Extracts and Comments
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Murray: Charles OC 'E'Coy.
B5207: DAVIES CR a solicitor aged 31 from Karrakatta Camp next of kin in Worcester Eng.
URL1: sailed from Port Natal for Aust. aboard the 'Norfolk' 9.7.1902.
URL2: Charles Robert a solicitor aged 31 from Karrakatta WA, born in Worcester Eng. next of kin father in Worcester.
URL4: The steamer Norfolk, which arrived from Durban on Friday afternoon [25.7.1902], had on board 544 Australian troops returning from South Africa. Among the number were Lieut. DAVIES and 43 men, of the Second Commonwealth Contingent, who landed at Albany. Lieut, HH BELL and seven men who had served with
irregular corps during the war also disembarked here. The whole detachment left for Perth by Saturday morning's train.
URL5: It is stated, though not offically, that Lieut. Fred BELL VC, has been given the command 6th the Western Australian section of the First Federal Contingent. The force numbering 68 strong, went out in the ss Manchester Merchant with Lieuts. DAVIS and PRETTY as subalterns. It is also mentioned that the rank of captain has been given BELL. The latter gained his VC for gallantry at Brakpan, when, under a heavy cross fire, he rescued a comrade who had become dismounted. BELL was the first, and so far is the only, West Australian to secure the honour It is worthy of note that he is a native of Western Australia. Since the war began, Captain BELL has been on active service. He served with the First Contingent, with which his chum, Major "Jack" CAMPBELL, was a subaltern. They had a narrow escape one evening during their first campaign. Lying side by side on a rug near the camp fire, they were discussing old days when they were members of the No. 1 Battery. Something prompted both to move from the rug, and they had hardly done so before it was riddled with bullets. Both BELL and CAMPBELL have gone through another campaign with the Sixth Contingent, the one in command, and the other as a subaltern. CAMPBELL has gained his Majority, and Bell a VC. They are both soldiers of whom their old battery comrades are proud.
URL6: ... as to the two young officers, Lieuts. DAVIS and PRETTY, he [the Acting WA Commandant] had never met men who worked as they did.
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