn, died at sea, 11 November 1914; Gordon Power, died in camp 22 May 1915 and 467 Pte Alfred Thomas POWER, 5th Machine Gun Battalion returned to Australia, 23 July 1918 with left leg amputated at the thigh.

His brother Alfred Power wrote the following letter from hospital 9 May 1918.

"I hereby apply to have my brother No.1515 Pte. W.J. Power H.Q.’s 45th Battalion AIF withdrawn from the firing line and if possible returned to Australia for the following reasons. He is the only one left of four (4) brothers who enlisted in 1914. Shortly after leaving Australia two (2) brothers -C.W. and G. Power lost their lives on Service. I am a permanent cripple having lost my left leg in the recent fighting on the Somme.

My father is a confirmed invalid with Brights disease and at present is an inmate of the St. Arnaud Public Hospital, Victoria. My mother and four (4) young sisters are solely dependent on the earnings of my father and money supplied by my brother and myself. I have a small farm which is at present laying idle because there is no male member of our family at home to carry on the work. We cannot afford to hire labour. My brother W.J. Power has never been sick or wounded and has not left his unit since he left Australia in 1914. He has a clean record. Signed Sergeant A.T. Power 15th A.M.G. Company AIF, Ward 20, 3rd Aust. Aux. Hosp."

Service Number: Depot

Enlisted: 26 March 1915

Last Rank: Private

Last Unit: Depot Battalion (AIF)

Born: Birchip, Victoria, Australia, 1897

Home Town: Birchip, Buloke, Victoria

Occupation: Driver

Died: Acute Broncho Pneumonia , Birchip, Victoria, Australia, 22 May 1915

Cemetery:Birchip Cemetery

Biography (Contributed by Peter Rankin):

Gordon was only 17 years 7 months old when he died. His family epitaph reads- LIFE'S HIGHEST MISSION HE FULFILLED, AND BRAVELY ANSWERED DUTY'S CALL.

Contributed by Stephen Brooks:

Hopetoun Courier 28 May 1915.

More than ordinarily bad luck has attended the family of Mr. A.Power, of Birchip, since the war broke out. Four of his sons enlisted. Charles Power succumbed to an attack of pneumonia at sea, whilst on the way to Egypt. Alfred T. Power is reported as having been wounded in the fighting against Turkey, where W. Power is also engaged. Gordon Power became ill at Broadmeadows recently and he was allowed four days leave from Camp. He took the train for the purpose of visiting his parents at Birchip. He collapsed at St. Arnaud and was taken on to Birchip in a dying condition, living only 24 hours after his arrival. His death was duo to pneumonia septicemia. As he lay dying, he assured the Church of England minister that if he got well, he would be "into it" again. The condition of the encampment at Broadmeadows since the heavy rain is described as something awful.

Gordon's brother 821 Pte. Charles William Power 11th Battalion AIF died of pneumonia at sea 11 November 1914, age 19. 

His other brothers: 467 Pte. Alfred Thomas Power 5th Machine Gun Bn, returned to Australia,23 July 1918 with his leg amputated at the thigh and was consequently discharged on medical grounds on 11th November 1918;

1515 Pte Walter James Power 45th Battalion AIF was  returned to Australia for "family reasons", in that he had had 2 brothers killed, and one incapicitated, 15 September 1918.

Birchip Advertiser 26 May 1915.

Obituary Gordon Power.

"Quite a gloom was cast over the town on Sunday morning when it became known that Gordon Power son of Mr. and Mrs. Power, of Birchip and a member of, the Australian Expeditionary Force had passed away during the night. Deceased arrived from Broadmeadows camp by Friday night's train, and after consulting Dr Leo Atkinson went into the local private hospital where it was found that he was suffering from pneumonia and very little hope was entertained for his recovery, and as stated above the young soldier passed away at the age of 18 years. The last remains of the deceased were accorded a military funeral on Monday, when the members of the Birchip Rifle Club and the Scouts marched to the graveside. As the coffin was lowered into the grave a salute was fired by members of the Rifle Club. The deepest sympathy is felt for the bereaved family who have had more than their share of misfortune lately. Of the four sons who volunteered for service of the Empire, one died on the voyage to Egypt from pneumonia another was wounded in active service at the Dardanelles, and now on top of that comes the death of the youngest son of the family. Much comment has been occasioned locally by the fact that the deceased was permitted by the military authorities to travel from Broadmeadows to Birchip while suffering from such a dread disease."