John was born at Fitzroy, VIC in 1876 to John Smyth and Emma Sands.

Charlie had been a teamster for Alkemade Brothers Coimadai Limeworks⁽²⁾ for 18 years when he enlisted in the AIF on the 11^th of March 1916, aged 39. He embarked aboard the HMAT A9 Shropshire with the 15^th Reinforcements, 24^th Battalion in late August and disembarked at Plymouth, England in November.

In December 1916 Charlie proceeded overseas to France and joined his unit in late January 1917. He was accidentaly injured in July 1918 and did not rejoin his unit until mid September. Charlie was granted three weeks leave in England in December before he returned to England in February 1919 and embarked for home aboard the Khyber at the end of March, returning to Australia in May and was discharged from the AIF in late June.

He is listed⁽³⁾ on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered in the Coimadai Avenue of Honour.

Notes

1. Name should be Smyth.
2. The Bacchus Marsh Express 25 Mar 1916
3. Name is listed as Smythe C J