Charles Ignatius Hinshelwood was a “slippery little sucker” from cradle to grave (and I say that with an endearing aussie smile). You could also use the words, perennial liar, bigamist, trickster, thief, fraudster,and I’m sure I’ll come up with more as this story progresses or doesn’t. See, it’s hard to put into words what happened in his lifetime as a university student, farmer, Australian soldier (A. I. F.), policeman, famous author, Secretary of the Ashburton Roads Board Western Australia, Asst. Super Intendant of Police, Kenya C. I. D., English Airman ( R. A. F.) and father to who knows how many and where. Every time you think you’ve nailed his location, occupation or family situation you come unstuck and are led swiftly down another burrow with a resounding thump.

Let’s try to start at a beginning (I say “a” beginning as there are several) where it is thought he was born in Bognor, London England on 27 Aug 1892. This could however have been 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1898, or even 1900, as in his lifetime he used them all! He also used a number of names Charles Ignatius Hinshelwood, Charles Ignatius Sempill, Charles Ignatius Semphill, Michael Storm and other pen names and Charles Ignatius Dunne.

His parents, Alfred Ernest Hinshelwood (1867-1910) and mother (?) Margaret Mary Dunne (b. 1874) married on 21 May 1896 at St Mary’s, St George, Hanover Sq. London, when Charles was about 4. (Marriages Jun 1896 (HINSHELWOOD Alfred Ernest St. Geo. H. Sq.1a971)

Margaret Mary was one of 5 children orphaned by the deaths of their Irish parents. Her mother dying when she was about one in 1875 in Ireland and her father dying 5-6 years later in 1881 in Liverpool, England. She claims to have spent some time at the French Conservatoire, returning to London in 1893 as the talented pianist “Murnane-Dunne”. (Murnane, was her mother’s surname.) When Charles was about 5 his father Alfred Ernest Hinshelwood (also a famous author, both father and son using the same pen name “Michael Storm”) was, under his true name Alfred Ernest Hinshelwood and aged 30, jailed for six months with hard labour at a trial in Hythe, England, declared on 6 Nov 1897. He was charged with “false pretenses”; the occupation stated was Author. His release date Abt. Mar 1898.

The couple were not immediately known of after this time in England. Indeed, the next sighting was of his wife, in Victoria, Australia in March of 1903.

“Previous census records have him residing as follows: 1871 Broughton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, 1881 Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom and 1891 Hastings, Sussex, England, United Kingdom.”

He, as Ernest Sempill, pen nameMichael Storm,started writing detective, school and mystery stories in the early 1900’s producing over120 tales, many featuring Detective Sexton Blake as his main character. In 1908 he penned “The Man from Scotland Yard” where Blake has his first encounter with the greatest super-villain he would ever meet.

Alfred had spent the years 1887-89 in Victoria studying Arts at Melbourne University.

“Name: Alfred Hinshelwood Nationality: English Arrival Age: 19 Birth Date: abt. 1868 Departure Place: London Arrival Date: 6 Jan 1887 Arrival Place: Melb., Australia. Ship: Superb”

Charles was educated early in Bognar, U. K. but basically grew up in Melbourne.

Father, the author/poet, and his son Charles spent many years travelling between Melbourne and London whilst Alfred honed his writing skills as Michael Storm. It seems Alfred’s wife Margaret was the one who delivered the works to the publishers while Alfred led a quiet life away from his adoring readers. You can read more about Alfred HERE

“Michael Storm (A. Ernest Hinshelwood): The most enigmatic of all Sexton Blake authors—and one of the best—who died tragically young and left behind a legacy of mystery that baffled fans and collectors for decades.”

Alfred Ernest Hinshelwood died at his English home, “Mancetta”, Walton Rd., Bognor, of Pleuropnemonia and Heart failure on 11 Jun 1910. His brother Clyde Campbell Hinshelwood (pictured below) was with him at the time. (Hinshelwood, Alfred Ernest 42 Westhampnett 2b 226)

Charles Ignatius Hinshelwood next appears on a document dated 18 Sep 1914 where he signs up for service with the Australian Imperial Force at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia under the name Charles Ignatius Sempill (a name his father had adopted!), aged 22 and a half, single of British nationality, born 27 Aug 1892. Occupation “Farmer”. Mother “Margaret Sempill” (not Hinshelwood nee Dunne) c/o the American Embassy, Haymarket, London and c/o Mrs. Haynes, Farnley, Henry St. Subiaco.

(In Australia under “common law rule,” you can change your name without even going to court. Technically, you only need to begin using your chosen name to assume it – and can do so legally. However, there are some benefits to having your name changed “officially” through the courts.)

His starting rank was “Gunner” when he boarded “The Borda” at Melbourne, Vic., Aust., on 22 December 1914 for overseas engagement. He served in England, Gallipoli and Egypt. He was promoted to rank of “Bombardier” in Feb 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles, France on 29 March 1916.  Nov 1916 saw him promoted to “Corporal”.

In 1917 he was gassed in France and suffering from the effects of the gassing and developing rheumatism and a heart condition, he was returned to England in early 1918 to undergo treatment for these conditions.

He was now  a “Sergeant”.

In Mar 1918 Charles was recommended for a Military Medal, which was later bestowed. It reads.

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

During the night of 28/29^th Mar 1918 while the battery position was under a heavy gas an H. E. bombardment this N. C. O. acted with most praiseworthy coolness and courage. He took complete charge of the dressing and evacuation of the wounded until the arrival of an officer and though suffering from the effects of gas, he set a splendid example of fortitude and courage to the men under him.”

In Jan 1919 he was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant on probation.

He returned to Australian shores with the rank of Lieutenant on 18–19 Nov 1919 eventually disembarking at Perth W. A. travelling via the “Benalla” and “Zealandia” on 24 Dec 1919. His appointment terminated on either 11^th or 14^th Mar 1920.

He states in end of service documents (20 Feb 1920) and elsewhere that he married a “Frances” 4 and a half years earlier, abroad, and his D. O. B. was 1893.

On another document (above), doubts about a “wife”, reduces his pension.

The document below, has his address on enlistment as Thomas St. Perth and address on demobilisation as uncertain.

 

If you read this far … that’s amazing!

2 more to go!

“The families of Charles Ignatius Sempill” is next.