Charles Hastings Wells Memorial Plaque

Inside the Rouse Hill Anglican Church, this First World War plaque memorialising Private Charles Hastings Wells is located to the right hand side of the three stained glass windows and the baptism font. The plaque is brass and is mounted on wood. It is attached to the sandstone wall of the church.

Private Charles Hastings Wells was born at Rouse Hill NSW in 1898 and attended Rouse Hill Public School. When he enlisted on 17 April 1916, he stated his occupation was a farmer at Rouse Hill. He was 18 years old and 5' 11" tall. He was allocated service number 2267 and his unit was the 53rd Infantry Battalion. Wells embarked for overseas service to France on 11 July 1916 on the vessel A44 Vestalia from Sydney Harbour. His brother, Richard Wells of service number 2264, also enlisted at the same time and was also allocated to the 53rd Infantry Battalion.

While in France, Charles was wounded in action on 20 April 1918 with gunshot wounds to leg, foot and tibia. He died of wounds two days later at the 13th Casulty Clearing Stations (CCS) in the field, France on 22 April 1918. He is buried at the Arneke British Cemetery, 9.25 miles northwest of Hazebrouck, France.