Private: 1804 John CARROLL 33rd Battalion, rushed the enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comraded who had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The German foward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken during the offencive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme Barn north of Douve.

The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before the infantry had to become too involved.The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had mede little impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received many casulties from German artillery. (70% of all casulties during WW1 were from artillery).

By 9:00am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in dissaray, but there was a major problem as the Australians received less casulties as anticipated and when ordered to dig into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were dug in around Seaforth Farm.

The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn) were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Plugstreet Wood was now behind them.

Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrarge to stop and counter attack was shortnened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00pm this part of the Oosttaverne Line was abandonded. At 10:45pm General Godley ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.

The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks loose their lives.

Charles was Wounded in Action on the 10th of June 1917 wher he received a Gun Shot Wound to his Thighs and Left Arm and was treated by the Australian 9th Field Ambulance in the field and carried out to the Australian Casualty clearing Station before being transfered to the 14th General Hospital at Boulogne on the 12th of June. He was invalided to England on the 13th of June and admitted to the Middlesex Hospital.

After he was discharged from Hospital on the 9th of July he was marched to the No:2 Command Depot at Weymouth. On the 1st of December he was transfered to the No: 1 Depot where he was Charged with Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, destroying Government Property. Award 2 Days Pay.

Charles proceeded overseas for France on the via Southampton on the 10th of January 1918 and re joined the 36th Battalion on the 15th of January and was transfered to the 33rd Battalion on the 30th of April when the 36th Battalion was disbanded.

After 4 months of active service Charles was treated by the 9th Field Australian Ambulance suffering from Influenza on the 21st of May 1918. He was transfered to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport on the 23rd of May and after his discharge on the 7th of June he was marched to the Base Depot before re joining the 33rd Battalion on the 18th of June. He had not recovered from his illness and was again treated by the 9th Australian Field Ambulance, suffering from Pleurisey and evacuated to England on the 1st of July 1918.

Charles was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital the next day where he remained for the next 3 weeks before being discharged and marched to the No: 3 Command Depot at Dartford. but he was sent back to France on the 24th of October and re joined to 33rd Battalion on the 29th of October 1918. He was marched in Back to England to the No:3 Group at Codford on the 27th of March 1919 and left England on the 11th of May and returned to Australia on board HMAT "Borda" and disembarked at Melbourne on the 27th of June and was discharged from the AIF in Sydney on the 29th of December 1919.

Family Information

Charles was a single 18 year old Horses Driver from Perry Street, Cmapsie, N.S.W. upon enlistment. He is buried at the St Saviour's Cemetery, Punchbowl, N.S.W. His parents Thomas and Alice Manewell were married in 1885 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:2335/1885 and had 10 children. George A L Manewell born 18861 at Burwood, N.S.W. Birth Cert:5585/1886 and died in 1887 at Newtown, N.S.W. Death Cert:3770/1887. Clara Manewell born 1888 at Burwood, N.S.W. Birth Cert:5499/1888. Walter E Manewell born 1891 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:9819/1891 and died in 1901 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Death Cert: 1080/1901. Alice M Manewell born 1893 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:10061/1893. Laura Allisaon Manewell born 1896 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:20610/1896 and died in 1963 at Orange, N.S.W. Death Cert:9854/1963. Charles Bradney Manewell born 1898 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:2195/1898 and died in 1925 at Randwick, N.S.W. Death Cert:12058/1925. Phyliss L Manewell born 1900 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:30456/1900. Robert S Manewell born 1902 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birt Cert:30604/1902. John D Manewell born 1904 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:31214/1904 and died in 1905 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Death Cert:880/1905. Thomas S Manewell born 1906 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Birth Cert:33213/1906 and died in 1907 at Canterbury, N.S.W. Death Cert:878/1907.

Military Records

(Australian National Archives)