590505 2nd Lieutenant C H F Batchelor, 9/3/1910-28/2/1944. "far from free from shell-fire"

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE

BATCHELOR — In Italy, 2nd/Lieut. Charles Batchelor, 2nd N.Z.E.F., beloved husband of Cecil Batchelor; aged 33 years.   -Otago Daily Times, 11/3/1944.

DIED OF WOUNDS

LIEUTENANT C. H. F. BATCHELOR 

Second-lieutenant Charles Henry Ferdinand Batchelor, whose death from wounds was reported on Saturday, was a son of Mrs and-the late Dr Stanley Batchelor, of Dunedin. He was born in 1911, and was educated at John McGlashan College and Christ's College, and for a time, until he took up farming at Miller's Flat, was on the staff of the National Mortgage and Agency Company Ltd., in Dunedin. He was a keen oarsman, and while at Christ's College was captain of a boat, and was later a member of the Otago Rowing Club. He was also captain of the Christ's College first fifteen.

Just before the outbreak of war Lieutenant Batchelor joined the Otago Mounted Rifles, and was commissioned towards the end of 1939. Up to the time of his departure with the Tenth (Reinforcements for service overseas he served continuously in New Zealand. 

He was married to Miss Cecil Elworthy, of Craigmore, South Canterbury, and there is a family of two young sons.  -Evening Star, 13/3/1944.

The Official History of the NZ Divisional Cavalry has this to say about how Charles Batchelor died: "Though in this area the regiment was relieved of some of the strain of the forward line, it was far from free from shell-fire of heavy calibre guns. On the 25th, A Squadron had one man killed, Lance-Corporal Dunn, and on the 28th C Squadron suffered six more casualties, of whom Second-Lieutenant Batchelor died later that night."

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.