The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Odgers
- First Name:
- Charles Percival
- Nick Name:
- Charley
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Regimental #:
- WX9406
- Classification:
- Reinforcement Ofliccr (Taken on Strength at Darwin)
- Company:
- Battalion Headquarters, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 21.11.1940
- DOB:
- 5.01.1919
- Place of Birth:
- Narrogin, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Percival William Clunes Odgers
- Mothers's Name:
- Florence Mary Odgers
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Taxation Department
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 135, Age 22.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- South-West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
Charley Odgers was last seen with a Lewis gun across his shoulder.
Major Saggers said “Adjutant Lt. Charley Odgers was alongside me as we approached the huts, yet like so many others his fate will always remain a mystery.”
The Odgers family resided Ensign Street, Narrogin where Charlie’s father Percy was employed as a Postal Assistant. Charlie was one of four sons and one daughter born to Percy and Florence Odgers.
Below: from local Newspaper Narrogin Observer.
The Odgers family were to endure another war tragedy when son David Archibald Odgers died 21 March 1943 at Ballarat. Leading Aircraftsman Odgers was 20 years old. He was buried at the Ballarat New General Cemetery.
“The Argus (Melbourne 23 March 1943)
A staff pilot and a trainee were killed on Sunday when an aircraft from an RAAF station in Victoria crashed while on a training flight. They were Sgt Charles Martin Wallace, 27, single, of York (WA), and LAC David Archibald Odgers, 21, single, of Cottesloe (WA).
Inscription: Royal Australian Air Force”
Kings Park Honour Avenue.
Charley’s parents Percival William Clunes and Florence Mary Odgers married 1918 at Narrogin. They had four sons and one daughter and remained residing in Narrogin.
Charley joined 25th Light Horse Regiment Militia W1307, 1 March 1939 whilst residing at Narrogin and working as a Postal Assistant.
He later enlisted with AIF and 2/4th MGB.
Below: Charley’s father died in 1947.
