Military Cross : Captain C Ahrens, 16 Battalion, AIF

Military Cross (Geo V). Unnamed as issued.

Charles Ahrens was born as ‘Charles Ahearn’ at Corryong, Victoria, in November 1888. He was educated in Victoria, but later moved to Western Australia, where he was employed as a sleeper hewer in the Manjimup area before enlisting in the AIF in September 1914. His enlistment papers initially give the surname ‘Andrews’, which has been corrected to ‘Ahearn’, but are signed ‘Charles Ahrens’. The reasons for this are unclear. With the regimental number 49, Ahearn became an original member of B Company, 16 Battalion, and sailed with the unit from Fremantle aboard HMAT A40 ‘Ceramic’ in December 1914. He was present at the Gallipoli landings, and in mid May 1915 was promoted to Sergeant. Only four days later, following the death of Lieutenant Kretchmar at Quinn’s Post, he was commissioned in the field. On 10 August, while entrenching positions at No 1 Outpost in the northern Anzac area, he was wounded in the left arm and evacuated from the peninsula. He did not rejoin the battalion in Egypt until late December. Ahearn gained promotion on the Western Front, becoming a captain and company commander in April 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross in late 1917 for his gallantry in the September attack on Zonnebeke, and in 1918 received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in the fighting around Hébuterne during the German offensive. He was also Mentioned in Despatches. On 8 August 1918, during 16 Battalion’s advance on Cérisy, he was severely wounded in the back, probably by enfilading fire from the German positions on the Chipilly Spur. At around the same time he informed the AIF of his formal change of title to ‘Charles Ahrens’, the name by which he would be known for the rest of his life. The serious nature of his wound (and his lengthy previous wartime career) precluded any further active service, and he returned to Australia on ‘Anzac Leave’ in December 1918, his appointment being terminated in early 1919. Charlie Ahrens later married, and died in Melbourne in February 1957. The recommendation for the MC (to 'Captain Charles AHEARN') reads as follows: 'This officer is brought under notice for his gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations near ZONNEBEKE on the 26th September 1917. He led his company in the attack on the RED LINE on the morning of 26th September, and after clearing up all the objective allotted to him, he supervised, under heavy shell fire - with a total disregard for his own safety - the consolidation of the Right Sector of that Line. Later, when the enemy put down an annihilating barrage on one of his posts, he undoubtedly saved many casualties by his great gallantry in going into the barrage, and personally removing his men to shell holes in advance of the Red Line Posts. During the whole of the period, the right sector, for which he was responsible, was constantly subjected to heavy shell fire, and his tireless devotion and personal example did much to maintain the morale of his men. He captured many prisoners and a Machine Gun. He is strongly recommended for high distinction.'