Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Persic’ A34 for Devonport 29.12.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 8th Reinf. 46th Infantry Battalion.
Rhodes disembarked at Devonport with the 13th Infantry Bn. 3.3.1917. He marched in to the 12th Training Bn. at Codford, 4.3.1917. Rhodes was taken to the isolation hospital at Sutton Veny with mumps 9.4.1917. On recovery he was discharged and proceeded overseas to France 9.8.1917. The 13th Bn. fought at Polygon Wood in August 1918 and much of late 1917-1918 advancing against the Hindenburg Line (AWM 13th Bn.) He was transferred to the 14th Bn. 23.1.1918. Rhodes was wounded in action with Mustard gas poisoning in the field 31.1.1918. He was admitted to Graylingwell Hospital UK for 6 weeks. Rhodes was diagnosed with lung irritation and heart irritability. Gassed classed as wounded in action (DN 25.2.1918). Proceeded overseas to France per SS ‘Henrietta’ to Reinf. the 13th Bn. 23.3.1918. He marched into the Australian Infantry Brigade Details (AIBD) in France 9.8.1918. He marched out of France for England 15.4.1919. Read marched into Southampton to No.4 Group 16.4.1919 and was listed for return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia from England per ‘Somali’ 1.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked in Australia 8.7.1919.
Discharged 18.8.1919.
Final Rank Private, 13th Bn.
Medical Condition NR (Gassed).
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Notes Rhodes became a noted horticulturalist in WA . He later developed extensive commercial rose gardens in Ethel Street and and another nursery in Market Street, Guildford. Rhodes wrote articles for the West Australian and  was noted rosarian. C.C. Rhodes' father was a noted civic figure and was a Mayor of Guildford.
Photos   Private Charles Cecil Rhodes Photograph reproduced with permission of D. Rhodes
              AWM Heliopolis Hospital, Cairo. Photograph donor E. Claydon, photograph source AWM J0950
              Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00783
              Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04851
              Private Cecil Rhodes in Uniform. Photograph reproduced with permission of D. Rhodes

Information Source
AWM J0950. Heliopolis Hospital, Cairo. Photograph donor E. Claydon, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00783. Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04851. Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Charles Cecil Rhodes
D.Rhodes. Photos of Private  Charles Cecil Rhodes portrait and in uniform
Daily News
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Rhodes Charles Cecil
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
SGHS C. PH2007-056. Rhodes  father as Mayor of Guildford Municipal Council c1930. Photograph source  rom the Pictorial Collection of the Swan Guildford HIstorical Society
The Mirror
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

7 Olive Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images