Charles Symington was born in Cookstown on 3rd January 1879. His mother’s maiden name seems to have been Purvis. All the siblings were born in Cookstown apart from Joseph who was born in Dungannon in 1881 and John, who was born in Belfast in 1884. Charles Symington enlisted in Belfast where he was living. Rifleman Charles Symington was serving with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action at Gallipoli on Wednesday 11th August 1915.
The Anzac and Suvla cemeteries are first signposted from the left hand junction of the Eceabat- Bigali Road. From this junction travel into the main Anzac area. Follow the road to Helles, opposite the Kabatepe Museum, at 14.2 kms. take a right turn at the 'T' junction and at 14.3 kms. take the left fork. After a total of 22.8 kms, take a right turn to the memorial along a rough track 500m long. The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.
