THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

CHARTERS Alexander Burnet

10/1168, Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment

CITATION

Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Gazetted 3 June 1916, p5560

Commanding New Zealand Advanced Base Depot Alexandria upon whom all arrangements for the receipt and despatch of details, sick, wounded and convalescent revolves; also matters connected with the comfort of the sick and the wounded, has worked indefatigably.

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 1 January 1918, p29

Operations Messines – 7th to 12th June 1917, and operations opposite Warneton 14th to 19th June 1917.  As Officer Commanding the 1st Otago Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Charters has always displayed the highest qualities of organisation which established the advanced line of assembly trenches opposite Messines preparatory to the attack. During th battle itself on 7th June he commanded his Battalion with conspicuous success and showed fine qualities of leadership.  He personally went forward under heavy artillery barrage to ensure connection with the  Division to his left, and on the night of the 8th June during the heavy counter-attack, at great personal risk made a valuable reconnaissance without orders from any superior authority, to satisfy himself and the Brigade that the troops on his left front were not retiring, but that a relief was taking place.  This information was of the highest value as the situation at that moment was very obscure.  During the whole of the battle Lieutenant Colonel Charters moved about among his men inspiring them with confidence and setting a marvellous example of cheerfulness.  During the later operations opposite Warneton he again led his Battalion forward with great gallantry and seized a line of posts in the final objective.  Her again personally reconnoitred the line and was present during its consolidation.  Later during August after the capture of La Basse Ville Lieutenant Colonel Charters personally supervised the scouting of the advance line, his Battalion carrying out the work with the greatest success under heavy machine-gun and shell-fire.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 5 November 1915, p11003

Mentioned in General I. Hamilton’s despatch of 26th August 1915 (Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force).

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 21 June 1916, p6183

In connection with administration in Egypt.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 4 January 1917, p261

Lieutenant Colonel Charters took over command of the 1/Battalion Otago Regiment when the Brigade returned  to Egypt after the evacuation of ANZAC.  He has built up this Battalion.  He is capable of industriousness and has proved himself in the operationsnear Flers from 16th to 28th September, to be thoroughly reliable in action.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 28 December 1917, p13575

Mentioned in Field Marshall D. Haig’s despatch of 7 November 1917 for distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty during the period 26th February to midnight 20th/21st September 1917.

KNOWN AWARDS

Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George

Distinguished Service Order

Queen’s South Africa Medal

       Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

       Mention in Despatches (4)

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

New Zealand Volunteer Service Medal

NOTES

Born 1876, Christchurch, New Zealand

Died 10 May 1948, Wellington, New Zealand