Charlie Fincher Charles " Charlie " Fincher ( 23 January 1892 — 25 April 1915 ) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ( VFL ) , and with Essendon Town Football Club in the Victorian Football Association ( VFA ) . A private in the First AIF , he was killed in action , shot by a bullet , as he reached the beach , during the very first landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 . Family . Second eldest of the nine children ( six boys and three girls ) of George Francis Fincher and Margaret Fincher , née Nicoll , he was born in Footscray , Victoria on 23 January 1892 . The family moved to Lauriston , near Kyneton , Victoria . He attended Lauriston State School . Footballer . One of his young brothers , John Alexander " Jack " Fincher ( 1904 - 1970 ) was also a talented footballer , playing senior VFL football with Richmond ( 1927 - 1930 ) and with Footscray ( 1931 - 1933 ) . Country Footballer . Charlie Fincher was an exceptionally talented young footballer , playing with the senior Lauriston team when just 15 , transferring to the side from Malmsbury , Victoria that played in the Kyneton District Association , and then , in 1911 , he played the first of his two seasons with the Ballarat club Scarsdale . In his second year with Scarsdale he represented the Ballarat League in matches against Geelong , a combined Broken Hill side , and a combined VFL team . South Melbourne . His form in the representative matches impressed the South Melbourne Football Club , and Finscher was invited to Melbourne to train with the team . Granted a clearance on 25 April 1913 ( exactly two years before his death ) , he played his first senior VFL match with South Melbourne , against St Kilda , at the Lake Oval , on Saturday , 26 April 1913 ( round one ) , as a rover . He played well and kicked one goal . The next Saturday , he played in a tough match in very wet conditions against Carlton , at Princes Park , which South Melbourne drew with Carlton despite having five less scoring shots . He missed the next two matches , then played well in South Melbourne ' s 14 point round five win over Geelong , scoring two goals , In round six , he played against Melbourne , then against Fitzroy and University . He did not play for two weeks , then played again in rounds eleven , twelve , and thirteen . In his last match on 19 July 1913 ( round thirteen ) , against Essendon , South Melbourne unexpectedly lost by 20 points ( South Melbourne did not scoring a goal until the last quarter ) . Essendon Town Football Club . On 29 April , he was granted a clearance from South Melbourne to the Essendon Town Football Club , also known as Essendon ' A ' , and was given a permit to play with them . He played his first match for Essendon ' A ' , against Brighton , on Saturday , 2 May 1914 ( round four ) ; he played well in a team that beat Brighton by 89 points . He played consistently well for the team in the remaining games of the season , playing his last VFA game in the 31 point , 8 . 10 ( 58 ) to 13 . 11 ( 89 ) , Semi - Final loss to North Melbourne ( the eventual premiers in 1914 ) . Soldier . At the time of his enlistment ( 18 August 1914 ) , he was living in Albert Park , and was employed as an engine - driver with the Metropolitan Gas Company . Two of his brothers , Lieutenant George Francis Fincher ( 3729 ) , and Lieutenant James Francis Fincher ( 3730 ) , also served in the First AIF ; and each of his brothers was Mentioned in Despatches . He embarked from Melbourne on the " HMAT Orvieto " on 21 October 1914 , bound for Egypt and the Dardanelles . Mid - way across the Indian Ocean , their ship encountered , and took on board , survivors from the German raider , the SMS Emden , that had been defeated by HMAS Sydney . Death . He was killed in action , shot by a bullet , as he was about to make the beach , during the very first landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 . Remembered . His remains were never recovered ; and he has no known Grave . His name is recorded on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli , Turkey ; it is also located at panel 3 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial , and it appears on the side of the pedestal of the War Memorial at Kyneton , Victoria . On Saturday evening , 21 August 1915 , the Essendon Town Football Club conducted a farewell function for seven of its members who had enlisted . There were many patriotic speeches given , and presentations were made to each of the enlisted men . As a mark of respect , one place was kept vacant throughout the evening ; it had the name of Charlie Fincher attached to it .