soldier biographies and photos - pdf file

Transcription

*Soldiers are listed in the below order in the booklet
Soldiers to be commemorated on the
* = tour group relative
Remembrance 2008 Commemorative Tour
World War One
Pte Ernest ARCHIBALD 8th Bn
Pte James ARCHIBALD 14th Bn
*Pte James AVERY 51st Bn
*L/Corp Arthur BARBAT 12th AMGC
Rfl George BARSON 4th BN NZ Rifle Bde
Pte Ernest BAULCH 60th Bn
Pte Leith BAULCH 8th Bn
Pte William BAULCH 58th Bn
Pte Walter BAXTER 9th Bn
*2nd Lt Charles BEANLAND 25th Bn
Pte James BECKER 47th Bn
*Pte William BEITZ 41st BN
Pte James BOOTH 15th Bn
Pte William BODY 29th Bn
*Pte Sydney BRAITHWAITE 4th Pioneers
*Pte Lowry BRISBIN 9th Bn
*Pte Frederick BURNELL 6th Bn
Pte Michael BYRNE 29th Bn
Pte Thomas CARLSON 23rd Bn
*Pte James COLE 9th Bn
Pte Charles COLEY 25th Bn
Sgt David COYNE AM 31st Bn
*Gnr Leonard DOBBS 1st Bde AFA
*Pte Albert DUMINSKI 41st Bn
*2nd Lt Benjamin EDWARDS 7th Bn
*Pte Albert FLEETWOOD 46th Bn
*Pte James FORBES 38th Bn
Pte George FORD 9th Bn
*Pte William FRY 52nd Bn
Pte John GALLAGHER 47th Bn
L/Sgt John GOODYEAR W’shire Reg
Cpl Albert GRAFFUNDER 2nd LHR
*Lt John HANLEY 5th LHR
*Cpl Alfred HILL 6th Bn
Pte Edward HINTON 49th Bn
Lt Kenneth HOLMES AFC
Pte Horace HULL 42nd Bn
Pte William HULL 46th Bn
*Pte John HUNTER 49th Bn
*Pte Robert JOHNS 15th Bn
Pte Arthur JOHNSON 9th Bn
Sgt Harold JONES 37th Bn
Pte Herbert KITCHEN 15th AMGC
*L/Corp James LAUNCHBURY 25th AMGC
Pte Thomas LILLINGSTON 41st Bn
Pte Walter LYNAM 51st Bn
Pte Lawrence MADIGAN 25th Bn
Sgt Thomas MADIGAN 12th AMGC
Capt Ivor MARGETTS 12th Bn
Pte Sidney MARSH 25th Bn
L/Corp Edward MARSHALL 50th Bn
Pte Oscar MATTHIES 8th LHR
Pte Edward McDONNELL 4th Pioneers
Pte Frederick McGUIRE 2nd Bn
Cover photo - Australian 1st Division Memorial - Pozieres
*Pte Roderick McLENNAN 47th Bn
Cpl Stanley MIDDLETON 8th LHR
*L/Corp Victor NEGUS 47th Bn
Pte Brendon O’BRIEN 3rd Bn
Pte William PAGE 16th Bn
Pte James PATERSON 49th Bn
L/Corp James PEARCE 48th Bn
Pte Walter PEARCE 8th AMGC
*Gnr Edward PLATT 11th Bde AFA
Pte Andrew PORTER 26th Bn
*Pte Arthur REEDMAN 11th AAMC
*Pte Victor REEDMAN 52nd Bn
*Pte Wilfred REEDMAN 9th Bn
*Pte Thomas RODGER KO Scottish Bdrers
Pte Frederick ROGERS 12th Bn
Pte George ROSE Middlesex Reg
Pte James SCANLON 47th Bn
L/Corp George SEARLE 25th Bn
*Pte Lindsay SHARP 25th Bn
Pte William SHAW 26th Bn
Pte John SINCLAIR Seaforth Highlanders
Pte Walter SINCLAIR 31st Bn
Pte Samuel TEENEY Royal Inniskilling Fus.
Pte Charles TIPPER 11th Bn
Pte William TURTON 9th Bn
L/Corp George WOLLASTON Royal B’shire Reg
Pte William WOLLASTON Royal W’shire Reg
*Gnr Herbert WARD 5th Div Tr Mortar
*Pte Robert WARD 13th Bn
*Cpl William WARD 49th Bn
Pte George WATERS 15th Bn
Dvr William WOOD 4th Amm AFA
Pte Frederick GILMOUR 1st Bn Canadian
Rfl Benjamin MOWLES 9th Rifle Bde
Pte Frederick G MOWLES 11th MGC
Pte Frederick W MOWLES Suffolk Yeomanry
Gnr Henry MOWLES Royal Field Artillery
Pte Thomas MOWLES Royal Fusiliers
Rfl Walter MOWLES Kings Royal Rifle Corps
World War Two
Pte Norman BROWN 2/26th Bn
Sgt James COWAN 2/3rd Machine Gun Bn
Sgt John GRAY 2/26th Bn
Pte James HENDERSON AAOC
Gnr D’Arcy HORE 2/10th Field Reg.
*Sqdn Ldr Eric JARMAN DFC 460 Sqdn
*Gnr Roy KELLY 2/10 Field Reg.
Pte Daniel O’CONNOR 2/26th Bn
Total
Pte Roy O’CONNOR 2/26th Bn
108
Pte John PALAZZI AASC
Pte Walter STOWE 2/19th Bn
Pte Aubrey THEODORE 2/26th Bn
Pte Ross WRIGHT AASC
World War One
Sgt Harry SLINGSBY 16th Bn Royal Cheshire Reg.
Pte Percy Nicholson 52nd Battalion
CEMETERIES AND MEMORIALS TO VISIT
SINGAPORE
Kranji War Cemetery & Singapore Memorial
GALLIPOLI
Lone Pine Memorial
Ari Burnu Cemetery
Beach Cemetery
Helles British Memorial
Lancashire Landing Cemetery
Lone Pine Cemetery
Quinn’s Post Cemetery
FRANCE
Australian National Memorial
Anzac Cemetery
Arras Memorial
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension
Bulls Road Cemetery
Bancourt British Cemetery
Bapaume Australian Cemetery
Becourt Military Cemetery
Courcelette British Cemetery
Crouy British Cemetery
Dartmoor British Cemetery
Dernacourt Communal Cemetery Extension
Estaires Communal Cemetery
Grevillers British Cemetery
Heath Cemetery
Noyelles Godult Communal Cemetery
Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension
Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension
Puchervillers British Cemetery
Pozieres British Cemetery
Queant Road Cemetery
Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension
Red Cross Corner Cemetery
Rue Petillion Military Cemetery
Savy British Cemetery
Thiepval Memorial
Trois Abres Cemetery
Vaulx Hill Cemetery
Vignacourt British Cemetery
Warlencourt British Cemetery
BELGIUM
Menin Gate Memorial
Buttes New British Cemetery & NZ Memorial
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Messines Ridge British Cemetery
Mud Corner Cemetery
Oxford Road Cemetery
Poperinghe New & Old Military Cemeteries
Reninghelst New Military Cemetery
Strand Military Cemetery
Tyne Cot Memorial
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
THAILAND
Hellfire Pass Memorial
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
World War 1
Private Ernest Archibald
No. 271 - 8th Battalion - aged 23
Ernest was the son of Alexander & Jessie Archibald from Smeaton, Victoria. He was working
as a farmer when he enlisted in Ballarat on 22 August, 1914. He embarked Melbourne as a
member of the 8th Battalion with the first contigent of the AIF on 19 October, 1914 & landed
with the 8th at Gallipoli on the 25 April. He survived the first day’s fighting, however he
received a gunshot wound to his head the next day as the 8th Battalion held the newly dug
trenches at the southern end of the Anzac line at Bolton’s Ridge. He was evacuated &
admitted to No. 15 General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt where he died of his wounds on
10 May. Ernest is buried in Chatby War Cemetery in Egypt and whilst the group won’t be able
to visit his grave, he will be commemorated at our Lone Pine Memorial service - not too far
from where he was mortally wounded.
Commemorated by Angela
Private James Archibald
James was Ernest’s older brother & he was also a farmer from Smeaton in Victoria. He
enlisted 2 weeks after Ernest, on 11 Sept., 1914 & was allotted to the transport section of the
14th Battalion as a driver. He served with the battalion at Gallipoli and returned to Egypt with
the transport section in Nov., 1915. James then spent time in hospital in Egypt in early 1916
with a sprained back. After leaving hospital, he was transported with his unit to France,
arriving on 8 June, 1916. Within 2 months, the 14th Battalion was heavily involved in the
Battle of Pozieres. During the push to capture Mouquet Farm, on 12 August, James received
a gun shot wound to his back which fractured his vertebrae. He was transported to the 3rd
CCS at Puchervillers, where he died the following day. He now lies in Puchervillers British
Cemetery, north of Amiens. Both Ernest & James are being commemorated on behalf of
Dr Helen Archibald of Mackay.
Private James Avery (relative)
No. 3115 - 51st Battalion - aged 31
James is the grandfather of Megan’s uncle, Fred Avery. He was born in 1886 in North
Melbourne to parents Samuel & Agnes Avery. He was living in Western Australia with his
wife, Eriminnie & five children & working as a carpenter when he enlisted into the AIF in Sept.,
1916 after having been previously rejected due to bad teeth. He left Fremantle on 23 Dec.,
1916 with the 8th Reinforcement to the 51st Battalion &, after spending some time in training
camps & hospital in England, he was taken on strength into the 51st in France on 3 August,
1917. In his first major action, James was involved in the famous attack north of Polygon
Wood by the 4th & 13th Brigades on 26 Sept. After having successfully reached their
objective on the southern outskirts of the village of Zonnebeke, James’ C Company was
digging in. Whilst working on his outpost, James was shot through the throat by a sniper. His
death is well recorded in Red Cross Files, with L/Corp McAuliffe stating, “We ….. were digging
in and making a bombing post when I saw Avery hit by a sniper in the neck. I went to him; he
was two yards away; and he died in my arms. We put him in a shell hole and buried him right
away.” This account is supported by a good friend of James’, Pte Reid, who stated, “We
reached our objective and dug in and while doing this Avery was sniped. I saw him fall and all
he said was “Oh God, I am done for”, and then he died.” Pte Campbell added, “He was buried
just near where hit … He was very popular amongst the boys.” James’ battlefield grave was
lost & he is now honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial. In a first for the project, Megan has
determined the approximate position of his battlefield burial & the group will visit the spot in
Zonnebeke. We will visit on 26 September, 91 years to the day after James was killed.
Commemorated by Megan
Lance Corporal Arthur Barbat (relative)
No. 3017 - 12th Australian Machine Gun Company - aged 27
Arthur is Casey’s great, great uncle and, at the time of his enlistment, was a sawmill manager
from Ipswich. He enlisted in August, 1915 with his two brothers, Leslie & Felix (Leslie is
Casey’s great grandfather) & embarked Brisbane as part of the 7th Reinforcement to the
26th Battalion on 30 Dec., 1915. In Egypt, he was transferred to the 48th Battalion & two
weeks later he was transferred again, this time to the 12th Machine Gun Company. He
arrived in France with his new unit on 11 June, 1916 and was severely wounded at Pozieres
on 6 August with a gunshot wound to the forearm. He was sent to England for treatment &
rejoined his unit in March, 1917. On 10 April, at Bullecourt, Arthur was wounded again, with
shrapnel hitting him in the arm, the back & penetrating his abdomen. He died from these
severe wounds on 16 April at the 3rd Australian CCS and was buried at Grevillers British
Cemetery, where he lies today. Casey is commemorating Arthur on behalf of her family &, in
particular, her grandfather, Jim Barbat, who is Arthur’s nephew.
Commemorated by Casey
Rifleman George Barson
No. 26/384 - 4th Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade - aged 30
George was a New Zealander from Featherston in the North Island. He was working as a
labourer when he enlisted on 11 Oct., 1915. After training in Egypt, he arrived with his unit in
France where he was wounded in action near Flers on 19 Sept., 1916, during the NZ
Division’s first action in France. Whilst recovering in England, George was attached to a
base depot. It was during this time that he married Mary Decks in London on 1 July, 1917.
His time with Mary was short lived and he rejoined his battalion in Dec., 1917, only to be
killed in action in Belgium on 4 Jan., 1918 as his unit manned the front lines around
Passchendaele. His body was not recovered & he is commemorated on the NZ Memorial at
Buttes New British Cemetery in Polygon Wood. Tragically, George’s older brother, Henry
died of pneumonia in England in Sept., 1918, only a month before the war’s end. George is
one of 3 relatives being commemorated on behalf of Frana McKinstry from Townsville.
Commemorated by Breanna
Private Ernest Baulch
Ernest was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria. At the time of his
enlistment he was married to Florence Baulch & the couple lived in
Maryborough, Victoria, where Ernest worked as a builder’s
labourer. He enlisted on 31 March, 1916 & spent some time at the
5th Division Base Depot, where he was EDP Sergeant. Ernest was
then transferred to the 60th Battalion & joined that unit in France as
a private on 6 April, 1917. He was granted 2 weeks leave in late
July and rejoined the 60th in time to be involved in the Battle of
Polygon Wood on 26 Sept. The 60th had a pivotal role in this battle
& fought its way through very stiff German opposition along the
southern edge of the wood, suffering 286 casualties. Ernest was
one of those killed in this action.
Ernest appears on a Graves Registration Unit exhumation list, which indicates that he was
given a battlefield burial & that his body was subsequently discovered & identified. He lies
today in a marked grave in Oxford Rd Cemetery. The accompanying photograph was taken
only a week before Ernest was killed. Ernest is one of three members of the Baulch family
being commemorated on behalf of Robert Baulch of Mackay.
Commemorated by Sharnee
Private Leith Baulch
Leith was the son of Silas and Emily Baulch of Macarthur, Victoria. He was working as a
labourer when he enlisted into the 2nd Reinforcement to the 8th Battalion in August, 1916 at
the age of 23. He embarked Australia on 2 October, 1916 & arrived in England on
16 November. After spending time in hospital due to illness, he joined the 8th Battalion in
France on 17 March, 1917. Leith was one of 63 battalion members wounded on 8 May as the
8th Battalion manned the Hindenburg Line trenches during the second Battle of Bullecourt.
He received a gunshot wound to the right thigh & was evacuated to hospital in England. He
didn’t rejoin his unit until December. Leith was killed in action on 14 April, 1918 during the 1st
Division’s desperate defence of Hazebrouk during the great German Spring Offensive. His
records indicate he was buried in the field 700 yards west of the village of Vieux Berquin but
his body was never recovered & he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial.
Private William Baulch
William was the son of Charles & Elizabeth Baulch of Lexton, near Ballarat in Victoria. He
was a farmer and worked his own property at Mt Widderin. He enlisted on 3 August, 1915 at
the relatively advanced age of 36. William embarked Australia on 27 October as a
reinforcement to the 23rd Battalion. On arrival in Egypt he was transferred to the 58th
Battalion & arrived in France with his unit in late June. After surviving the hell of the Battle of
Fromelles, in which nearly 2000 Australians died, William was killed during a quiet period
manning the front line trenches in late 1916. William’s records indicate that he was shot in the
head on 30 November as the battalion manned the cold & muddy trenches around Flers. He
was transferred to the 1st Anzac Dressing Station, where he died the next day. He was buried
in Dartmoor Cemetery & he lies in this cemetery today.
Private Walter Baxter
Walter, known as Wally, was the son of William & Mary Ann Baxter who lived on Nebo Rd,
Mackay. He was working as a labourer at Homebush when he enlisted on 8 April, 1916 &
embarked Australia on 7 September as part of the 20th Reinforcement to the 9th Battalion.
He joined the battalion in France in January, 1917 & fought through the many actions of that
year, including the battles of Lagnicourt, Bullecourt & the Menin Rd. Wally died of wounds
received on 5 November, 1917 as he & a party of 9th Battalion men worked at a dump behind
the front line at Westhoek Ridge.
A report on his death states, “On 5/11/17 a shell landed in front of the dugout & exploded, a
piece of it striking Private Baxter in the neck. His wound was dressed & he died shortly after.
He was buried about 30 yards from the dump & a small cross was erected over the grave.”
This grave was subsequently lost & Wally’s name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial to the
missing. His body either still lies where it was buried or he was re-interred as an unknown
soldier into a nearby cemetery. Wally’s brother, John, who served in the Light Horse, died of
wounds in May, 1918 & is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial in Israel. Wally is being
commemorated on behalf of Lester & Rosemary Matsen of Yakapari. Rosmary is the son of
Charles Percival, who was Wally’s great friend. Charles returned from the war & it will mean a
great deal to Rosemary for Rebecca to honour her father’s best mate.
Commemorated by Rebecca
2nd Lieutenant Charles Beanland (relative)
25th Battalion - aged 22
Charles, a timber loader from Woodford, Qld, is Jillian’s great, great
uncle. He was the 10th & youngest child of Thomas & Lydia
Beanland & he enlisted one month short of his 20th birthday, on
8 Sept., 1915. He embarked Australia on 28 March the following year
&, after spending time in Egypt, he arrived in France and was taken
on strength into the 25th Battalion on 4 August, 1916. At this time,
the 25th was holding the front line trenches in the OG lines east of
Pozieres. The fighting at this time was very intense and Charles
received a gunshot wound to his shoulder on 5 August, the day after
he joined the battalion. This harsh initiation to war resulted in Charles
spending four months in hospital in England. After his recovery, he rejoined his unit in
December &, apart from some short hospital stays due to illness, fought through the 25th’s
actions of 1917. Charles was wounded a second time at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 Oct.,
however he was able to rejoin his battalion the next day. His ability as a soldier was
apparent as he was promoted to Sergeant in October and subsequently sent to officer school
in England. He rejoined the battalion in mid June, 1918 as a 2nd Lieutenant & led his
platoon in the 25th’s supportive attack during the Battle of Hamel on 4 July. Charles was
wounded for a third time early in the attack, receiving a shell wound to the abdomen.
According to an eyewitness, Sgt C. Raison, he was, “conscious & quite cheerful”, as he was
evacuated. His wound was obviously more serious than he thought and he died at the 5th
CCS at 10pm that evening. He was buried near the CCS at Crouy British Cemetery, where
he lies today. In his report, Sgt Raison paid the ultimate compliment to Charles, writing in
the typical Australian digger’s understated way that Charles was, “a real good soldier”.
Commemorated by Jillian
Private James Becker
James was born in Taroom, Qld in 1893 to parents Thomas & Mary Ann Becker. At the time
of his enlistment on 6 Sept., 1915 he was working as a stockman. He embarked Brisbane on
31 Jan., 1916 & spent time training in Egypt where his younger brother, Charles, had died of
illness the previous December. James arrived in France in June, 1916 with the 47th
Battalion & was killed in action on 8 August, 1916 as the 47th held the front line trenches
along the OG lines at Pozieres. He was most likely killed by shellfire & his records indicate
that he was buried in the field “500 yds north of Pozieres”. This battlefield grave was lost &
he has no known grave. As such, he is honoured on the Australian National Memorial,
France. James is the great uncle of Janelle Becker from Bloomsbury.
Commemorated by Caitlin
Private Willaim Beitz (relative)
William was born in Roma in Jan., 1897 to parents Carl and Rachel
Beitz. He was a station hand & enlisted in Brisbane in Jan., 1916, aged
19. He embarked Australia in May, 1916 and joined the 41st Battalion in
France in November. After spending time in hospital with the mumps, he
rejoined his unit on 19 Jan., 1917, only to be wounded in the left shoulder by gunfire on 27 Feb. He was evacuated to the 2nd Australian CCS,
where he died from this wound on 4 March. William is buried in Trois
Abres Military Cemetery, northern France. He is the uncle of Rachel’s
grandmother, Mona Charles.
Commemorated by Rachel
Private James Booth
James was a farmer from Wellington Point in Brisbane. He enlisted 30 Sept., 1916 & embarked Australia on 25 Nov. as part of the 23rd Reinforcement to the 15th Battalion. After
spending some time in training camps in England, he joined his battalion in Belgium on 12
June, 1917. James was destined to serve for less than one month. On the night of 3/4 July,
the 15th Bn was manning the support lines near Ploegsteert Wood, Messines. James &
another soldier, Pte James Rossi were killed instantly when a shell landed directly in their
dugout as the battalion was preparing to move up to the front line. Both men now lie side by
side in the small Mud Corner Cemetery, situated on the outskirts of Ploegsteert Wood.
James’ brother-in-law, Tom Lillingston, also died in the war & is being commemorated by Jack.
James is being honoured on behalf of Jill Brown from Brisbane.
Commemorated by Jack
Private William Body
No. 6705- 29th Battalion - aged 17
William was from Wangarratta, Victoria & was the 16th & last living child of William & Margaret
Body. He was working as a farmhand on Coppabella Station at the foothills of the Snowy
Mountains when he enlisted in July, 1916. At the time of enlistment he was only 16. His father
signed the enlistment papers but he enlisted against his mother’s wishes. He embarked
Australia on 17 Nov., 1916 &, on arriving in France, was transferred from the 14th Battalion to
the 29th Battalion, which he joined in the field in April, 1917. William was killed in action on
26/27 Sept., 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood. Interestingly, his records indicate that
he was, “buried in Polygon Wood Race Course by Rev. E. G. Wells.” However, his grave was
lost & he is now honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial. There can be no doubt William was
killed somewhere in the wood itself, as this was the 29th’s area of operation. It is certainly
possible that his body was recovered and that he lies today as an unknown soldier in Buttes
New British Cemetery. Whether he lies as an unknown soldier in Buttes New British or in his
original grave, there is no doubt that William lies somewhere in Polygon Wood today. A sad
postscript to this story is that William’s mother, who was so upset by his enlistment, died 3
weeks before the Battle of Polygon Wood. William went to his death never knowing his mother
had passed away. He is being commemorated on behalf of his great nephew, Don Body, of
Bomaderry, NSW.
Private Sydney Braithwaite
No. 2085A - 4th Pioneer Battalion - aged 20
Sydney was born in Springvale, Yeppoon & was the son of Thomas & Mary Ann Braithwaite.
He was working as a farmhand when he enlisted at the age of 19 on 5 Jan., 1916. He left
Aust. on 1 May & was allotted to the 4th Pioneer Battalion in England in August of that year.
He proceeded overseas to France in Nov., joining the 4th Pioneers in the field on the 19th. He
was admitted to hospital with mumps in December & rejoined his unit in late Jan., 1917.
Sydney spent the rest of the year serving during the major battles of Bullecourt & Messines
before enjoying 2 weeks leave in late July. He returned to the battalion in time for the 4th
Division’s heavy involvement in the hellish battles near Passchendaele & he was killed in action on 22 Oct. His records indicate he died of gas poisoning, which was one of the most
feared forms of death. Sydney was reported to have been buried in Birr Cross Rd Cemetery
No. 2. along the Menin Road, however when the cemetery was concentrated into Birr Cross
Rd Cemetery No. 1, his original grave could not be located. Fourteen unidentified soldiers
were recovered from the cemetery and the War Graves Unit considered that Sydney was most
likely one of these soldiers. He now has a special memorial in the cemetery which reads “Believed to be buried in this cemetery, actual grave unknown.” Sydney is being honoured on
behalf of Ray Braithwaite of Mackay.
Private Lowry Brisbin (relative)
Lowry was the son of John & Annie Brisbin & was from Mt Morgan. He was working as a clerk
when he enlisted on 2 Sept., 1914 & left Australia with the first contingent of the AIF. Lowry
was a member of C Company of the 9th Battalion which landed at the southern end of Anzac
Cove on 25 April. Lowry fought through the first desperate days at Anzac only to be killed in
action on 2 May. The circumstances surrounding his death are unknown, & his body was lost.
He is now commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial. In his Roll of Honour circular his sister,
Margaret, wrote, “He was young & greatly respected by the residents of Mt Morgan with whom
he came in contact. His future was very promising.” Clearly, he was a deep loss to the family.
Lowry is being honoured on behalf of Sharnee’s aunty, Joan Cole.
Private Frederick Burnell (relative)
Frederick was born in Surrey, England & served in the Boer War. After the war, he married
his best friend’s sister, Sarah Hall & they had two children, Lucy’s great uncle, Francis & his
younger brother, Frederick. Fred senior emigrated to Australia on his own whilst his family
stayed on in England. He enlisted on 17 August, 1914 into the original draft of the 6th
Battalion & embarked with the first AIF contingent on 19 Oct., 1914. Fred landed at Anzac on
the morning of 25 April & he went missing in action during the confused & ferocious fighting on
the day. Lucy’s research has led her believe that he was most likely killed on Pine Ridge &
that his body was never recovered due to the fact that the Turks re-took this area on the first
day. Fred is today honoured on the Lone Pine Memorial. Commemorated by Lucy
Private Michael Byrne
No. 474 - 29th Battalion- aged 24
Michael was born in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland (Canada) in 1893, to
parents John & Elizabeth Bryne. He was a seaman and was on a ship off
Melbourne in June 1915. He left the ship to volunteer into the AIF and was
allotted to the 29th Battalion. He embarked Aust. in Nov., 1915 &, after
training in Egypt, the 29th Battalion arrived in France in late June, 1916.
The battalion was then involved in the infamous Battle of Fromelles on
19/20 July. Michael survived this disastrous battle but was wounded in the
face on 27 Sept. He spent more time in hospital with skin complaints & the
mumps & eventually rejoined his unit on 14 Feb. 1917. He was killed in
action on 2 March, during an attack on Sunray Trench, near Guedecourt & he is buried at
Bancourt British Cemetery. Michael is being honoured on behalf of his relative, Sean Byrne,
who lives in Newfoundland. Sean contacted the school after viewing the project’s website.
Commemorated by Emilia
Private Thomas Carlson
No. 1049 - 23rd Battalion - aged 27
Thomas was the son of Charles and Maryann Carlson of Drysdale, Victoria. He was born in
Geelong and at the time of his enlistment he was working as a labourer. He left Melbourne
with the initial draft of the 23rd Battalion in May, 1915 and landed at Gallipoli with his unit on
30 August. After serving at Gallipoli and further training in Egypt, the 23rd Battalion arrived in
France in late March, 1916. In June, Charles was admitted to hospital after being wounded in
the neck and eye by a bomb whilst the battalion held the line at Rue de Bois. He rejoined his
unit in early Sept and served continuously until August, 1917, when he was awarded 2 weeks
leave. He rejoined the 23rd Battalion on 7 Sept, 1917, in time for great attacks planned east
of Ypres. Thomas was killed on 21 Sept., at Chateau Wood, most probably by shellfire. He
was originally buried at Chateau Wood Cemetery but his body was later re-interred into Hooge
Crater Cemetery. Thomas is being honoured on behalf of June Carlson of Corio, Victoria.
Private James Cole (relative)
James, a labourer from Mackay, was married to Margaret Cole & enlisted in January, 1916.
He embarked Brisbane on 8 August, 1916 & arrived in England in mid Oct. After some weeks
in hospital with an illness, James joined the 9th Battalion in France in January, 1917. On 21
April, as the battalion was in the reserve lines near Morchies, James received gunshot
wounds to the groin & shoulder. He was evacuated to the 3rd Aust. Field Ambulance where
he died of his wounds the next day. He was buried by Chaplain Douglas in Red Cross Corner
Cemetery. James is being honoured on behalf of Sharnee’s aunty, Joan Cole.
Private Charles Coley
Charles was born in Roma, Qld & at the time of his enlistment he was working in his first year
as a school teacher. He enlisted on 19 August, 1916 & was allotted to the 25th Battalion. He
arrived in England in March, 1917 &, after spending most of the year serving at a training
depot, he joined his battalion in the field in Jan., 1918. He fought with his unit through to the
famous attack by the 2nd Division at Mont St Quentin on 2 Sept. Charles was killed in this
action, with Red Cross eye witness accounts all confirming the cause of death. Pte Ramsay
wrote, “He was hit in the pit of the stomach by machine gun bullet, he was conscious for a few
minutes but died where he fell.” Charles was only 19 when he died & he was buried at
Peronne Communal Cemetery. He is being honoured on behalf of Chris Stone of Brisbane.
Sergeant David Coyne AM
David was the son of David & Annie Coyne & was born and raised in Marian.
He enlisted as a 20 year old in Jan., 1916 and joined the 31st Battalion in
France in Dec., 1916. He fought with distinction with the battalion, rising to
the rank of sergeant. David’s death was particularly tragic and he has the
distinction of being the only Australian to have been awarded the Albert Medal
Gold. On the night of 15 May, David was testing grenades in the front lines
trenches. A live grenade fell back into his trench which was occupied by 6
other soldiers. David immediately threw himself on top of the grenade to
protect his mates around him. The blast caused multiple wounds all over
David’s body & he died the next day in hospital. He was buried at Vignacourt British
Cemetery, where he lies today. He is being honoured on behalf of Viv Dodt of Finch Hatton.
Commemorated by Casey
Gunner Leonard Dobbs (relative)
No. 2017 - 1st Brigade Australian Field Artillery - aged 20
Leonard was born in Grafton, NSW and was the son of Joseph & Francis
Dobbs. Before the war, Leonard was a farmer. He enlisted in Wagga
Wagga on 5 Nov. 1915 & was initially allotted to the 2nd Light Horse
Regiment. In early 1917, he was transferred to the 1st Brigade AFA. On
17 August, 1917, Leonard & Lance Sgt Herbert Affleck were carrying a
wounded Pte John McCarthy on a stretcher near Zillebeke. A shell landed
on top of them and all three men were killed. They all now lie together in
Reninghelst British Cemetery. In a letter found on his body, Leonard had
written to his family: “In my own mind I am fighting for all of you whom I love at home & if I
die, I die for you, what better does a man want.” Leonard is Ellen’s relative & she will be the
first family member to visit his grave.
Commemorated by Ellen
Private Albert Duminski (relative)
Albert is Kate’s great, great grandfather. He was a labourer from Brisbane & was the son of
Julius & Caroline Duminski. He enlisted on 15 May, 1916, however, concerned by his
German sounding name, he enlisted as Thomas Allen. He left Australia on 7 Sept. & joined
the 41st Battalion in France on 23 March, 1917. A month later he was detached to the 11th
Trench Mortar Battery, the unit he served with until his death on 3 July, 1917. On this day,
Albert & his mates were resting in a trench when they were killed by a shell explosion. An
eyewitness, Pte Carr, stated, “At about noon on July 3rd, Allen and I and Pte Pollett and Cpl
Taggett were asleep in the trench when a shell came and wounded me and killed the other
three. The three were buried there where they were killed.” Albert’s body was subsequently
found and re-interred into Messines Ridge British Cemetery - in grave III. D. 14. Of note, Cpl
Taggert was also re-interred and lies near Albert in grave III. D. 12. Pte Pollett has no known
grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Could he lie in an unknown grave
between Albert and Cpl Taggert?
Commemorated by Kate
2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Edwards (relative)
Ben, the son of James & Harriet Edwards, was a civil engineer from Bendigo, Victoria. He
enlisted on 18 August, 1914 at the age of 20 & sailed with the 7th Battalion in the first AIF
contingent to leave Aust. in October. Ben landed at Anzac Cove with his unit as a corporal
on 25 April. He survived the first hectic days & was promoted to Sergeant on 30 April. This
promotion was immediately extended to 2nd Lt. He fought continuously with the 7th until his
death during the Battle of Lone Pine. The 7th Bn was heavily involved in the consolidation of
the trenches taken by the 1st Brigade on 6/7 August, so much so that an unprecedented 4
VCs were won by 7th Bn members. Ben, as a platoon leader, would have been in the thick
of the battle until his death on 8 August. Unlike most of those killed at Lone Pine, Ben’s body
was recovered & he was buried at Brown’s Dip North Cemetery, near Lone Pine. After the
war, the men lying in this cemetery were re-interred into Lone Pine Cemetery, where Ben lies
today. He is being honoured on behalf of the Galletly family, in particular Lucy’s
grandmother, Augusta Galletly.
Commemorated by Lucy
Private Albert ‘Jack’ Fleetwood (relative)
Albert, a milkman, was from Tamworth, NSW & was the husband of
Lillian and father of Jack. His nickname was ‘Jack’ and he was known
around Tamworth as the ‘whistling milko’.
He enlisted in Sept. 1916, only weeks after marrying Lillian, & sailed to
France as part of the 7th Reinforcement to the 46th Battalion. He
joined the unit in France in mid April, 1917 and was trained as a Lewis
machine gunner. On the day before the Battle of Messines, Albert was
attached to the 47th Battalion, which was to be involved in the battle.
This was Albert’s first action of the war and, on 7 June, as he fought
with his adopted battalion, he was hit by machine gun fire, suffering
multiple bullet wounds to his right arm & shoulder. He was transferred
to the 2nd Australian CCS at Bailleul, where he died five days later on 12 June, quite
possibly from gangrene. He was 22 years old when he died & is buried at Bailleul Communal
Cemetery Extension, France. Albert’s son, Jack, had been born 6 months earlier. Sadly,
Albert never got the chance to see him & Jack grew up never having known his father.
Mr Goodwin has visited Albert’s grave with previous tour groups and he is very keen to
introduce the inspiration for the Anzac Project to the Remembrance 2008 group.
Commemorated by Mr Goodwin
Private James Forbes (relative)
No. 741 – 38th Battalion - aged 24
James was a farm manager from Werribee in Victoria & he enlisted into the AIF in Feb., 1916.
He was allotted to the 38th Battalion & sailed with his unit on 20 June. He arrived in England
in August &, after time in hospital with illness, rejoined his unit in Jan., 1917. James was killed
in action on 28 May that year during a raid undertaken by his company on the German
trenches near Messines. James was acting as a scout, directing the raiders through the
barbed wire. At the end of the raid, as he waited for all the men to retire, he was shot through
the head & died instantly. His body was brought back to the Aust. lines by his comrades & he
was buried in Strand Cemetery, near Ploegsteert Wood, next to Pte George Freeman, who
was killed in the same raid. James is the uncle of Lauren’s step grandmother.
Commemorated by Lauren
Private George Ford
George was a labourer who lived in Evan St, Mackay. He enlisted in Jan., 1915 & joined the
9th Battalion at Gallipoli on 10 July, 1915. He was evacuated due to illness in Sept. & didn’t
rejoin the 9th until Dec., 1916. He was serving as a machine gunner when he was killed
instantly by a shell fragment whilst in the line near Warlencourt on 23 Feb., 1917. He was
buried near where he fell & was later re-interred into Warlencourt British Cemetery, where he
lies today. George is being commemorated on behalf of Rebecca Stook of Mackay.
Private William Fry (relative)
No. 2428 – 52nd Battalion - aged 23
William is Angela’s great, great uncle. He was born in Mareeba & was working as a labourer
in Proserpine when he enlisted in Townsville in Dec., 1915 at the age of 21. He sailed with
the 5th Reinforcement to the 52nd Battalion on 19 Sept. 1916 & arrived in England in Dec.
He joined the 52nd in France on 2 April, 1917 but was admitted to hospital with lumbago.
He rejoined his unit at the end of April & served until he was killed in action on 10 June, 1917
during the Battle of Messines. There is no record of how William died, however his only Red
Cross entry states that a British soldier had given a 52nd Bn member 4 identity discs of Aust.
soldiers his unit had buried in the field. William’s disc was one of these. His body (& those of
the other three) was lost & he is today remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Private John Gallagher
John was born in Strentlough, Ireland & came to Australia in 1892 at the
age of 20. He worked as a draper in his parent’s business in Brisbane.
John was married to Mary & had 4 children under the age of 8 when the
war broke out. He enlisted at the age of 43 on 20 August, 1915 & left
Australia on 30 Dec. Whilst in Egypt, John was transferred to the 47th Bn
in March, 1916. He arrived in France with the 47th in June & spent time in
hospital with a septic toe. John was killed during his first action on
10 August, 1916 as the 47th Bn held the front line trenches along the OG
lines at Pozieres. The cause of death was most likely shellfire. His
records indicate that he was, “buried sunken road 1/2 mile (800m) SE Pozieres.” It would
seem that John was initially wounded in the front line & taken back to the rear area, where he
died & was buried. His grave was lost but after the war his body was found, identified &
re-interred in Pozieres British Cemetery. John is being commemorated on behalf of his grand
daughter, Bernice Marchant of North Mackay. Bernice’s family has always thought John was
missing. When Demi told Bernice that he actually had a grave, this was the first time any of
the family had been informed of this fact. Commemorated by Demi
Lance Sergeant John Goodyear
No. 12156 - 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - aged 22
John was from the village of Great Malvern in England & he enlisted into
the British Army after war was declared in 1914. He spent the winter of
1914 in the bitterly cold front line trenches in France & was sent to
hospital suffering frostbite & exposure. In March, 1915, John returned to
his unit which was then sent to Gallipoli. John’s unit was involved in the
2nd Battle of Krithia on 6 May & it was during this failed attempt to
capture the village of Krithia that John was wounded. He died of these
wounds the next day. John was also Mentioned in Despatches for brave
conduct during the battle. John has no known grave & he is
commemorated on the Helles British Memorial. His brother, James was also killed during the
war. John is being honoured on behalf of his relative, Jean Parker of Mackay.
Commemorated by Bronte
Corporal Albert Graffunder
No. 464 - 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment - aged 26
Albert was born at Te Kowai, near Mackay in 1890. He acquired a
selection at Kolijo (near Calen) in 1912 and spent the next few years
clearing his land for farming. Albert enlisted in late 1914 and joined the
2nd LH Regiment. He arrived with his unit at Gallipoli early in the
campaign and fought at the infamous Quinn’s Post, where he was killed in
action on 14 May during a night assault on Turkish trenches. Another
Mackay man, Jack Wentford, was mortally wounded in the same action.
Albert was buried at Pope’s Hill Cemetery by Chaplain G. Green and his
body was subsequently moved after the war to Quinn’s Post Cemetery,
where he lies today. Albert is being commemorated on behalf of Rebecca Stook of Mackay.
Lieutenant John Hanly (relative)
5th Australian Light Horse Regiment - aged 40
John was born in Dalby in May, 1875 & attended school in Clifton. He enlisted into the Qld
Mounted Infantry in 1899 & served with the Qld Mounted Troopers in the Boer War, where he
was wounded in the ankle. John married Bridget Hanly in 1908 & then built up a successful
grazing property at Kannkillinbine near Dalby. By the start of WW1 he & Bridget had 3
children. He enlisted on 30 Sept., 1914 & successfully applied for a commission as an
officer. He was given the rank of Lieutenant & was allotted to C Squadron of the 5th Light
Horse Regiment. He embarked Australia in Dec., 1914 & arrived at Gallipoli with his unit on
16 May, 1915. John was killed in action on 6 June as he led a patrol to the Turkish position
known as the Twin Trenches in the southern sector of the Anzac lines. John’s body was
never recovered & an army enquiry into his death was held in August. Sgt Young provided
the most comprehensive evidence, stating in part, “Mr Hanly gave the
order to charge, this was done, when we reached the top of the
parapet shots were exchanged…. while Mr Hanly was on the parapet
I saw him fall, he was apparently dead ….. The party then withdrew,
two men carrying Mr Hanly’s body ….. After we had gone another 200
yards the fire became heavier and we were obliged to leave Mr Hanly’s
body.” A patrol went out the following night to recover John’s body,
however it could not be found. The army enquiry officially deemed that
John was killed on that night. John, who is Michelle’s paternal great,
great uncle, is now commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
Commemorated by Michelle
Corporal Alfred Hill (relative)
Alfred was a dental student from Melbourne & was the son of Dr Charles & Leila Hill. He
enlisted in August, 1914 and was allotted to the 5th Battalion. He left Aust. on 21 Oct., 1914
& landed at Gallipoli on 25 April. The next day he received a shrapnel wound to his heel,
which required him to be evacuated to hospital in Egypt. He was then sent back to Australia
in August, 1915, where, whilst convalescing, he married Emma Hill. After his recovery, he
re-embarked Australia on 25 Oct. 1916 & arrived in England on 23 Dec. He was allotted to
the newly formed 16th Brigade, which was disbanded before it saw action. He then spent
some time detached to the 51st Dental Corps unit before being ordered to join the 6th Bn in
Belgium on 21 Oct. Alfred was killed in action on 16 April, 1918, as the Australian 1st
Division fought to defend the French Flanders area around the city of Hazebrouk. There are
no specific details on his death, however the battalion was in camp behind the lines on this
day & records indicate that a number of men were killed when German shells landed in &
around the camp area. It is most likely that Alfred was one of those killed. He has no known
grave, though, which would indicate that his original grave was lost or destroyed. He is now
commemorated on the Australian National Memorial. Alfred is Kate’s great, great uncle.
Private Edward Hinton
No. 5123A - 49th Battalion - aged 32
Edward is one of two Dungaree marchers being honoured by Ms Johns (the other is Sydney
Marsh). He was born in 1885 & was one of 12 children of English migrants, Henry & Ann
Hinton. When the ‘Brave Dungarees’ marched through Ipswich on 26 Nov., 1915, Edward
joined their ranks & enlisted in Brisbane soon after. He embarked Aust. on 4 May, 1916 as a
reinforcement to the 26th Battalion & joined the 26th in France in early Oct. He was then
transferred to the 49th Bn but spent most of the winter in hospital with illness & the mumps.
Edward recovered to fight in the heavy action around Norieul in April, 1917 & was then
involved in the Battle of Messines, where he was killed in action on 7 June. As the men of the
49th started their attack a shell landed near Edward &, according to numerous witnesses, he
was very badly wounded in the legs & lower body. A stretcher bearer dressed his wounds,
but most witnesses stated that they either thought he could not survive or had heard that he
had died. However, there are no definitive statements as to his final fate. He was listed as
“wounded & missing” & his body has never found or identified. As such he is now honoured
on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Commemorated by Ms Johns
Lieutenant Kenneth Holmes
Australian Flying Corp - 22 Squadron RFC - aged 27
Kenneth was born in Prahran, Victoria & was a civil engineer. By the time of his enlistment at
the age of 25, both his parents were deceased & he listed his elder sister, Bessie as his next
of kin. He enlisted in June, 1915 &, with his professional background, was allotted to the 5th
Field Engineers. He was transferred to the 14th Battalion in Egypt on 9 March, 1916 & then
to the 4th Pioneers a week later. He served with this unit in France, being promoted to
Lieutenant in June. He left the Pioneers on 18 April, 1917 after being accepted into the Aust.
Flying Corps. After training in England, he joined the AFC as a qualified observer & was
attached for duty to 22 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. On 11 August, 1917, Kenneth’s two
seater Bristol Fighter, piloted by Lt E.A.H. Ward, was shot down by German air ace Adolf
Ritter Von Tutschek. Records state that Kenneth died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on
the date he was shot down, so it seems that he survived the crash for a short time. Both
Kenneth & Lt Ward are buried side by side in the Noyelles Godault Communal Cemetery.
Kenneth is the first Australian airman from WW1 to be commemorated in this project & he is
being honoured on behalf of his relative, Margaret Cameron from Mackay.
Commemorated by Stephanie
Private Horace Hull
No. 135 - 42nd Battalion - aged 20
Horace, from Avondale, near Maryborough, was the son of David and Mary Ann Hull and was
working as a labourer when he enlisted into the AIF in Nov. 1915, at the age of 19. He left
Australia in June 1916 and, after arrival in England in July, was taken on strength into the
42nd Battalion. He proved to be somewhat of a larrikin and a headache for army authorities,
with 4 breaches of discipline recorded against him in England and in France. Horace was
slightly wounded in the buttock during the Battle of Messines on 10 June 1917, however the
wound did not require hospitalisation. Three months later, his luck ran out during the
operations around Broodseinde Ridge when he was wounded by a penetrating gun shot
wound to the thorax on Sept 29. He was evacuated to the 2nd Anzac CCS and died of his
wound the next day. He was buried in Poperinghe New British Cemetery, where he lies today.
Private William Hull
Horace’s brother, William was a stockman and he initially enlisted in April 1915 and was
allotted to the 26th Battalion. However, he was subsequently moved to Broadmeadows army
camp in Victoria and was re-allotted into the 29th Battalion for embarkation. After arriving in
Egypt in early 1916, he was again transferred, this time to the 46th Battalion, the unit he
served with until his death. William’s service with the battalion was not without incident.
On 21 August 1916, he fractured his skull in an accident and spent 3 months in hospital in
England. On his return to the unit he developed trench feet during the 46th’s front line duty in
the muddy trenches around Flers. This injury kept him in hospital for a further 4 months and
he rejoined the 46th in France in mid March. Unfortunately, he arrived before the 46th’s
involvement in the infamous Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April. William was killed at some stage
during the furious fighting in the German Hindeburg Line and his body was never recovered.
He was listed as missing in action and was declared as being killed in action after an army
court of enquiry conducted in November, 1917. Today, William is commemorated on the
Australian National Memorial in France. The Hull brothers are being commemorated on
behalf of Lorelle Peaty of Brisbane.
Private John Hunter (relative)
John was born in Jimboomba, Qld & was working as a timber getter
at Nanango when he enlisted on 25 Oct., 1916. He was allotted to
the 9th Reinforcement to the 49th Battalion &, after time training in
England, joined the 49th in Belgium on 25 August, 1917. His first
action with his unit was the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26 Sept. John
was killed in this action &, according to family records, was buried in
the field on Westhoek Ridge by his brother, James, also a member of
the 49th. This battlefield grave was subsequently lost & for 90 years
John was commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. John Hunter
became a household name in Australia in 2006 when his body was
found, along with four comrades, by gas contactors during the
construction of a road. The bodies were found wrapped in blankets
tied up with signal wire and their uniforms were preserved in the moist clay soil. John was
identified through DNA linked to his niece, Molly Millis. The five soldiers were re-interred into
Buttes New British Cemetery in a solemn ceremony on 4 Oct., 2007. John is Emilia’s distant
relative & she will be the first from her side of the family to commemorate him at his new
gravesite.
Private Robert Johns (relative)
Robert was born in Ipswich, Qld & was the son of George & Margaret Johns. He was working
as a farm labourer at Rosewood when he enlisted in Oct., 1915, aged 18. He was originally
allotted to the 25th Battalion but was transferred to the 15th Battalion in Egypt in March, 1916.
He arrived with the 15th Bn in France in June and, after manning trenches in the ‘Nursery’
sector near the Belgian border, was involved in the 15th’s first battle in France - the infamous
Battle of Pozieres. Robert became one of the many battalion casualties in the ill-fated
attempts to capture Mouquet Farm, to the north of Pozieres. He was killed on 8 August, 1916
as the 4th Brigade fought desperately to capture trenches & strongpoints in front of the heavily
defended farm. Robert was initially reported to be wounded in action & it wasn’t until 30 Sept.
that this report was changed to killed in action. The circumstances surrounding his death are
uncertain, however it seems clear that he was wounded during the battle (which was reported
by a comrade) & that he subsequently died on the battlefield. His body was not recovered &
he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial, France. Robert is Ms Johns’ great
uncle.
Private Arthur Johnson
Arthur was born in Caboolture & was working as a cook in Herberton when he travelled to
Cairns to enlist on 5 Jan., 1916. He was allotted to the 18th Reinforcement to the famous 9th
Battalion & embarked Australia with this detachment on 4 May. He arrived in France in Oct.,
& spent the next 2 months in hospital with the mumps. He joined the 9th in the field in Dec.
but was in & out of hospital with a series of complaints during the first half of 1917. Arthur was
killed in action at Broodseinde Ridge on 10 Oct., 1917 in what were very unfortunate
circumstances. The 9th Bn had been manning the front line under constant shellfire for two
days. At 1am on the morning of the 10th, the battalion was relieved & was moving back to the
rear when Arthur was killed by a British (or Australian) shell. His records indicate he was
buried at D.29.A.6.8, which places his battlefield grave just south of Broodseinde village on
the road to Molenaarelst. This grave was later destroyed & Arthur is now honoured on the
Menin Gate Memorial. If his body was recovered after the war, he most probably lies in Tyne
Cot Cemetery as an unknown soldier. Demi has taken an interest in Arthur due to her
connection with Herberton.
Commemorated by Demi
Sergeant Harry Jones
Harry was from Bright, Victoria. He was the son of Thomas & Margaret Jones & husband of
Ivy &, at the time of his enlistment in Feb., 1916, he was working as a winchman & engine
driver. He left Australia with the 37th Battalion on 3 June, 1916 & arrived in France in Dec.
He quickly showed his skill as a soldier & had attained the rank of Sergeant by April, 1917.
Harry was killed in action during the 37th’s first battle, the Battle of Messines on 7 June. His
official date of death is 8 June, and whilst the circumstances surrounding his death are
unclear, all eye witness accounts place his date of death as the 7th. The most consistent
reports indicate that Harry was wounded in the attack & that he was killed as he made his way
back to a dressing station for treatment. A number of witnesses also claim to have seen his
body on the battlefield. Whatever the circumstances of his death, the fact is that Harry’s body
was lost & he has no known grave. His records do, however, indicate that he was buried in
the cemetery at Bethleem Farm. Today, there are two small cemeteries at Bethleem Farm, so
it is possible that Harry’s headstone was destroyed & that he lies in one of the cemeteries as
an unknown soldier. Harry is being commemorated on behalf of Sue & Greg Carroll from
Mackay.
Commemorated by Duane
Private Herbert Kitchen
No. 15096 – 15th Australian Machine Gun Company - aged 19
Herbert was born in St Arnaud, Victoria & was the son Herbert & Maria
Kitchen of Albert Park. He was working as a labourer when he enlisted on 4
Jan., 1916 & he arrived in England as a member of the 24th Howitzer
Artillery Brigade. Herbert was transferred to the 15th Machine Gun
Company in Jan., 1917 but, sadly, he only survived for 3 weeks with his new
unit, being killed in action near Guedecourt on 25 Jan. The cause of death is unknown,
however it is most likely he was killed by shellfire. Herbert’s body was not recovered & his
name appears on the Australian National Memorial in France. He is being commemorated
on behalf of his relative, John Palmer from Perth. Commemorated by Phillip
Lance Corporal James Launchbury (relative)
No. 382 - 25th Company Australian Machine Gun Corps - aged 20
James was born in Bundaberg, one of 10 children to William & Editha
Launchbury. He was working as a railway porter when he enlisted in May,
1916, just a month before his 19th birthday. He joined the 25th MGC in
France in Feb., 1917 & was promoted to Lance Corporal in March. After
spending 3 months in hospital with mumps, James rejoined his unit in Sept.
He was killed on the night of 5 Oct. as he & his machine gun team manned
trenches on Westhoek Ridge. Red Cross files give clear reports on how he
was killed, with Pte Thompson writing, “He was killed at night in Oct. near Polygon Wood
instantly by a 5.2 shell which hit the parados & burst down the trench.” Three other men of
his team were killed & many reports indicate that the men were buried together in a shell
hole near the trench where they died. Two of these men were exhumed & have marked
graves, whilst James & the other man are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Private Tom Lillingstone
Tom was a carpenter by trade & came from Milton in Brisbane. He was married to Stella
(nee Booth - James Booth’s sister). He enlisted at the age of 33 on 10 Oct., 1916 and left
Australia as part of the 6th Reinforcements to the 41st Battalion on 23 Dec., 1916. He spent
some months in hospital in England with illness before joining the 41st Battalion in Belgium
on 17 July, 1917. Tom was killed in action during the 11th Brigade’s attack at Broodseinde
Ridge on 4 Oct. (although his date of death is recorded as the 5th). A number of witnesses
indicate he was killed by a shell as the battalion moved up the slope. His battlefield burial
position was recorded, however this grave was subsequently lost & he is commemorated on
the Menin Gate Memorial. One can only feel for Stella, who lost her brother & husband in the
space of 3 months. Like James Booth, Tom is being honoured on behalf of Jill Brown from
Brisbane.
Private Walter Lynam
Walter was born in Oct., 1890 in Bridgetown, WA & was the son of Laurence & Anna Lynam.
He was working as a sleeper cutter when he enlisted in Oct., 1915 & he left Australia in Jan.,
1916. He was allotted to the 51st Battalion in Egypt & arrived in France with this unit on 12
June, 1916. He saw action at Pozieres before spending time in hospital in late 1916, early
1917 with eye problems. He rejoined the 51st in March & fought at Messines in June. His
luck ran out on 26 Sept., when he was killed in action during the 51st’s attack north of Polygon Wood. His body was lost & he has no known grave. As such, his name appears on the
Menin Gate Memorial. Walter is being commemorated on behalf of John Palmer from Perth.
Commemorated by Phillip
Private Lawrence Madigan
Lawrence was born in Ballina N.S.W. to parents James and Frances Madigan. He was
working as a labourer when he enlisted in Jan., 1916 aged 18. He was allotted to the 25th
Battalion & embarked Australia on 7 March, 1916. Lawrence spent some time in hospital in
France before joining the 25th in December. He was wounded in action with a gunshot wound
to the arm in May, 1917 & spent nearly 2 months in hospital. On rejoining his unit, he was
detached to the 7th Machine Gun Co., the unit he was fighting with when he was killed in
action at Broodseinde Ridge on 10 Oct., 1917. He has no known grave & his name appears
on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Commemorated by Grace
Sergeant Thomas Madigan
No. 621 - 12th Aust. Machine Gun Company Battalion - aged 22
Thomas is Lawrence’s older brother. He enlisted on 22 Sept., 1914 & landed with the 15th
Battalion at Gallipoli on 25 April. Apart from 2 weeks on Lemnos with illness, he fought
through the whole Gallipoli Campaign, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. After Gallipoli, he
was transferred to the 12th Aust. Machine Gun Company & arrived with his unit in France in
mid June, 1916. Thomas was killed in unusual circumstances at Pozieres on 10 August. Red
Cross reports state that Thomas had just come out of the Pozieres front line & was visiting
some old mates at the Chalk Pit, south of Pozieres. The area was shelled & Thomas took
shelter in a dugout which received a direct hit, killing him instantly. His body was later found &
he was buried in a shell hole at the Chalk Pit with a cross erected over his grave. After the
war he was re-interred into Pozieres British Cemetery, where he lies today. Thomas and
Lawrence are relatives of North High teacher, John Doolan.
Commemorated by Grace
Captain Ivor Margetts
Ivor was born in Launceston on 4 Sept., 1891 & is a very well known
Anzac. He graduated from the University of Tasmania & was a teacher
by profession, being the Junior Master at Hutchins School in Hobart. He
was also an officer in the Citizen Military Force before the war & was
commissioned when he enlisted into the AIF in Sept., 1914. He left as a
Lieutenant with the 12th Battalion in the first AIF contingent on 20 Oct. &
landed at Gallipoli on 25 April. Ivor has the distinction of being the only
officer in the AIF or British Army to serve unwounded throughout the
entire Gallipoli campaign. He was promoted to Captain on 29 July & he
was Mentioned in Despatches for, “General good & gallant work both as
adjutant & company commander.” After Gallipoli, Ivor arrived in France with his unit in April,
1916. The first major battle involving the 12th Battalion came at Pozieres on 23 June, when
the 1st Division was given the task of capturing the village. Ivor was killed by a shell explosion
as he organized his company to occupy trenches in the village. An eyewitness to his death,
Pte G. McKenzie, wrote, “A piece of shrapnel had entered his left breast and, apparently,
penetrated to his heart. I examined his body & helped to bury him on Monday morning in a
shell hole near where he fell. He was the best man going. The men loved him. I cried like a
kid when I found he was dead. I think he went because he was too good for the beastliness of
war.” Ivor’s battlefield grave was later destroyed & he is honoured on the Australian National
Memorial. Ivor was the subject of Jillian’s Modern History assignment & through her research
she has reason to believe that he lies as an unknown soldier in Plot 4 of Pozieres British
Cemetery. He is being honoured on behalf of his relative, Craig Margetts of Mackay.
Commemorated by Jillian
Private Sidney Marsh
Sydney was born in 1896 to parents William & Eliza Marsh of Ipswich. He was working as a
labourer when, in Nov., 1915 a band of 28 recruits, who became known as the Dungarees,
marched from Warwick, snowballing in number as they marched through towns en route to
Brisbane. During a civic reception in Ipswich, these “Brave Dungarees” were joined by
Sydney, who was no doubt caught up in the fervour of nationalism. After a march of 270km,
125 men, including Sydney, arrived at Enoggera in Brisbane to enlist. Sydney was allotted to
the 25th Battalion & left Australia on 31 March, 1916. He arrived in France in mid May &
joined the 25th in the field on 2 August. In his first action, on 4 August, Sydney received a
gunshot wound to the knee in the 7th Brigade’s second & successful attempt to capture the
OG lines east of Pozieres. He was hospitalised & rejoined his unit in late Sept. Sydney was
killed in action between 3 - 4 May, 1917 during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. The 25th, as
part of the 7th Brigade’s attack, held the Hinderburg Line trenches against German counterattacks. Sydney died at some undetermined time during these desperate struggles & is
today commemorated by a special memorial headstone in Queant Rd Cemetery, where it is
believed he is buried. Ms Johns is from Ipswich & is keen to honour the memory of Sydney
and the other “Brave Dungarees” who marched off to defend their country 93 years ago.
Lance Corporal Edward Marshall
Edward was born in Frances, SA & was the son of Edward & Emily Marshall. At the time of
his enlistment in March, 1915, he was working as a stockman & was aged only 20. He left
Aust. with the 7th Reinforcement to the 10th Battalion on 23 June, 1915 & arrived at Gallipoli
on 17 Sept. On 15 Nov., he was wounded in the arm by a bomb blast & spent a month in
hospital in Egypt. He rejoined his battalion on New Year’s Eve & was transferred to the
newly formed 50th Battalion in Feb., 1916. Edward sailed to France with his new unit & was
wounded for a second time on 16 August at Pozieres, this time with a gunshot wound to the
shoulder. After recovering in hospital in England he rejoined the 50th in Jan., 1917 & fought
through the battles of Norieul, Messines & Polygon Wood before being killed in action on 19
Oct., 1917 as the 50th held the front line trenches along Broodseinde Ridge. The cause of
death was most likely by shellfire. His battlefield grave was subsequently lost & he is
commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Edward is one of four soldiers being honoured
on behalf of Wally Pearce from Western Australia. Commemorated by Joscelyn
Trooper Oscar Matthies
No. 903 - 8th Light Horse Regiment - aged 24
Oscar was a labourer from Leongatha in Victoria & he enlisted on 3 Dec.,
1914 aged 24. He was allotted to the 5th Reinforcement to the 8th Light
Horse Regiment & left Australia on 7 May, 1915. Little did he know he
had only 2 months to live. He arrived at Gallipoli on 5 August & was
attached to B Squadron of the 8th Light Horse stationed on Walker’s
Ridge. Preparations were being made for a major attack at the Nek on
7 August & there could have been no more tragic initiation to war than
that of Oscar’s. After one day settling into his unit he was placed in the
first wave of the ill fated attack at dawn on the 7th. Oscar & most of his
comrades were killed, as were many of those in the next 3 waves. No-one will know how far
Oscar got or how he died &, like all those who fell on this tragic day, Oscar’s body lay on the
battlefield in no man’s land until 1919, when the bodies were buried in the Nek Cemetery,
where they fell. Oscar’s body was not identified & he is commemorated on the Lone Pine
Memorial. He is being honoured on behalf of his relative, Jennifer Wray of Sydney.
Commemorated by Sacha
Private Edward McDonnell
No. 2166 – 4th Pioneers - aged 25
Edward was born in Birr, Kings County, Ireland in 1891 & was the son of Patrick and Mary
McDonnell. His family of parents & 12 children emigrated to Australia, arriving in Brisbane on
13th February, 1911. Edward secured work in Ipswich as a railway labourer before moving
north to Rockhampton where he enlisted on 28 Feb,. 1916. He embarked Australia in May
1916 &, after time spent in Egypt, he arrived in England & was allotted to the newly formed
Pioneer Training Battalion stationed at Larkhill. He got himself into trouble when he went
absent without leave on Boxing Day, 1916, forfeiting 51 day’s pay & earning 28 day’s
detention as a consequence. Edward joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France on 14 April,
1917 & was killed in action only a week later on the 21st by a high explosive shell as his unit
supported the infantry in the line near Bullecourt. He was originally buried in an isolated grave
near the village of Vaulx Vraucourt but his body was subsequently re-buried in Vaulx Hill
Cemetery, where he lies today. Edward is being commemorated on behalf of his neice,
Doreen Cahill of Brisbane. Doreen met the tour group on a visit to the school last year.
Private Francis McGuire
Francis was born in Glebe, Sydney & was the only child of James & Isabella McGuire. He
attended Marist Brothers School & was a talented musician (violinist), a craft he made into his
profession. He enlisted on 20 Sept., 1915 & was drafted into the 13th Reinforcement to the
4th Battalion. He was transferred to the 2nd Bn in Egypt & arrived in France with his new unit
in late March, 1916. Fred appears to have been somewhat of a larrikin as his records are
littered with minor indiscretions & numerous punishments for discipline breaches, with the
most interesting “crime” being, “making offensive noises with his mouth” . Nonetheless, he
served with distinction, being wounded in the face by shrapnel on 21 July, 1916, two days
before the start of the Battle of Pozieres. This wound kept him away from his battalion until
18 Jan., 1917. Whilst with his unit in the field, Francis was again in trouble after going absent
without leave for a day. He was awarded 60 days Field Punishment No. 2, which would have
included confinement & unpleasant camp duties. Whilst serving this sentence, Fred was
involved in the 2nd Bn’s attack on the village of Hermies, on the Hindenburg Outpost Line, on
9 April, 1917. He received a gunshot wound to the abdomen during the action & was admitted
to the 3rd Aust. CCS, where he died of his wounds on 12 April. Francis is being honoured on
behalf of Allan Hodge from Newcastle.
Private Roderick McLennan (relative)
Roderick was from Mirani & was one of 17 children of Alexander & Beatrice McLennan. He
was working as a farmer when he enlisted on 15 March, 1916. He embarked Brisbane on 12
August of that year and arrived in France in December as a part of the 4th reinforcements to
the 47th Battalion. Roderick survived the 47th’s major battles of 1917 - Bullecourt, Messines
& Passchendaele but his luck ran out when he was killed in action at Dernacourt on 30 March,
1918. The circumstances surrounding Roderick’s death are uncertain. He was the only
member of the battalion to die on this day & it seems that he was most likely killed by a sniper.
His burial is also a mystery. Numerous records indicate that he was buried in the military
cemetery at Dernacourt, however his grave was most likely destroyed during the Battle of
Dernacourt on 5 April. The grave registration unit was unable to later locate his grave so
Roderick is today commemorated on the Australian National Memorial, France. Roderick is
Sacha’s great, great uncle on her mother’s side.
Corporal Stanley Middleton
No. 421 - 8th Light Horse Regiment - aged 22
Stanley was from Geelong and was working as a farmer when he
enlisted into the 8th Light Horse Regiment on 16 Sept., 1914 at the age
of 21. He was one of four brothers to enlist & the only one not to survive
the war. He was allotted to C Squadron of the 8th Light Horse Regiment
& was promoted to Corporal in November. He embarked with his unit
from Melbourne in Feb., 1915 & arrived at Gallipoli in May. The 8th LH
manned the front line trenches on Walker’s Ridge during June &
numerous men were killed or wounded by shellfire & snipers. In the
early hours of 30 June, the Turks launched a large scale attack against
the 8th’s trenches & a bloody battle ensued. The Turks were defeated,
although not before many had advanced into the 8th’s trenches.
Stanley was one of 6 Australians to be killed in this attack, dying from a gunshot wound. His
body was taken down to Anzac Cove & he was buried in Ari Burnu Cemetery by Reverend
Merrington. Stanley is being commemorated on behalf of Greg & Sue Carroll of Mackay.
Commemorated by Duane
Lance Corporal Victor Negus (relative)
Victor was school teacher from Maryborough and was the youngest of
9 children of Edwin & Alice Negus. He enlisted at the age of 20 in
Dec., 1915 & embarked Australia with the 4th Reinforcement to the
47th Battalion in August, 1916. He joined his battalion in France in
Feb., 1917 & was promoted to Lance Corporal in May. Victor’s first
action with the 47th came with Battle of Messines on 7 June. Victor
was a section leader & was seriously wounded when a bullet pierced
his temple & shot out both his eyes. A degree of mystery surrounds
his subsequent fate, with a later army court of enquiry stating that he
died of wounds on 9 June. There is much evidence, though, to
suggest that Victor died on the day of his wounding (the 7th) & that he was buried on the
battlefield. Whatever his fate, his body was never recovered. He has no known grave & is
commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper. Victor is Aaron’s great, great uncle.
Commemorated by Aaron
Private Brendon O’Brien
No. 1158 - 3rd Battalion - aged 26
Brendon was born in July, 1889 & grew up farming in the Cordeaux River area around
Mt Kembla, NSW. He enlisted at the age of 25 on 28 August, 1914 & was allotted to ‘A’
Company of the newly formed 3rd Battalion. He sailed with his unit on 20 Oct. & landed at
Gallipoli as part of the second wave on the morning 25 April. Brendon fought through until the
Battle of Lone Pine, with his battalion leading the charge towards the centre of the Turkish
trenches on the afternoon of 6 August. Brendon was killed in this battle & his official records
indicate he died between 7 - 12 August. However, the fact that his records also indicate that
his body was recovered & buried at Brown’s Dip Cemetery on 10 August means the dates of
death must have been much narrower. According to family research, Brendon was fighting
with Lt Woods, who established a post in the Turkish trenches called Woods’ Post. The Turks
made a determined counter attack on Woods’ Post but were repulsed. Brendon, though, was
killed in this action. This would place Brendon’s date of death as either 6 or 7 August. After
the war, those buried in Brown’s Dip Cemetery were re-interred into Lone Pine Cemetery,
where Brendon lies today. He is being commemorated on behalf of his relative, Ray Condon,
from Woonona, NSW.
Private William Page
William was a dairy farmer from Beaconsfield in Tasmania. He initially attempted to enlist in
Tasmania in mid 1915, however he was rejected due to defective vision. He tried again in
Western Australia in June, 1917 & was successful. William embarked Aust. with the 26th
Reinforcement to the 16th Battalion in August, 1917 & arrived in England in Oct. After some
time in hospital he joined his unit in France on 27 April, 1918. He then spent more time in
hospital with tonsilitis, rejoining his battalion in early July. William was killed in action on
8 August, 1918 during the great allied attack of this day in which all Australian divisions were
involved. The 16th Bn, as part of the 4th Division, was on the extreme left of the attack & was
held in reserve to help consolidate the newly won German trenches as the battle progressed.
William was one of only 3 battalion members killed in this action, with his body being interred
in the nearby Heath Cemetery. He is being commemorated on behalf of Ray Bassett from
Launceston in Tasmania.
Commemorated by Sam Green
Private James Paterson
James was born in Fifteen Mile Creek, Qld, in Oct., 1887. At the time of his enlistment in
August, 1915, he was a farmer at Wallumbilla & had a wife, Elizabeth & daughter. He left
Australia on 31 Jan., 1916 as a reinforcement to the 25th Battalion & was transferred to the
49th Battalion in Egypt. His first action in France was at Pozieres & he was wounded in the
elbow during the 49th’s attempt to capture Mouquet Farm on 14 August. The wound kept him
out of action for 4 months & he returned to his unit in Jan., 1917. James was killed during the
49th’s next action at Norieul when his C Company was allotted to the 50th Bn to help capture
the village. On the morning of 5 April, C Company was given the task to capture a railway
cutting near Norieul. James was killed during this assault. Even though the attack was
successful, James’ body was lost, possibly destroyed by the heavy shelling. Elizabeth was
kept in limbo about her husband’s fate for months before simply being told he had been killed
in action. Elizabeth constantly sought to find out more. In 1921, she wrote, “Would you
please be good enough to let me know whether there is anything belonging to the late James
Paterson, as I haven’t received anything, I don’t even know his burial place.” Today, James
is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial & he is being honoured on behalf of
his grandson, Peter Roberts from the Gold Coast & his 92 year old mother, Elizabeth, who is
the daughter of James & Elizabeth.
Commemorated by Bronte
Lance Corporal James Pearce
2281 - 48th Battalion - aged 22
James was born in Port Pirie, South Australia to parents Richard & Mary Pearce & was a
21 year old farmer when he enlisted on 26 April, 1916. He embarked Aust. on 12 August &
joined the 48th Battalion in the field in Jan., 1917. He survived the hell of the First Battle of
Bullecourt in April & fought through the Battle of Messines in June, being promoted to Lance
Corporal. His luck ran out, though, during the 48th’s attack towards Passchendaele on
12 Oct. James’ death was described by Pte B. Onion, who stated, “..we were held up by
M.G. fire from the left flank. Pearce was lying on the railway track with his gun over one of
the rails when a bullet got him straight through the forehead and killed him instantly.” Of his
body, another soldier stated, “We left his body and afterwards had to retire and the Germans
occupied the ground where we had left him.” His body was lost & he is now honoured on the
Menin Gate Memorial. An interesting note in one of his Red Cross files indicates that James
must have had a close call in a previous battle. One of his comrades noted, “He used to
carry a Bible in his pocket which had had a bullet into it.” James, like Walter Pearce below,
is being commemorated on behalf of his relative, Wally Pearce from Perth.
Commemorated by Joscelyn
Private Walter Pearce
No. 267 - 8th Australian Machine Gun Corps - aged 24
Walter was from Kooringa in South Australia. He was born in 1892 to parents Walter & Ann
Pearce & at the time of his enlistment he was a store manager in a drapery business. He
enlisted in July, 1915 & left Australia in Nov. as a member of the newly formed 32nd Battalion.
After training in Egypt, Walter was transferred to the 8th Brigade Machine Gun Company in
May, 1916, the unit he would serve with until his death. He arrived in France in June &
travelled to Northern France where the 5th Division was involved in the AIF’s first major battle
in France - the infamous Battle of Fromelles. In 24 hours over the night of 19/20 July, nearly
2000 Australian soldiers died in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the German trenches near
the village of Fromelles. Walter was one of those killed in this battle. Unlike most of his fallen
comrades, though, his body was recovered & buried in Eaton Hall Cemetery, situated behind
the front line. This cemetery was later consolidated into Rue Petillion Military Cemetery, where
Walter lies today. Walter is being honoured on behalf of his relative, Wally Pearce from Perth.
Gunner Edward Platt (relative)
No. 3414 - 11th Brigade Australian Field Artillery - aged 20
Edward was a fireman from Beaudesert & was the son of John & Jane Platt. It seems he put
his age up to 21 & one month to enlist on 13 August, 1915 (his mother later indicated that he
was only 20 when he died the following year). He embarked Australia in Oct., 1915 & was
allotted to the newly formed 47th Battalion in Egypt. He was then transferred to the 11th Field
Artillery Brigade & arrived in France with his new unit in June, 1916. In December, Edward’s
41st Battery was supporting the Australian infantry units which occupied the front line around
Flers. On Christmas Eve, his unit came under counter battery fire from German artillery, with
one shell wounding Edward in the head & right leg & dislocating his shoulder. He was
evacuated to the 1st Anzac Main Dressing Station, 15th Field Ambulance, where he died of his
wounds two days later, on Boxing Day, 1916. Edward was buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, just
south of the town of Albert on the Somme Battlefields.
Sadly, Edward’s mother received a telegram from the army on 15 Jan., 1917 stating that
Edward had been wounded & that she would be advised if there was any further news. Little
did she know that her son had already been dead for over two weeks. Edward was the brother
of Georgina’s great, great grandmother & it will be the first time a member of the family has
visited his grave.
Commemorated by Georgina
Private Andrew Porter
Andrew was born in 1886 in Pittsworth, Qld & was the son of Alexander & Jane Porter. Prior
to his enlistment in Dec., 1915 he was working as a farmer. His brother, Archibald also
enlisted (& survived the war). Andrew embarked Australia on 8 August, 1916 as a
reinforcement to the 26th Battalion. After arriving in England he spent time in hospital with the
mumps before joining the 26th in France in Feb., 1917. He survived the Second Battle of
Bullecourt in May but was killed in action at Broodseinde Ridge on 9 Oct., 1917. The
circumstances surrounding his death are particularly disturbing, with an eye witness account
by Sgt H. Marshall stating, “I saw Porter & a group of men in a shell hole. I saw a shell burst
right into them & Porter & 8 or 9 others were literally blown to pieces. I went up to try & identify
Porter amongst others, but failed to identify him or any of them as their remains were so
terribly mangled.” Andrew’s body was never recovered & he is listed on the Menin Gate
Memorial. One of the other soldiers killed by this shell explosion was Albert Hucker, who was
the only son of Mackay’s serving Mayor at the time, Arthur Hucker. Andrew is being
commemorated on behalf of Malcolm & Ray Turvey of Mackay.
Private Arthur Reedman (relative)
No. 12754 - 11th Australian Army Medical Corps - aged 26
Arthur is the cousin of Victor & Wilfred Reedman (below). He was from Walkerville in South
Australia & was a blacksmith. He enlisted in Sept., 1915 but was discharged the following
month on the grounds of being medically unfit for service. He tried to enlist again in Jan.,
1916 & was, this time, accepted, being allotted to the Australian Army Medical Corps. He left
Australia in May, 1916 & marched into his unit in France in Nov., of that year. He served
through 1917 & was killed in action on 17 Oct. as the 11th AAMC supported units that were
fighting around Broodseinde Ridge. Arthur’s roll of honour circular, completed by his father,
states, “Killed while carrying wounded. Shell burst under stretcher & killed four others.” This
account is supported by the Red Cross files of the soldier buried next to Arthur, Pte Norman
McWaters, also of the 11th AAMC. Numerous witnesses state that four stretcher bearers in
the unit were killed outright or died of wounds from the same shellburst, with Pte Milton
naming Arthur & Norman as the soldiers who died instantly. The graves of both men are in
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, which is situated in the heart of the town of Ieper.
Private Victor Reedman (relative)
Victor was from Fairfield in Brisbane & was the son of Arthur & Alice Reedman. He was a
draper’s assistant & spent 4 years in senior cadets prior to enlisting in the AIF. Being just 18
years old, Victor secured his parents permission to enlist & did so 12 May, 1916. He left
Australia with the 6th Reinforcement to the 52nd Battalion in Oct., & joined his unit in France
on 2 Jan., 1917. Sadly, Victor only survived for 12 days. He was killed on 14 Jan. whilst the
52nd Battalion manned the frontline trenches at Flers during the bitter winter of 1916 / 17.
His death is well documented in Red Cross files, with Pte D. Cooper reporting: “While we
were attending to a wounded man about Jan. 14th at Flers we saw Vic Reedman killed
instantaneously by a piece of shell. He was behind the lines digging a communication
trench, called A. Avenue, when the shell burst right right on him.” Even though he had only
been with his battalion for a short time, he obviously made a very positive impression, with
one Red Cross file witness stating, “He was a very fine fellow,” whilst another described him
as, “Such a good boy. I never knew him to drink, swear, smoke. I never saw anybody like
him in camp before.” Victor was buried in Bulls Road Cemetery at Flers, where he lies today.
Private Wilfred Reedman (relative)
Wilfred was Victor’s older brother &, like Victor, he died of wounds in 1917. He was a cabinet
maker & enlisted in Brisbane on 18 Sept., 1915, being allotted to the 17th Reinforcement to
the 9th Battalion. He joined his unit in France in August, 1916 but was admitted to hospital
with trench fever in Oct. After recovering & rejoining his battalion, Wilfred was again admitted
to hospital with Myalgia, which was serious enough for him to be sent to England. After time
in a convalescence depot & training battalion, he rejoined his unit in late Oct. The 9th moved
into the front lines at Broodseinde Ridge on 1 Nov. & it was during this time in the line that
Wilfred was killed, dying in similar circumstance to his brother. On 4 Nov., Wilfred’s outpost
position came under heavy enemy shellfire. Pte J. Atkinson described what happened to him
in his Red Cross report: “He was caught by a fragment of shell that landed in the trench
which hit him about the head. He was taken away to the dressing station in an unconscious
condition where I believe he died.” He was indeed evacuated to the 3rd Canadian CCS
where he succumbed to his wounds the following day. Wilfred is buried in Lijssenthoek
Military Cemetery, the second largest war cemetery on the Western Front. The Reedman
brothers & their cousin, Arthur are distant relatives to Megan & are being commemorated on
behalf of Judy Parry of Mackay.
Private Thomas Rodger (relative)
No. 2147 - 5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers - aged 32
Thomas is Tiani’s great, great uncle & he was from Dumfries in Scotland. He was a builder &
the father of 7 children when he enlisted into the 5th Battalion, KOSB early in the war in 1914.
His unit was sent to Gallipoli & arrived at Cape Helles on 6 June, 1915. Thomas was killed in
action on 12 July during a major attack undertaken by the KOSB against the Turkish trenches
at Cape Helles. The savage nature of the fighting was such that Thomas’ body was lost & he
is now commemorated on the British Helles Memorial, situated at the southern end of the
Gallipoli peninsula.
Commemorated by Tiani
Private Frederick Rogers
Frederick was born in Burra, South Australia & was working as a farm labourer in Broken Hill
when he enlisted on 31 August, 1915 at the age of 34. He left Australia in Jan., 1916 & joined
the 12th Battalion in France in late May. Frederick was wounded at Pozieres on 25 July with a
gunshot wound to the face & was in hospital for 5 weeks. He was killed in action on 9 Dec.,
whilst the 12th held the front line trenches around Flers. His death is well documented in Red
Cross files, with his platoon commander, Lt Dadson, writing, “I was close to him in our front
line trench near Flers at 11.30 pm when he was hit by a piece of shell & had his leg broken.
He was attended to at once by S/Bs but died before reaching the Dressing Station. He was
buried in a military cemetery close to Flers by Padre W. Douglas. A cross was erected with
name and number which I have seen. He was a splendid soldier.” Other accounts make it
clear that Frederick was buried at Bull’s Rd Cemetery. However, his grave was subsequently
destroyed & he is now commemorated on the Australian National Memorial. Frederick is the
fourth soldier on the tour to be commemorated on behalf of Wally Pearce, from WA.
Private George Rose
No. SR/6503 - 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
George was a member of the London based Middlesex Regiment, known as the “die hards”,
when WW1 broke out. His battalion has the distinction of firing the first British shots of the
war, at Mons in Belgium, & they have a memorial raised in their honour by their German foes
in the cemetery near where they initially halted the German advance in 1914. On 14 Dec.,
1914, the 4th Battalion relieved the Gordon Highlanders in the front line trenches around
Kemmel, south of Ieper in Belgium. George was one of six battalion members killed in action
the next day, the 15th, when the trenches were heavily shelled. He was no doubt buried near
the trenches, however this grave was lost & his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial.
George is one of the earliest casualties commemorated by the group & he is being honoured
on behalf of Melva Wood of Mackay.
Commemorated by Tiana
Private James Scanlon
James was born in Mackay & was working as a labourer when he enlisted in Rockhampton on
6 March. He left Australia with the 4th Reinforcement to the 47th Battalion & joined his unit in
France in early Feb., 1917. James was killed in his first action, the infamous First Battle of
Bullecourt on 11 April, 1917. His records indicate he was wounded & treated at the 12th Aust.
Field Ambulance, where he died the same day. Strangely, he has no known grave, even
though his records state a clear position of burial. He is now honoured on the Australian
National Memorial. James is being commemorated on behalf of local historian & journalist,
Terry Hayes.
Commemorated by Georgina
Lance Corporal George Searle
George was the son of Frederick & Jane Searle and was a Grocer’s assistant from Mount
Morgan. Prior to the war, George spent 3 years in the Senior Cadets & was then a Lance
Corporal in the Australian Citizen Forces. He enlisted in Rockhampton on 11 April, 1916 &
was allotted to the 15th Battalion. He embarked Aust. on 7 Sept. of that year &, after arriving
in France in Dec., he was transferred to the 25th Battalion, which he joined in in Feb., 1917.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal in Sept. & was severely wounded by a shell explosion
during the 25th’s action at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October. He received shrapnel wounds
to his hand & shoulder & his right leg was fractured. After recovering in hospital in England,
he rejoined his unit on 6 May, 1918, only to be killed in action 3 weeks later on 30 May in the
front line trenches near Ville sur Ancre. George was originally buried in Heilly Cemetery but
was later re-interred into Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension. He is being honoured
on behalf of grand niece, Veronica Knowles from Townsville.
Commemorated by Sam Goodall
Private David Lindsay Sharp (relative)
David, known by his second name, Lindsay, was born in Annadale, Qld to
parents David & Janet Sharp & he was working as a farm labourer near
Millmerran when he enlisted on 1 Oct. 1914. He sailed with the 5th Light
Horse on 21 Dec., 1914 & landed at Gallipoli with his unit in May, 1915,
serving there until Sept., when he was evacuated with influenza. He then
contracted enteric fever & was taken to England where he remained in
hospital until Sept., 1916. He was then transferred to the 25th Battalion
& joined his new unit in April, 1917. He fought at Bullecourt in May, the
Menin Road in Sept. & at Broodseinde Ridge in early Oct. Lindsay was
granted 18 days leave in Feb., 1918 & returned to his unit in mid March. After nearly 4 years
of serving in the AIF, Lindsay’s luck finally ran out on 27 April when, in the line near Albert,
he was struck in the head, knee & leg by shrapnel after a shell exploded in the section of
trench he was occupying. His mate, Pte A. Gray, was injured by the same shell & he wrote
in his Red Cross report: “Sharp & I were wounded by the same Whizz-Bang. It was at night
& we were in trenches on the right of the road between Albert & Buire. He & I were taken in
the same ambulance to the 61st CCS at Vignicourt, he never regained consciousness.”
Lindsay died shortly after being admitted to the CCS & he was buried in the nearby
Vignacourt Military Cemetery, where he lies today. Lindsay is Clare’s maternal great, great
uncle & she is specifically honouring him on behalf of her grandfather, Bertrum Sharp.
Commemorated by Clare
Private William Shaw
No. 665 - 26th Battalion, ex 9th Battalion - aged 28
William was born in Mackay in 1889, the son of Charles and Hannah Shaw.
He was working as a labourer when he enlisted in August, 1914 at the age of
24. He sailed with the 9th Battalion and landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, 1915.
On this day, William received a gunshot wound to his right leg and was
transferred to a hospital in Malta. He rejoined his unit on 17 June and fought
through until 15 Nov., when he was evacuated sick. Whilst in Egypt, William
was admitted to hospital with a hernia which was so serious he had to be
sent back to Australia. After recovering he was re-allotted to the 26th Battalion &, with his
brother, Bert, was sent to France, where he was killed in action on 5 Oct., 1917 at
Broodseinde Ridge. His body was lost & his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial.
William is being commemorated on behalf of his youngest nephew, William Firth.
Private John Sinclair
No. 267295 - Seaforth Highlanders - aged 34
John was the son of John & Mary Sinclair & was from Halkirk in Scotland. He enlisted into
the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders & was killed in action on 16 May, 1917 as the 6th
Battalion fought to defend Roeux village from German counterattacks. John’s division took
the brunt of these attacks but the village and surrounding area remained in British hands. His
body was not recovered & he has no known grave. He is honoured on the Arras Memorial.
Private Walter Sinclair
Walter is John’s brother (above) & was also born in Halkirk, Scotland. He emigrated to
Australia in 1914 & worked as a farmer at Urangalla on the Tweed River in Nth NSW. He
enlisted in Brisbane on 31 August, 1915 and was allotted to the 31st Battalion, which was
being formed as part of the newly raised 8th Brigade. He embarked Australia on 5 Nov.,
1915. After spending time with his unit training in Egypt, Walter arrived in France in June,
1916. The 31st Battalion was involved in the infamous Battle of Fromelles on the night of
19/20 July & Walter was killed in this battle (along with nearly 2000 Australian soldiers). His
body, unlike most of his comrades, was recovered & he was buried in the nearby Anzac
Cemetery at Sailly-sur-la-Lys by Rev. W. Meridith Holliday. Walter and John are being
commemorated on behalf of Frana McKinstry from Townsville.
Private Samuel Teeney
No. 3158 - 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Samuel was from Shankhill, County Antrim in Northern Ireland & is one of the few Irish
soldiers commemorated over the course of the project. He enlisted in Belfast & joined the
famous Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Samuel was killed in action on 1 April, 1917 during as the
“Skinn’s” advance on the right flank of an attack to capture the village of Savy & to hinder the
German retreat to St Quentin. The battalion made the attack in driving rain, sleet and snow.
Before the attack, a German shell exploded amongst a 2nd Battalion platoon, causing
numerous casualties. It could be that Samuel was killed here or as his unit battled machine
guns & artillery in its advance over open ground to the south of Savy. Today, Samuel is
buried in Savy British Cemetery, on the outskirts of the village he died attempting to capture.
Samuel is being commemorated on behalf of his nephew, Alec Teeney, of Mt Morgan.
Private Charles Tipper
Charles was born in Victoria but lived in Freemantle, Western Australia,
where he worked as a warehouseman. He enlisted in Perth on 15 Sept.,
1915, one month short of his 19th birthday. After five months of training
he embarked Australia with the 13th Reinforcement to the 11th Battalion
on 17 Jan., 1916. He joined his battalion in France on 25 May, 1916 &
was destined to die only two months later. The 11th Battalion was
heavily involved in the opening phases of the infamous Battle of
Pozieres. Official records indicate Charles was killed between 22-25
July, although would be unlikely that he died on the 22nd, as the battle
commenced on the 23rd. The lack of a definitive date of death gives a clear indication of the
ferocious & confused nature of the fighting. Charles was given a battlefield burial and his
body was subsequently found, identified & buried in Courcelette British Cemetery, north of
Pozieres village. He is being commemorated on behalf of his relative, John Palmer of Perth.
Commemorated by Phillip
Private William Turton
William was born in Bundaberg in 1892 and was a whip maker by trade. He enlisted in
Brisbane in August, 1914 and sailed to Egypt with the first contingent of the AIF. William
landed with the 9th Battalion at Gallipoli on 25 April and fought through the first hectic month
as the Anzacs established their positions. He was wounded during the massive Turkish
attack on the night of 19/20 May & he died in the hospital situated at Anzac Cove. He is
buried in Beach Cemetery. Of interest, William died at the same time as another famous
Anzac, John Kirkpatrick Simpson, the man with the donkey - and both are buried in the same
cemetery. In a cruel twist, William’s mother, Ellen received a telegram from the army which
read:“Regret son Pte W Turton wounded not reported seriously no other particulars available
will immediately advise anything further received.” The telegram arrived on 19 June, one
month after William had died. To add to this family tragedy, William’s brother, Alfred died in
England of disease in August, 1918. William is the great uncle of Colin Turton of Yeppoon.
Lance Corporal George Wollaston
No.11056 - 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment - aged 34
George was born in St Pancras, Middlesex. At the time of his enlistment was married to
Fanny Wollaston & the couple were living at Manor Park, Essex. George was wounded in
action during the Berkshire Regiment’s actions near Peronne in support of the Australian 3rd
Division as the allies pushed the German Army back to the Hindenburg Line late in the war.
He died of his wounds on 14 Sept., 1918 & was buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery.
George is one of two relatives being commemorated on behalf of Michelle Wollaston, a
teacher at North High.
Private William Wollaston
No. 14491 - 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment - aged
William is the second of Michelle Wollaston’s relatives, although little is known about his pre
service life or his army service. As a member of the 10th Royal Warwickshire Battalion,
William was involved in the attack on Grancourt, just north of Thiepval on 18 Nov., 1916.
After initially losing direction in the snow, the men of the Royal Warwickshires fought their
way through the uncut wire guarding the German trenches. However, their loses were
severe & they were forced to withdraw from the line they had established the following day.
William was killed in this action & his body was lost. He is now commemorated on the
Theipval Memorial.
Private Herbert Ward (relative)
No. 532 - 5th Division Trench Mortar - aged 26
Herbert is Kate’s great, great uncle & was the younger brother of Robert (next page). He
was born in Ipswich & was the son of Richard & Edith Ward. He enlisted
on 8 July, 1915, one month before Robert was killed at Gallipoli, &
embarked Australia with the 31st Battalion, which arrived in Egypt in
Dec., 1915. He spent some time in hospital with the mumps before
embarking for France. After arriving in France with his unit in June, 1916,
Herbert was transferred to the 5th Division’s newly formed Trench Mortar
Battery. On 20 August, 1916, Herbert was shot in the abdomen & was
treated at the 1st Aust. CCS, where he died 7 days later on the 27th.
He was buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery, where he lies today.
Private Robert Ward (relative)
Robert, from Roma, Qld, was born in Dec., 1885 & was the brother of Herbert Ward (previous page). He worked as a printer & enlisted in Sydney in
Oct., 1914. He embarked Aust. with the 3rd Reinforcement to the 13th Battalion & joined his unit at Gallipoli on 30 April. Events surrounding Robert’s
death are particularly tragic. He is assumed to have been wounded during
the 13th’s attack against Hill 60 at Gallipoli on 22 August. Wounded, he is
believed to have taken shelter in nearby bushes which were set alight by shellfire. It is
presumed that Robert was killed by this fire, a fact that an army court of enquiry confirmed in
April, 1916. Robert has no known grave & he is honoured on the Lone Pine Memorial. Like
Herbert, he is Kate’s great, great uncle.
Corporal William Ward (relative)
William was the cousin of Robert & Herbert. He was a farmer from Crow’s
Nest, Qld & was the only child of Louis & Ottelie Ward. He enlisted on 5
May, 1915 at the age of 18 & was allotted to the 7th Reinforcement to the 9th
Battalion. He joined the 9th at Mudros Island near Gallipoli & was then
transferred to the 49th Bn when the battalion arrived in Egypt. He was
promoted to Corporal in France on 24 August, 1916 only 2 weeks before he
was killed in action on 4 Sept. during the 49th’s heroic but unsuccessful
attempt to capture Mouquet Farm during the Battle of Pozieres. Like so
many of his fallen comrades, William’s body was lost in the battle & he has
no known grave. He is honoured on the Australian National Memorial in France.
Private George Waters
George born in Scotland & was a coal miner until he emigrated to Australia in 1910. He
settled in Netherdale, near Finch Hatton with his wife, Devina & he worked as a farm
labourer. He enlisted on 7 Oct., 1916 &, after being initially allotted to the 31st Battalion, he
was transferred to the 15th Battalion on his arrival in France. He joined the 15th in the field
on 30 May, 1917 & was destined to serve for only one month. On 1 July, 1917, George was
killed instantly by a shell explosion as the 15th held support trenches near Ploegsteert Wood
in Belgium. He was buried nearby & his body was subsequently reinterred into Messines
Ridge British Cemetery after the war. George is being honoured on behalf of Viv Dodt from
Finch Hatton. Commemorated by Casey
Driver William Wood
No. 2363 - 4th Ammunition Column Australian Field Artillery - aged 19
William was from Bundaberg & was the son of John & May Wood. He was working as a farm
labourer when he enlisted on 13 Nov., 1915 at the age of 18 & he was initially allotted to the
5th Light Horse Regiment. He was transferred to the newly formed Aust. Artillery Details in
Egypt &, after arriving in France, was allotted to the 4th Div. Ammunition Column, where, as
a good horseman, he drove the teams transferring ammunition for the artillery. ‘Woodsie’,
as he was known in his unit, was severely wounded by a shell explosion on 28 Nov., 1916.
The explosion fractured his thigh, femur & tibia & fibula & he died of these wounds at the No.
1 Main Dressing Station the same day. He is buried in Becourt Military Cemetery. William is
being honoured on behalf of Malcolm & Melva Wood of Mackay.
Commemorated by Tiana
Mary Browne’s relatives
Mary Browne has done extensive research on her family, one branch of which came from the
small village of Whatfield in Suffolk, England. After studying her family tree, she found that
many of her relatives died in WW1. Seven of those whose graves or memorial names are
within the itinerary of our tour will be commemorated by three different students:
Private Frederick Gilmore
No. 264798 - 1st Battalion Canadian Infantry - aged 20
Frederick was Canadian & married Louise Mowles in England in 1917. He was killed in action
in Belgium on 6 Nov., 1917 as the Canadian forces finally captured the village of Passchendaele, the objective that had cost so many Australian lives over the previous 2 months. He is
has no known grave & is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Mary’s mother was
named after Louise Mowles. Commemorated by Ellen
Rifleman Benjamin Mowles
No. S/11295 - 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade - aged 25
Benjamin was born in Whatfield to parents William & Emily Mowles & was killed in action east
of Arras, France (where we will be staying on our tour) near the small village of Monchy le
Preux on 27 April, 1917. He has no known grave & is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Private Frederick G Mowles
No. 26036 - 11th Company Machine Gun Corps - aged 20
Frederick was born in Whatfield to parents John & Elizabeth Mowles. As a member of the 11th
Machine Gun Corps, he was killed in action during the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge in Belgium
on 6 Oct., 1917. Australian forces were heavily involved in this action as well. He has no
known grave & his name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Commemorated by Ellen
Private Frederick W Mowles
No. 2109 - Suffolk Yeomanry - aged 23
Frederick was born in Hadleigh, Suffolk & was the son of George & Ellen Mowles. He was
killed in action at Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 30 Oct., 1915 as his unit, the 2/19th Suffolk
Yeomanry, held the front line trenches. He also has no known grave & is commemorated on
the Helles British Memorial, on the southern coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Commemorated by Karah
Gunner Henry Mowles
No. 70390 - 51st Battery Royal Field Artillery - aged 20
Henry was born in Whatfield & was the son of Isaac & Maud Mowles. He was the first of Mary’s
relatives to be killed when his artillery battery was overrun by German Prussian Guards at
Sanctuary Wood near Ieper in Belgium on 11 Nov., 1914. Henry was wounded in this action &
he died of these wounds on 21 Nov. He is buried in Poperinghe Old Cemetery.
Private Thomas Mowles
No. 29651 - Royal Fusiliers - aged 33
Thomas was born in Elmsett, Suffolk to parents William & Harriet Mowles. He was killed in
action on 13 Nov., 1916 as his 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers attacked the village of Beaucourt in
an action which cost the battalion 344 casualties. Thomas has no known grave & is
commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Commemorated by Karah
Rifleman Walter Mowles
No. R/31874 - King’s Royal Rifle Corps - aged 38
Walter was born in London & was married with 4 children when he enlisted. He was killed in
action during the Arras Offensive on 9 April, 1917 as his unit attacked around the village of
Neuville Vitasse. He has no know grave & is honoured on the Arras Memorial.
World War Two
Private Norman Brown
QX13789 - 2/26th Battalion - aged 31
Norm was born in Roma in October, 1910 & he enlisted at New Farm in
Brisbane in June, 1940. He was a member of the original Signals Platoon
of the 2/26th Battalion, which was Dick Roger’s platoon. After fighting the
Japanese down the Malayan Peninsula with the 2/26th, Norm died on 15
February, 1942, the day that Singapore fell, in particularly tragic
circumstances. He was in the Tenth Australian General Hospital in the
Cathay Building in Singapore City recovering from an illness & was killed
when a Japanese artillery shell exploded in the hospital.
He was a good friend of Mr Rogers, who has a special regard for Norm &
John Gray (below). Norm is today buried in Kranji Cemetery, in collective
grave 24 A 1-14, the same collective grave as John. Norm & John are being commemorated
on behalf of Mr Rogers, who has never seen a photograph of his friends’ graves.
Sergeant James Cowan
SX7833 - 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion - aged 44
James was born in Hawker, South Australia in July, 1901. He was living in Tailem Bend
when he enlisted on 5 July, 1940 & was allotted to the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, which
had been formed in June under the command of WW1 Victoria Cross winner, Arthur
Blackburn (who, incidentally, is related to Alice Wighton in Yr 12).
The 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion became known as the “Lost Battalion”. After serving in Syria
against the Vichy French, the 2/3rd was put on transports to be taken back to Australia.
Instead, the majority of the unit was diverted to Java to support the defence of the island
against the Japanese. After a brief battle where the battalion fought as infantry, the vastly
outnumbered Australian forces were captured & eventually sent to Changi Prison in
Singapore. From there, James was one of thousands of POWs sent to work on the Thai
Burma Railway. He was unable to survive the harsh conditions & died of illness on 21 July,
1943. Today he lies in Kanchanaburi war cemetery. James is the grandfather of Chris
Cowan, a friend of the Connecting Spirits Project which is undertaken by students at
Birdwood High & Meningie Area School in South Australia.
Sergeant John ‘Dinny’ Gray
‘Dinny’ was born in England in April, 1912 & was living in Innisfail when
he enlisted in Cairns on 25 June, 1940. He was allotted to the 2/26th
Battalion, which was formed in Brisbane in Nov., 1940. The battalion
gained the nickname of “The Gallopers”, which stuck throughout its
wartime history. Dinny became a sergeant in the Signals Platoon, with
Norm Brown (above) & Mr Rogers both being in the same platoon. The
2/26th was sent to Malaya to help defend Singapore against possible
Japanese aggression. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the
battalion fought a series of delaying actions down the Malayan Peninsula.
The Signals Platoon was instrumental in this campaign. Dinny was killed
on 15 Feb., in the same circumstances as Norm Brown. He was in the same hospital as
Norm when it was shelled by the Japanese. Both Dinny & Norm are buried in the same
collective grave at Kranji Cemetery on the north of the island.
Private James Henderson
QX59426 - Australian Army Ordinance Corps - aged 20
James was born in Mackay in Sept., 1922 & was the son of Robert & Florence Henderson.
He enlisted in Brisbane on 2 Oct., 1941 & began service in the 2/3rd Aust. Ordinance Stores
Company. He was sent to Singapore with his support unit & was taken into captivity at the
fall of Singapore on 15 Feb., 1942. James died of dysentery in the base hospital at Meiloe
Camp in Burma on 13 May, 1943. He was buried there & his body was re-interred into the
war cemetery at Thanbyuzayat in Burma after the war. James will be honoured at our
Hellfire Pass Memorial service on behalf of Lucy’s grandfather, Moray Galletly, who is a
WW2 veteran & who was a friend of James.
Commemorated by Lucy
Gunner D’Arcy Hore
QX8403 - 2/10th Field Regiment - aged 28
D’Arcy was born in Barcaldine in May, 1915 & was living in Sarina when he enlisted on 16
June, 1940. He joined the 2/10th Field Regiment as a gunner & embarked Australia with his
unit as a part of the 8th Division to defend Singapore. The 2/10th saw action in Malaya
against the Japanese but it’s members fell into captivity when Singapore capitulated on
15 Feb., 1942. D’Arcy left Changi Prison as a member of D Force on 16 March, 1943 &
travelled to Thailand to work on the Thai Burma Railway. D Force members worked in the
Hintok area & on the infamous Hellfire Pass. Both these areas will be visited by our tour
group. D’Arcy died of malaria on 22 July, 1943 . He was buried in the Tarsao camp cemetery
& his body was re-buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery on 16 Feb., 1946. He is being
commemorated on behalf of his relatives, Ray & Sue Currie, from Kilkivan.
Commemorated by Stephanie
Squadron Leader Eric Jarman DFC (relative)
404507 - 460 Squadron - aged 28
Eric is Emilia’s relative & he was born in Mount Morgan on 13 May 1915. He was living in
Rockhampton when WW2 broke out & he enlisted into the R.A.A.F in Brisbane on 13 Sept.,
1940. He underwent training in Australia, Canada and Great Britain before being posted as a
Lancaster bomber pilot to 460 Squadron, an Australian unit. By 1944 Eric had been
promoted to Squadron Leader & had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for
outstanding service & specific bravery on one mission where he landed his badly damaged
Lancaster without an undercarriage. His citation reads in part, “In the face of extremely
harassing circumstances, Jarman displayed great courage, coolness and determination.
He has completed many sorties against heavily defended targets.”
Eric has become a well known Australian airman due to his portrayal in a famous wartime
painting. His seven man Lancaster crew spent the morning of 27
April, 1944 posing for official war artist, Stella Bowen. She wished to
capture the, “typical crew of the giant bombers”. That night Eric’s
Lancaster crew set off on a mission to bomb the Friedrichshafen
industrial area in Germany. The Lancaster was
shot down by a night fighter & crashed near Lahr,
close to the Swiss border. The only survivor was
the rear gunner, T J Lynch. Stella Bowen
completed her painting, “Bomber Crew 1944”, in
a London studio & was quoted as saying that
finishing the portrait was, “like painting ghosts”.
Eric & his crew are buried in Durnbach Military
Cemetery, near Munich in Germany. Emilia will
commemorate Eric on behalf of her family at our
“Bomber Crew 1944”
group service at the Australian National Memorial.
By Stella Bowen
Gunner Roy Kelly (relative)
QX10532 - 2/10th Field Regiment - aged 35
Roy was born on 11 July, 1908, the fourth child to William & Eva Leah
Kelly. In all, Roy had 2 brothers and 5 sisters. One of his early
occupations was working as a sugar cane farmhand around Childer’s.
He enlisted in Maryborough on 18 June, 1940 and was marched out to
East Command in Singapore as a member of the 2/10th Field Regiment
in Feb. 1941. After the fall of Singapore in Feb. 1942, Roy was reported
missing but was subsequently located as a POW in Changi Prison. On
27 April, 1942, Roy was injured in a truck accident whilst a member of a
work party. His lorry ran into a shell hole and crashed over a bank. On
16 March, 1943, Roy became a member of ‘D’ Force working on the construction of the Thai
Burma Railway. Eight months later, on 15 Nov., he died of avitaminosis (malnutrition) at
Tarsao. His body was exhumed from the Tarsao Cemetery and reburied at Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery on 12 April, 1946. Roy is a relative of Mrs Cameron, who learned of her family
connection to Roy after undertaking research for earlier tours.
Commemorated by Mrs Cameron
Private Daniel O’Connor
Daniel was born in Jundah, Qld in June, 1915 and grew up in Stonehenge. He worked as a
Jackeroo on properties west of Longreach & enlisted with his brother, Roy (below) in
Rockhampton in July, 1940. He joined the 2/26th Battalion & sailed to Singapore with his unit
in July, 1941. After the fall of Singapore on 15 February, 1942, Daniel became a POW. He
spent the rest of 1942 in Changi Prison & was then sent north to Thailand in 1943 to work on
the Thai Burma Railway. Daniel of dysentery died on 15 September, 1943 in Tarsao camp,
which was situated between the Wampo Viaduct & Hellfire Pass. He was originally buried in
the Tarsao camp cemetery & his body was subsequently re-interred into Kanchanaburi War
Cemetery after the war. In a cruel twist, family members were unaware of his death & they
were still receiving letters after he had died.
Daniel is the uncle of Kate Cooper from Longreach. He looked after Kate when her mother
died. He is being commemorated on behalf of Kate & also Joyce Cooper of Mackay. Joyce is
the aunty of Claire Maloney, who was a member of the Spirit of Anzac Tour. The group was
unable to visit Thailand in 2006 so Dan’s grave could not be visited. Jack will honour Dan &
Roy on behalf of Claire as well as Kate & Joyce. Sadly, Kate Cooper passed away in July this
year & the family is keen for the O’Connor brothers to be honoured in memory of Kate.
Private Roy O’Connor
Daniel’s brother, Roy was born in Longreach in February, 1917 and
grew up in Stonehenge with Daniel. He worked as a Jackeroo on
properties west of Longreach & enlisted with Daniel in Rockhampton
in July, 1940. His war record mirrors that of Daniel’s, although he
was separated from his brother after being sent to Thailand. Daniel
was a member of the ill-fated ‘F’ Force & worked on the railway well
north of where Daniel died. He was in one of the most infamous
camps, Shimo Sonkuri, near the Burmese border. Cholera was a
major killer in this area & Roy succumbed to this cruel disease in
May, 1943, four months before Daniel died. He was buried in the
camp cemetery & his remains were re-interred into Thanbyuzayat
Cemetery after the war. He will be commemorated at the group’s
special Hellfire Pass Service.
Both O’Connor brothers commemorated by Jack
The O’Connor brothers,
Roy (left) & Dan
Private John Palazzi
NX59426 - 22nd Company Australian Army Service Corps - aged 25
John was born in July, 1918 in Grenfell, NSW & was the son of Hector &
Elise Palazzi. He was working as a lorry driver when he enlisted in
Sydney in July, 1940. He spent some time training in Australia &
received his army truck driving licence. He was allotted to the AASC as
a driver / mechanic & arrived in Singapore on 20 Nov. 1941, only 10
weeks before it fell to the Japanese. John was listed as missing in action
after the fall of Singapore on 15 Feb., 1942. He had, though, been taken
into captivity along with 15 000 fellow Australians. After time in Changi
Prison, John was sent to Thailand as a part of ‘D’ Force in March, 1943.
He worked in the area around Hellfire Pass & may have even worked on
the infamous pass itself. John survived the worst of the conditions through 1943 only to die
of malaria on 29 January, 1944. Today, he lies in Kanchanaburi Military Cemetery. John is
being commemorated on behalf of his relative, Beth Sawers of Mackay.
Commemorated by Karah
Private Walter Stowe
NX58620 - 2/19th Battalion - aged 44
Walter was born in Denman, NSW in 1899, one of 12 children to William & Elizabeth Stowe.
Walter is our only soldier to have served in both WW1 & WW2. He
enlisted into the AIF aged 18 in July, 1917 & was allotted to the 14th Light
Horse Regiment. He was discharged in 1919 &, on his return to Australia,
married Daphne Stowe in Singleton. The two separated before WW2.
Walter was working as a fireman when he enlisted again in Sydney in
June, 1940 & he left Australia for Singapore with the 2/19th Battalion.
Walter was taken into captivity at the fall of Singapore on 15 Feb., 1942.
After spending time in Changi Prison he was sent to Thailand where he
died of dysentery whilst labouring on the Thai Burma Railway on 5 Jan.,
1944. Walter is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and he is the
Walter as an 18 year
old on his enlistment relative of Judy Watson of Mackay, who is a former teacher at North High.
into the AIF
Commemorated by Sam Goodall
Private Aubrey Theodore
Aubrey was born in May, 1916 in Brisbane and enlisted in Goomeri on 28 June, 1940. He
enlisted with Aaron’s grandfather, Joseph (Ed) Porter & was allotted to the 2/26th Battalion the same unit as Mr Rogers. After training in Brisbane & Bathurst, the 2/26th, as part of the
8th Division, was sent to Singapore, arriving in August, 1941. The battalion then fought the
Japanese in the 8th Division’s fighting withdrawal down the Malayan Peninsula in December
and January, 1942. Aubrey was taken into captivity at the fall of
Singapore on 15 Feb. and, with his fellow 8th Division comrades, was
interred in the vast Changi Prison. Aubrey was sent to Thailand to work
on the railway as part of H Force in May 1943. He died of malaria at
Tarsao camp on 13 Sept. of that year & was originally buried in the
camp’s No. 2 cemetery. His body was exhumed by the grave
registration unit after the war and he was re-interred into Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery, where he lies today. Aubrey is being honoured on
behalf of Aaron’s family and, in particular, Aaron’s late grandfather, Ed
Porter (also a POW), who was Aubrey’s friend.
Private Ross Wright
SX10925 - Australian Army Service Corps 8 Divisional Ammunition Sub Park - aged 21
Ross was born in Jan., 1920 in Port Adelaide, South Australia & was working in Narrung
when he enlisted on 14 Jan., 1941. He was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore on 15
Feb., 1942 & he died of illness whilst working on Thai Burma Railway on 4 December, 1943.
He is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Ross is being commemorated on behalf of the
Meningie, SA, community. His name appears on the Honour Roll in the town. Meningie Area
School & Birdwood High undertake similar tours to North High, however they do not visit
Thailand. Our group will honour Ross & James Cowan on their behalf.
Commemorated by Clare
World War One
Private Percy Nicholson
Percy was a commercial traveler from Brisbane & he enlisted at the age of 32 on 3rd Nov.,
1916. He was allotted to the 9th Reinforcement to the 52nd Battalion & sailed with this
allotment on 24 Jan., 1917. After arriving in England in April, he spent time in hospital with
influenza before joining the 52nd in France in late August. He was evacuated a month later
with a severe case of trench fever & spent a further 2 months in hospital. Percy rejoined his
unit on 29 Jan., 1918 & was killed in action on 5 April during the Battle of Dernacourt. In the
largest German attack against Australian positions of the war, Percy’s battalion, holding the
right flank of the Australian lines, was overwhelmed & forced to retire to its support lines.
Percy was no doubt killed in this action. His records have a hand written note simply stating,
“buried”, however no other information is given. This would indicate that Percy did at least
receive a battlefield burial. However, this battlefield grave was lost & Percy has no known
grave. He is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial & is being commemorated
on behalf of Mrs Mavis Naumann of Brisbane.
Sergeant Harry Slingsby
No. 20590 - 16th Battalion, 2nd Birkenhead, Cheshire Regiment - aged 25/26
Harry was killed in action on 19 July, 1916 during the 4 month British campaign known as the
Battle of the Somme. His unit moved into trenches near Waterlot Farm, near Trones Wood
on 17 July & held off a determined German attack the next day. The battalion war diary
states that its positions received a heavy German artillery bombardment on the 19th before it
was withdrawn to Bernafay Wood. It is likely that Harry was killed either in the trenches or as
the unit moved to the back area. His body was lost to the fog of war and, as such, his name
appears on the Thiepval Memorial, which dominates the Somme landscape.
Harry is the relative of our English bus driver, Simon, who has been our driver on the past two
Anzac tours. Simon has become a part of our project and this will be the first time he has
honoured his relative in the presence of one of our tour groups.

soldier biographies and photos - pdf file

Transcription

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