Military History

Lieut. Col. Battye was placed in Command of Blackboy Hill in 1915 (West Australian Newspaper 5.9.1915 p4). He worked as a librarian and enlisted 29.9.1916 
Embarked  Fremantle  per HMAT ‘Suffolk’ for England 9.10.1916.
Roll Rank Lieut. Col.
Roll Unit Sea Transport.
Battye was given an appointment a for a single Voyage to England and return trip. No details are available other than he  was discharged on his reurn trip from England 6.4.1917
Embarked Plymouth, England per HT ‘Ulysses’  A23  for Australia 13.2.1917.
Returned/ Disembarked  Fremantle  6.4.1917.
Discharged/Appoint.Terminated  6.4.1917.
Final Rank Lieut. Col. OC Sea Transport.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals Brittish War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Battye was a trained Librarian who taught Chemistry at Guildford Grammar School in 1902. (West Australian Newspaper 24.12.1902 p2) He held the position of Camp Commandant at Blackboy Hill, until a series of complaints  and court case (O'Donnell Inquiry) resulted in his immediate removal from the position in 1916. (Daily News 21.2 1916.) He was then given a position as OC Sea Transport for 6 months. Battye returned to his Civil Service position of Assistant Public Librarian on his return.
Photos Lieut. Col. Charles Battye. Photograph source Daily News 21.2.1916 p3
             Lieut. Col. C. Battye. Photograph source Daily News 21.2.1916 p3
             HMAT 'Suffolk' A23 . Photograph from the S.M. Curry Collection, source Don't Forget the Diggers History
             HMAT 'Ulysses'. Photographer P.E.F. Schuler, photograph sourced AWM PS0154

Information Source
AWM PS0154. HMAT 'Ulysses'. Photographer P.E.F. Schuler, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Daily News
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
HMAT Suffolk, image from S.M. Curry Collection, source Don't Forget the Diggers,  http://www.dontforgetthediggers.com.au/galleryImg_large.asp?galID=31&galImgID=202
NAA B2455: Battye, Charles
West Australian Newspaper
 

Associated Images