Charles Henri Condell was born in Ireland in 1890, the youngest of six children born to Thomas Condell and his wife Sarah (nee Macartney). In August 1906, 16 year old Charles joined the British Navy. He was a sailor for five years, until migrating to Australia with his older brother, Thomas, in 1911.
The brothers settled initially in Orange, where Thomas worked as chief clerk for solicitor Donald Pilcher at Russell Chambers in Lords Place. In 1914 they moved to Canowindra, where Thomas established his own solicitor’s practice.
In December 1915 Charles travelled to Cootamundra to enlist in WWI. He was 23 years of age and working as a farm labourer at the time. Charles trained at Cootamundra and Goulburn camps, and, in June 1916, embarked from Sydney for overseas service, a private in the 56th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement.
Private Condell disembarked in Plymouth on 25 August 1916, and was appointed Acting Corporal the same day. He proceeded to the Western Front in mid October and was taken on strength with the 56th Battalion at the Somme on 2 November 1916.
One month later, on 2 December 1916, Charles was killed in action at Cow Trench, Bapaume, the victim of a bullet wound to the head. He was buried at the nearby Bancourt British Cemetery.
Charles Henri Condell is commemorated on the Holy Trinity Church Orange Honour Roll and on panel number 162 on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
In 1923 the Anzac Memorial Avenue of trees was planted along Bathurst Road to commemorate fallen WWI soldiers. A tree was planted in honour of “Capt CH Condell”; it was donated by Charles’ brother Thomas McCartney (Mac) Condell, Orange Municipal Councillor and solicitor, who also served in WWI.
