Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Letters to Miss A.A.N. Small with accounts of experiences in the 5th Division, 1917-1920
MLMSS 8501/Item 1
[Transcribers Notes: An exhaustive search by Mitchell Library staffer, M. Wiemirs uncovered no record of a publication Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory. A record about its proposed publication appeared in the press e.g. Fitzroy City Press 6 December 1919, inviting orders. It stated, " The entire undertaking is voluntary The price will be 12s. 6d. As the edition will be limited, members of the division should place orders now. All literary contributions and order should be addressed to the Compiler, "Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory," 73 Raglan Street, Mosman, Sydney."
"Miss Barrett" often appears as a note on original contributions and is presumed to be the name of the typist to whom Miss A.A.A. Small, who initiated the project, directed the material.
In transcribing I have usually copied the original words, and overlooked pencilled editorial markings.]
[Page 1]
Belgium 3.10.17
[In editors handwriting, written crossways at the top of the page - Miss Barrett]
We have had the experience of our lives. The Australians have covered themselves with fame for ever. They captured & held certain positions that were won and lost by other British Forces at least ten times, then the Australians came into action & not only held the positions but advanced some distance in spite of furious fire & overwhelming odds. The crash troops of German Billy were put against us to drive us out, but they are no more the Australians met them at the point of the bayonet, then finish crack troops.
Rather an amazing incident happened while we were in action. The night previous & early next morning Fritz was making desperate attacks on us to get back his lost positions which we had won from him. In the still moments our patrols went out and found some Fritz hidden in shell holes & block houses. Instead of firing on them one Sergeant called out to them "Come out of that you fools youll be getting hurt," so out they came holding up their hands as usual. One Fritz said "Kamerado there" pointing in a certain direction where white cloth was being waved. "Well, tell
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them to come over here too before they get hurt". You can just imagine how they ran towards our fellows, some had hands up & one in their pockets," but they soon pulled it out & held them both up. Some said they wanted to get to Blighty & all said they were glad to be taken prisoners & looked it too, some were boys, others old men, some wore great heavy spectacles tied over their eyes with piano wire. In all there were about eighty, including a few "Knuts".
Belgium 28.9.17.
We had rather a mixed experience, both weather conditions, shell fire & living conditions being against us, still in spite of it all I was fortunate in escaping all injuries & managed to come out minus rifle, through mud slush up to our knees in places, back to our billets sore, stiff, tired & wet. We then had our days spell, then back again to the line. The weather all the time was wet and windy. We went in relieving a battalion who were guarding a ridge known now as Anzac Ridge. This ridge forms quite an historic event as far as Australia & her troops are concerned, inasmuch, as it was here some of the crack Imperial troops had tried
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time after time to capture, but were repeatedly driven back owing to the strongly fortified pill boxes & block houses from which the German troops place so much reliance on. Then came the Australian troops turn on this sector; they were so successful in their attack & push that they not only drove the Huns away, but completely demoralised them, & gained an objective 1,000 yards further on. When the Australian Divis. took this ridge they flew their flag on what is now known as Anzac House supposed to be the largest, strongest, & most difficult pill box on this sector. Since then the ridge has never been recaptured by the Hun & still belongs to Australians.
While we were in we were constantly shelled both day & night. On one occasion a shell burst so close that our dugout on the one side fell in & completely covered three of us with earth, the rest of us 4 - had to dig & pull our mates out. We rebuilt our dugout again to settle down for a sleep, this was 2 A.M, but sleep was out of the question. It was raining continually. The following night we had just turned in when our home was flooded out so to work we went fixing up again.
A. Berger
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Hindenberg Line 5.10.1918
We have had another trip into the line & a rough one too! In fact, this latest stunt, although it only lasted five or six days, was the hottest thing Ive ever been in. It was worse than Polygon Wood & you have heard what a hell that was.
We went into the line on the 29th October. This time we worked with the Yanks; they went first & we went through them. It was an awful experience no words can describe it.
Our job was to break through the Seigfreid System on the Hindenburg Line. We did it, and made a good job of it, but didnt he plaster us with artillery. It was a wonderfully strong line, with its underground tunnels, pill boxes, barbed wire etc. There is also an underground canal where the Hun was able to keep a division of troops in reserve. Had the Aussies been holding such a strong line as this the whole German Army would not have succeeded
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in driving them out. The stunt is spoken of as the finest thing the Australians have yet done, so you see it is something to be proud of although it was such a costly affair. Twenty men went in with my platoon, but only nine of us came out!
One night in particular Ill never forget. We had occupied an old trench in rear of a small village. Myself & one of my section were on observation post, & in addition to keeping a good look out, we had to guard an old communication trench leading out into no-mans land. About half way through the night it started to rain, & it pelted down for about two hours. You can just imagine how we were wet to the skin, & up to our knees in mud.
Well, while it was raining its hardest one of our patrols on the right had captured a big Hun who had been out on patrol, but had become separated from his party.
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They brought this Hun along the trench we occupied the prisoner coming first, & his guard following behind. We heard them coming along, but imagine our surprise when we first caught sight of a big hefty German! My mate & I both dived for our bayonets we thought Fritz had sprung a surprise on us, however, the guard following on behind reassured us that all was "toot" & we breathed again & had a good laugh over it.
C.H. Crisps
[Page 7]
Charles Harold Crisps
Enlisted 15th September 1916. No. 4349
Private 30th Battalion.
Lance Corporal February 1918. Corporal October 1918. Two years, 4 months service from date of sailing Nov. 17th 1916.
Enlisted 15th Sept 16. Sailed 17th Nov 16.
Arrived England end of Jan; trained Hurdcott Camp Salisbury. Arrived in France 25 April 1917, attached to Machine Gun Section of 30th Batt. In line Bapaume from 3rd May till about 20th in reserve till 15th June. Batt. came out for rest 16 June. Had Trench Fever, sent to "rest" camp at St Valery on Somme. 28th July Batt. moved to Ypres Sector. Fought in Battle of Polygon Wood. Sept 1917. Moved to Messines Sector Nov. 13th; in line till 15th Dec.
8th Platoon won Brigade competition 28th Jan. 1918. Jan. leave to Paris. Feb 2nd back on Messines front. Made L.C. on field. Leave to Blighty.
March 20th left Messines to for Somme. Arrived Corbie early in April. In line till 16th June. 23rd May slightly wounded near Hamel returned to duty. 16th June came out to train for Divisional Sports came 3rd. July sent to Brigade School; received good report, recommended for O.T.C. [Officer Training Corps]. Took part in the "Big Advance".
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Aug. 8th till Hindenburg Line Stunt. 31.10.18 came second Brigade competition. At Lignieres when Armistice was signed. Spent Xmas in Beugnies whole battalion had dinner together in an old factory.
Educated Bourk [Bourke] Street Superior Public School. He was a prominent cricketer in the St George district, for many years playing with Arncliffe & afterwards with St George grade team. Brickmaker by trade.
No other member of our family is on "Active Service" excepting a young nephew & some cousins.
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Albert Berger
No. 4339. Private, 30th Battalion.
2 year 4 months on service.
Private Berger sailed on 17th November 16. Arrived England end of January & Trained at Hurdcott Camp, Salisbury. sent to Bombing School He arrived in France May 1917 & joined this battalion on Somme. Fought in battle of Polygon Wood Sept. & Oct. November appointed cook at Brigade Head Quarters. May 1918 gassed & sent to England. Back in France in October at Hd. Qrs.
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Polygon Wood
I have been to "hell" & back again! As a matter of fact it is praising it up to call it hell.
We went into the line on Thursday 27.9.17 & were relieved by the Tommies on Sunday night; but it was quite long enough. During that short period we repelled seven counter attacks by the Huns. They never succeeded in getting far from their front line. Our patrols were too watchful & they were not afraid to venture close to Fritzs line, to see what he was up to & what he was preparing for.
Immediately they saw that he was preparing to counter attack they would give a certain signal, & before the Hun had time to get far across no-mans land our artillery would put up a terrible barrage & that was the end of the attack. The barrage is absolutely beyond description, & no one who has not seen & heard it can possibly imagine the enormity of it.
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The positions taken lately by the Aussies are most important, & had been tried for by English Regiments previously, but they never quite succeeded in holding on to them. The Aussies took them & held them too.
We were relieved on the 30th by the Tommies, & I believe Fritz put up an attack on them & took some of the positions, but Im glad to hear the lost ground was regained next day.
C.H. Crisps
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August 8th Advance
We were right in the thick of the advance which started on August 8th.
Following a beautiful barrage we hopped over at dawn east of V-- & advanced seven miles, reaching our objectives before noon with a big load up too. It was a great turn out & Jerry never had a look in. In fact, he was taken by surprise, & put up a poor fight. It was a walk over, & we were tired on reaching our objective the load was heavy to carry & the ground rough, but I wouldnt have missed it for worlds.
We speak of it as "the diggers day out", & it was a day out in every sense of the word. We bagged hundreds of prisoners & before sending them back we relieved them of all their valuables in fact, in many cases we did not have to ask for or take them, they had them ready for us. Very few men in the Batt. could boast of a decent watch, but after the stunt they had watches to sell.
The Germans are a craven race all right, & will not fight at close quarters. They came running out of their dug outs with their hands in the air some even
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getting on their knees begging for mercy. They all do the "mercy kamerad" act & we had no other choice but to take them prisoners.
Only in one place did we meet with any opposition, & that was in a wood in a valley. This wood was quite a nest of machine guns, & they held us up for a while. The Tanks did their work well & truly & entered the wood first we followed & put the finishing touches on it capturing a big body of Huns & numerous guns.
In this wood was a Fritz Canteen. Im sorry to say I missed it. Those who happened to come across it had a great old time. They souvenired some German cigars, cigarettes, biscuits, beer etc. It was a humorous sight despite the seriousness of it all, to see all the Diggers on clearing the wood, advancing with boxes of cigars stuck under their arms, & of course one in their mouths. Oh, its a funny old war! One would think it was some great picnic they were out on, & yet we were playing an important part in one of the most successful advances in the war. Our losses were wonderfully light. We were only in for the stunts, a couple of days, & then relieved. Other Aussies are continuing the advance.
(C.H. Crisps)
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14.9.1918
We have been busily engaged pushing the Boche over the Somme. The last three weeks have been very strenuous, easily the hardest work Ive been called on to do in France. We have done great work, & earned great praise, but it has been hellish work. We have taken part in several stunts all successful ones, & we have straffed with all kinds of stuff. Sometimes he would shell us for a couple of hours at a stretch, & to add to our inconvenience he sent over large quantities of gas. He sends it over with high explosive shells. It is torture to keep our gas helmets on for three minutes, so you can imagine the joy we had having to keep them on for half hour stretches. We must have walked over a hundred miles during the recent operations in a little over three weeks. At times we were too tired to sleep that is when we had the opportunity to sleep, which was not too often. Our feet were almost in rags at times but we stuck it out & won through.
I had a bit of an experience with Fritz a few days ago. We had moved
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up to the front line late at night, & not being in touch with the enemy we moved forward a couple of hundred yards & occupied an old trench, where we dug in & made ourselves as comfortable as possible under the circ*mstances. Next day some snipers gave us some trouble, & the trench being shallow they succeeded in wounding one of our diggers, so the O.C. of my Company, a Sergeant & myself went out on a daylight patrol. By dodging in & out of old saps & trenches we got into touch & located these machine gun posts & snipers. At times we had to run across open country to take shelter in a trench. Well, once we located the posts we had a fine old time sniping Hans & Fritz. I emptied my bandolier of ammunition at them, but do not think I scored a hit. They were from six to eight hundred yards away, & at times a moving target, so you see it wasnt altogether easy shooting. However, we succeeded in making them clear out. Some of the planes, who were hovering overhead
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sighted them & signalled the Artillery who straffed them this made them go a bit quicker, & eventually we saw a couple of hundred Germans going for their lives down a valley. Well, this allowed us to advance another couple of thousand yards, taking a village on the way. We had just got settled down in the new line, when he started to strafe us, & and it was a living "hell" for two hours. He threw all kinds of iron foundry at us, including gas, but Im glad to say our usual luck stuck to us & we hadnt any casualties.
C.H. Crisps
[Page 17]
Belgium
3.10.17
We have had the experiences of our lives. The Australians have covered themselves with fame for ever. They captured and held certain positions that were won and lost by other British Forces at least ten times, then advanced some distance in spite of furious fire and overwhelming odds. The crack troops of German Billy were put against us to drive us out, but they are no more the Australians met them at the point of the bayonet, then finish "crack troops".
Rather an amusing incident happened while we were in action. The night previous and early next morning Fritz was making desperate attacks on us to get back his lost positions which we had won from him. In the still moments our patrols went out and found some Fritz hidden in shell holes and block houses; instead of firing on them one Sergeant called out to them "Come out of that you fools youll be getting hurt", so out they came holding up their hands as usual. One Fritz said "Kamarads there", pointing in a certain direction where a white cloth was being waved, "Well tell them to come over here too before they get hurt". You should just imagine how they ran towards our fellows, some had hands up with "Mercy Kamerad", others one hand up and one in their pockets, but they soon pulled it out and held them up. Some said they wanted to get to Blighty and all said they were glad to be taken prisoners and looked it too; some were boys, others old men, some wore great heavy spectacles tied over their eyes with piano wire. In all there were about eighty, including a few "Knuts".
Belgium
28.9.17
We had rather a mixed experience, both weather conditions, shell fire and living conditions being against us, still in spite of it all I was fortunate in escaping all injuries and managed to come out minus rifle, through mud slush up to our knees in places, back to our billets, sore, stiff, tired and wet. We then had four days spell, then back again to the line. The weather all the time was wet and windy. We went in relieving a battalion who were guarding a ridge known now as Anzac Ridge. This ridge forms quite an historic event as far as Australia and her troops are concerned, inasmuch, as it was here where some of the crack Imperial troops had tried time after time to capture, but were repeatedly driven back owing to its strongly fortified pill boxes and block houses from which the German troops place so much reliance on. Then came the Australian troops turn on this sector, they were so successful in their attack and push that they not only drove the Huns away, but completely demoralised them and gained an objective 1,000 yards further on. When the Australian Divis. took this ridge they flew their flag on what is now known as Anzac House supposed to be the largest, strongest, and most difficult pill box on this sector. Since then the ridge has never been recaptured by the Hun and still belongs to Australians.
While we were in we were constantly shelled both day and night. On one occasion a shell burst so close that our dugout on the one side fell in and completely covered three of us with earth,
/the
[Page 18] [Page 19] A. Berger Hindenburg Line. 5.10.1918 We have had another trip into the line and a rough one too. In fact, this latest stunt, although it only lasted five or six days, was the hottest thing Ive ever been in. It was worse than Polygon Wood, and you have heard what a "hell" that was. We went into the line on the 29th October. This time we worked with the Yanks, they went first and we went through them. It was an awful experience no words can describe it. Our job was to break through the Seigfried System of the Hindenburg Line. We did it and made a good job of it, but didnt he plaster us with artillery. It was a wonderfully strong line, with its underground tunnels, pill boxes, barbed wire etc. There is also an underground canal where the Hun was able to keep a division of troops in reserve. Had the Aussies been holding such a strong line as this the whole German Army would not have succeeded in driving them out. The stunt is spoken of as the finest thing the Australians have yet done, as you see it is something to be proud of, although it was such a Costly affair. Twenty men went in with my platoon, but only nine came out. One night in particular! We had occupied an old trench in rear of a small village. Myself and one of my section were on observation post, and in addition to keeping a good look out, we had to guard an old communication trench leading out into No-mans Land. About half way through the night it started to rain, and it pelted down for about ten hours. You can imagine how we were wet to the skin, and up to our knees in mud. Well, while it was raining its hardest one of our patrols on the right had captured a big Hun who had been out on patrol, but had become separated from his party, they brought this Hun along the trench we occupied, the prisoner coming first, and his guard following behind. We heard them coming along, but imagine our surprise when we first caught our sight of a big hefty German. My mate and I both dived for our bayonets, we thought Fritz had sprung a surprise on us, however, the guard following on behind reassured us that all was "toot" and we breathed again and had a good laugh over it. C.H. Crisps. [Page 20] [Page 21] Overseas Training Brigade, Notes [Page 22] [Page 23] [Page 25] [Page 26] [Page 27] [Page 28] [Page 29] [Page 30] [Page 31] [Page 32] [Page 33] [Page 34] [Page 35] [Page 36] July 30 1918 Dear Miss Small In answer to your letter for particulars of our Dear Boys Enlistment and death. As my wife (his Mother) does not feel equal to the task. She asked me to reply. We are grateful to you for your consideration for detail and your noble attempt to perpetuate the memory of those gallant heros who comprised the 5th Division. There have been many noble & glorious charges & attacks during the war. But I think when the history of this war is fully & faithfully written That the attack & charge at Fleur-Baix [Fleurbaix] by the 5th will rank as one of the grandest of the many glorious events of the war. And those of us the relatives, of those who formed the divisions of that attack will ever look back upon the memorable 19 & 20th July 1916 as the most precious, & upon Fleur Baix as the most sacred spot in all that hallowed ground. Made sacred by the Blood of those heros who fell fighting so nobly for us, who will every revere their memory. We hope your book will have the success it deserves in recording one of the bravest (if not the bravest) of many charges during the war. [Page 37] The only letter from France I have just read over again. Most pathetic of all in it he says. He will give us a full description in his next Alas the next never came. He was a descriptive writer & an interesting one. He was one who loved his work even as a Soldier. His love for his work & men as Sergt was genuine not assumed. As a lad in the cadets he was soon made Sergt. In the Citizen Forces he obtained his Sergt. in record time & all the time he was in Camp he acted Sergt. He joined & went to Liverpool on the Monday & when his Mother & I went to see him 3 or 4 days after, we found him drilling a squad of men like an old campaigner. [Page 38] So you will see by this the sort of lad he was. No sordid motive. No desire but to do his duty to King & country. He left a good financial position & prospects like thousands of others like him. I will give what particulars I can as to his movements & if not as you wished I shall be pleased to furnish more. Again thanking you on behalf of his Mother. I remain, yours Sincerely [Page 39] Through the Red Cross & other sources we learn that he was seen lying dead in the German Trenches at Fleur Baix July 20th 1916. We have received absolutely nothing of his effects (only his disc) and we have not a single article that he had in his possession at the front. A letter from one of his comrades says that he saw him the night before the attack. But he himself was wounded early in the morning & did not see any more of Percy [Page 40] If you would like any particulars Re Will Bently, his people address is "Nidderdale" [Page 41] Sept.20.1918 Oct 6.1918. [Page 42] The Australians are Great men where others go one mile, they go two. One German officer was asked whether the attack was expected "Of course," he replied, "As the Australians were still in line, we expected to be attacked any time." "I passed yesterday through a battered town once beautiful which was recently re-delivered by Australians, when very weary, 300 men taking 650 prisoners. The streets had been cleared and new names put up on large boards at every corner. There in a French town, I saw: Wallaby Avenue, Dinkum St, Jackass Lane and best of all Roo de Kanga." Nov. 1918. Left France. Early in 1919 appointed Assist. Director of A.I.F. Education Service in charge of Depots in U. Kingdom. [Page 43] (The following account is naturally incomplete owing to the size of the operation, the formation of the country, & the task in hand, but it sets out a few of the many thousand incidents witnessed during those few days.) There had been rumours of various kinds handed round & one of them was that the 14th Brigade was being held in readiness for a bold manoeuvre & the events that followed proved this "wireless" to be only too true. During the morning of the 31st August orders were issued for the Brigade to move North about 4 kilometres & then swing Eastward & cross the Somme Canal above Clery-sur-Somme, by a partially destroyed bridge. It was a great sight to see the whole Brigade moving in Artillery formation, but when shells began dropping amongst us, it looked as if we had been "spotted", & the sight of an [Page 44] However, the Brigade crossed with few casualties & by 4 oclock we were sheltering behind some chalk cliffs on the edge of the canal in the vicinity of Clery, with a portion of the 5th Brigade. We had hardly settled down to rest & feed when a "straff" commenced & the little village of Clery registered most of the hits. As the only road passed through what remained of the village it will be seen that it was not a particularly healthy spot, but some of our 18 pdrs were unfortunately on the road & then we saw some fine work with the horses at full gallop & the guns dancing up & down on the uneven road, half the time lost to view by the dust & the smoke from the bursting shells. It must have seemed an eternity for those drivers until they reached a place of safety, but in reality but a few minutes. Another incident on the same road was a Ford ambulance going back with [Page 45] Towards the evening as no one seemed to know what we were going to do, it looked as if we would have to make ourselves comfortable for the night & get what rest we could with only a ground sheet for protection. During the night the plan of action was discussed & it was decided that the 14th Brigade would attack due South, our Battalion sector including the town of Peronne. Well, in the morning "Stand to" was ordered about 4.30 & without any breakfast we commenced. The distance to the jumping off trenches was not great but when a Battalion is stretched out in single file, with intervals between the Platoons it is a tedious job moving forward [Page 46] Anyone that has experienced a halt near a "hot" corner will understand our feelings & when a few 9.2 shells dropped amongst the unit in front of us causing a lot of casualties we began to wonder if we would ever reach our trench. However, we eventually did five minutes before "Zero hour" which was 6 am in this case but a lot can [be] done, in that time, take your bearings, fix bayonets, readjust your equipment which has got very heavy on the way in, & last but not least have a "draw" & then over the top. The first line of trenches yielded up quite a nice little lot of fine big fellows who had volunteered from all the regiments of the Hun army to stop the Aussies but who at the sight of our [Page 47] As we advanced his defence stiffened & miles of barbed wire had to be crossed & we lost many brave fellows as his machine guns played along the belts of wire. I believe that the average of Hun machine guns in this stunt was one every five yards & about 50 machine guns & several field guns were collected from our Battalion sector & the other Battalions engaged did equally well. [Page 48] [Page 49] Credit is due to the men of the 2nd Division who had some very hard & costly fighting in order to guard our left flank & capture the high ground of Mt. St. Quentin which dominated the position at Peronne. [Page 50] Dear Miss Small, I am enclosing a short account of the Peronne stunt but think it could be much improved, as I am not much hand at anything of this kind & I think it is quite possible that you may have received a better, in which case the fire will be the best place for mine. I thought as I had so far been unsuccessful in getting anyone to, contribute it, was my duty to see what I could do, hence the [Page 51] I was in camp at Warminster for 2 weeks after leaving hospital & was then sent on here as Depot Quarter Master whilst the Major who was here was in hospital. I have only been here a fortnight & am leaving to go to Weymouth on Tuesday. I have not heard from Frank for a long time but Lt. Bennett who left for home a couple of weeks ago & who [Page 52] There is a lot of trouble over the transports with the strikes & instead of the 14 boats that should have left last month, only 3 left. We have had some very cold weather lately but the last few days are a sample of Spring & I hope a change for the better. With kindest regards to all at "73". Lt. 54th Battalion. [Page 53] Dear Miss Small, I must apologise for the delay in answering your communication of the 10th August. My father sent that letter to me asking me to undertake the work you requested. Naturally I found it a particularly sad task, to read through letters which were once sent with such different feelings and anticipations now gone for ever. I have written an account of my youngest brothers life and will forward you some extracts from his letters. If you intend publishing some account of the members of the 30th still in active service I have many letters from my surviving brother who joined up with the original 30th, in B Company, recruited from the Newcastle District; and is still in active service. Yours sincerely, [Page 54] [Page 55] His memory is honoured by an inscription on one of the tablets at the base of the fine memorial statue erected outside the Post Office in the main street of the city of his birth, and on the memorial stone erected on the cliffs above the Bar Beach by the members of the Surf Club in which he was an enthusiastic worker, as well as in the hearts and minds of those who have enjoyed his genial manly company. A lover of the poetry [Page 56] Lines Written When Nearing the Gate of Tears Bold monuments of ruder days, Extend the waters, to the view, Ye orbs of night with golden sheen My thoughts, now in that distant part, Private Alfred John Smith Published in the "Sports Companys Gazette, S.S. "Suevic" at sea [Page 57] Patches of the country are extremely fertile, but the primitive methods of working depreciate the natural value of the soil. The greater part of the country is desert appears as though it had been thrown up from oceans bottom yesterday. Mirages, reflecting the blue sky on the heat haze rising from the sun-baked sand and resembling water are a frequently-seen and very deceptive phenomenon. [Page 58] Where Pharaohs ruled in ancient times, The land of whor*s and septic sores, The land in which the devils hand [Imshi is a native word applicable to a day and generally used contemptuously "get out". "Mafish" has a very elastic meaning "Im done with you" or "finish".] [Page 59] Carrying twentyfours rations, which is a fat feed for one healthy rat : no money in our pockets : we entrain at Moascar station in open trucks, and at about six oclock in the evening, we set out on our eight hours train journey. Most of the other brigades of the Division are scattered along the first mile or so, to cheer us out and to wish us bon voyage. Our rough carriages rendered an uninteresting landscape more so, on account of our discomfort. The sun was sinking, just as the full moon was rising, thus marking in an extraordinary manner the East and West Line. We passed through several towns of note, including Tel-el-Kebir a previous Camp site and Zag-a-zig, the line travelling in a general south-westerly direction. A few stations past Zag-a-zig, the train branches off from the Cairo Line for Alexandria. The railway now spans several fresh water streams, including the Rosetta and Damietta, the main rams of the Nile Delta. This area is wonderfully green in accordance with its reputation of fertility. At every other station along the line, the natives rush round like wild men, in their efforts to sell bread, cakes, cooked eggs and cordials. The goods are trashy, the prices very high and money very scarce, consequently the inner man must contend with the worms for a few hours longer. I doze off to sleep at intervals. I was wakened at the Terminus Alexandria at about 2 a.m. Our train was right along the quay, at which the Transport A 20, was berthed. This steamer had brought to the 34th Battalion to Australia. The deleted by Censor is a twin-screw steamer, 11,000 register, belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company. She was built about 10 months ago, intended for cargo and immigration. Practically since the outbreak of war, she has been engaged as H.M.T. del. By Censor - . Alexandria is at present a very busy port, about four times the space of Port Hunter. It is for the main part a natural harbour. The training walls and quays are built of stone blocks embedded in cement. The city is very much more Westernised than Cairo, by appearance, for we were not allowed ashore. I would say that the city is more spacious than Cairo and represents a more liberal outlay of capital. Friday afternoon we went out to take up a position in mid-stream. 3.30, Saturday morning, we put out to sea. We were enabled to formulate but a vague estimate of the fortifications of the port. Without these however, at present Alexandria enjoys the additional security of the ever vigilant sea-dogs on patrols, etc. at the entrance. Sunday morning, we passed the Island of Crete on the port side. Several small rock islands were passed en route through the Mediterranean. The atmosphere is becoming fresher, and, in due proportion, our appetites keener. Although there was a strong head breeze on Sunday, there was so little motion on our boat, that I believe there were no cases of mal-de-mer throughout the trip. This may be accounted for by the fact that A 20 was well loaded, drawing 30 forehead and 27" aft. I saw the sun rise on Monday morning and doubt if we could ever have surveyed a smoother sea. During the day a few swallows were hovering about the boat, and a dove actually came on board. Monday afternoon, we have had a lecture and practical demonstration of the correct adjustment of the gas helmet. This is a very simple arrangement, being mainly a piece of cloth shaped to fit over the head. The cloth reeks with chemicals, suggesting carbolic acid. There are two glass apertures for the eyes and a rubber valve tube to fit the mouth allowing one to exhale only. The supply of air comes through the cloth, which acts as a filter. [Page 60] This afternoon we pass the southern coast of Sardinia. Most coasts are of indifferent interest in the distance. This one appeared very mountainous. Thursday afternoon at about three oclock we sighted the coast of France. We were glad to distinguish wooded country once more. Wallie and I were sitting on one of the deck-houses, seeing as much as we could. I presume we sight land adjacent to Toulon Bay : there are quite a number of sailing and steam craft making to and from that direction. The coast from here to Marseilles is very picturesque and will be hard to forget. What I took to be a big castle - a real old timer was passed on the coast. On the port side of the entrance of the Gulf of Lions is Dantes Island. It is a weird, rugged-looking place. The fortifications of the place are numerous and look formidable enough, but one may be assured that the main defences of the port are unseen. The Gulf is crescent in shape and a fringe of habitations align the foreshores. The first thing I read of Marseilles is a sign-board advertising Dewars Whiskey. I naturally conclude that France is a very go-ahead sort of place. Then I see Regina Hotel, confirming my conclusions. Having taken a pilot aboard, we passed through a break in the wall that lines the Bay to Le Bassin de la Joliette. We are unable to guess the size of the Port, owing to quays and shipping obstructing our view. Marseilles is an inspiring spectacle from the port. Spires and steeples of massive buildings are discernible on every hand. I am assured that La Cannebiere a promenade extending to the shores of the Bay not the foreshores of the Bay and the foreshores are, in peace time, usually gay with picnicers. Prominent on the sky-line is a tall Cathedral which must overlook the whole city the Cathedral de Notre Dame de la Garde. Another fine landmark is the Transbordeur Bridge [Page 61] 25 June. The day was set apart for a collection for the Benefit of the Servias. We stopped here for about an hour. Two young ladies collecting for Servia insisting on my writing down my address "pour souvenir". By using my best French, I succeeded in getting their addresses in my Note Book. (must say that I do not know half as much French as I used to). The present population is so decentralised that the noted towns of Lyon, Dijon, Vienne, were disappointing in size compared with my expectations. Towards the latter part of my journey to somewhere in the North of France, the country produces mainly cereals and vegetables. Dairying on a very small scale is carried on. We have travelled nearly from one side of the country to the other, and strange to recount we saw no indications of cattle raising. The town of Lyon is particularly beautiful it is a town of beautiful bridges. We were glad to get out of the train Monday morning we were not too clever. The shortage of rations throughout the trip indicated an oversight on the part of somebody. The shortest space between our very inadequate meals was twelve hours. Had not some of our number a little money to spend, we would have been in a sorry plight by the end of our trip. This fine people and this beautiful country make one proud to join their hands against the implacable and bestial German Militarism a common foe for civilisation. The men-folk are doing their duty in the war yet we are accorded the fullest confidence of the Nation, whose hospitality is beyond reproach. We are welcomed to their hearts and homes wherever we choose. While we are privileged to see the best of the country at the [Page 62] I have seen the ancient ivy-clad castles along the line. Tears fill my eyes when I think what these people have suffered. The greatest battles of the world from early times to the present have stained this beautiful country and finally, what these people have suffered in the cause of Liberty! I have heard women proud and exultant, tell of their fathers, sons and brothers fallen in the struggle against brutality and the Hun. They seem not to think of regret. The morality of the people, I am confident, is not less high than that of our own people. True Marseilles is notorious, but Marseilles is no more indicative of the national character of France than Woolloomooloo is of New South Wales. There are many marble deposits along the line, and many of the railways cuttings etc. are built with rough marble, which, I think, cannot be of the best quality. This is the middle of summer and I often find myself shivering with the cold. I dont like to think of the middle of winter. The people of this district content themselves with less pretentious homesteads than Ive seen elsewhere in France and the cultivation is conducted on a humbler scale. The people are very zealous over their religion. On every hand, in the streets and the corners, in the wineshops, one is confronted with images, crucifixes, etc. representing all the exterior formality, etc., of which the Roman Catholic faith is so fond. Every village, however, small, is furnished with an elaborate church. The people here are more Anglicised than they are in the South, and French, when it is spoken, is more easily intelligible. Beer is 1d. per glass and wine 1d. per glass. Red Wine sweet 3d per glass, red wine - 1d, Champagne the best 4/2 per quart bottle. You might be led to the conclusion that living is very cheap, but on the contrary, the more necessary articles are very much dearer than they are in Australia. Kids, just able to toddle, bowl in for their glass of beer and will never refuse a cigarette. A bucketful of this beer would not elevate ones feelings in the slightest. The best way I can think of describing the liquor is by quoting the old-time definition of a point wanting in length, breadth and thickness. Most of the farmhouses, of course, make their own butter. The method of churning the butter is novel and ingenious, but general in the district. A large wheel of about 6 ft. radius with a wide phlange of about 18 ins is the motive force of some simple mechanism. Every farm maintains a dog for the purpose of running the phlange, thus setting this wheel and its dependent machinery in motion. We have leave till 9 oclock at night but it is still light enough to read at 10 oclock at night. The scenery here, I am led to believe, is the very ideal of English country scenery. I have not seen a barren spot in the whole of France. [Page 63] In this town - daylight has been rudely pushed into almost every house. Churches and Convents have especially suffered. Whilst in the firing line, our platoons suffered four casualties, one chap died two days after a horrible shrapnel wound across the eyes. We had some heavy bombardment during our short stay. Wallie was in charge of a bay (trench outlook) with six men, ten yards on my left. Two others and myself were holding another bay during the nights. The trenches were four hundred yards apart. Our Artillery is well organised and apparently never wanting in munitions. We usually let Fritz have half a dozen shells for his one. I usually have to place a sand bag on the fire step before I can peep over the parapet this inconveniences my comrades who have the advantage over me by several inches in height. My dear brother, my strongest conviction now is that War is madness, manslaughter the most logical means of bringing the war to a conclusion would be to call a consultation over the bank books of the belligerents. Our Artillery had been converting the German front line into a hell on earth for about two minutes during the lull in the bombardment I saw the enemy trenches all aglow like an immense furnace yet those trenches were held by human beings. War is Madness! and it taxes ones will-power to the utmost to temper ones mind to be a party in this madness. During a bombardment we are helpless the artillery does its damndest. We must impotently accept what may happen - This philosophy becomes second nature nervousness will not improve the situation. I am confident that the 30th Battalion will uphold the reputation of the Australians in reciprocating madness begun by Germany in a manner that will be most distasteful to them. We are very optimistic as to the ultimate result of the war, as well as of its curtailment. [Page 64] "Vouloir ce que Dieu veut, (To wish the will of God is alone the wisdom which wins the souls peace.) [Page 65] Octr. 3rd 1918 Dear Miss Small Your letter of date August 12th arrived here some weeks ago, with request for particulars about my brother. It was sent on to me from Trundle N.S.W. where I had been staying for some months and there the message arrived about my brother. The news was sent to Forbes from Trundle and eventually appeared in the Sydney Sun. Unfortunately that report was contradicted. After many anxious weeks we heard again that my poor brother had not been accounted for since July 19th 1916. Private Peter Cahill of the thirty-eighth Battalion is the prisoner of war in Germany and whose name had been confused with my brothers. I shall give you just a brief outline of my brothers short career as a soldier. Any other information concerning him may not interest you, now that attached to a prisoner in Germany is lacking. No. 3281 Private William Patrick Cahill 5th Battalion enlisted in Melbourne in June 1915. Sailed in Nestor October 1915. After some months training in Egypt he embarked for France where he was reported missing on July 19th 1916. He sent a little paper called the Nestorian. Printed on board the Nestor. Have you a copy of it? I shall enclose a quotation from my copy in case you have not got one. Will you please write me again to the address on this letter? I should like to obtain a copy of this book you are compiling. Kindly inform me of its price and about the time you expect it to be printed. My brothers wife lives in Melbourne. Yours faithfully Messages in a bottle thrown overboard by my brothers comrades were picked up at Suez [Page 66] [In the margin] The Equator, Wednesday October 27th; 1915 The Nestorian, our sea born paper, here announces its official appearance. It is the promise of this paper to chronicle matters of interest to afford a field for the literary ability of those on board. Subjects both grave and gay will be dealt with and it is to be hoped that some "mute inglorious" Milton, Tennyson or Shakespeare will be unearthed. We have left Australia on the finest troopship that ever left our shores, to the accompaniment of tears, cheers and farewell waving of our loved ones. We have watched the blue hazy Australian hills fade, and are fairly launched on our way to play our part in the greatest conflict in the worlds history. A lofty standard has been set up by our comrades who have preceded us and it should be our duty and pride to keep the flag flying. Our units are drawn from tropical Queensland to the tight little island of Tasmania, all animated by the "call of the blood" and spirit of Empire. Nelsons signal calls to us today across the years in trumpet tones, with the freshness of yesterday "England expects that every man this day will do his duty." The poet has written "For how many men die better than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of their fathers and the temples of his Gods." It is our lofty privilege to live and strive and possibly die for the maintenance of the grandest and freest Empire upon which the sun shines. To this end, and in this cause, we dedicate our paper. [Page 67] [Page 68] Your sons services with this Division had been marked by gallantry, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. His bravery earned for him the distinction of the Distinguished Conduct Medal and promotion to Commissioned Rank. He proved himself a most reliable Officer, was highly esteemed by those who knew him, and his loss is severely felt by all his comrades. At the time he met his death, he was bravely, while under fire, bandaging one his wounded men. I can only hope that the memory of the splendid example which your son set, and the great service which he rendered to the Empire and the cause of humanity, may be of some consolation to you in your sorrow. [Page 69] Lieut. Oldham was one of my Subalterns and was one of the finest and bravest young Officers I have ever met. He was capable of doing anything and the men would follow him anywhere. He was killed just before we "hopped over" to attack Peronne on the 1st September 1918 and it is characteristic of him that he met his death whilst binding up a wounded man under heavy fire. This was the role in which our Battalion knew him so well. I have never known an Officer so involved & respected by his men and any man in my company would always willingly go with him on any dangerous task. I had such bright hopes of his future and took such a pride in having him as one of my Subalterns as he was recognised as one of the best Officers in the Battalion. Such men as Wally are hard to get and it goes hard with us to lose him who was beloved by all the Battalion and respected so much for his bravery and soldiery qualities." [Page 70] "Lieutenant Oldham was a member of the 56th. Battalion and he was universally accepted as one of the bravest of the brave and nicest Officer among the Juniors. He did not know what fear was, poor boy. We felt his loss dreadfully. He was my favourite Junior Officer. Had he lived, Im sure he would have done great things. The pity of this War is that such a number of excellent fellows like him have gone west, and their loss is irreparable. [Page 71] "I am back with my old platoon as Sergeant. A very decent lot of men too and I get on O.K. with them. I was left in command during the recent battles, my officer being killed at the assembly point. A finer soldier and gentleman you could not find, and the boys thought the world of him too. His name was Oldham from Lambton I believe near Newcastle or somewhere in that locality." [Page 72] "My battalion suffered badly, the majority of the Officers gone, amongst them my Platoon Officer Lieutenant Wally Oldham, from Stockton, Newcastle, who was killed on Sunday Morning. Perhaps you know his people; in any case I would like you to tell them just how much the boys and myself appreciated Wally, both as an Officer and a friend. He only came back from England a little while ago with his Commission, and he was as keen as mustard for the fight. Australia has sent some very game men in this "mixup", but a gamer man than Wally never wore khaki. He already had the D.C.M. and he died performing a V.C. deed, namely bandaging a wounded private under hellish Machine Gun and Artillery barrage. His death effected the whole Company deeply, because of his cheery nature and unequalled popularity amongst all ranks. Newcastle has indeed something to be proud of in his memory." [Written in the margin on third last line near "the whole Company" is "B"] [Page 73] Miss A. A. Small Dear Miss Small As I promised I will now endeavour, to give you, to the best of my ability, an essay of my Brothers life. I also enclose a report from Lieutenant Haviland, that my Mother, received through the kind efforts of the Red Cross, as to how & when he was killed. I might say that it would be futile for me to try, & find a more appropriate reference as regards for Brothers noble character & disposition. So with these few remarks I will give you details as near correct. [Page 74] Will you kindly accept my heartfelt wish for every success for the book, & if possible let me know how to procure an edition on completion. I Remain Charles A, Bridgement [Page 75] My brother Edward Samuel Bridgement was educated at St Patricks School, Church Hill Sydney, at the age of 15 years he was apprenticed to Messrs. Jones Brothers Master builders of Sydney to the bricklaying trade. After serving three years of his time he persuaded my Parents to allow him to enlist, but on presenting himself at the depot for medical examination he was told he was unfit owing to an internal complaint necessitating an operation. But not daunted at this he decided to undergo the operation. Consequently he went into St Vincents Hospital & underwent a slight but very painful operation [Page 76] and on recovery again presented himself & was passed for active Service. He entered the original 30th Battalion as a Private in the Pioneers but afterwards transferring (in France) into the Infantry. After four months training here he embarked on the 9.11.15 been then at the age of eighteen. He sailed direct from here to Egypt & was on guard duty on the Suez Canal for about 9 months. His battalion was then embarked for France, arriving there the Company my brother was in were billeted somewhere in France behind the lines been drilled in preparation for the first big push that was the memorable battle of the Somme. That was actually where my brothers fighting started he [Page 77] Ultimately recovering he rejoined his (now sadly depleted) as far as the originals were concerned, Company & once more faced the huns at Messines, to help stop the German rush across France last March. But it was destined that, that, was to be my brothers last engagement & he was killed on the 18.3.18 & so ended a noble Life (God Rest Him). [Page 78] Letter from Lieutenant Haviland the O.C. in France 24.6.18 Re No 602 Private E.S. Bridgement "C" Co 30 Bat. He was with me when he was killed 18.3.18 at Messines, he & I & Cap. Adams (who was killed) where [were] in the Co. Headquarters dugout & Fritz was strafing heavily. A 6´´ [inch] shell blew in the dugout at about 10 a.m. & a piece of shell struck Bridgement killing him instantly. He was buried at Petit Douve Cemetery near Messines & a cross was erected & I believe the grave was registered. He was buried beside Capt. Adams who was killed at the same time. Bridgement was always, reliable, & about the coolest man under fire I have ever seen. He was a [Page 79] His Kit effects will have been sent by the War office to his people. [Page 80] These are particulars of No 300 Private P.W. I. de Burgh 8th Machine Gun Coy, 15th Train Battalion. He left College at the age of 18 years, & entered the Commercial Bank, but not liking indoor work took up Stock & Station work where he remained until he enlisted at the age of 20 years. He enlisted the day War was declared, but owing to family reasons & bereavement he did not enter camp until Nov 9th 1915. He is an only son leaving behind a widowed Mother & an only sister. He is a Grandson of the late Captain de Burgh who was in the English Army, his late Father, J.W.D. de Burgh served in the South African War where he was wounded. He was with the 8th Light Horse while in Camp here, but just before embarking on the 29th March 1916, he was transferred to the 8th Machine Guns & has been with them ever since. He left from [Page 81] One morning he had a few hours off so he & a friend wandered into the woods. The snow was falling & the little Robins were hopping about which to an Australian Boy was a great novelty & they were also charmed with the little squirrels up the trees eating the nuts. They tried to catch some but they were very elusive. They also visited the old home of the Village Black Smith, & stood under the spreading Chestnut tree, where the Village Smithy used to stand. It brought back old memories of their College Days & of the lessons they had learnt. He met some very nice people in England & they were very kind to him. One evening at a dance given to the soldiers [Page 82] His next move was France where he has been fighting ever since & was in all the big Battles & was hit with shrapnel many times, but fortunately not seriously. He is charmed with France & the people & was very much struck with their Patriotic spirit. He said it was wonderful to see the work which the women have taken up. His 23rd Birthday he spent in hospital suffering from a slight illness. He was very glad of the rest & when convalescent had a few days furlough which he spent in Scotland, he was [Page 83] When in Camp in England he was accosted one day by an English Tommy, who asked him if he could lend him a few shillings, to which he replied, I have only two coppers in my pocket which you can have & - which the Tommy accepted. They went across to a Canteen & had a game of "Crown & Anchor" when bang went the first penny. They started off again with the last penny which resulted in the Tommy winning 11/-, which he guarded very closely. I could tell you much more but suppose this is all that you require in reference to my brother. I am [Page 84] Mrs Lamoud Only letter here for you." [Page 85] France Dear Miss Small Your letter dated Sept 13th to hand. I shall be only too pleased to help you in any way to make your book a success providing it lay in my power. Firstly I must state I am most lacking in the art of describing in detail what actually happens on the field of battle, probably owing to the fact that over here, one is only too pleased to forget the various incidents which occur in a war such as we have been engaged in for the past four years. However, I shall endeavour to describe the part played by the 8th Australian Light Trench Mortar [Page 86] The attack was to be made at 5.45 am on the morning of the 26th Sept by the 14th and 15th Australian Infantry Brigades with the 8th A.I. Bde in reserve, but owing to the fact that the 15th Bde suffered heavy casualties on the 24th Sept during a counter-attack launched by the Boche on their portion of the line which had been captured by another Australian division a few days previous, orders were issued for the 8th Brigade to reinforce the 15th Bde for the attack. These orders were received at 8 P.M. on the night of the 25th. The 8th Brigade was then about 7 miles behind the front line. On receipt of the orders the 8th A.L.T.M. Battery, set out on their 7 mile [Page 87] The attack was made in two stages, the first and final objectives named respectively, the red and blue lines. The 8th L.T.M.B. supplied the following personnel to assist in the attack. Two officers, four non-commissioned officers, and 44 men. Each officer had under his command, two guns with an N.C.O. and 3 men to work each gun, and 8 additional men with each gun for the purpose of carrying ammunition. One officer and two gun crews were detailed to assist the 31st Battalion on the right and myself and the remaining two gun crews to assist the 29 Battn on the left. [Page 88] We arrived at the place of assembly a short time before zero hour without a casualty, and after getting into position, awaited the time laid down for the attack to commence. At 5.45.am. the artillery & machine gun barrage opened, and each man of the attacking force jump up and fearlessly set out on their expedition to the German line. The artillery & machine gun barrage was perfect, and sounded like the continuous roll of a drum, which encouraged the men and demoralised the Boche to such an extent that the attacking troops [Page 89] Under cover of the excellent barrage the first objective was quickly reached. There the men rested a few minutes before renewing the attack. Everywhere one looked there were smiling faces & men calmly smoking cigarettes, which expressed their satisfaction of having accomplished the first stage of the attack with so much success. It was at the first objective where we lost a number of casualties caused chiefly by Enemy snipers & machine guns. [Page 90] [Page 91] On the night of the 28th Sep. the 30th & 32nd Battalions came in & relieved the 29th & 31st. Having heard that the Officer who commanded the other sub-section had been taken prisoner I was sent over to take charge of his two guns. It was while there that we discovered that the Boche was digging strong [Page 92] Well Miss Small I hope you will be able to gather from this awfully composed letter, what the actual fight was like. I think this was one of the heaviest fights that took place during the war, as regards artillery fire, but Im rather afraid I have not described it to your satisfaction. [Page 93] [Page 94] Wishing you the best of luck in the work you are doing. Yours sincerely [Page 95] France, [Pages 95 is an abridged typed version of the previous Pages 85 to 94.] [Page 96] [Page 97] "Valene" S, Smith Esq. Dear Sir, A couple of weeks ago Mother received a letter asking for information concerning my brother and myself also for any useful items, for the book on the 5th Aust. Division. I have lost the ladies address but remember your name as being on the committee. I am enclosing a couple of extracts from letters which may be interesting. I also have many books of post cards of Egypt and France which I will be pleased to loan if desired. The cards are good black and white. I had 2½ years with the 65th Batt. A.M.C. and will be pleased to help in any way possible. Wishing the movement every success. Yours faithfully [Page 98] Written by a man whose mate was killed in the German trenches at Fleurbaix (Flanders) 30.9.16. Good-bye, Old Pal! Youve lived your day Youre buried deep: No marble stone Good bye, Old Pal. We lived the life And then Grim Death, who from the wounds (B. Fraser. Writer) These lines were originally written by Fraser, a reporter for some Ashfield paper, at the time a stretcher bearer with 55th Batt. [Page 99] Copy of part of letter written by Sig. A.W. Walker 55th Batt. Thanks for sending the parcel, it would come in handy if I could get it just now, for we are living out in a cornfield in little holes dug in a bank with our waterproof sheet stretched over the top, and have no chance to get near a canteen and buy any extras. This open warfare that we have come into just now with Fritzs last big advance does not give us the comforts of deep dugouts and cosy pill boxes. During the last three weeks have been having March winds and rain, and oh so cold, winter back for a few days. We had a fall of sleet but the weather seems to have brightened up again now, for to-day the sun was nice and warm tho the nights are cold. Just now we are on a rise overlooking 3 large Villages just about a ¼ mile away: tis cruel to watch the bombardment of these places which takes place at intervals, to see the buildings fall in ruins amid clouds of smoke and dust as the shells from Fritz fall amongst them. It is heartbreaking to think that only 8 months ago Frank & I were together in one of those towns (Corbie about 5 miles from Amiens),he will remember where we marched over the pontoon bridge and had a swim in the canal (River Somme). It was all quite peaceful then, and we bought post cards. Now it is all deserted and we watch it fall in ruins; the grand old church still stands [Page 100] 26/4/18. To-day is very misty and cold. The Australians are holding a very prominent position of the battle line just now, on the right flank of the British and left of the French Armies. We have done good work and have been getting great praise from the French. Two nights ago the Tommies let the enemy through and he swarmed Villers Bretonneaux on our right, then on the night of the 25th at 10 oclock the 15th Brigade hopped in and cut him off retaking the Village with 800 prisoners, with dead and wounded totalling over 1,000. It was such a surprise attack and a wonderful victory for our boys, for we only lost 7 men: 4 were gassed and 3 wounded. Our battalion (55th) were standing to in readiness all night but we were not needed: we were only ¼ mile away and could see all day long batches of prisoners going down the road and wounded being carried out on sheets of iron, doors, blankets and anything that would act as a stretcher. The news of this success I picked up on the phone as it was being sent through to Head-quarters. I was on duty on the phone at the time. No doubt you will hear about it in the paper shortly. I had a lucky escape yesterday evening at dusk thanks to my steel helmet: while we were under an intense bombardment a piece of shell hit my hat, put a great dint in it then skidded off knocking the hat over my face. These steel helmets save many a mans life. I am thoroughly sick & [Page 101] I envy Frank, he is about ½ way home just now, steaming across the Indian Ocean probably. I will post this when I get a chance in a green envelope and hope it will get through alright for a number of our boys have been caught mentioning too much in their letters. I am sitting in a hole dug in the middle of a ploughed field, just room for two, with a blanket stretched over the top. My mate is having 40 winks, we take it in turn for a snooze. I had a good couple of hours last night, and slept so sound I did not hear an unusually heavy bombardment of big shells that fell all around, but was called at 2 A.M. to go on duty at the phone. One of the villages was ablaze and 3 or 4 big fires had started; it is terrible to think that after nearly 4 years of war those places have stood unharmed but are now being reduced to ruins. I must finish up now and will add a few lines before posting. [Page 102] Sig A. Walker like his younger brother, was rejected many times previous to passing the doctor. He was not strong from childhood and shortly after leaving school had to leave a good city position and go to the country to improve his health. When he enlisted, he joined the signallers and was sent to Kiama signal school for training and thence to Goulburn. On arrival in England Sig. Walker spent further time in the signal school on Salisbury Plains before being drafted to France. He joined the 55th Batt. in July 1917, and took part in all the engagements the unit participated in, including the second battle of the Somme in March 1918. He was killed during the first attack on Peronne on Sept 1st 1918 and was buried in a cemetery of a small church near Peronne. He was the eldest son of Mr & Mrs S.W. Walker of "Russdale", Bridge Road, Glebe Point. [Page 103] Private F.O. Walker first enlisted in the 1st Field Amb. in Sept. 1914, but after about two weeks was discharged as medically unfit. From that time until he passed the doctor in Aug. the following year, many unsuccessful attempts were made to join the forces. He left Sydney with 7 reinf. 17th Batt. the tramway unit as acting corporal, a rank held for several weeks. He arrived in Egypt, sent to Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis, and about the middle of February joined the 55th Battalion being with that unit on the first big parade a couple of weeks after they were formed. Originally with A. company, his knowledge of first Aid, soon found him a place with the worthy saw-bones, Capt. H.A. Wyllie, in the A.M.C. with which unit he remained until a week previous to being wounded. He was one of the party who did the famous march across the desert from Tel-el-Kebir to Moaskir, [also spelt Moascar] and thence to Ismailia on the Suez Canal. He was sent to France with the Batt. and took part in all the engagements until Sept 23rd 1917, when he was severely wounded during the attack on Polygon Wood. He was in Hospital in Bristol for several months and thence transferred to Dartford. He was invalided home arriving on June 1st 1918 and discharged shortly afterwards. [Page 104] He was well known to Ambulance workers as at one time he took an active interest in First Aid work, being a member of Glebe Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade. [Page 105] Dear Madam I have received your kind letter of 18 November & feel pleased to take the opportunity of forwarding my sons record of service also an extract from one of his many letters. The extract is both humorous & instructive & considering his many letters, I believe I am sending the finest combination for after all few of those who have had to remain here "to keep the home fires burning" have any idea of the jobs & conditions obtaining at the Front. I quite realize that a certain amount of space can only be allotted for each soldier & although the passage I quote is long, (it is portion of a 40 page letter he wrote me) I leave it to your discretion to insert it or any part should you think fit. Enlisted - 6/9/16 Trusting that the enclosed will be of use to you. I remain P.S. I would like to know when your book is ready & on Sale. [Page 106] turing 831 prisoners, 22 guns, 85 machine-guns, and a vast amount of war material. On the second day the Brigade carried out a further advance under difficult conditions, and the capture of Vauvillers by the 29th Battalion is worthy of special mention. "This victory is regarded as the most important battle operation ever undertaken by the Australian Corps, and the important part taken by the 8th Brigade is another testimony of the training, discipline and gallantry of the troops I have the honour to command. (Signed) E. TIVEY, Brigadier-General, Killed in Action. Honours. M.C.: Capt. B.A. Bragge, 30th Battalion; Capt. C.M. Taylor, 32nd Battalion; Capt. A.M. Widdy 31 Battalion. D.C.M.: Corpl. L. Lancaster, 30th Battalion; Sergt. H. McK. Gordon, 32nd Battalion. M.M. Pte. E. Dunn, 30th Battalion; Lance-Corpl. J. Dickson, 32nd Battalion; Pte. C.G.L. Loyde, 32nd Battalion; Pts. F.H. Browne, 32nd Battalion; Lance-Corpl. G.K. Hall, 32nd Battalion; Lance-Corpl. G.C. Eakins, 32nd Battalion; Corpl. W.R. Fowler, 32nd Battalion. "Into Thine hands, O Lord, the soul unsheathed; [The above verse is bracketed in ink & contrasting hand-writing E.C. is heavily crossed out. In the margin is hand-written "Especially this by] On Friday, October 11th, Melbourne turned out en masse to do honour to our brave and indomitable Allies, the French, represented by General Pau, and the d[i]stinguished members of the French Mission accompanying him. Everywhere enthusiasm, patriotism, cheering, and ringing cries of "Vive la France" rent the air. The State school ch[i]ldren lining the route made a touching and splendid appeal to our distinguished guests. The General, bowing and smiling as he stood in his car, his kind, strong face beaming, but with almost a look of wonder at the cheer- [Further marginal hand-writing] [Page 107] wounded a second time, but still remained on duty, and when on his way to deliver an important message to battalion headquarters was blinded by a mustard gas shell, which exploded right in his face, and I found him feeling his way along the trench, and when I spoke to him he said, "I have a message for you, sir." I found that he was blind. There were a number of cases such as these. The gallant fellows are many amongst us, and one cannot really single men out. The above two cases are simply quoted to show the different types of bravery. Capt. A.M. Robertson, M.C., one of my best company commanders was killed at the first objective while leading on his men. Lieut. W.E.D. Rankin rushed a machine-gun position and personally killed three of the crew, and was shot through the head while dealing with another. I cannot speak too highly of all ranks. The officers and N.C.O.s led their men gallantly in every case. My Battalion staff worked very hard. The signallers did splendid work. The batmen volunteered and acted as runners and stretcher-bearers. The sanitary section even went over the top. I cannot finish without expressing my appreciation of the work and assistance rendered by two Companies of 30th Battalion, especially Capt. Barbour. Also the three stretcher squads from 31st Battalion. The total captures were:- The enemy trench system, 23 prisoners, 7 machine-guns, 1 trench mortar, and I estimate the enemy killed at anything over 100. The line was held for the following days under constant bombardment by mienenwerfer and artillery. During the three days a large number of casualties were inflicted by our snipers and Lewis gunners. The Battalion held the front line system 15 days, a lot of hard work being carried out, also constant patrolling during this time. Preparation had also been made for a previous operation, but at the last moment it was cancelled. No doubt the 15 days were crowded with hard work for all. J. McARTHUR, Lieut.-Colonel, Order of the Day "Headquarters 8th Aust. Infantry Brigade, "I wish to convey to all ranks my warmest appreciation and admiration of the splendid work done by the Brigade during the successful operations of August 8th and 9th. "After thorough preparation you carried out the attack as if you were on parade, and all opposition was quickly overcome by your dash and resolution. "On the first day you advanced seven miles, cap- [Page 108] To Miss A. Small. Mrs Watt of Elsternwick who edited the 6th Battalion paper during the war says you would like particulars from me as to some lines written really in memory of an officer of the 31st Battalion which you saw in one issue. They were written by my brother Erle Cox for a competition the Sydney "Bulletin" had in May 1918 for the best Epitaph on an Anzac. My brother, who won the competition, has no objection to your using the lines in your book but says it would be necessary before doing so to ask permission from the proprietors of the "Bulletin". Mrs Watt also asked if I would send you a few particulars as to my late brother, Lieutenant Harold Cox. He enlisted in Wangaratta, Victoria in January 1915 [Page 109] He was killed in action at Fleurbaix on 19 July 1916. He also served in the S. African war. Hoping these details will be of some use and wishing you every success in the task you have undertaken. I am, Yours faithfully, [Page 110] New South Wales Conference Ryde, Oct 2nd 1919 Miss Alison Ann Small Dear Madam Referring to your letters to my son Captain A.J. de S. Howard in re "Some of the 5th Divisions Glory". I beg to supply the following replies to the questions viz. Captain Howard [Page 111] Staff Sgt. Bernard Wesley Howard [Page 112] I trust the above details will be found what you desire; shall be pleased to answer any further enquiries. With best wishes [Page 113] "Tarrawarra" Dear Miss Small I am at last sending you what I have been able to piece together of the 15th Field Ambulance Company history up to July 1918. I am afraid that though I have exceeded the 1000 words you suggested, the information I have given is somewhat scrappy as I have found it exceedingly difficult trying to condense it. I hope that you may find some of the details of use and if there is anything further I can do for you in the way of supplying information, I hope to be in Sydney early in the year & will call on you then. Yours sincerely [Page 114] The Company was formed in March 1916, Major J.M.C. Corlette being appointed to command. He did not however take any active part in its formation being at the time engaged in organising the 4th Pioneer Btn. The nucleus of the Company consisted of drafts drawn from the Field Companies of the 1st and 2nd Divisions and reinforcements from Zeitoun Camp brought it up to strength. The Company assembled in the first instance at Tel-El-Kebir, an imperial officer, Lt. Col. Carey being C.R.E. [Commander, Royal Engineers] and Lt. R.S. Reid acting O.C. The original section officers were Lt. L. Noedl (now Capt. Noedl D.S.O.,M.C.) Lt. E.J. McCloughry (who later distinguished himself in the Flying Corps) 2nd Lieut. S.R. Mallarky and 2nd Lieut. S.E. Evans (now Capt. Evans M.C.). The Company Sergeant Major was A.T. Ewart perhaps better known as "Taffy" who afterwards obtained his commission with the Company and whose one fault (?) was that he always did about 3 mens work. During the period of about three weeks that the Company remained at Tel-El-Kebir very little was done beyond preliminary organisation, physical exercise and drill. On the 29th March 1916 the Company marched out from Tel-el-Kebir and joined the 15th Brigade in its historic [Page 115] Although the sappers were quite raw, for the most part, and had only been issued with their arms and equipment immediately prior to leaving, they put up a remarkably fine performance and proved their powers of endurance by reaching the destination after a three days march, with the thermometer in the neighbourhood of 110°, without dropping a single man behind along the route. At Ferry Post the command of the Company passed to Major Harold Greenway who remained with it until after the Armistice. Lt. R.S. Reid now obtained his captaincy and received the appointment of 2nd in command. Horses, vehicles & equipment were drawn and training commenced in earnest. In addition the Company was employed erecting huts, constructing and wiring canal defences and maintaining water supply & pipe line leading out into the desert.
[Duplication of Page 17.]
the rest of us 4 had to dig and pull our mates out. We rebuilt our dugout again to settle down for a sleep, this was 2 a.m. but sleep was out of the question. It was raining continually. The following night, we had just turned in when our "home" was flooded out, so we went to work fixing it up again.
[P.20 is a repetition of P.19]
"Notes from diary belonging to Lt. Charles Small 54th Battalion."
Sandhill Camp,
Longbridge Deverill,
Warminster.
30.1.17 - Left Folkstone S.S. E.O. 861. 9 .A.M.
30.1.17 - Boulogne 11.30. A.M.
2.2.17 - Etaples 11 P.M. camp. 1
10.2.17 - Albert.
11.2.17 - Bernafay Wood.
12.2.17 - Join Bn (54) Montaban Camp.
13.2.17 - Fatigue party to Finch trench, Bashford & Griffiths wounded through striking bomb with pick.
14 & 15.2.17 - Cow Trench.
16.2.17 - Endless Alley & Llandleweir trench.
19.2.17 - Lieut. Tuck shot by sniper.
20.2.17 - Return to Montaban camp.
28.2.17 - Visit Rose trench (Major White)
6.3.17- Inspect Sunray trench with Lieut. Morris & Sgt.Maj Mealey. Mud vile, waiste deep, like elastic. ¾ mile 1½ Hours. Shelling very heavy
M.N. 8th & 9th & M.N. 10th - Sunray trench left. Heaviest shelling since 19 July 16.
My own & Sgt. Dugout blown in, Sgts are buried but got out safely though shaken & leave line, my sand bags blown in on batman & I but we push them aside and pull out, after getting over the shock. Two Casualties, both, left Elbows (very lucky). Knuckle taken off my thumb. Relieved.
10 & 11.3.17. - Spent at Townsville camp.
12.3.17. 2 A.M. - Heavy rain black as pitch. March along duck boards to Millers Son Dug-out, 5 men sprain ankles through slipping off duck boards.
13, 14, 15 & 16 - Spent in Millers Son Dug-out.
17.3.17. 7.A.M.- Lieut Morris & I ordered to Hop over from Sunray trench. Morris right flank amp; I left flank to take Atom trench & hold it & if possible to take & hold fire T
8.15.A.M. - Advanced up Eternal Alley & down central sap, Lieut Morris going down Cameron sap. Mud awful. 2 enemy M.Gs open fire. Hopped over M.Gs., ceased to fire & on reaching enemy trench only dead found there. Trenches deserted.
I with two enter Beaulincourt [Beaulencourt] & meet Lieut Deacon & I.O. Lieut. Morris arrived with men & sigs. with telephone. A fritz Minenwherfer [also spelt Minenwerfer] observer surrenders. I put wind up everyone through blowing my whistle.
I & 42 men of all Coys entrench 300+ in advance of Beaulincourt, at 10.30 A.M. Right flank do not get into position until afternoon & left flank until 9 P.M.
Relieved by 56th at M.N. & we return to Millers Son.
9.10.11.12 & 13 - Noreuil. Fatigue parties at night.
14.5.17 -11 PM.- Relieve 53 Bn. in front line at salient Bullecourt, Hendecourt, Reincourt & Qusant.
15.5.17 - Enemy bombarded until 3.20 AM. & then charged our trenches. I fired S.O.S. Lovely barrage by our Gunners. Enemy shelling terrific. During stunt I kept my men going with Ammunition. Major Lecky wounded, later Capt. Morris & Lieut. Deacon & later Lieut. Allen. I am second in C [Command] of front line. 7.45 A.M. I take charge of bombing party to bomb fritz out of our line where C Coy was, assisted by D Coy on far flank & then I got the T.M. [trench mortar] to work which settled matters & we link up with D. Coy again. 8.45 AM, 13 men, 1 Off. & 1 Lewis Gun
arrive to us from 56th Bn. & later 1 Off. & platoon of 55th reinforce us. Hit on knee with bomb a lucky miss.
16.5.17. - Captured at night German Off. (Lieut. Stevons) & Doctor Horn & two Fritz Privates Lehr Volunteer Guards.
18.5.17 - Relieved by 53rd Bn.
20.5.17 - Front line again. Attached C Coy.
23.5.17 - Relieved & march to VauxFraucourt [possibly Vaulx Vraucourt] & slept for night.
24.5.17 - March to Reincourt near Beaulincourt
8.9. & 10th - Leave to Amiens.
15.6.17 Bn. March to Bapeume & entrain for Warloy. Attached B Coy.
16.6.17 Bn. 3 months rest & I am admitted to Hospital
21.10.17 - Arrive in Havre
23.10.17 - Castre Reinf. Camp.
24.10.17 - Join Bn. at Abeele
29.10.17 - March Via Fletre to Qutersteine. [also spelt Outtersteene]
9.11.17. - With Lieut McArthur billet. Bn. at Locre.
11-14.11.17. - Billet in Kemmel.
15-19.11.17 - Wyhschaete. [also spelt Wytschaete] Fatigue parties each night to front line.
20.11.17 - Support line stretcher bearer Moylan killed,
22.11.17 - Front line & no sooner in than front posts are attacked by enemy. No. 2 post captured & 3 of my men made prisoners, 2 killed & one returned (West) back to me. S.O.S. no reply.
26.11.17 - Relieved by "B" Coy & we return to Irish House fatigue parties.
4-8.12.17 - Front quiet.
8-12.12.17. - Fatigue parties.11.12.17 - Anzac Railway Reninghelst
13.12.17 - Entrain for Devres where we billet for night.
14.12.17 - March to Francq. Major misleads us.
2.1.18 - I receive kick on ankle whilst playing football.
8.1.18 - Enter Etaples 24 Gen Hospital. Bn. at rest until 28.2.18 when they return to Kemmel.
8.3.18 - I rejoin Bn. attached B Coy at Irish House fatigue parties until 21.3.18.
22-25.3.18 - In charge of No.1 post front line.
25.3.18 - Relieved by 8 Bn. 1 Div.
26. 3.18 Entrain Anzac Railway for Rennihoulst [possibly Reninghelst].
27.3.18 - March to Siding near Poperhinge & Detrain at Mondicourt (Somme)
28.3.18 - March from Mondicourt to Louvrecourt. [possibly Louvencourt]
29.3.18 - Attached to Nucleus & appointed Canteen Officer for Division Bgde. at Pernois.
9.5.18 - Rejoin Bn. At Bois De Vare near Villers-Brettonneaux & attached to B Coy & transferred next night.
9.5.18 - to A Coy in Front line No 2 post.
20.5.18 - Relieved by 56th Bn. & return to reserve line between Corbie & Villers-Brettonneaux
24.5.18 -Relieve 55th in supports.
31.5.18 - Fritz blows my funk hole to pieces 1 hour before relief arrives. Relieved by 14th Bn.
2-14.6.18 - Rest at Querrieu.
13.6.18 - I take over for A Coy Dugouts near Bonnay.
14.6.18 - Trench fever & sent to Blighty.
21.8.18 - Arrive in France
30.8.18 - Join B Coy 54th Bn.
31.8.18 - Bn. moves up to Clery in support of 17 &18 Bns.
1.9.18 - (At 6.A.M.) I am in charge of Nos 5 & 7 Platoons B Coy, filled my water bottle & in the excitement forgot to put it on again. Leave my pack with Scotty Sims M.O. groom
but he & his mule were killed & so I lost my pack, Trench overcoat, Etc.
Whilst marching up to front line, I pick up rifle bayonet Ammunition & bombs for my personal use & on approaching front line we are met with heavy shell fire & also M.G. fire but my men & I arrived without casualty to front line.
At 5.50 A.M. Officers were told their respective objective, mine being to keep in touch with 53 Bn. on our left & gain wood in front of bridge & hold it. Lieut Adams in charge of 6 & 8 platoons, Capt Downing in charge of "B" Company. On receiving my orders I went to tell my Platoon Sgts & having told them, the Zero hour had arrived & I did not
have time to get my rifle etc. so went over with only my revolver, & on arriving at fritz wire found it uncut & having no wire cutters we had to lift wire up so as to allow all the others to crawl through, those waiting firing into enemy trench to keep their heads down, those on getting through formed an extended line doing the same until all had passed this obstruction when the whole moved forward in line, fritz trench being about 40 y. ahead of us & on arriving there only about half a dozen attempted to stop us the remainder either ran away or surrendered, we got 2 M.Gs here, the men continued to fire from the captured trench until we could see no enemy moving & so we again
advance to next trench but no one was holding it but we came to two dugouts out of which we got about 40 prisoners.
I then got orders to search the wood on our left but I met a 53rd Officer & men & they had cleared same & so I reported this to Capt. Downing.
Our next move being, to sort ourselves out, after gaining our objective, which we did, time being 7.45 A.M.
Our next move as up to the present I had only 1 man killed & none wounded we were told to capture Peronne itself & as we were moving toward the bridge Lieut. Ing of M.G. & Gun crew spoke to me & then the bridge was blown up by enemy we being all blown over with the concussion.
The leading man being wounded through the palm of the hand was sent back to aid post & Lieut. Ing crossed the canal with his men & I & my men next entered & we went right into the heart of the town to the square where 50 Fritz prisoners were taken & sent back to our rear. I was next ordered by Capt. Downing to go down a side street running toward the enemy & on doing so we were fired at by enemy whiz bang gun firing point blank range & we had to crawl down the street on hands & knees until M.G. opened on us & we returned & reported location of both Guns, & I was next ordered to go to the right, through the town & try & get in rear of Enemy M.Gs
who were holding C Coy up & giving them a hot time of it & when nearly through the town we captured eleven more fritz & sent them under escort to the rear & whilst this was going on M.G commenced to fire at us & whilst trying to locate him, an H.E. [high explosive] shell came over & burst in the house opposite us my men being a second time that day being blown over, I only being left standing, & I being the only one wounded, my arm hanging limp from elbow down. I took the men back to the square and told S.M. Brown to report (with men) to Capt. Downing that I had gone out wounded. I have my arm bound up by an Engineer who was working on bridge (time 9.35 A.M.) & it was a fine piece of work on their
part to have it erected so quickly.
I next got a bottle of schnapps from a fritz as I had no water & did not want to faint, drank half & then proceeded to rear, when enemy M. Guns again open & I got hit with another bullet which passed through my G. Coat, W.P. sheet, haversack, bully beef tin & coat & finished up on cigarette case but did not injure myself, so I arrived at Aid post & got my arm in splints & again walk to Clery for Motor Ambulance & taken to Dressing station & then on to the main dressing station per Heavy Motor lorry (which was absolute agony), village of Dusan & from there to C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station] at Daours & thence per train to Rouen & 8 days later arrived at Wandsworth Hospital 10.9.18 & left England Xmas Day for Australia.
"Norton Leigh"
Wardell Road
Dulwich Hill
Let me state at the outset - That we have very little detail of his movements in France. As he was not in France more than 14 to 20 days according to his letter. As we only had one letter & 3 or 4 Field cards. When he paid the great price with so many (alas too many) of his comrades. Most of our letters &c. are from Egypt. So if you wish we can copy some from those if you are needing any.
And we have several times met returned men who were with him in Egypt Who say that in Cairo he spent his evenings rounding up the men of his squad and keeping them out of trouble & the guard. They speak of him as one who was always trying to do the best for his men & get the best out of them. This sounds strange for a Boy not 20. But Percy was older than his years.
T. Barr J.P.
No. 3006 Cpl. Percy George Archibald Barr
B Co. 54th Battalion
Late 10th reinforcement, 2nd Batt.
Enlisted (age 18½) July 10th 1915
Left for Egypt Oct 8th 1915
Encamped near Cairo for 3 months
Later in desert encampment
In great desert march in which many were left behind through exhaustion & want of water (March 28th 1916)
Left Egypt for France
Arrived in France June 28th 1916
Reported missing July 19th 1916
Reported Killed (later) July 20th 1916
Nearly six months between Missing & Killed.
(over)
His other comrade Will Bently joined the same day & in camp together, sailed together. Sergts in same Co. Went out side by side in attack Both fell same day.
Livingstone Road
Marrickville.
Aug.12.1918.
"Glorious Advance by Australians 8th, 9th, & 10th Aug.
Our men fight to win. They were told that the objectives were unlimited (last year there were limits fixed to any advance). This unlimited aim fired the men it is style of open fighting dear to Aussies hearts. And so they wrote their names on sticks, put on battalion Colours, and held competitions as to who should advance and plant his stick the farthest.
No wonder they advanced far! Our men have gone from victory to victory, never ceasing since tide began to turn 15th July."
"Sudden message to report to Corps. Leaving 8.30am, for 16 hours we travelled in motor lorry. Reached Corps Prisoners Cage at midnight. Visitors came in shoals all next day, night, next day again, and still today."
[The following line crossed through.]
"I have been for three weeks at Prisoners of War Cage. The prisoners 7000 total
[The following paragraph crossed through.]
were an interesting lot, and showed markedly how Germany was cracking in all parts. We shifted up with the Cage, as our brave fellows shifted forward.
April 1919. Still working at A.I.F. Education Service.
PERONNE BY "One Pip"
1st Sept. 1918
enemy observation balloon behind Peronne, confirmed the belief.
a load of wounded from a dressing station in the forward area & then coming back for more & if anyone deserved recognition those boys did, continually backward & forward & under fire practically all the time.
taking advantage of what natural cover the ground affords & many are the halts & choice epitaphs directed against all and sundry for the delays.
bayonets were absolutely terror stricken & surrendered, although some stuck to their guns to the last & died.
Peronne is surrounded by a moat & a wall & this at first
caused some delay, but we overcame these obstacles & eventually gained a firm foothold in the town. Even then our task was not over & the buildings were ideal hiding places for the Hun machine gunner & it was not until the following day that the town was wholly in our hands.At Whilst our Brigade was attacking the town from the North, the 15th Brigade - who had been held up by the steep banks of the canal, from effecting an entry from the West threw pontoons across the canal & were soon assisting us & eventually a line was formed on the Eastern edge of the town.
The operation was very successful & 4 VCs were awarded to the Brigade.
Curdcott 2/3/19
I hope you will please excuse this note paper, but unfortunately it is Sunday night & my supply has given out.
effort. I have not got a definite answer from anyone yet that they would assist, but have given several letters away for them to be passed on & so you may get one or two in by that means, & I sincerely hope you do.
is in the Trench Mortars gave me all the news of Frank. It appears he is studying Pelmanism so that accounts for his lapse of memory in writing to me.
Sincerely yours
J Lodimead
78 Alexander St.,
Crows Nest.
Sept 6 1918.
D.M. Smith.
[Note in margin]
Written by D.M. Smith, 78 Alexander St., Crows Nest.
[D.M. Smith hand copied and forwarded to Miss Small, excerpts from his younger brothers letters. Private Alfred Smith was killed at Fromelles.]
My brother, Private Alfred John Smith (No. 3255), the youngest son of Captain Duncan Smith, was born at Cooks Hill, Newcastle, where he lived till within a few years of the date on which he enlisted, receiving his education at the Cooks Hill Superior Public School and the Newcastle High School. Having qualified at the latter school for admission to the Public Service, he took up his first position on the clerical staff of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, which he resigned a few months before enlisting at the age of twenty-one in August 1915, as a member of the Sports Battalion, which became the 7th of the 20th. With this unit he sailed from Sydney in S.S. Suevic on 23rd December. In Egypt he was transferred at his elder brothers request to the 30th. With his battalion he did service on the Suez Canal and later in France, where he was killed on 20th July 1916 near Fleurbaix, where took place the first attack of the Australian troops in France. This raid, was admitted in England (in proportion to the numbers engaged) to have been up to that time, the most disastrous British attack made in France. Of the 5th platoon "B" Company, in which were my two brothers, only five men returned, when the order to retire to their
trenches was given at 11 oclock on the morning of the 20th July, after holding out all night in the position the Australians had made in accordance with orders. My brother, Sergeant Walter G. Smith was informed that Alf had been found, shot through the side, face downwards in a sap, into which he had evidently fallen in returning to the 30ths old trenches. We have not been officially informed where he was buried. My brother heard however that the dead were buried in the cemetery at Fleurbaix, though he was unable to discover any trace of a cross communicating our brothers last resting place.
of Robert Burns whose complete works he knew by rote heart, no doubt many who knew little else of him remember the well-built, fair-haired lad of medium height, who carried indelibly imprinted in his mind and heart the Lowland Scot[c[h verse and eternally human sentiments of the pact of the brotherhood of man.
Grim sentries of these storied ways
Your lofty cones ye upward raise
To frown and nod forever more.
To mingle with a sister hue,
And restless is the breast of blue
That heaves and sighs forever more.
Propitious smile where rests my Queen
(Although an oceans width between)
Your courses whirl forever more.
Where dwells the Empress of my heart,
To Mighty Powers my prayer impart
Oh! Bid us love forever more.
January 1916.
In a letter dated 1st July 1916, my brother writes of the exodus of the Australians from Egypt: "The event was no surprise. Its frequent postponement had become disheartening. Egypt had no charms for us, so we enthusiastically acclaimed the day of our exodus from the land of limitless sands. I have seen nearly four months in Egypt most of my comrades had seen more. The friendship of the Egyptian natives was unrequested. It is difficult to imagine this uncouth species cultivating a friendship & or with any one. Monkey like they want everything for themselves, a want that is strongly reinforced by their thieving propensities. They take each other down and seem to share their spoils with no one.
Imshi Egypt (original)
And sweated pagan heathen,
The damndest of all earthly climes,
That yet Ive had to breathe in!
And lice and fleas and flies!
I gladly quit your barren shores
That mock your tearless skies.
His damndest work did lavish
To swarthy son and thirsty sand
Goodbye! Farewell! Mafish!
[Alfred Smiths brother wrote "Continuing letter" here and continued his transcription.]
Thursday was filled with fatigue work in Mooscar [Moascar] Camp, in order that we might leave everything in the cleanest possible condition for our successors, who should follow us in a few days to France.
Tuesday afternoon, we pass Valetta and Goza. I learnt a great deal about Malta from an ex-naval man on board, but since the information is second-hand, it will keep till news is scarcer. White sandstone cliffs are all we see from the steamer. Tuesday night we ran into dense fog of about half-an-hours duration. Fogs, I should imagine are very prevalent and very inimical to the safety of troop transportation. In the Mediterranean, where even now there is considerable traffic, it was found advisable to keep the steamers whistle going at short intervals. Wednesday was a trifle bleak.of which Wallie has a post card. In the background of the city, on all sides, is traced the clear-cut outline of the backs of lofty mountains. Our voyage was considerably lengthened owing to our zig-zagging at times through about a quadrant of the compass. The protracted twilights are a noticeable feature of the trip. Last Tuesday night Wallie was reading "On Our Selection" by the twilight at 8.30. Every afternoon, the alarm blew a series of short blasts on the steamers whistle. This is the signal for the various companies to assemble on the deck areas allotted to them, a precaution taken in case the steamer should be imperrilled at any time. During the voyage, we saw quite a lot of the Mediterranean Fleet. We were always following in the wake of a cruiser, which was relieved at various intervals. The wholesome tucker and ample fresh water quite obliviated the hardships of wretched Egypt. Our officers and their sycophants have been so preoccupied in their own circles that the refreshing peace from their stupid nagging has greatly co-operated with in landing us in France, feeling all-out Britishers (I was afraid the Gyppo spirit would become chronic.)
Friday morning, another transport carrying part of our Brigade steamed past us at 8 a.m. Their Band was playing "Britannia Rules the Waves". Friday night, we were allowed to disembark and march 800 yards to the train at 8.30 under the supervision of a Railway Traffic Officer, a Scotchman, who spoke good French, wearing a monocle and Glengarry cap, and who might easily be mistaken for an old maid inappropriately dressed, we are entrained eight men to a car in a train of over sixty carriages. The entraining was complete at 11 oclock. We saw nothing more of Marseilles. The railway here is shut in by cliffs. Provision is made for 1st 2nd and 3rd class passengers, as is the case in Egypt. I was one of a baggage fatigue that is, among others, I had to load provisions, etc. on the train. Of course everybody was entrained before us so we had to content ourselves with a very third class carriage, but I was lucky in securing a corner seat. By 11.30 the train was on the move, through numerous tunnels and some mountainous country, but we can see little. When I woke up next morning, La Belle France was unfolding her beauties before us, vineyards, orchards, poplar groves, golden daisies, white daisies, buttercups, red poppies and wheatfields awaiting the scythe. I had never seen country of such beauty sustained as far as the eye can see, as far as our trip to the very North of France. The foliage was at its best: only a month ago had it awakened to the magic touch of spring. Occasionally, we catch a glimpse of a river, about 150 yar[d]s wide. I learn that we are following the valley of the Rhone. How glad these French people are to see us! especially the women folk for men are at a discount. At every station we are accorded an enthusiastic "Bon Arrive". The people are anything but the artificial proper bodies I imagine them to be : the Flossie Fewclothes type are to be found in Marseilles, but the girls we see here are beautiful - like their country healthy and free. We get much amusem*nt when they begin throwing kisses with us. Everywhere is cu[i]ltivation, mainly orchards and vineyards. We were all very anxious to have a look at Paris, but we went around the city via Pontoise.
best time, and only the best side of people, nevertheless, I have arrived at a very exalted opinion of the French, who, by appearance are much the same as our own people. The only indication of war is the number of men, and women at work in the fields, and they are most industrious. And the whole nation is in mourning. However that courageous spirit of indomitable cheerfulness and freedom-at-any-price pervades what one would say is the most peaceful scene in the world. The Australians have a glorious name here and their conduct to the present has fully justified it.
[In handwriting, Alfred Smiths brother wrote:-]
The last letter we received from my brother was dated 17th July, two days before the raid took place in which he was killed". [at Fromelles]
We are now having a days rest after six days in the front trench. En route to the firing line, we pass through towns, whose population was, prior to the War, say, 2,000, now held by about 100. The tenacity of the peasant population to their old homesteads is pitiful. These small farms had been held by its particular family for indefinite generations, their hopes, their means of sustenance, their joys and sorrows, their all, was obviously circ*mscribed in this small sphere of interest. Consequently, in spite of advice to the contrary they are most reluctant to quit their homes. It is only the devastating shell of a Hun rendering their humble-cots, no longer tenable that decides for them to evacuate, and to leave behind all that they had previously lived for.
[Alfred Smiths brother wrote:-]
The letter ends with the following verse expressive of that mingled hope and recognition which must in some form descend into the souls of those who subdue their lives and personal interests to the viewless peon of a God and the welfare of Humanity: "Keep smiling remembering:-
Cest la seule science,
Que vous met en repos."
Calumch
Dargalong P.O.
Victoria
Ellen Cahill
THE NESTORIAN
(Avec olim meminisse juvabit)
Printed on board troopship Nestor by kind permission Captain Owen
finished
Extract of a letter from Major-General J. Talbot Hobbs,
Commanding 5th. Australian Division. 6-11-18.
Extract from a letter received from Captain
G.H. Mann, O.C.B. [Officer Cadet Battalion] Coy. 56th Battalion.
Part of a letter written by Colonel H. Cameron in charge
of the 56th Battalion, to a friend.
Cutting from a letter from Sergeant Joe Robinson to his Father, Mr. George Robinson of Anna Bay, dated 14 Sep. 1918.
Extract of a letter received by Mrs. W.S. Gardner of Newcastle, from her brother Sergeant Frank Kearney.
Seville St
Fairfield
15.10.18
Cassel Eden
73 Raglan Street
Mosman
You may use this to whatever advantage you think fit & if there is anything I have omitted, that you want, kindly ask.
Sincerely yours
No 602
Rank Private (Pioneers)
30th Battalion
Enlisted 19.7.15. He was wounded 19.7.16
Killed 18.3.18
[Page 1 appears to be missing.]
as possible that is as regards his fighting, of course the other is authentic.
[The following written across top of page.]
He volunteered for the second time on July 19th 1915 & was accepted.
fought at Fromelles, Fleurbaix, Bapaume, Bullecourt, & he was finally seriously wounded at Poziers, [also spelt Pozieres] on the 19.7.16. From there he was taken to England & for sixteen months remained in Orpington Hospital in Kent.
Duplicate
general Favourite throughout the Battalion. He was always ready & willing to do any job that was offered.
"Oamaru"
Hectorville
Adelaide
Nov. 10th 1918
Melbourne, from there they went to Egypt where they stayed a very short time much to his delight as he did not like the country at all, from there he went to England & was camped at Grantham. He liked England very much but felt the weather very cold after the trying heat of Egypt. It was quite a common thing to awake in the morning & find their boots frozen to the floor of the huts & the water in the pipes frozen until mid-day.
he met two sisters named of course after the dance he offered to escort them home & when they reached the gate & he was bidding them adieu they insisted upon him being introduced to the other members of the family which consisted of Mother, Father & seven more sisters. He felt embarrassed at first but they sat round the fireside & drank coffee, & very soon he felt quite at home with them all, & upon leaving promised to visit them again first opportunity.
delighted with that country & the people were extremely kind. In fact he was very sorry that he could not extend his leave.
Yours Truly
C. de Burgh
Address of the lady I told you had a son in the 5th Division.
Zetland Lodge
Zetland
Written Nov. 21st.
Copied
20th Nov 1918
Battery during the attack on Polygon Wood (near Paschendaele) [also spelt Passchendaele] of September 26th 1918 1917.
tramp for the front line. Enormous artillery preparations had been previously made, and white tapes laid out in no mans land as a guide for the assembly of the attacking troops.
Our orders were to silence any hostile machine guns or strong posts which may be holding up the advance, and on reaching the final objective get our mortars in position ready to assist in repulsing counter-attacks.
simply swept over the ground, killing or capturing every Boche they met, occasionally a pill Box would loom in sight, strongly garrisoned, but the courage of each man was so great that they rushed straight at the pill boxes regardless of the rifle and machine gun fire, killing or capturing the garrison.
However when the time arrived for the attack to continue, the remaining men rushed forward to the final objective which consisted of a series of pill boxes, there were about 30 men reached these, surrounded the pill boxes capturing about 200 prisoners and a quantity of machine guns & material. The men then set to work and consolidated a line of strong posts in order to hold the ground they had taken. At this stage I was without trench mortar ammunition, nevertheless we managed to get our guns forward and set them up in good positions just in rear of the pill boxes. Our next task was getting ammunition up. I sent messages back for ammunition to be sent up, but owing to the heavy German Artillery fire we were unable to get any up until about midnight, when a party of men brought up 30 shells, and rations & water. The following day we
received more ammunition so were able to engaged several Enemy machine guns which were causing us trouble, fortunately we were able to locate them accurately and succeeded in silencing them, which enable wounded to be taken out and more rations brought forward. During the day the Boche launched several counter-attacks, but on each occasion they were repulsed with heavy losses by our artillery, machine gun & trench mortar fire. The strength of my sub-section by this time had been reduced to 7 men & myself. The Battalion I was operating with was left with about 30 men and 2 Officers to hold the Battalion front.
posts not 50 yds from our front line, obviously with the intention of launching an attack the following morning, so I arranged a shoot with my two guns in conjunction with the Infantry who bombarded the German positions with rifle grenades & machine guns. Later the same night a patrol of 10 men and an Officer went out and discovered that the Boche had made a hasty retreat, thus the position was cleared up and we held the line for 5 days when we were relieved by an English regiment, and went back for a spell feeling much relieved after coming through one of the heaviest engagements on the Western front.
However trusting my description is more or less satisfactory I will conclude. My own military career is not of much consequence. I was an Officer in the Senior Cadets and Citizen Forces prior to enlisting, but owing to my youth I was unable to leave Australia with a commission. I enlisted in Aug. 1915 & sailed on Jan 12th 1916, as a Sgt in the 7th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion. In Egypt I was transferred to the 32nd Battalion and left for France in June 1916. On joining the 32nd Btn. I automatically reverted to private. Shortly after I arrived in France I transferred to the 8th L.T.M.B. where I worked my way up until eventually I received my commission on the field. I was mentioned in Corps Routine Orders for what happened in the attack which I have endeavoured to describe. I have never been away from my Unit in France with the exception of leave to England, and 2 or 3 Schools of Instruction, have been right through without my health
giving way for even a day, and have never known what it was like to be wounded. I was 20 years of age when I enlisted. I was at a school of instruction with your Brother Frank near Albert on the Somme in June 1917, and have often met him since. I am taking it for granted that the Lt. Small I met is your Brother. He was in the 54th Battn but is now in the 14th L.T.M.B. I am now back with the 32nd Battalion after serving over two years with the trench Mortar Battery.
Harold H.W. Davis
8th Trench Mortars at Polygon Wood
H.H.W. Davis
20th. Novr., 1918.
[Page 96 is an abridged typed version of the previous Pages 85 to 94.]
Dear Miss Small
As I know nothing about this I am sending it on to you.
S.N Smith per BK
37 Derwent Street
Glebe.
May 11th 1919.
Frank A. Walker
Old Pal
Your duty nobly done;
Let it suffice. Youve paid the price
When life had just begun.
Will your cold grave adorn,
But rough made cross shows plain the loss.
A Pal Ill ever mourn.
With all its pain and joys
Its laughs and frowns, the ups and downs,
Since you and I were boys.
Have eased you from the pain.
When at the close Reveille blows,
Ill meet you once again.
France.
24.4.18
but there is not a window left and half the roof has fallen in.
tired of this business and wish it would all end, but we are happy through our hardships for we know it is for the benefit of those we love, but we get a fit of the blues sometimes.1.5.18. Just
2269 Sig. Arthur Washington Walker 55th Batt.
Enlisted 10 Feb. 1916. Embarked Sept 4th 1916
Killed near Peronne Sept. 1st 1918
3312 Prite. Frank Owen Walker A.M.C. 55th Battalion
Enlisted August 6th 1915. Embarked December 23rd 1915.
Like his brother Sig. A.W. Walker, he also was a carpenter, and previous to enlisting was in business as furniture and cabinet maker. For several years he had worked for various city and country firms and on different occasions for both N.S.W and Queensland Railway Depts.
Jany 6th 1919
1 Osborne St.
West Brunswick
Entered Camp - 18/9/16
Sailed - 16/12/17
Arrived England - Feby/17
France 9/9/17
Killed in action Sailley le sex [Sailley le Sec] 24/4/18
Buried Corbie Community Cemetry.
No. 4664. Private Horace Alexander Ernest Styles D. Coy. 29th Battalion
Previous to enlistment was a Lieut in Senr Cadets
Area 59B, Brunswick, Victoria
Born 20/12/[18]96. Educated at St Pauls Cathedral Choir School, Melbne. was an Associate of the London College of Music (Violin) & also an Associate of the Federal Institute of Accountants.
Yours respectfully,
A Styles
Father of H.A.E. Styles
A.S.
[extract from a printed (unnamed) publication]
8th Infantry Brigade
"Commanding 8th Aust. Infantry Brigade."
Sergt. Norman A. McDougal, 31st Battalion.
The transient dust to the red fields of France;
His life to Freedoms altar, laurel-wreathed;
To us, the pride and sorrow of remembrance."
E.C.
Note. It may interest readers to hear that the above lines, which won the competition in the Sydney "Bulletin" in May last [1917] for the best epitaph on an Anzac, were written in memory of an officer in the 31st Battalion who fell at Fleurbaix on 18 July, 1916.
[In the published paragraph above: Note. "It may interest readers to hear that
" is crossed out. A hand-written note, in distinctive ink & writing was added at the end of the paragraph: "by Mr. Erle Cox (his brother Lieutenant Harold Cox of the."]
Public Welcome to Our French Allies
Can you tell me the writer to whom the lines were dedicated. I shall want this slip back.
[Excerpt from same printed publication & does not follow from P. 106]
October, 1918
4/8/1918 - C.O., 29TH Battalion.
"August 11th, 1918.
Harwood
Corner of Cole & St Kilda Sts
Elsternwick
Vic
5th December 1919
Dear Madam,
as a private, received his Commission in 23rd Battalion in May & left Melbourne for Egypt in July 1915. He was at Gallipoli in September till the Evacuation - & in Egypt till May 1916 when he left for France having in April been transferred to the 31st Battalion.
J [indecipherable] Cox
Methodist Church of Australasia
Mosman
1. Date of enlisting, etc., August 1916. Captain, 8th Field Ambulance
2. Promotions and time of service, Still absent on service returning soon.
3. A concise outline etc.. Embarked at Brisbane (Pinkenba) Sept. 19, 1916. Reached England in Dec. Went to France in Feb. 1917. Was for a short time attached to a British Hospital in Rouen. Then joined up with the 8th Field Ambulance and saw service in various engagements, including Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Villers Bretonneux, Bellecourt etc. After the armistice was O.C. 5th Sanitary Section.
4. Official wording etc. Mentioned in Despatches (1) Sir Douglas Haigs despatches of 7 April 1918 & (2) 5th November 1918.
5. Any war facts. Etc.
6. Other interesting particulars etc. Was educated at Sydney P. High School and Sydney University. Graduated M.B. at Ch M with 2nd Class Honors
In March 1916. Became Medical Superintendent of Warwick (Qland) Hospital in Apl 1916. & was there until enlistment.
1. Date of enlisting &c 1st March 1916. Private 8th Field ambulance
2. Promotions &c. Promoted to Staff Sgt. Time of service, 3½years
3. Enlisted 1st Mch. 1916 at West Maitland. Was in Camp Rutherford until Sepr 1916. Then transferred to No 1 Military District in order to embark with his elder brother Capn. (Dr A.J. De S. Howard. Embarked Sepr 19, 1916, at Pinkenba, Brisbane. Reached England in Dec. Went to France Feby 1917. Attached first to 15th Field Ambulance. Transferred to 8th Field Amb. Saw service in many engagements including Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Villers Bretonnaux, Bellecourt, &c. After the armistice was on duty in Monte Video Camp, Weymouth, England. Returned to N.S.W. 20 Aug 1919. Discharged Oct 4th 1919.
4. Official wording &c. Military Medal at Bullecourt, May 12th 1917.
5. Any war facts re
6. Other interesting particulars Was appointed as a Chemist at the time of enlistment. Educated at Newington College. Was one of the team (cadets) that won the Commonwealth Champion Cadets Military competition (Shield & individual gold medals) 1912-13.
Yours sincerely
W. Henry Howard.
Miss Barrett
Manor St
Brighton
25/12/19
Calder K. Oliver
15th Field Company Australian Engineers
route march to Ferry Post.
Lt. A.W. Holbrook R.E. was attached to the Company for duty during the period it was at Ferry Post.
Early in May a move was made to Moascar where further strenuous training was undergone prior to embarking for France late that month.
The Company disembarked at Marseilles in June and at once proceeded by train to the north of France where they were billeted in the town of Sailly-sur-Lys. Their first taste of the real thing was at Fromelles.
[Page 116]
Here their task was to dig communications to the enemy trench when captured. Unfortunately the trench was never taken and the sappers suffered very heavy casualties in carrying on their work until ordered to desist.
It was in this engagement that Lt. Noedl won his M.C. carrying on his work under very heavy fire after being severely wounded.
The rest of the time spent in this section was in improvements to defences, reconstruction of dugouts and drainage of the whole system.
Lt. C.K. Oliver joined the Company whilst in this sector, having been promoted from the rank and sent to the Engineer Training Depot prior to leaving Ferry Post.
On the 14th of October 1916 the Company left Sailly-sur-Lys and journeyed by easy stages to the Somme resting at Estaíres and Mouflleurs [also spelt Mouflers] on the way.
Our first camp on the Somme was near Bazentin-Le-Grande and it was here that we first experienced the wet & cold and the indescribable mud for which the Somme is noted. Every Australian will, I am sure, associate mud with the Somme, the two being inseparable in the winter months. Our work now consisted mainly in roads, mule, tracks, and light railways the Company locating and commencing the construction of the Decauville line from Quarry Siding, the terminus of the Caterpillar Valley broad gauge, to Longueval.
On 22nd Nov 1916 we moved a couple of miles south to some dugouts in the midst of a wilderness of mud
[Page 117]
which rejoiced in the name of "Waterlot Farm". Here we assisted in the consolidation of the front line and put in deep dugouts of which Millers Son Dugout is probably well known to most of the 5th Division. We also put out a lot of wire and laid a considerable length of duckwalks.
Whilst at Waterlot Farm Ewart evolved the type of drying shed which became a 5th Divn. standard and was undoubtedly the most efficient thing of its kind in France.
The Company also turned out a large number of hot food boxes as designed by Capt. C.B. Taylor Q.M. of the 15th Bde.
Several changes in personnel took place at this period. Lt. McCloughry left us for the Flying Corps. Lt. Mallarky went to instruct at a Corps School where he developed lung trouble which ultimately resulted in his being invalided back to Australia. Lt. Evans was appointed Adjutant to the C.R.E. 5th Aust. Divn. Sergeant Turner who had been sent to an O.T.C. rejoined us with a commission.
With the exception of a spell of 3 weeks spent at Ribemont at Christmas time, we remained at Waterlot Farm until 19th March 1917, when, following the retreating Hun, we found billets in the ruins of Beaulencourt.
The nature of our work was now quite changed there being craters in the roads to be filled in, damaged water supplies to be repaired and mines and booby traps to be drawn from buildings & dugouts.
At Beaulencourt Lt. Noedl left us for the 6th Divn. and
[Page 118]
and Capt. Reid got his majority and went to command the 5th Field Coy, his place being taken by Capt. Caddy from the 8th Field Coy.
Here also Pritchard received his commission having been rapidly promoted through various ranks from Sapper.
Leaving Beaulencourt on 20th April we went to Mametz for a brief rest afterwards proceeding to Vaulx Vraucourt where we remained for about a week during which time we assisted the 16th Brigade in the battle of Bullecourt.
From here the Company went out to Favreuil where advantage was taken of the beautiful spring weather to get in as much sport as possible, cricket and football being part of the daily programme.
Lt. E.V. Clark joined the Company here and Ewart who had been to an O.T.C. returned to us with a commission. In June we departed from Favreuil and spent 5 weeks under exceptionally pleasant conditions at Corbie. The chief work here was pontooning and piledriving and the 5th Divnl. Engrs. held a most successful aquatic carnival on the Somme Canal in which the 15th Field Company won the great majority of events. Especial interest was taken in the 8 oared pontoon races which were very keenly contested.
At Corbie Lt. A.W. Holbrook R.E. left us to rejoin his regiment.
[Page 119]
At the end of July we left Corbie and went north to Sercus where further training was undergone including heavy bridging at Aire. Capt. Caddy now went to C.R.E. as Adjutant and Evans got his captaincy and returned to the Company.
The 11th Sept. 1917 found us once more on the move and this time we came to rest at Caf? Belge near Dickebush [also spelt Dickebusch]. From this place as headquarters the Company went through the Polygone [Polygon] Wood attack on 26th Sept. 1917 where our losses were heavy, the killed including Turner, one of the finest officers who ever joined the Company, and many of our best sappers & N.C.Os. The work done by the Company in this attack was exceptionally fine and many decorations were earned.
At one period Pritchard saved the day by assuming command and rallying the Infantry at a point where all their officers had become casualties.
Lt. Clark got smashed up between two motor lorries, whilst riding a bike, and left us with two broken legs. After this we rested for 10 days at Oudderdom [also spelt Ouderdom] arriving at our next location, Ypres on 11/10/17.
At Ypres we found very good billets in the basem*nt of the Post Office.
Here we remained till the beginning of November, two of our sections doing a ten day tour in the line at Broodseinde. Few of us will forget the time spent at Ypres and such places as the Menin Road, Birr Cross Roads , Chateau Wood all of which have most unpleasant associations.
[Page 120]
Once more moving on we went to Kemmel resting for a few days at Busseboom on the way.
At Kemmel Pritchard left us for the Engineer Training Dep?t at Brightlingsea.
Our work here consisted largely in wiring of which we did many thousand yards, and construction of accommodation in support & reserve lines.
On 15th Dec 1917 handing our area over to the 1st Field Coy. we went to Wierre-au-Bois in the Samer area where we spent a very cold Christmas and tried to keep warm by playing football in the snow. Whilst here Lts. Marnie, L.A, Hardinge and W.C. Gilbert joined the Company.
About the middle of January 1918 we returned to Kemmel once more where the Hun break through found us in March, we being busily engaged consolidating the line at the time.
Leaving Kemmel on the 26th of March we went via Merris to Caestre where we entrained for Doullens.
Arriving at Doullens on the 28th March we tramped through pouring rain to Vauchelles and it was here that we first realized how complete the Hun success had been.
The road was one continuous stream of stragglers wearily making their way back they knew not where.
Two days later found us camped in what had till recently been a prisoner of war cage at Clairfaye.
Another 48 hours and we were ordered to Lealvillers whence we moved out on the 5th April and went to Blangy Tronville on the Somme Canal.
[Page 121]
Staying here for a few days we moved forward to join the 15th Brigade at Corbie finding billets in the La Neuville end of the town.
Corbie as we now found it was a very different place from the Corbie we had known not twelve months ago. Could it be possible that this shell torn, deserted, town, permeated with gas, was the same Corbie where only a few months previously the civilians had been so gay and happy and where the sappers had been so well treated and made so much of by the inhabitants. Whilst here our work consisted mainly in defences, mining cross roads, excavating deep dugouts etc.
It was whilst we were here that Villers Bretonneux fell to the enemy and was so brilliantly retaken by "Pompey".
Lt. Midelton joined us during this period it being his first experience of fire when the Hun treated us to liberal bombardment with gas shells.
On 30th April we went into reserve at Daours where we erected miles of wire in the Aubigny defences.
From Daours we moved to Querrieu on the 30th May where our work consisted mainly in bridges and road work. Lt. Ewart left us whilst here to go to Brightlingsea. Whilst at Querrieu we had rather a bad time with influenza, every officer in the company going down to it in two days. Fortunately it was only in a mild form and the rate of recovery was quite rapid.
[Page 122]
On the 15th of June we moved forward to Heilly where for a few days our headquarters were in the old Officers Restaurant
Leaving here a few hours before the building was knocked flat by the enemy shells we moved to dugouts in a natural terrace near Ribemont.
Whilst here we took part in the 4th July stunt with the 15th Bde and were with the 8th Brigade in their minor operation in front of Morlancourt on 29th July.
Evans left us about this time to take command of the Army Troops Coy. A.E.
[Page 123]
President: General H.E. Elliott, C.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel Duigan.
Major A.J. Simpson.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope. Private Hornsey
November 29th
Dear Lieutenant Oliver,
I write you, in connection with the Fifth Division Book. You may have heard something of it compilation - in fact I believe I instructed my secretary to write you last week. But in any case the enclosed circular will give you full information.
Now, this letter is really to ask if you will collaborate with Major Caddy and write up the history of the 15th Field Company Engineers. He only joined the 15th Field Company just about the 8th August show - so that you would have to write up from the formation till then. Your article should cover about 1000 words. If you have any difficulty as regards dates etc. you can get full assistance from the new Government Scheme of Assistance. It is only just out but gives you full access to the war diaries at Defence. I think the man to see there will be Mr. Hodda and you can tell him I sent you. Or perhaps they will give them to you for the writing.
I am sorry to worry you Mr. Oliver but the getting of this book together is a tremendous responsibility and I would like you to wire me if you feel you cann[o]t help the Major. At the same time I sincerely hope you can and will your position with this company is so fine.
Let me hear from you soon. Let me also thank you very sincerely for all you may do.
Yours sincerely,
Compiler.
[Page 124]
President: H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel H. Duigan
Major A.J. Simpson.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope. Private H. Horsen
November 21st.
Dear Lieutenant Oliver,
I write in connection with the Fifth Division Book. You may have heard something of its compilation but in any case the enclosed slip will give you full particulars. And this is really to ask if you can help me with any of the anecdotes asked for on the additional slip or is you know of any one else who can. I shall be grateful for any help you extend. The work is a tremendous undertaking and I am wanting all the anecdotes I can get. So far I have received very few from the Engineers. Will you rouse up any likely folks for me?
I have a dugout at 26 Jamieson Street if you would care to call for any further particulars. I am always in between one and two but city 3240 is the number if you would rather make another appointment.
As all copy is to be in the printers hands early in January I wish you would write me soon.
Thanking you,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
Compiler.
[Page 125]
Cycle Works
Petersham
24.12.19
Dear Miss Small
I must apologise for not doing my bit towards building up "Some of the 5th Divisions Glory" before and I cannot help thinking that my effort herewith is a poor tribute to the boys concerned. However, I ask you to touch up the story wherever you think it needs it.
The signallers place in the war has not been a conspicuous one perhaps but it has been of vital importance and always must be.
With very best wishes for the New Year and the Welfare of your book which you have so nobly and unselfishly laboured at for the sake of the 5th Div.
[Page 126]
I remain
Yours very Sincerely
Hector Brewer
[Page 127]
About 3 am on the morning of 17 April 1918, the 54th Bn. (14th Bde.) then under the command of Major Lucas was ordered to select a defensive position on the left flank of the town of Villers Bretonneux (France) in readiness for an expected heavy attack by the Bosche and "stand to arms".
Major Lucas had already disposed the companies in "depth" in short trenches & shell holes earlier in the night so as to be able to support the units in the front line on the vital left flank, should the necessity arise.
When the order came along to the Bn. all that remained to be done was to shift Head Quarters staff to a position which would more greatly facilitate communication between the units on either flank,
[Page 128]
the units in the line, Bde Head Quarters & our own companies.
Accordingly we moved into a small quarry near the crucifix on the left rear edge of the town.
About 3.30 am the enemy commenced a terrific bombardment with all calibre guns up to 8´´ of the left flank from of the front line to the batteries in the valley which ran along in rear of the town.
Gas shells smoke shells and high explosive shells were deluged into this area until about 7 a.m. when it eased up into desultory shelling. This bombardment was one of many & known as an "area strafe"
In a very short time after the commencement of the bombardment the air already thick with fog was rendered more dense still
[Page 129]
by the smoke shells gas shells & high explosive shells. The gas shells were cunningly mixed with the smoke shells & it was fully a quarter of an hour before the gas was detected & the Gas Alarm given. Every man at once donned his helmet but not before many had inhaled a dangerous amount of the poisonous air.
Lookout reported no signs of an enemy attack though it was impossible to see for more than 50 yards.
On the farther side of the valley towards Corbie was the 14th Bde. H. Qrs. under Brigadier Gen. Stewart (D.S.O. and Bar).
As soon as we had taken up our position in the quarry an attempt was made to get into communication
[Page 130]
with Bde. Signalling station (then under the command of Lieut. Butler) by telephone & lamp.
The telephone was soon rendered useless by the line being cut by shell fire & two of our own intrepid men who acted as linesmen reported the line to be beyond repair.
No response could be had to the continuous lamp calls by the Bde. Station.
About 4 a.m. three men volunteered to take the lamp to the crucifix on the main road to try and pick up Bde. Head Quarters from there.
These men were
Corporal F.J. Ryan
L/Cpl. G.W. Pratt
Pte. A.R. Callaghan.
The road above mentioned was being carefully pounded to pieces by the enemy and
[Page 131]
it appeared impossible for any being to live on or in their its vicinity. There was no shelter at the crucifix and the shelling around this spot was particularly severe. Yet these men stood there in the open trying hard to raise the Bde. Station. At last they succeeded in picking up the answering signal through a break in the dense atmosphere about 4.30 a.m. and remained in communication until 7 a.m. when the shelling died down to the usual desultory shelling.
It was our only means of communication which meant that the front line units could transmit messages of an urgent nature through our station and so link them up with the controlling headquarters.
Many a time those three
[Page 132]
gallant boys had to remove their helmets straining their eyes to see through the gas and smoke and follow the signals.
Several times a large shell exploded near them and blowing their lamp over but fortunately not damaging it and badly shaking them.
But these men stuck there until their job was won & done.
In removing their helmets at times from necessity of course as they messages were determined to send & and receive all messages as far as lay in their power these men each time laid themselves open to the deadly fumes.
As the a result when the shelling eased up & the daylight came & the excitement having gone a terrible
[Page 133]
reaction quickly set in. Their eyes were blood shot as from straining them & gas poison. They soon became very painful. Their throats & mouths were irritated & their voices gone. Their physical strength left them & they were all but delirious with agony and shock.
Dr Leedman (MC & bar) evacuated these three men about 8.30 a.m.
These men had seen constant action for months past & were worn & weary as were most of the A.I.F. at this time yet they possessed the heart to make what was for two of them the supreme sacrifice and effort in the interests of their comrades.
Lieut. Butler watched the work of these men from one of the Bde. stations and afterwards warmly commended
[Page 134]
54th Bn Signalling
the section for their work generally & and of these three men in particular. Corporal F.J. Ryan & Private Callaghan died in hospital in England as a result of gas poisoning shock & physical weakness.
L/Cpl Pratt was in hospital many of those weary weeks & was sent out to the reinforcement depot at Sutton Veny a mere skeleton.
I firmly believe that the A.I.F. was exploited to their full by the English military people from evidence received from L/Cpl. Pratt & others of my Bn. & other battalions.
This man was scarce fit to walk let alone return to life in France & fight.
I was taken away myself about 9 a.m. suffering from gas poisoning on this morning & it was not until a fort-
[Page 135]
night later whilst in Wandswont [possibly Wandsworth] Military hospital that I was able to write a recommendation for each of these men to Bn. Headquarters.
Whether the activity of the A.I.F. prevented these matters being attended to as was often the case, or whether the letter went astray I could never ascertain.
The whole headquarters staff with one or two exceptions were gas casualties between the 17th and 20th April as also were most of the companies & it is small wonder therefore if the administration got out of hand a little.
Major Lucas & Lieut. W. Palmer (Adjutant) both stayed at their tasks until they were unable to see & had to be evacuated.
Captain Radman (MC & bar) stuck to his job of evacuating the wounded and gassed men & was finally sent away himself.
[Page 136]
The men who died for Australia are worthy of a permanent place in all our hearts, but more so perhaps in the hearts of those who old comrades who know how they died.
Hector Brewer
Late Lieut. 54th Bn. A.I.F.
Cycle Works
Petersham
Sydney Phone 1558
[Page 137]
Miss Barrett
Box 1248. G.P.O.
Sydney
22nd May, 1919.
Miss A. Small.
73. Raglan Street,
Mosman
Madam,
Miss Campbell, whom I recently met up in the Mountains, on learning that I had belonged to the Fifth Australian Division, gave me one of your circular letters and asked me to forward you any information I could concerning this Division.
As I did not keep a detailed or daily diary, I fear most of my information will be already known to you as I cannot conceive that my personal history or experiences would be of any interest to the Australian Public, I will make my notes as short and concise as possible.
I Vivian D. Inglis was born in Dublin, Ireland on Feby.
[Page 138]
4th 1876, educated at "Amersham Hall" Caversham and "The Leys" Cambridge. Came to Sydney, N.S.W. in 1909. Enlisted at Cootamundra, N.S.W. on 1st Sept. 1915. Embarked in the 14th reinforcements of the 6th Light Horse on 2nd Feby. 1916 and arrived at Maadi Camp, Egypt, 8th March 1916.
Transferred to 5th Divisional Artillery, which were then being formed and trained at Tel-el-Kebir, on the 27th March 1916. Moved artillery camp to Ismailia on 3rd April 1916 and on 10th April 1916 moved camp accross the Canal to Ferry Post, where we remained training, equipping, etc. until 30th May 1916. when we entrained moved camp to Moascar and continued training there until 19 June 1916, when we entrained for Alexandria and embarked there for France. Lieut. Col. Cox-Taylor D.S.O. being in command (4.5) inch Howitzer Batteries. I personally being a Bombadier in
[Page 139]
the 114th How. Battery, commanded by Major H Moreton Edmonds.
We arrived at Marseilles, France on 25th and 26th June 1916, the horses etc. brought from Egypt arriving a few days later, and continued training, receiving our 4.5 inch Howitzers, balance of horses, etc. until 3rd July, when we left for Laventie, nearly due south of Fleurbaix, having passed through Steenbecque, Pettilan, St Venant, Merville and Estaires en route. On July 13th we went into action for the first time, our guns being placed in position near V.C. corner and immediately opposite to Fromelles. The 114th Bty. received its baptism of fire on the evening of July 15th but fortunately sustained no casualties.
The great and disastrous battle, sometimes called Fleurbaix but more correctly Fromelles, began on the evening of the 19th July 1916 when the 5th Divisional Infantry,
[Page 140]
supported by their own Artillery and and an altogether inadequate number of heavy guns, attacked, carrying the first three lines of German trenches. However, the early morning of the 20th saw our gallant men driven back to their own trenches, suffering fearful losses in dead, wounded and prisoners.
On 8th Nov. 1916 the 5th Div. Artillery were relieved by the New Zealanders and started for the Somme by road. The 114th Bty. camped just outside Albert on Nov. 15th and moved into position west of Flers on Nov. 16th. On Nov. 24th the 114th Bty. withdrew its guns, with the greatest difficulty owing to mud and water-filled shell holes, and on Nov. 25th relieved the 86th Battery at Guilimont. [Guillemont]
On Dec. 23rd the 14th F.A. Bgde. were relieved and went back to Naoures [Naours] to rest and replace equipment, etc.
On Jany. 11th 1917. the 14th F.A. Bgde again left for the front and relieved the 106th Bty. at Delville Wood on the 13th. Heavy frost and snow
[Page 141]
commenced on 17th Jany and continued for several weeks, the temperature often being as low as 14 degrees below zero. Gun Valley, the actual location of the 114th Bty., was very exposed and the men suffered considerably on account of climatic conditions.
The enemy destroyed and evacuated Bapaume and Le Transloy on 17th March 1917 and on the 18th the 5th Div. Artillery moved forward, passing through Bapaume which was still burning in places, and took up a temporary position at Rancourt. On the 23rd the 114th Battery placed its guns in the village of Beugney [Beugny]. On April 2nd 17 we again moved forward, in heavy rain, sleet & snow, to Lebucquiere and a few days later went into position about mid-way between about mid-way between Beugney and Lagnicourt.
On April 15th the enemy made a sudden concentrated attack from Queant and Pronville on the village of Lagnicourt, temporarily capturing the village, 22 18 pounder
[Page 142]
guns and some prisoners. However reinforcements arriving with great despatch, the enemy were driven back to their own lines with very heavy loss, and all the 18 pounder guns were recaptured practically intact.
In this battle the 114th Howitzer Battery greatly distinguished itself and was specially mentioned in "Orders".
This Battery also assisted in the taking of Bullecourt.
On June 28th 1917 the 14th F.A. Bgde. moved out en route for Ypres, remaining at Beaucourt for ten days to rest and renew stores, etc. arrived at Dickebush [also spelt Dickebusch] on July 18th and the 114th Batterys guns were placed in position adjacent to the prison, on the 19th. This battery was subjected to very heavy shell fire night and day and the casualties were considerable.
On 31st July 17, at 4 a.m. commenced the great advance, extending over a front many miles in length, and
[Page 143]
preceded by the blowing of mines & artillery fire from guns of all sizes which literally made the earth tremble. The first objective was quickly gained and the Field Artillery moved forward to pre-arranged positions in our origional front line trenches.
It is useless going into details of the daily work of the 114th Bty. except to say that we suffered severely on account of the continuous rain and had a great number of casualties both amongst the Officers, N.C.O.s & men.
On September 9th the 14th F.A. Bgde. were relieved and moved back into billets near St Omar, to rest, receive reinforcements and make good damage to guns etc.
On Sept. 28th 1917 the above Brigade returned to the Ypres Sector and on Oct. 1st the 114th Battery moved into position on the Westhoeck [also spelt Westhoek] Ridge, to the right of Zonnebeke and continued in action there, under the most trying conditions and
[Page 144]
subjected night and day to a most murderous cross fire, our guns being quite in the open and without cover or camouflage of any kind, until 11th November 1917.
The entire 5th Division then moved to the Mesines [Messines] Ridge and the Artillery took up a position adjacent to Wychaette [Wytschaete]. Beyond the coldness, the conditions were comparatively pleasant here and on December 19th the 114th Bty. were relieved by the 102nd Bty. First Division.
As I then transferred to the 102nd Battery I am unable to give you any further information concerning the 5th Division.
The 14th Brigade while on the Somme was commanded by Lieut. Col. Lucas, followed by Lieut. Col. Phillips D.S.O. who remained in command until Sept. 17 when he received promotion to Brigadier General.
Until about March
[Page 145]
1917 Batteries of Australian Artillery consisted of 4 guns only, about this date they were increased to 6 guns to bring them into line with the Imperial Artillery.
I desire to point out that my information chiefly concerns the 114th Howitzer Battery; it does not follow that all the Batteries of one Brigade, much less one Division, are situated in the one place or are in action at the same time.
I arrived back in Sydney on 2nd August 1918 and received my discharge on 7th September 1918, as medically unfit owing to deafness caused by shell shock. My total service was thus 3 years & 7 days.
In conclusion I can only add, that if I can be of any further assistance, please command.
Yours faithfully,
Vivian W. Inglis.
P.S. I did not receive promotion or decoration.
V.D.I.
[Page 146]
President: General H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.C., D.S.O., D.C.
Colonel Duigan.
Major A.J. Simpson.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh. Secretary: Cor. Horsen., Cor. T. Cope.
November 8th
Dear Mr Inglis,
I wrote to you some time ago and thank you for your contribution to the book. And this is just to ask if you can help a little further. The enclosed slips will show you the style of contributions we are asking from the Division. Can you help me with any such articles or do you know of anyone who can? I shall be so grateful for any help you extend -- especially as I am short of anecdotes concerning the artillery.
I have a Dugout at 26 Jamieson Street, if you would care to call. I am always in between one and two but City 3240 will find me if you would sooner come another time.
And with all best wishes and more thanks for all you may do?
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
Compiler.
[Page 147]
"Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory"
"Cassell-Eden"
73 Raglan Street,
Mosman, Sydney.
In answer to your letter concerning the war book "Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory" you are requested to supply the following details of the soldiers career, as soon as possible:
Name
Date of enlisting, number, rank, battalion.
Promotions and time on service.
The official wording of any decorations or mentions in despatches.
A concise outline of the military career, including the names of the battles participated in.
Any war facts or short war episodes of importance, or interesting paragraphs from letters.
Other interesting particulars relative to education or civil life.
Please state whether other members of the family have served in the war.
The entire undertaking is voluntary. There is no fee or charge for inserting and no obligation to subscribe, but as the edition will be limited you are specially asked to state whether you desire to purchase a copy of the volume.
Yours very truly,
Aileen A.N. Small
[Page 148]
Box 1248. G.P.O.
24TH Nov. 1919.
Dear Miss Small,
I duly received your communication of the 8th inst. And very much regret delay in replying.
I fear I am unable to assist in the way you desire, not being of a literary turn of mind. It is also difficult for me to pay visits during the day, but I shall give myself the pleasure of a surprise attack on your Dugout, one of these days, if only to ascertain, if the Compiler of "Some of the 5th Divisions Glory" is as charming as her letters.
Yours very sincerely,
Vivian D. Inglis.
[Page 149]
Dourlers
France
8/1/19
Dear Miss Small
Your letter of the 13 Sept. last reached me some time back.
All our records & notes relating to the attack at Villers Brettoneux had long since been forwarded to the War Records office in London & I could not do justice to the events engaged in it without refreshing my memory regarding the orders issued & and the part played by each. When I received your letter I hoped that I should be going across to London on Leave & would be able to look up the records.
However as events have turned out I have not had leave since last July & it occurs to me that you will probably have abandoned your project in view of the termination of Hostilities.
I am very sorry that I have not been able to assist you.
Yours faithfully,
H.E. Elliott
[Page 150]
March 29th
Dear General Elliott
Your letter regarding the Fifth Division book has just reached me. Contary to your supposition the book is going straight ahead, and I hope to have it out about this day year.
So there is still time for your help and if only I could tell you how I am looking forward to that help! Major Hewitt speaks of you as a mine of information to me, and as one whose work in connection with the book will mean much to its success. For he tells me your position in the hearts of your men - and the telling is fine. He himself is splendid and his big help on the committee is seeing me over all sorts of rough places.
Therefore, do you think you could go ahead with Villers Brettoneux and could I ask you for Fleurbaix this means an account of your Brigades actions at these places. If you could help me by passing the word along and inducing some other officers of the 15th Brigade to write accounts of the actions between these two, I should be very, very grateful. The book will be divided into three sections.
(1) Histories of battalions and battles.
(2) Records of the men.
(3) Anecdotes of and by Fifth Division men interspersed with art contributions.
In addition to what you may write, I shall also want your own military record.
I am enclosing a few slips that will show you the book has had a rocky financial passage. In fact, its been very rocky, and the matter has caused me some big worries. Now, General Elliot, you are doing so much in helping me already. I do not ask you to contribute. But if you know of any with long purses in your brigade, I do wish you would pass the word along to them.
[Page 151]
I shall take the liberty of forwarding you some slips by the next mail; they will be a help if you care to work amongst any of the officers. Perhaps you may be thinking I take a great many liberties. I am afraid the generosity of the Fifth Division officers are responsible for this boldness. All of them have been so fine. And while the work entailed is very heavy. I find it in consequence a very sacred one.
If you contemplate an early return to Sydney, I should be glad if you would let me know.
And thanking you very sincerely for your letter and anything you may do,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
[Page 152]
Telephone 014.
H.E. ELliott, LL.B.
Solicitor.
Commissioner for Victoria
Collins House,
360 Collins Street,
Melbourne.
15 Oct 1919
Dear Miss Small
Your letter of the 8th Oct reached me some days ago but I have been so rushed with work etc. that I have had until today barely time to glance at it. I fear I am of little use to you & think you should try & induce Col. Cass to take up the work of organization here.
I have been waiting for nearly a month for a reply to my letter to the Minister of Defence asking him for a grant of £500 but he is so very busy that I have not yet had a reply to it.
I do not think we would obtain much assistance by merely circulating the men in the Division. If we cannot
[Page 153]
get the money from the Minister the only feasible way in my opinion would be to appoint a Canvasser to solicit orders for the book & the question would then arise as to how the costs would be paid.
I have seen Col Laigh but fear he has made little progress with the Villers Brettoneux account despite the fact that I gave him full data. He also is very busy just now & as for myself I literally do not know when I shall have time to attempt the smallest part of the work you have allotted me.
I have at the present time engagements extending every night to the middle of November & my own work occupies me every moment of office hours.
I regret this very much but I must positively attend to my own business first.
Yours very sincerely,
H.E. Elliott
[Page 154]
[In the margin]
remainder of General Elliotts copy.
that Hutchinson & his men had gone forth to their death. Later on the practice of exchanging Lia[i]son officers between adjoining Brigades did much to minimize the chance of such fatal strategic mistakes occurring.
Hutchinson another gallant Duntroon graduate died as he had lived without fear or reproach swept down by the storm of shrapnel & machine gun bullets that met him as he tried in vain to hack a way through the unbroken barbed wire that ringed the outer face of the Sugar Loaf.
No further Reserves were available to throw into the fight. Had there been even two or three more Battalions to have thrust into the gap that had been made in the enemys line in the Centre, Victory to a greater extent might have been won by the Australians, but for they could have taken the redoubt in flank
[Page 155]
and rear by working outwards & forced the enemy back. had But fully another two or three Divisions would have been required to have made any permanent impression, with less than that number no other result than final defeat could possibly have eventuated.
The narrowing of the point of the action though done with the best intentions was fatal from other aspects.
In the great successful attacks on the Enemys line the assaults were made on a wide front of 15, 20 or even 30 miles.
By such means the enemys artillery fire is dispersed & in the main is it fires direct into the opposing infantry. But an attack on a narrow front draws upon itself the fire from enemy guns for miles on either flank & this terrible oblique & enfilade fire from the flanks is appalling in its effects & demoralizing to the weary troops who are unable to find cover from its sweep.
[Page 156]
[This letter is presumed to be the work of General Elliott]
The Editor
The Sydney Morning Herald
Fleurbaix
Sir,
My attention has been directed to what purports to be an account of the Battle of Fleurbaix written by Lt. Col C. MacLaurin A.M.C. A.I.F. & appearing in your issue of the 26th Ulto.
This officer, who was not present at the Battle & and who has not troubled to avail himself of official records of which there are plenty in existence, attempts to achieve personal notoriety for himself at the expense of those who fought & died so nobly on the impregnable front of the Hubers Ridge.
I say "impregnable" deliberately for five times the flower of the British Army attempted in vain to storm that swelling crest. The famous Guards Division tried it twice then the gallant Ghurkas the pride of the Indian Army made a night attack & swept up the slope only to recoil in ruin from a fierce German Counter attack. Another famous British Division
[Page 158]
tried next & met the same fate. It remained for the 5th Australian Division to make the last & desperate attempt to pierce the German Front at this spot. It has been reserved however for this Division alone to have thrown at it & by a member of our own force such unfounded aspersions upon its honour and fame as appears in Col. MacLaurins article. The attack failed & failed disastrously but the 5th Div. in all its glorious history has no victory of which its members speak more proudly than that field of Fleurbaix stained as it is with their best & bravest blood, nor one whose name they may more honourably bear upon their colors than that defeat.
In all the annals of the A.I.F. there is no finer record of the unparalled self-sacrifice in the cause of duty than appears in the diaries of the 5TH Div of that day.
Before dealing in detail with the inaccuracies & misstatements of Col MacLarins account I will say at once that this attack was never meant to succeed at all. It was a feint a bluff on a gigantic scale
[Page 159]
to draw off the attention of the Germans from the attack on Pozieres which was then maturing.
Two days before the Battle a senior officer of the Australians who held the firm opinion that the attack as planned must fail had accompanied an officer from General Haigs Staff on a visit to the line. After an inspection of the Ground & of the plan of attack of which latter he approved without alteration the Australian said "You have fought for eighteen months in France & know what to expect in a Trench to Trench attack. Now tell me as man to man what you think of this attack for to me it seems courting disaster". The Staff officer hesitated a moment & then replied "Sir, if you put it like that to me, I must tell you it will be a bloody holocaust."
But the situation on the Somme was such that a diversion
[Page 160]
elsewhere had become a pressing even a desperate necessity, cost what it might. And for the sake of the Army & the Empire & most of all for the sake of the 1st & 2nd Division & of the others who were to attack so soon at Pozieres the men of the 5th Division knowing all too well that the risks they ran faced with what heart they might their dangerous, their desperate task.
The 5th Division was formed in Egypt & so far as being half trained & half disciplined it as Col. McLaurin alleges the 14th & 15th Brigades, were composed in fact of equal parts of the1st & 2nd Brigades of the 1st Division, the men of the Landing, of Krithea of Lone Pine, & of the Evacuation of Gallipoli & officered solely from such sources. To them were added the 8th Brigade under Gen Tivey, as magnificent a body of men as ever came from Australia. Moreover the 5th Division had just completed an arduous course of training
[Page 161]
in Egypt under the eyes of Major General J.W. McCoy & Lt. Genl. Sir A. Godley & had acquitted themselves so as to fully satisfy those officers critical as they were.
Moreover the Commandant of one of those most famous of the many British Army Schools in France had watched one of the Battalions of this Division on the March & returning thereafter to his School he said "Gentlemen I have been in France since the beginning of this war & have seen many troops on the march. Today I have seen an Australian Battalion on the march & its march discipline is the most perfect I have yet seen."
So much for that libel.
Again it was the 4th Australian Division raised in Egypt in the same manner & at the same time as the 5th Division which was relieved by the latter Division upon its arrival in France & not the 2nd Australian Division so that the attempt to draw a distinction between the troops of the 2nd Div. & the 5th Div. - a distinction which any true man of the "Dinku*ms" would be the
[Page 162]
first to repudiate, fails at the outset.
I mention it merely to emphasise the fact that will be soon clear enough to your readers that ever while making such simple statements Lt. Col. MacLaurin literally "dunno where e are".
Again he states "We had a gigantic force of artillery guns probably the mightiest concentrated under British Command." Had we? Nothing could be further from the truth. In point of fact to aid our own equipment of field guns and howitzers we had some four batteries of worn out pieces 6 inch howitzers, so inaccurate that they could not be fired on the Sugar Loaf or any part of the Enemy front line trenches at all for fear of hitting our own men & some few batteries of scanty heavy artillery hastily emplaced before the Battle & as hastily registered.
To those acquainted with the serried rows of guns on the Somme and before Ypres Col. MacLaurins statement can only call up
[Page 163]
a smile of derision at his childish ignorance.
It is true that the Troops were told before the attack that they were to be supported by a great body of Artillery.
Though our own equipment of Artillery was manned almost wholly by hastily trained drafts from the Infantry & Light Horsem*n in Egypt & few had fired their guns in action before yet as Australians will they rose to the occasion magnificently & shot with the a steadiness & accuracy that the hardiest veterans could not surpass.
The creeping Barrage of a later day had not then been invented. French mortars newly issued were then an unexploited & practically an unknown weapon.
No tanks could be spared to assist us. All Such of these then miys mysterious weapons of war that as were available were reserved for the Pozieres attack and were not for us.
The plan attack at Fleurbaix as originally planned provided for an attack on a three Divisional Front but it was pointed out that the number of guns available was totally inadequate
[Page 164]
inadequate to support an attack on such a front. Hence it was that two Divisions were manned on a front not exceeding two miles & launched against the Aubers Ridge.
This ridge, crowned as it was with the little village at Flau Fromelles is the main defence to the great city of Lille & its retention by the enemy was vital to his continued hold on that important town centre.
From this factor we see at a glance why this position was selected by the British Commander-in-Chief for his purpose. An attack or even the threat of an attack here was well calculated to bring as it did the enemies reserves hurrying in from other points to meet it.
Immediately in front
But the position to be attacked was indeed a formidable one. Immediately in front of the Australian Line the German front curved towards them like a great bow overlapping their position at either end. The extremities of the bow were
[Page 165]
formed by two formidable strong redoubts so placed as to sweep no mans land between. That to the South was the more formidable. It was known to us as the Sugar Loaf. They These redoubts consisted of large earthworks protecting and concealing concrete forts or Pill Boxes which served the double purpose of furnishing refuges for the garrison & particular emplacements for the machine guns.
It will then be seen that unless both of these redoubts were reduced or put out of action the position of a force advancing between them was likely to become a desperate one.
More than this. Across the whole front of the right Brigade of the Australians running diagonally between the opposing lines was the River Ly Laies. Its course was perfectly straight, the banks though low were steep. This water stream was shallow in the main excepting that where here and there a shell had fallen making a deep crater in the bed or damming back the water with the debris thrown into it. In many parts it thus
[Page 166]became formed a difficult obstacle to cross under fire. In an almost similar manner across the front of the centre Brigade of the Australians meeting and crossing the River Laies at the Australian parapet ran the metalled Road called the Rue Delras. On either side it had deep paved gutters to drain this surface water into the River.
Thus the Rue Delras & the River Laies formed together a gigantic "V" the apex of which was turned towards the Australians & just reached their parapet.
With great skill & cunning the Enemy had emplaced machine guns in hidden concrete emplacements in such a manner that the guns were directed not directly to their front but obliquely along the banks of the river & along the gutters flanking the Rue Delras.
It had been realized by the Enemies engineers that the check that would occur in an advance to men negotiating such obstacles would delay them just long enugh enough to form
[Page 167]
a magnificent target to a machine gunner suitably placed.
As our own men advanced they thus found themselves walking into a continuous jet of Bullets directed not at any target but merely along the line of an obstacle which the men must cross.
This method of using machine guns in defence was unknown to the Australians at that time. We They became very familiar with it later on when the enemies wire entanglements in front of the Hindenberg line was seen to connect of g a series of gigantic "V"s with the apex outwards in each case & the sides enfiladed by machine guns.
Towards the close of the war this system was even adopted & taught in the British Army as were so many things of that sort learned from the Enemy.
Owing to the shortning of the front of the proposed attack the northern redoubt could not be attacked as it was now beyond the area to be assaulted,
[Page 168]
but an attempt was made to neutralize it with an inadequate artillery fire.
The attack on the Sugar Loaf & the trench for some distance South of it was entrusted to the 61st British Division on the Australian right.
Immediately north of the Sugar Loaf no mans land was some 400 to 450 yards wide further north it was gradually narrowed until towards the northern Boundary of the attack it was only about 100 yards wide. In the centre also a bend in the Australian line brought the lines to within 80 or 90 yards of each other.
The latest staff pamphlets on the trench to trench attack of the period laid it down absolutely that if no mans land was more than 200 yards wide no attack could possibly succeed since the time that it would take to cross no mans land would enable the enemy garrison to man the opposing parapet & it was realized that this factor was decisive.
[Page 169]
By a preliminary operation it might have been possible to reduce this width of no mans land & saps had been run out with that object but no opportunity of thus advancing the line was afforded.
The town of Fr tower of the Church at Fromelles though we knew it not till long afterwards had been converted into a solid concrete shaft of reinforced concrete that nothing less than a 15 inch shell could damage. From a tiny chamber near its summit a Bosche Artillery observer in perfect security the while swept with his glasses the trenches & roads on our side of the line which lay like a map at his feet & revealed to the watchful foe every movement of the troops on our part.
Such were the circ*mstances & such the positions to be assailed at 5 p.m. of a Summer afternoon in France when the men of the 5th Division at the word of their leaders sprang forward to their almost certain doom.
[Page 170]
There was no hesitation no dismay though from the moment the first head appeared above the parapet the enemies machine guns chattered & raved & swept our parapet with a broom of fire & the bursting of shrapnel & high explosive filled all no mans land with a fog of smoke & dirt & rending hail of death.
The British Division on the right had cut sally posts in the parapet from which to issue. These became at once choked with dead & their attack was repulsed almost at once. The Australians provided with light scaling ladders had better fortune & despite the hail of lead & steel that met them swept on into no mans land.
In the centre & where on the left of the trenches were close together the assailants won their way into the enemy lines & sent back many prisoners.
[Page 171]
But on either flank the pitiless enfilade fire from the redoubt to the North & the Sugar Loaf to the South took frightful toll from the flanking Battalions. The Enemys artillery directed from its observer on the Church twice wrought fearful havoc.
The struggle was waged far into the night. At about 8 oclock the 61st Division prepared to launch a new attack on the Sugar Loaf & requested assistance from the Australians. 500 men of their Right Brigade under Major Hutchinson was sent to assist them. This attack was timed to commence at 10 p.m. The time came & Hutchinson & his 500 men went forth as one man. From the British Trenches came forth not one. At 10.30 p.m. a belated messenger reached the Head Quarters of this Right Brigade from the British General stating that his men could not attack that night & it was realized that Hutchinson & his men had gone to their death. The latter died
[Page 172]
a gallant Duntroon student died as he had lived without fear or reproach swept down by the storm of shrapnel & machine gun fire as he tried to hack his way through the unbroken barbed wire that ringed the outer face of the Sugar Loaf.
There were no reserves available to throw into the fight. Had there been even
two or three more Battalions available to push through the gap in the centre & work outwards the position would have been improved by the widening of the gap made in the centre of the line; but unless there had been two fresh Divisions at least available to take up the Battle no other result than defeat could possibly have eventuated.
The narrowing of the front of attack although done with the best intentions was fatal from other aspects.
In our great successful attacks the assaults were always made on
[Page 173]
a wide front of 20 or 30 miles. By such means the enemys artillery fire is dispersed & in the main fires direct into the opposing infantry. But an attack on a narrow front draws upon itself the fire from all the enemies guns for miles on either flank & this terrible oblique & enfilade fire from the flanks is appalling in its effects & utterly confusing if not demoralizing to weary troops unable to find any cover from the devastating fire.
It was realized at Divisional Head Quarters about 2 a.m. that the troops must be withdrawn & an orderly retreat was effected & any attempt by the enemy to pursue his advantage was roughly repulsed.
But it is utterly false to say that this defeat had any real effect on the Divisions Moral & so far from being relieved by the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders the Division continued to hold the line without relief though terribly reduced in
[Page 174]
numbers, (to give one instance the 60th Battalion 970 strong before the Battle mustered 1 officer and 106 men after the action) until the end of the following October when the line was taken over by the New Zealanders. During the whole of those months not one week passed without at least one successful raid on the enemies lines & the night following the Battle the Australians had so complete charge of no mans land that some 500 or 600 wounded were brought in by their comrades & so saved from a lingering death though the Bsche refused a proposed armistice & kept up a terrible sweeping machine gun fire across no mans land, all night.
Two men of a New South Wales Battalion were actually brought in 7 days after the battle their wounds closed & almost healed. They had lain in a shell hole close to the enemies wire & lived by on rations taken from the bodies of the dead who shared the shell hole with them.
[Page 175]
Col. MacLaurin, as his account shows, knows too little of his subject for his criticism of the Staff work to be of any value but at least the plans were submitted to & approved by Genl Haigs Staff officers whom he sent for that purpose & the officers who took part on the Australian side at any rate all proved their ability afterwards, & no blame could be attached to them if an attack led by orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army under plans approved by him upon a position known to be impregnable by the result of previous attacks failed according to plan.
One of the 5th Division.
[Page 176]
Rec. 4.30 p.m.
Miss. E. SmallC/o Capt. Peters.Melville & Mullens
Delgette
Park St.
Sth. Yarra
From Secretary 15 Infantry Brigade Association
[Pages 177-183]
[The images on Pages 177-183 are a type-written copy of the transcribed hand-written letter above on Pages 156 to 175 and have not been duplicated.]
[Page 184]
Thornleigh Rd
Beecroft.
11/1/20
Dear Miss Small
Herewith completion of 15th Fld Coy and also m some notes on 8th Fld Coy. from Aug 1915 to Apl 1917 which if you like might be added to Maj Farquhars account.
Am afraid the screed is not personal enough for your requirements & that many I have forgotten many ai individual acts of officers & which could be obtained by reference to the War Diaries.
After you have corrected the errors in spelling & grammar & had it typed I will, if still in Sydney run through it again & see if anything can be added or altered.
Yours sincerely
J.P. Caddy
[Page 185]
15th Fld. Coy. (Cont.)
(Aug. to Dec. 1918)
From Ribemont the Company moved to Rivery where orders were received for the big offensive, & on Aug. 6th we moved to Bussy & completed preparations for the attack. Maj. Greenway left us here to join the staff of the "County Council" otherwise the Road Group (which was formed to control the repair & making of the forward roads) and handed over command of the Company to Capt. Caddy. As we moved up to the assembly point on the night of Aug. 7th/8th & saw the infantry, the tanks & the guns all moving quietly & confidently to their allotted positions the general feeling was that at last the tide had turned. This was fully justified when shortly after zero hundreds of German prisoners straggled back through our lines.
A page 15.
[Page 186]
15 F.C.E.
On Aug. 8th & the following days the Company was engaged on road work and removing mines which the Huns had planted in large numbers on the roads and fields.
Lieut. Bullen did some specially fine reconnaissance work & sent back accurate reports on the forward roads, dumps, etc. soon after the attack started.
On Aug. 11th Maj. Greenway was appointed C.R.E. Liason Force which was formed to clean up the north bank of the Somme.
Orders were received in the early morning of Aug. 13th for an attack on Chaulnes and the same day we moved up near Guillacourt [Guillaucourt] camping in a valley in which were numbers of dead horses. As the wind changed we had to move our position to avoid the stench which at times was unbearable.
After thorough preparations the
[Page 187]
15 F.C.E.
operation was postponed and on Aug. 16th we moved to Morcourt taking over from the 17th Fld. Coy R.C. In this sector our work was mainly repairs to bridges, trench work, and water supply.
B p.16 [See Page 193]
We were relieved by 1st Div. Engrs. on Aug. 21st & moved to Vaux [possibly Vaulx] where the men had a chance to clean up after the strenuous time of the last past two weeks. The respite was brief however as on Aug. 26th we moved forward again and on Aug. 29th were located near Villers Carbonelle [also spelt Villers Carbonel] carring out reconnaissance and getting forward material for bridging the Somme. Our sector was again changed and the next day we took over from the 7th Fld. Coy opposite Peronne, Company Hd. Qtrs. being established near Flaucourt. Orders were received late the same afternoon that large quantities of bridging material were being sent up and had to be transported to the river bank immediately.
[Page 188]
15 F.C.E.
Maj. Greenway, having at his disposal besides the 15th Fld. Coy part of the 14th Fld. Coy & 5th Pioneer Bn. quickly organised the show and the bridging material was landed on the canal bank 300 yards in front of our outposts.
The following night Lieut. Midelton with No. 1 Section constructed a footbridge of duckboards on cork floats across the swamps & another footbridge was partially completed by Lieut. Morrison of the 14th Fld. Coy.
The first three men who went across were shot as soon as they got to the opposite bank & consequently the bridge could not be used until the Hun snipers & machine guns had been cleared out.
Lieut. Gibb with No. 2 Section constructed a M.T. bridge at the entrance to into Peronne on Sept. 1st before the Germans had were out of the town & also several other bridges in Peronne.
[Page 189]
15 F.C.E.
These bridges, hastily constructed under fire, carried the whole of the heavy transport and guns moving forward through Peronne for 3 or 4 weeks when before more permanent structures were erected.
While Peronne was still occupied by the enemy, Cpl. Harper D.C.M. repaired & drove back to Coy Hd. Qts. a German motor lorry, which was used for some time afterwards in transporting stores.
[In margin]
C P. 17 [Page 194]
Many decorations were awarded to the Company for this period including the following:-
Bar to M.C., Lt. Gibb, M.C., Lieuts Midelton & Bullen, Bar to D.C.M., Cpl. Harper, D.C.M. Sgt. Brooks.
[In margin]
See war diary for others.
On Sept. 7th the Coy moved to Le Mesnil & were occupied employed in building baths, accommodation & permanent bridges across the Somme till Sept. 27th when we moved up to the Quarry near Templeuve
[Page 190]
15 F.C.E.
and prepared for the attack on the Hindenburg Line.
On Sept. 29th two No. 3 & 4 Sections moved up with the infantry, forward Hd. Qts. being established in the Hindenburg Line near Bellicourt.
Our work in this stunt consisted of assisting the infantry to consolidate clearing the way of mines, reconnaissance & water supply.
Lieut. Gilbert was awarded the M.C. for specially fine work in this attack.
This was our last active operation experience of active warfare & on October 2nd we moved back to Longavesnes, entrained for Martinneville and arrived at Bouillancourt on Oct. 8th where we spent about 7 weeks re-equipping & training.
The chief worry here was settling absurd claims for damages put forward by the local villagers who regarded the presence of troops as an excellent opportunity
[Page 191]
15 F.C.E.
for making money.
During our stay the Divisional Engineers were inspected by Maj. Gen. Hobbs and Maj. Gen. Buckland C.E., 4th Army, both of whom were very pleased with the excellent turn out.
On Nov. 28th the Coy moved out from Bouillancourt and arrived at Doulers [possibly Dourlers] on Dec. 7th staging at Pont Remy, Bertry, Massinghem & Petit Beart.
We remained at Doulers engaged in building accommodation & educational training till the Company ceased to exist as a separate unit.
Maj. H. Greenway, D.S.O., Croix de Guerre, who as an a N.C.O. landed on Gallipoli with the 1st Div. Engrs. commanded the Company continuously from its formation in March 1916 till the end of 1918 except for the last 5 months when at frequent intervals for most of the time he acted as C.R.E.
[Page 192]
15 F.C.E.
The high reputation for efficiency gained by the Company was mainly due to this officers organisation & knowledge of men & his practice of picking tried N.C.Os from the Company for commissions resulted in the production of many experienced & reliable sapper officers, e.g., Lieuts. Oliver, M.C. & bar, Ewart, M.C., M.M., Pritchard, M.C., Gibb, M.C. & bar, M.M., Turner (killed Polygone [Polygon]).
Get from War Diary
(1) Names & records of Officers & N.C.Os.
(2) Decorations awarded & check those mentioned.
(3) Sketch of bridges over Somme.
(4) Copies of original reports made during attacks.
(5) Accounts of other exceptional deeds performed by individuals.
[Page 193]
15 F.C.E.
Insert
(after "through our lines") [See Page 185].
A To the men who had been through the nightmare of Fromelles, the test of endurance of the long winter in the mud & snow on the Somme & the nerve racking experience in the Ypres Sector, the change to open warfare acted as a stimulant & we felt knew that at last the Field Companies would have more congenial & interesting work to do than the job of making a sector safe & comfortable for somebody else to occupy as in the trench warfare days.
B (after "water supply") [See Page 187]
The work done by Spr. Wilson is deserving of special mention. Alone this sapper reconnoitred "no mans land" & made accurate sketches a compass survey of the enemy trenches & position of ramps etc.
[Page 194]
15 F.C.E.
C (after "transporting stores" insert) [See Page 189]
We were short of officers at this time & Cpl. Harper, though only a boy did some very valuable work practically taking the place of an officer.
In the absence of his officer Sgt. Brooks took charge of his section & carried out successfully several important jobs.
[Page 195]
8 Field Company Aust Engrs.
(From Aug 1915 to Apl April 10th 1917)
Originally the 5th Fld Coy this Company was formed in Egypt and joined the 2nd Division on Gallipoli at the end of August 1915.
The Company had the distinction of being the only body in the 5th Division which fought as a complete unit on the Peninsula.
After 3 months of mining and general trench work orders were received for the evacuation & we immediately started making strong points and charging mines in case of an attack before the troops were evacuated.
The company embarked on Dec. 16th leaving behind a small party on each post including 2/Lts Caddy & Reid, Sgts Evans & Conran, Cpls Penny, Johnston & Thompson [margin] x others from war diary to fin the complete the work & fire the mines if necessary.
[Page 196]
The only mines fired however were the three on Russels Top. which were exploded at 3.25 a.m. on Dec 20th after the last party had left their post.
The explosions "put the wind up" the Turks who blazed away with every available rifle & machine gun for 5 minutes afterwards.
The officers with the Company at the evacuation were Maj. Sturdee, Lt Farquhar, 2/Lts Reid, Caddy, Jessep & Woodyer (attached from RE). On arrival in Egypt we found that another 5th Fld. Coy had been formed in Australia and our number was to be changed to the 8th. Indignation was expressed by ea all ranks we & we thought it unfair that the reputation won by men who at that time regarded themselves as veterans should fall on the shoulders of a new Company who had not heard a shot fired.
[Page 197]
In March we joined the 5th Div as the 8th Fld. Coy. the officers then being Maj. Sturdee, Capt Farquhar Lts Farr, Caddy, Jessep, Tenbosch, & Woodyer an (attached from RE).
On March 23rd Nos 1 & 2 Sections with Capt. Farquhar, Lieuts Caddy and Jessep moved out into the desert to the East of Ferry Post, the remainder of the Company taking part later in the much discussed march from Tel-el-Kebir to Moascar.
Two months were spent out in the desert digging trenches and erecting wire, only to see them covered with sand a few days afterwards.
Lieut. Holmes joined the Company in May and on the 28th we moved to Moascar embarking from Alexandria on June 17th. On arrival at Marseilles we entrained for the north arriving at a Camp near Morbecque on June 28th.
[Page 198]
Brief history of the 30th Battalion A.I.F.
by Lt. Col. J.W. Clark D.S.O. V.D.
"There you are, take them, theyre yours" with these words the general Commandant of Liverpool Camp handed me over a motley group of about a thousand men, who looked anything but soldiers in their blue dungarees & white slouch hats; however, they were, on this bright morning the 1st of August 1915, the nucleus of the 30th Bn.
It was an uphill battle at first without any staff, but gradually we commenced to look like a Battalion, everyone was a trier, the officers were energetic & the men enthusiastic & eager to learn, we very quickly became a happy family.
Within a few weeks we had a good Band going in the capable hands of Sgt. Wellings, & I am afraid we drew rather heavily on the strength of the Manly Band, which provided some 16 of our Band personnel. Our instruments were presented by the Citizens of Sydney, and in a
[Page 199]
very short time we became quite proud of what eventually proved to be one of the best military Bands in the A.I.F.
I dont think any of us were sorry when we shook the dust of Liverpool off our feet, the Camp was a dreary dusty overcrowded spot, where sickness seemed rife, & was by no means popular, the men therefore hailed with delight my announcement that the 30th had been chosen to take up new quarters at the R.A.S. Ground near Moore Park. Reinforcements as they left Liverpool Camp had rather a habit of referring in an uncomplimentary manner to the place & expressing their disapproval in rather forcible terms, we however prided ourselves in being a little out of the ordinary, and marched out with band playing and quite the discipline of an old time Regiment. We entrained for Sydney, and marched to the Show Ground, & in a very short time were comfortably installed there.
[Page 200]
Space will not permit me to enlarge on our stay there suffice to say I think it was a most enjoyable time for all ranks, in a few months we put in some solid and useful training, & what was better still, fostered & built up that spirit of Camraderie & true esprit de corps which is the foundation of any successful unit; there was a feeling of confidence between officers & men, and an a perfect understanding between all ranks which I maintain ensured our success as a fighting unit.
Before leaving Sydney we organised & carried out two very successful Military Tournaments, which added some £1200 to our Comforts Fund, and in addition strong Committees were formed at Sydney & Newcastle to look after our interests in the comforts line, and right royally they did their work; I am convinced no Battalion
[Page 201]
had a more devoted & loyal band of workers, no true thirtieth man will ever tire of singing their praises, & expressing his grateful thanks for the splendid efforts of our women workers in the 30th Bn. Comforts Depots.
On the morning of Novr. 9th 1915 we embarked on H.M.A.T. Beltana, some 25 men sent as emergencies from Liverpool Camp were not required, not one of our men failed us & the embarkation was carried out without a hitch & in such perfect order that a letter was sent to the Minister for Defence from the Naval authorities complimenting all concerned on the excellent discipline.
After short farewell speeches from the G. General Sir Ronald Munro Fergusson & the Bishop of Sydney, the Rev. Dr. Wright, we commenced our voyage to Suez direct & saw very little land the whole way. The voyage was pleasant but uneventful, our band livened the proceedings en route, &
[Page 202]
with "physical jerks", lectures, sports &c. profitably occupied the time till reaching Suez, where we disembarked on Dec. 8th and proceeded by train to the Aerodrome Camp at Heliopolis near Cairo.
During the whole of this time we had been practically apart from the other units of our Brigade, the 8th, & some four days after our arrival in Egypt, there were rumours of an impending attack on the Canal, we were hurried off to Moascar by train, and marched to Ferry Post where I assumed command of that Section of the Canal Defences having associated with me & my own Battalion, 2 Squadrons of Hyderabad Lancers, 150 of the Bikaner Camel Corps & ½ Battery of Ayrshire Artillery; we could also depend for Artillery assistance on the "Requin" a French
[Page 203]
warship lying stranded on the Eastern Shores of "Lake Timsah".
The weather during our stay at Ferry Post in Decr. 1915 & Jany 1916 was ideal, and Egypt certainly provides a beautiful winter climate.
About this time General Sir Archibald Murray arrived & took over the Egyptian Command, & I think it was he who decided the Canal would be better defended from a range of sandhills some six miles east of it, than from the series of Strong Posts situated at varying intervals along the Eastern bank of the Canal; parties of Engineers were detailed for Reconnaissance work, and in our immediate front, C. Coy. 30th Bn. under Major M. Purser was sent forward to an isolated position near "Australia Hill" to form a small garrison to protect the reconnoitring parties.
Shortly afterwards we moved back to Camp at Moascar,
[Page 204]
then forward again into trenches near "Hogs Back", & this spot revives memories of awful thirst, long toiling marches in sand, and curses loud & deep when the wind storm of one night filled our trenches to the brim with sand, & later the "Khamseen" (local wind storm of the Desert) practically levelled our Camp. Part of the intervening time we spent in Camp at "Tel el Kebir" & earned the name of "Tiveys Chocs", because we had the luck to come by train from there to Moascar, while the other Brigades of our Division, & especially the 14th, had a horrible march over some 40 miles of Desert.
From the Canal we entrained for Alexandria about May 1916, & although the Bn. had been in existence some 9 months, we hadnt one death recorded against us till the
[Page 205]
night before out entrainment, when one of our D. Coy. men died of Pneumonia in Ismailia Hospital, I had spoken with him the previous night when he seemed downcast at the Bn. leaving without him, promised we would get him back at the first available opportunity.
We were ordered before entraining to travel light, were also informed that France was like an "Arabian Nights Palace", with large Ordnance Stores where one could procure anything required. How in the weary & cold months to come, we regretted those heaps of clothes &c. in the Camp at Moascar, the tales told us were a farce, & for some time after our arrival in France it was difficult to get anything.
We embarked at Alexandria on the transport "Hororata", after a miserable journey all night in open trucks, & this vessel conveyed the 30th & 31st Bns. to Marseilles, after a
[Page 206]
glorious voyage; we were almost intoxicated by the fragrant breeze of the blue Mediterranean, after the filth & awful heat of the Egyptian Summer which was becoming almost unbearable. We were escorted all the way by a small specially designed craft, which might have proved efficient against submarines, but luckily for us was not put to the test.
Our voyage was therefore uneventful, the Skipper of the Hororata was a R.N.R., & a martinet for cleanliness of his Ship, the daily inspection was quite an interesting affair, especially when A Coy. comprising Naval ratings & "Marineros", of more or less nautical fame, under the able command of Major Beardsmore, with his trusty henchman Corporal Ridley, showed the other ordinary foot sloggers just how to clean
[Page 207]
a troop deck, competition was very keen, & I feel safe in saying the "Hororata" was never before, & will never again, be as clean a ship as on that voyage.
On reaching Marseilles we left A Coy. under Major Beardsmore for Guard & other duties, while we entrained & commenced a long & tedious train journey of over 3 days & nights from the South to the North of France, we had ample opportunity of admiring the beautiful scenery along the valleys of the Rhone, Saone, Seine &c, and detraining at "Steenbecque", we marched to Morbecque & had our first experience of Billets in a French village & a very pleasant one too.
After a fortnights rest, we commenced a strenuous march towards the fighting area, and gradually worked our way forward till we entered the line at "Bois Grenier" a few
[Page 208]
miles South of "Armentieres", relieving a Battalion of the 4th Brigade A.I.F. then under General Monash.
After four rather unpleasant days here, we were relieved & marched some six miles South to "Fleurbaix" where we were billeted, & had hasty preparations made to beat the Germans to a frazzle, a few more days of rush, bustle, hurried preparation, postponement of operation &c, we were, on the night of the 19th July, thrown into the battle of Fromelles. I am not going to enlarge on this operation, space will not permit, suffice to say the 30th did all & even more than I expected of them, they went into it like old & tried veterans, I never saw one man shirk his job, & a more gallant lot of officers and men one could not wish for.
[Page 209]
I wonder if any of Capt. Whites platoon in B. Coy. will recall his words, spoken in that droll inimitable way of his as he led them over a parapet, "Come on boys they tell me they only throw them over three at a time", while in reality there was hardly a moment when the air was not full of the screaming & bursting, & whirr of machine gun bullets.
Our roll call after "Fromelles" was a sad affair, more than half our men gone, & among our missing at the time was the Baby of the Bn. as regards age, Private Ray Smith age 15, he was in one of the Platoons of C. Coy. that took a wrong direction in the attack & got cut to pieces, he managed to stagger back to our line in a very exhausted condition just as there was an urgent call for ammunition, volunteers were cast called for, & several
[Page 210]
men of another Bn. standing close by were asked to carry but refused, saying they were under other orders, this lad then said to his O.C. Major Purser, "Ill go Sir", and loaded with ammunition, in the middle of the night, he set off alone to the German trenches, where the fight was still in progress and delivered the load; when roll call came he was missing & was fortunately found some days after wounded, but in Hospital.
I mention this little incident to show the spirit emanating even our youngest lads. After this operation, we went into the Line again within 48 hours & remained holding the front near an old convent in ruins, for just on 8 weeks without one relief & while here, carried out one of the first successful raids
[Page 211]
done by the 5th Div., our raiding party under Lieuts. Macfarlane & Adams securing Prisoners & inflicting casualties with no loss to us.
Our next move was to Armentieres, & for some time we held the front near Houplines South of the River Lys, from there we entrained South to the Somme for the bitter winter & fierce fighting of 1916/1917.
Detraining at Longpre we marched through a bitterly cold night to Bussus, & after a few days in billets there, went forward by a French Motor unit through Amiens to the Somme battlefields, & in a few days relieved an English Bn. in the trenches at Flers, commanded by Major J.W.H.T. Douglas of English Cricket fame. Into the line again near Factory Corner for 10 awful days, we came out of this Slough of despond to Carlton Trench, another Sea of mud near Montauban.
[Page 212]
We were then taken back for an all too brief spell of a fortnight at Vignacourt, & in October 1916 on the day we left this village for the Somme battlefield again, we experienced our first Snow Storm, a very novel sight then to most of us, but not now.
Once more in our huts at Montauban amid a Sea of Mud, we shortly after relieved a Guards Regiment in front of "Le Transloy", and such names as Thistle, Cow & Spring Trenches, became names to conjure with, our Brigade Hqrs. were at "Waterlot Farm", & so was our Soup Kitchen under the management of our hardworking Padre the Rev. F.G. Ward, one of the best, as any 30th man will testify.
The 30th had the unenviable experience, of nearly eight months in the Somme fighting
[Page 213]
area, without going farther West than "Fricourt", even when the 5th Divn. went out for its one spell in this period, we were detached as Corps Troops, & our spell consisted of repairing roads nearly knee deep in slush, & loading & unloading Railway Trucks, under the most bitter winter conditions experienced in France for some 20 years, & with an environment that words almost fail to describe.
During one of our turns in the Line here, the 30th seized portion of the Enemys line at Sunray Trench, & we & those who followed us stuck to it.
In March 1916 we entered the Reserve trenches near Factory Corner, & on the night of 16th /17th relieved the 31st Bn. in the trenches in front of Bapaume, some fierce fighting ensued during this night, & we gained about 150 yds. of the Enemys trench, our
[Page 214]
opponents being the 5th Grenadier Prussian Guard.
Seizing our opportunity in the early morning of the 17th March, the 30th pushed towards Bapaume, the first men to enter the Town being Captain White & Corporal Alcorn of B. Coy., by 7 a.m. the Town was ours, and at 8 a.m. I had telephone communication with Majoror Cheeseman Comdg. D Coy; a few hours after we had established a series of strong posts in front of the Town, & our casualties were very light.
Bapaume was the first Town recaptured for France, but the whole place was destroyed or on fire when we entered, & not a civilian remaining. Pushing on with the 5th Divn. Advanced Guard under General Elliott, we were holding a position North of Bapaume Cambrai Road
[Page 215]
near Beaumetz, a strong enemy attack by Storm troops, broke through the Bn. on our right which was holding Beaumetz, & in a short time had practically taken this village, a strong counter attack by the 30th however, was successful in dispensing the enemy, securing prisoners, & retaking the village.
A spell in Bapaume was followed by the operations near Bullecourt, during which we were in support, we then returned to Bapaume, & later went to Sentis for a spell. From here we went North to the vicinity of Blaringhem & thence worked forward to the Ypres front, & here we saw the most strenuous fighting in our history; following in support to the 29th Bn. in the operations at Polygone Wood, we took over the objective they had gained and finished consolidating it, here we repulsed two Counter attacks, taking
[Page 216]
prisoners in the first, one officer & 69 other ranks.
Relieved by a Regiment of Leicesters, we later held the line on Broodseinde Ridge, working as the right pivot of the operations leading up to Paschendaele [also spelt Passchendaele].
When Winter of 1917/1918 put an end to Ypres battles, we went South to Messines & took over the Sector North of the River Douve, after some two months of line work here, we were rushed South by rail, to participate in the operations which held up the enemy advance between Albert & Amiens. For some months the Australian Corps was extremely active on this Front, & we later held the Sector in front of Morlancourt astride the Bray-Corbie Road. Here we again raided the enemys line, inflicting casualties & securing prisoners,
[Page 217]
but secured sustained a number of casualties, the element of surprise being lost to us through faulty liaison in the timing of operations of various units.
We continued in this Sector till August 1918, when I was ordered to England for a spell, & handed over the command of the 30th to Lieut. Colonel Street, after just three years in command, relieved only short periods of leave, & my temporary period in Command of the 8th Brigade.
In leaving the remainder of the Bn. history to Col. Street, which includes the three months operations from August 8th culminating in the Armistice on Novr. 11th. 1918, I feel I must apologise for my brief mention of important incidents, & also many omissions.
In conclusion I would like to mention here how proud I am of my association with the 30th, to voice my sympathy with the
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relatives of my fallen comrades, who may read this brief story, and also to express my appreciation of the loyalty & support given me so freely, by practically every officer & man in the Bn.
We have a record to be proud of, we never lost an inch of ground but gained lots, & the enemy never penetrated our line in any position we were holding, and whether in or out of the line, in good times or in bad, the 30th. never failed me or anyone else.
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"Claravale"
Via Mitchell. Q.
8-1-20
The Secretary
of "Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory".
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 29th Dec, to hand. Herewith I enclose some M.S. that may be worthy of a place in the book. There are two conditions with regard to my M.S. that I have sent you, one is, that the stories are copyright & are not to be published elsewhere but in the "Fifth Division Glory" book, & the other is that a copy be sent me free of charge. Wishing you every success in the venture & awaiting your reply.
I am,
Yours sincerely,
E.S. Campbell.
[Page 220]
New Years Eve, 1916-17.
(By Gunner E.S. Campbell, 49th Battery, 5th Divisional Artillery)
Slowly the daylight filtered into the gloom of gunpit, until I could dimly discern the sleeping figures of the gun-detachment sprawled on the wet earth, & then I arose & wearily climbed the sp slippery slope in front of the emplacement. I looked at the scene, fog-wreathed & cold in the utter wretchedness as I had done hundreds of times before & listened to the Boom-Boom-Boom of the guns which echoed on every side. Out of the freezing seas of mud the leaping flashes came & went, & over all the grey fog drifted enveloping the shell torn earth in its gloomy shroud. In front lay the German lines a shell torn, battle swept area of mud, & facing them in zig-zag lines lay our trenches where our infantry existed among amidst horrors that exceed the limit of imagination.
Our sector lay between Lesboeufs & Flers, facing Beaulencourt & Le Transloy names that will never be forgotten, burnt into our memories as they are by weary months of trial & suffering. On our right towards Combles stretched an apparently illimitable plain of mud & shell holes, with Ginchy in the background blown into oblivion by the storm of battle as it had swept across.
On our left lay Delville Wood the scene of the most furious fighting on the Somme. The trees are blown to splinters, punched in halves by shells & ripped & gashed into fragments as they lay prostrate in the mud. Bodies are lying there in scores, grasping their rifles & bayonets with stiff pasty fingers, - lying among the debris of shattered trenches & blown-out dugouts. Oh, the pathos
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of the ghastly figures, with their torn haversacks, & the knives, forks & spoons & little pocket testaments strewn in the mud beside them.
There are two "Tanks" close by looking like prehistoric creatures bogged in the mud. Invulnerable to bullets & shrapnel splinters of H.E. they could only be put out of action by a direct hit, so a direct hit they got. Gazing over this too familiar picture & listening to the thudding of the guns the words drifted through my mind I thought of the words "Peace on earth, goodwill to Man" & as if in answer to my thought, a shell whistled high overhead & burst in Ginchy Wood with a tremendous Bang. A column of mud & timber shot high into the air & smoke slowly drifted away into the mist. I sullenly turned & trudged to the rear of the battery sinking at every step into the soupy mud a foot deep. Below the mud was the unevenness of the shell tossed soil, & to walk a dozen steps without falling was no mean feat, though, as we were caked with mud from head to foot, a fall or two didnt matter.
By wading & slipping I reached the haunt of the cooks & peered into their dugout, which was black with smoke & reeking with the sm odour of burnt grease, "Whats for breakfast Alec?" I queried indifferently. Alec looked up, & black with coal-smoke & varied accumulations of mud, he looked an inhabitant of Hades to perfection. "Weve slipped", he informed me harshly. "They got a lot of Fritzies yesterday, so were short of bread.": thereby insinuating that the captured Germans had been given our bread issue. He then handed out the days ration for the six men in our subsection, - one small loaf of bread. (Think of it, ye people who live at home at ease
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one slice of bread for a starving freezing soldier for 24 hours). I dropped the loaf into a sandbag & struggled back to the gunpit crawled through the sandbagged passage & emerged dripping with mud into the gloomy interior again. How cold and miserable repellent it looked in the grey dawn the five men sunk in uneasy slumber on the muddy floor the moisture dripping through the roof & down a the mud walls & the the gun barrel peering gloomily towards the enemy with our mascotte idly hanging on the shield. This mascotte was a babys bootee a tiny green plush affair - & it swung innocently from the gunshield in front of No 3. There seemed something of both humour & pathos in that little bootee such a startling contrast of innocence & war.
It seemed a pity to awaken the men for sleep brings forgetfulness but another day had to be faced, "Breakfast ready" I shouted & tossed the rations on to a pile of shells in the corner. It was not a satisfying meal. We raked out our old tucker box & found some mouldy pieces of cheese & Tom Robilliard produced a tin of bully beef from somewhere. We breakfasted in sullen silence. Suddenly "Whew Whew"! Bang Bang & two five-nines roared over our heads & burst near the 56th Battery in rear. Then came a blast on a whistle & as "Battery Action" rang out we sprang to our places at the gun. "Phase 2 7 degrees Left, 4,400 ackex." & we swung the trail as No. 3 set his degree scale then as he laid for elevation I ran the range-drum up to 4,400 swung open the breech & when No. 4 had loaded closed it again, & gave the word "Set", No. 3 then responded "Ready". Then came the order "Prepare for battery salvo Salvo! Fire! A mighty roar rent the air as the six guns fired together, recoiled violently & came swiftly into position again. Again the order "Salvo Fire" & six more high-explosive shells were launched at the enemy. "Cease
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"Firing, back on S.O.S." & the order was quickly obeyed. These incidents generally happen at meal times, & as the concussion of air knocks over everything that is not secured, there is some confusion at times among the breakfast things. However, there was no food to lose on this occasion, so it didnt trouble us. Ammunition was the next call, so we crawled out of the gunpit & stood knee deep in the mud waiting for the drivers to put in an appearance. Vehicles were out of the question, & all the ammunition had to be carried by packhorses. With four shells on the riding horse & eight on the led horse (four on each side) the drivers experienced difficulty in reaching the battery at times. Every day horses fell into shellholes, or trenches brimming with mud & once down they were drowned, or a revolver shot ended their sufferings.
Through the clammy mist they came, men & horses dripping with mud & scrambling to keep their footing. We waded out, lifted the shells from the wallets & staggered with them into the gunpits. The drivers were anxious to get away, naturally enough, & as soon as the shells were unloaded, they turned & splashed away into the mist. Soon after they had gone, several shells whizzed overhead & burst at Ginchy Corner with drumlike thuds, & we wondered dimly if they had got any of the drivers. Ginchy Corner was their bete-noir & dead horses & splintered wagons bore convincing evidence of Fritzs attention to it.
After we had stacked our ammunition, a party of us splashed our way over to Ginchy Wood, on a firewood fatigue for the cooks. The Wood was about half a mile from our battery, over ground seamed with old trenches, deserted dugouts, & blown-out gun positions, amid with smashed wheels & mechanism, torn sandbags, & equipment rotting in the mud. The many little crosses dotted over the valley were mute
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reminders of what our own fate may be at any moment. Dozens of rifles were stuck in the mud bayonet downward, marking the resting place of some British infantry who had gallantly stormed the German positions. But the dead are not undisturbed: for shells roar down & disinter them & other shells bury them, only to be blown out again. There is little sentiment in H.E. shells.
We had no trouble cutting firewood, as there is little left of Ginchy Wood, - only a few battered stumps standing, the rest of it being blasted to splinters, which was convenient for us. The village once stood there somewhere but no sign of it is left. We each dragged a sodden slab of wood out of the mud, shouldered it, & slowly waded back to the battery. We had many spells on the way for carr[y]ing timber in a foot of mud is no joke, but the job was completed at last & we eventually reached our gunpits again.
The remainder of the detachment were seated within on shells & ammunition boxes & Tom idiotically cheerful as usual greeted me with "Whats for dinner today, Cam?" "Hanged if I know", I replied sullenly the pain in my frozen feet obliterating even my sense of hunger. "Go & get it Tom", said Mitchell moodily, so our cheerful comrade splashed away to the cookhouse, whistling some fearful ragtime ditty en route. When he returned, bearing a familiar "dixie", we mentally moaned "stew", & stew it was. "Mitch" exclaimed savagely, "Damn the stuff, a man ought to ---"Whoo-oo-oo, Bang". An earsplitting crash interrupted him & a shower of mud rattled on the roof, & shell splinters sang musically in all directions. We paused & two shells burst just in front of our battery, & two fountains of mud shot into the air, while fragments of steel clouted the sandbags round our pit with
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mighty force. "Move to a flank," came the order & we dropped everything & rushed outside, just in time to see the other detachments running to the left flank. We ploughed through the mud after them with the hollow whistle of an approaching shell in our ears. With a shriek it passed overhead & burst behind the guns with a thunderous roar. As if bowed by an invisible hand, every man stooped down to avoid the flying fragments, which tore into the mud around us, but though fragments of the mud rattled on our steel helmets, nobody was injured. Having reached a sufficient distance we hid behind various dugouts & sandbagged positions until Fritz had finished his "strafing". Three more "five-nines" whizzed over & burst well in rear & then the whistle sounded "Battery-action". Five rounds battery-fire silenced Fritz & we had time to resume our interrupted dinner. The stew hadnt improved during our absence & only the non-bilious members of the detachment could face it.
A thin misty rain was now falling & through the gloom the ammunition wagons could be seen trailing along the corduroy road, a cold & along the duckboards the long lines of infantry were moving up to the trenches. They moved along in single file, with heads down to escape the piercing wind, - with slow dragging feet, almost as heavy as the hearts that have to face the horrors of those freezing trenches again. For though the dangers are great, the hardship is greater, & the tortured body shrinks from the darkness, the bitter cold & the slimey mud that cannot be combated.
I have seen men returning from the trenches staggering, mud covered, with such utter misery in their ghastly faces that the soul sickens at the sight of them. Some had lost their boots in the tenacious soil when going into the line and had borne the sufferings of days & nights without boots in freezing mud, two & three feet deep One smiles
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grimly at the thoughts of hell after these experiences, for no devil could invent a greater hell than that we suffered during the winter on the Somme.
The dusk of the winter day was drawing on & we crouched in our gunpit, & with trembling fingers lit a fire in the brazier an empty oildrum with holes in the side. Fires had been prohibited in gunpits for some reason though with fixed ammunition such as we had there was little danger of an explosion. With a temperature twenty degrees below freezing, orders like the one above were ignored. Those braziers proved our salvation during the winter, & were the only comfort we had in our struggle for existence.
We huddled around the fire listening to the shrapnel bursting along the ridge in front, & the hum of the bullets as they swept overhead. Tom had brought supper from the cookhouse. As we ate it & wondered what a meal would be like our thoughts were pulled up with a jerk as our ears caught the hollow moan of a coming shell. It burst on our right flank. The earth trembled beneath the shock & the flying mud spattered over our gunpit. Again that hollow whistle & like a rush of mighty wings the shell cleared our battery & burst beyond with an appalling roar, the back blast shaking our pit violently. With ears strained we waited anxiously & that horrible moaning grew louder & louder until Ba-ng Bang! one fell in front of us & one right on the 19th Battery, killing a sergeant, a bombardier & three gunners. Before we could move, another shell came roaring towards us increasing in sound till it rose to a scream. We crouched down instinctively, & waited for the end. With a deafening roar it plunged into the mud not ten yards behind our pit us, between No. 2 gun & the telephone pit. The latter was wrecked, the roof of our pit lifted & subsided with a crash, & as we were hurled half-stunned to the floor, great masses of mud rained down on our roof which threatened to fall in. We staggered outside just as another shell shrieked overhead & boomed heavily down the slope towards the 56th Battery. We ambled away to a flank but could not reach it quickly enough & when about half way between Nos 4 & 5 guns, we heard the faint rustling sound of
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another shell that rapidly increased to a hollow roar. Down we went & it burst short, just in front of No. 4 gun & the air was filled with flying earth & fragments of sandbags. Another few yards further & a dozen of us would have gone west.
Crouching behind the old sandbagged remains of blown out gunpits & shivering desperately with cold, we watched the shells bursting over our beloved battery. In quick succession they came with a continuous hollow moaning as they drew nearer. The Crash & the earth jerked with the concussion & the air was filled with wailing splinters. They flew into the mud & sandbags with an abrupt "phut" & the mud tinkled on our steel helmets & sprinkled our bespatted uniforms. The battery was obscured by smoke, which hung over the shelled area till the fire of the enemy had ceased. I went back to our gunpit & in the vault like gloom, gathered together the articles that had been scattered by the explosion. Our brazier was overturned, but a few coals gleamed dimly within. The silence of the pit was oppressive & a feeling of intense loneliness gripped me. The cannon seemed like some spirit outlined dimly in the dusk & the stacks of cartridges seemed to watch with mournful eyes my slightest movement. It was an uncanny sensation, doubtless due to overwrought nerves & the stillness, intensified by the cessation of the bombardment.
I had the fire blazing when the others returned & its cheerful brightness did more to relax the tension than anything else. After we had warmed ourselves, someone suggested that "Abdul" (the cook) might have some biscuits somewhere, & that one of us should take a sandbag over & get them. Even an army biscuit would be better than nothing, so in a burst of enthusiasm Chapman faced the wintry blast & we awaited his return in a hopeful spirit. When he returned our hearts sank as we noted the empty sandbag. "No luck" he remarked but weve got some "mail". At the magic word "mail" all eyes brightened visibly & I clutched eagerly at the one letter that was my share. I opened it & a dainty card looked up at me & said sweetly "With best wishes for a Happy New Year". What thoughts were awakened by the simple message, as we rubbed shoulders
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with Death amidst horrors unspeakable. Though I smiled grimly at the innocent message & the irony of it, it touched a deeper chord that sang of olden days, in other happier lands, where sunshine is eternal & War is yet unborn.
Oh to dream oh! to awake and wander
There, And with delight to take & render
Quiet breath
For there amid the flowers & grasses
Only the mightier movement sounds & passes
Only winds & rivers,
Life & Death.
And after all, there still remains that other life of sunshine & beauty, far removed from these freezing mist laden, ghostly lands of wintry rains & snows, where suffering & misery clutch at us with ghostly fingers & Death is supreme. So that card with its tender message breathed of hope & the assurance that we are still remembered in the hearts at home.
Night came on with an intense pitchy blackness, unrelieved by moon or stars. Only the enemies flares & star-shells rose & fell along the trenches burning with a fierce white glow, as they floated high in the air. They seemed to glare with malevolence like the eyes of demons gloating over a tortured world. New Years Eve the old year dying in misery unspeakable & the new year born in the realms of pain.
Down in the gunpit we prepared for the dawn of the new year by setting fuzes for shrapnel shell & placing high explosive shells ready for No. 4 to load, "Peace on earth goodwill to men," muttered Mitch as he struggled with a refractory fuze, unaided by the dim rays of a siege lamp, whilst Tom, busily engaged in removing fuze protectors burst into a snatch of ragtime melody, "And I love her, oh-oh-oh", until Chapman hurled a sandbag at him with a fierce injunction to "shut up". Still Tom persisted, until, with strange inconsistency, wel we all joined in & yelled the ridiculous rhyme "Ill leave my home & mother she got red hair but I dont care, I love her, oh-oh-oh!" Having thus relieved our feelings, we hurried off to get some siege lamp candles & turned again to the business on hand.
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Nineteen-seventeen was drawing near. There being nearly an hours difference between German & British time the dawn of their new year was had been calculated to take place at 11 p.m. & we were ready for it. Along the whole 120 miles of British front, on the stroke of 11 every gun was to open fire at once & in a mighty roar of shells, send to the enemy our New Year greetings.
Just before the time, we drew aside the screen from the muzzle of the gun, tested the night light, turned the siege lamps so that the concussion would not extinguish them placed the shock absorbers over our ears, & having loaded with H.E. we waited, No. 3 with his hand on the firing lever, "Battery-Action" came the order at 10.59 p.m. We braced ourselves, "Prepare for Battery salvo Salvo Fire" & with the dawn of the German new year & with a mighty roar, our shells were launched at the enemy. Again the cry "Battery salvo Fire" & again the shells shrieked away over the enemies lines. The night was lit by hundreds of red leaping flashes & the boom of the cannon echoed in one long continuous roll the earth trembling, beneath the intensity of sound. All the batteries were firing "salvoes" "battery fire" & "gun fire", & over our heads the shells from the 56th Battery were whistling whilst the cracking of their guns made our ears tingle. Behind them the 113th Howitzer Battery guns were booming & overhead their 4.5 shells were rushing in a constant stream. On our left the sixty pounders were banging viciously, whilst the fierce snapping of the 11th 12th 19th & 49th Batteries added to the pandemonium. Far as the eye could reach red flashed flashes lit the battlefield & towards High Wood the sky was glowing as if with furious lightning, & the world was an inferno of light & sound. Down in the trenches the star shells & flares shot up & red lights floated in the wind & blazed vividly. It was the German S.O.S. to their artillery for assistance. Soon we heard their shells bursting on our trenches, with the terrific "wherp wherp - whe-rp" so familiar to our shell racked ears. These bombardments are wonderful & terrible. No words can describe them & what the infantry suffer beneath them is beyond imagination to picture. So the duel went on, we loading & firing under the floor was covered with
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empty cartridge cases. Slowly the German fire died down & then came the command "Cease firing". The New Year had dawned for Germany & we had delivered our greeting.
We busied ourselves clearing away the cartridge cases & preparing for further action. Occasional enemy shells were bursting along the ridge & now their fragments buzzed over us, "Stand by for retaliation" was the next order so we "stood by" till 12 midnight expecting Fritz to return our greeting at the advent of our New Year. But nothing happened & we entered upon 1917 with hand clasps & fervent wishes that our next new year would dawn in sunny Australia far away from the horrors of the Somme battlefield.
Down in the trenches the dead lay buried by shell fire & amidst the smashed dugouts & battered bays & saps the survivors worked feverishly to build them again, dragging the bodies away as they worked. Another New Year had dawned for them, - in that mysterious Hereafter where wars are not, leaving behind them only memories and a soldiers grave.
With uncovered head salute the sacred dead,
Who went & who return not say not so.
Virtue treads paths that end not in the grave
No ban of endless night exiles the brave
And to the saner mind,
We rather seem the dead who that stay behind.
They come transfigured back
Secure from change in their high-hearted ways
Beautiful evermore & with the rays
Of morn on their white shields of expectation.
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Miss Barret
The Last Post
(By Gunner E.S. Campbell, 49th Battery, 5th Divisional Artillery)
The guns thundered over the fields: and through the shattered villages of Morchies, Beugny and Baumetz, their echoes rolled in unending volume of sound. The stinging "Crack Crack" of the field guns mingled with the harsher "Boom" of the howitzers, and faint wisps of smoke drifted lazily above the lucerne fields where many concealed batteries were in action. Our battery was hidden in a sunken road, camouflaged by branches of trees & bits of coloured cloth devices known only to gunners, "Fire No. 1 gun Fire No. 2 gun Fire No. 3 gun," the sharp orders rang to each detachment until the six guns had fired amp; recoiled violently back to their positions, "Battery Fire", - and again the orders were repeated by the Number One each gun firing at five seconds interval. Swiftly & silently we worked, & as I jerked open the breech the empty cartridge-cases fell ringing on the trail beneath & formed in heaps on the floor of the gunpit. "Cease firing" "Cease firing" repeated our No. 1. "Back on S.O.S." he added & I closed the breech & and ran the range drum down to the S.O.S. line, whilst other numbers completed their duties.
The "stunt" was over for the time, so leaving the gunpit in order, was we made for our dugouts. "They consisted of deep holes in the ground about eight feet deep wide & about four feet in depth. In these primitive places homes we moved, lived & had our being. Fortunately, there had been no rain since we had made those "dugouts" or the conditions would have been extremely unpleasant. Seated amongst a litter of
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bully-beef tins, soiled sandbags, blankets, sov greatcoats & general equipment, we munched rocklike biscuits, & took liberal helpings of a greasy mess contained in a "Dixie" a black soot covered utensil which rested on Brooks' greatcoat in the corner. We perspired freely, for roofed over by blankets & other materials of camouflage, our dugouts had the temperature of an oven, - A month or two previously we had been literally frozen & now we were experiencing the other extreme.
The hours passed, the fire from the batteries slackening for a time only to break forth into greater fury than ever. Slowly the shadows lengthened, whilst we reclined lazily in uncomfortable positions & talked in low tones, or dreamed of banquets & cushioned lounges & other impossible luxuries. An aeroplane droned overhead & we could see the red white & blue rings that proclaimed it to be "one of ours". A German "Archie" was trying to get the range, "Crump-Crump-Crump-Crump" & four black bursts showed stark against the sky. Languidly we watched them, and then Every man sat up & listened. The high sibilant note of an approaching shell was heard. It roared down & burst with a tearing "Crack" that shook the earth around us. It was followed by another & another & still another. The battery was doomed. We had been "spotted" & were being "blown out". Fountains of earth & smoke belched from the ground, - the shriek of falling shells & the burst of them numbed our senses. Dugouts were blown up, gunpits fell in & ammunition took fire, the flames blazing furiously & the exploding shells adding to the confusion.
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In perils like these, there is one unwritten law "Move to a flank", & instinctively we obeyed it. Dazed & blinded we staggered away, falling into shellholes; crawling out of them, & stumbling into others. Our breath came in gasps, while shells seemed to scream down on our heads, & the whiz of earth & splinters sang savagely in our ears. Crouched in shell holes we waited for the end. Wreathed in smoke & flame the night came on whilst salvoes of shells roared down & completed the chaos of destruction.
Blow golden trumpets mournfully
For all the golden youth that fled
For all the shattered dreams that lie
Where God has laid our noble dead
Under a foreign sky.
Morning, clear & calm, in Villers au Flos. The wind whispered over the ruins of the once happy village & ove through the shell torn gardens. Daisies & forget-me-nots nodded their heads among the rubbish heaps of fallen roofs, plastered walls, & household furniture, as if vainly trying to hide the desolation of War. Grasses waved & cornflowers bloomed in the fields beyond, hiding the gaping shellholes & the trenches that zig-zagged across them. A peaceful picture, but for the distant muttering of the guns.
We formed up on the road in sections of fours - gunners, drivers & signallers the officers at the head of the column, & over all seemed to pervade a the air seemed tense with the hush of expectancy. Down the road that led to Beaulencourt, a body of infantry were marching
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whilst overhead an airplane droned jerkily overhead. Then from the hut near the horselines came the padre & behind him came bareheaded soldiers, bearing a coffin, draped in the folds of the Union Jack. In it rested the remains of one officer Lieutenant Matthews, killed in action the day before. We followed in silence, slowly marching along the familiar road that led through the village, past leaning walls of plaster & debris of rafters & brickwork, from whence the flowers still smiled, the old legend, that flowers were the souls of soldiers killed in battle recurred to me as I passed them. There seemed so many & yet their number fell far short of that, of the soldiers who had passed away. Painted on a wall in big letters the word Ortskommandantor stared at us, - one of the many signs of the recent German occupation.
We passed the waterpoint & came in sight of the church. Only the battered walls were standing, the fury of the shellfire had blown the rest of it to fragments. On one scarred wall the date of its erection shown plainly, - 1647 Built with grey brick the figures had defied the wear & tear of centuries. A high wall surrounding a chateau stood near & between it & the church lay our cemetery.
Many soldiers were buried in that space & little white crosses were dotted here & there. Near the grave of a gunner of the 111th Battery, we halted & the bearers lowered their burden. The padre with bowed head spoke, & we listened in silence calm emotionless & calm. "I am the resurrection & the life ". The guns boomed heavily, & high above us a
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lark carolled as if in joyful mood. "Man tho - hath but a short time to live. He cometh up as a flower & is cut down". The guns roared unceasingly, & the leaves glistened in the warm sunlight as the soft breeze rustled them, & into our souls, calloused by many scenes of blood & death, came a faint stir of emotion - a breath of other days an echo like the shadow of a dream.
The grave was filled padres voice ceased & the trumpeter sounded the Last Post. I had heard it many times so often. On tropic nights when it sounded clear across over the barrack square in camps at Lytton when it echoed eerily across the river & its mangrove fringes on Egyptian deserts when it mingled with the cry of the muezzin for prayer, & since then so many times as we laid our soldiers to rest.
We turned away & formed up. Steadily we marched up the road, - facing the unknown that lay before us, while the great guns thundered a requiem, above the grave of our sleeping comrade.
[Pages 236-249]
[Pages 236-246 comprise the typed copy of Gunner W.S. Campbells hand-written account transcribed above (pp. 220-235) with markings, indicating that editorial changes were made for Miss Smalls publication. Pages 247-249 comprise a second clean copy of "The Last Post" which has not been transcribed.]
[Page 250]
Overseas Training Bde.
Longbridge Deverill
Wilts.
13th March 19.
Dear Miss Small
Your letter of Septr. 14th reached me when in Hospital & I must apologise for not answering it earlier, but since my return from Hospital my work in this Depot has greatly increased by reason of the many changes necessitated in the Scheme of Demobilisation.
I enclose a brief a/c of an Action I was closely connected with, & in offering an excuse for my failure to do justice
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to the occasion I will add that "Brevity cramps my style."
I sincerely trust your book will prove a success & achieve its very worthy object & at the same time succeed in getting together some interesting reminiscences of a Division of which we were naturally proud.
With best wishes
Sincerely
J.W. Clark, Lt. Col.
A.I.F.
[Page 252]
I dont need to go outside the 30th for a story of brave deeds in the Division, we had some of the grittiest lads God ever put breath into. I would, in singling out some of them, like to tell the story of Lieut. Davies D.C.M. who was killed in rescuing wounded in our Raid near Morlancourt, I must however for an heroic deed of self sacrifice, give the palm to Lce. Corporal Victor Lancaster D.C.M. who was killed in this Raid.
Two Parties went across in our Raid, the Right under Lt. Hanlon M.C. struck a post of about 12 Fritzies, quickly accounted for all except 2 whom they brought back as prisoners, & were back to our lines within 10 minutes.
The Left Party however under Lieut. Bragg M.C. met with a different fate, owing to faulty liaison work with the Artillery, the element of surprise was lost to us, & this Party met with the withering fire of Machine Guns directed from several points.
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Our men fell rapidly, and realising the situation was hopeless, Lt. Bragg ordered his men to collect the wounded & return under cover of a Lewis Gun worked by Lc. Cpl. Lancaster.
One enemy was close enough to throw bombs and soon the burst of one of these carried severely wounded Lancaster carrying away the lower part of his face. Number 2 on the gun immediately wanted to relieve him but though incapable of speech, the lad insisted on sticking to his gun & continued firing till exhausted by loss of blood he was forced to hand the gun over to another member of the Crew, even then he wouldnt allow them to leave the gun & assist him, but unaided crawled back to our lines where as quickly as possible he was evacuated to a C.C.S. & his brave life ended, the sublime sacrifice which so many of our brave lads have made, he died for his comrades.
May his memory live forever.
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If we were ever short of anything in the Battalion Mac. could generally get it for us.
If a Motor Car was wanted for any special journey he could always procure one.
I dont think he ever made an enemy, & the secret of his success was his imperturbable good nature, coupled with a stock of ready wit & plenty of tact, which helped him through many a difficult situation.
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If we wanted extra Transport such as a Motor Lorry or two, I have seen the Brigade & even Divisional Staff absolutely hard up for Transport, but we always got what we wanted.
Mac. would simply stroll along to a Tommy Motor Transport Section, a drop of something (not cold tea) in his pocket for the Drivers, some of his best yarns for the officers& the deed was done.
I remember of on the Somme he secured possession of an abandoned sulky, in which he would drive around in state.
Later came an order that civilian vehicles were not to be used, Mac. kept his hidden away in one of the tiny "Bois" on the river bank, and when questioned about it at any time, could lie as glibly as any "heathen Chinee".
Rotund of girth it was marvellous the way he got round, & backed up by a splendid lot of men in his Section. I think it would be difficult to recall an instance in which they let us down or failed to "deliver the goods".
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I think most members of the 30th will agree with my suggestion that the most interesting character in the unit was McDuff.
Joining as a Private in August 1915, he was with the Bn. from beginning to end & by reason of his amazing versatility did credit successively to the position of Sergeant Butcher, Sergeant Cook & was then granted his Commission as Transport Officer.
On our outward voyage in the Beltana, I dont think anyone present will forget his antics as the "Demon Barber" in the Crossing of the Line Ceremony, while at impromptu concerts he had a varied selection of comic yarns & patter that always scored.
In his various jobs he got the best out of everything, but as a Transport Officer he was a marvel.
No matter how long the Trek & how appalling the conditions of weathe,r roads &c., he was always there at the finish & usually without a strap or buckle missing.
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Fleurbaix Fromel is By Colonel Clark
I dont think that the 5th Australian Division had a finer charge in its record than the first one carried out at its baptism of fire in the Battle of "Fromelles" July 19th 1916.
The Division had been only a few weeks in France when it was decided to carry out an attack in conjunction with an English Division, to coincide with larger operations on the Somme.
The attack was set down for the 16th but arrangements could not be completed in time, & it was twice postponed, a fact not appreciated by our men who were more than anxious to cross swords with the enemy.
I do Zero hour was finally decided on at 6 p.m. on the 19th July, & prior to that hour our men were lined up in our trenches, eager and brimming with confidence.
All Brigades of the 5th took part, the 18th being on the Right, 14th in the Centre and 8th on the Left.
The Line at this portion of the Front was an old established one for over a year and had never altered.
No mans land, the ground to be crossed to the German Line, varied in width and from about
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80 yds. on the 8th Brigade Left, it gradually widened till opposite the 18th Brigade front it was nearly 500 yards.
That this was a big factor was shown by the fact that the 8th Brigade in their charge very quickly reached their objective, the 14th were not quite so successful, while hardly a man of the 15th survived the withering fire of German Machine Guns.
The Enemy were not in the least taken by surprise, & when our Artillery barrage lifted at zero hour to enable our men to advance, they were met by Artillery & Machine Gun fire that made the place a perfect inferno.
It has never been my honor & privilege to witness a braver charge & more glorious deeds than on that summer afternoon.
Whistling, singing, smoking the inevitable cigarette, & with laughing & jokes on their lips, in the face of fire that was absolutely hellish in its intensity, our lads scaled our parapet & dashed forward.
In talking afterwards to officers of the English Division who
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witnessed the advance, they remarked that they had never seen such cool bravery displayed as on this occasion
The German trenches were taken and held for some considerable time, but when it was found our flanks were in the air & the position untenable they were evacuated, & our old line taken up again.
Thus ended one of the fiercest battles, considering the number of Troops engaged, that has ever taken place on the Western Front.
Our losses were heavy, but the 5th Division made a glorious name for itself as a result of its deeds on that memorable night.
J.W. Clark, Lt. Col.
A.I.F.
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Received first Commission as Lieutenant in 4th Austn Infty. Regt. June 30th 1897. Held position of Coy. Commdr., Militia Adjutant & 2nd in command.
Appointed to command 16th Infantry (Newcastle Regiment) July 31st 1914.
On the outbreak of the present war was appointed to O.C. Newcastle Defender Port & took command of all Troops mobilised for defence of that place.
Temporarily commanded the 4th Northern Brigade during absence of the Brigadier with New Guinea Expeditionary Force.
When Port defence troops were demobilised was given command of the N.S.W. Bn. of the 8th Brigade & left Australia in command of the 30th Bn. on Novr. 9th 1915.
A few days after arrival in Egypt was appointed O.C. Ferry Post & attached to G.O.C. Suez Canal Zone Defences. On arrival in France took part in various engagements on Western Front including the Battles of the Somme, capture of Baupaume etc.
Temporarily commanded the 8th Brigade at Ypres & Messines. Now comdg. Overseas Training Brigade in England. Awarded the V.D. July 1917. Awarded D.S.O. & Mentioned in Despatches 1916. Also mentioned in Despatches 1917.
J.W. Clark Lt. Col.
A.I.F.
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President: General H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel H. Duigan.
Major A.J.Simpson.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope. Private Horasey
December 3rd
Dear Col. Clark,
I write you in connection with the Fifth Division Book. You were so kind about it from the other side and sent me an account of Fleurbaix. And this is to ask if you will help me further by writing up the history of the 30th Battalion. I had a letter from General Tivey who told me you were the one to do it. Your history should cover about 3,000 words and should reach me as soon as possible. If you have not a diary you may now obtain dates and necessary information under the New Government Scheme of Assistance from the Secretary of Defence.
Will you please let me know all about it just as soon as possible, Colonel?
The slips enclosed will show you the class of contribution we are asking from the Division. Can you help me here, or do you know of any of your men with literary ability who could h[e]lp me? I am wanting all the good help I can obtain, and so far, I have very few anecdotes in from the 30th Battalion.
I am also wanting good war photographs and sketches, etc.
May I extend to you a very warm welcome home? Australia must seem beautiful after all the years of war. I have an office at 26 Jamieson Street, Sydney if you are in the city at any time and would care to call. I shall be away in Melbourne about the book from December 12th to 26th.
And with many thanks for all you may do.
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
Compiler.
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President: General H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
September 17th.
Dear Colonel Clark,
I wrote you to the front thanking you for your article on Fleurbaix.
The enclosed circular will show you that the compilation is still going forward it. It has been tremendous work getting things going. But with almost all the men home things are looking much more hopeful.
Now this letter is really to ask if you will write up a history of your 30th Battalion for the time you commanded it that period, I understand, covered the time from its formation to the end of 1917. Your article should cover about 2,000 words. I would like to have it in hand early in November.
Will you let me know about things, Colonel, just as soon as you can? It will be a big help.
And with many thanks for all the kindness you may extend,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
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15th Machine Gun Company
Period 1.
Probably one of the foremost and interesting characters of the A.I.F. is that of Brigadier General Elliott, H.E. more commonly known to the Digger as "Pompey" Elliott.
The grand old man with his immense force of character, towers far above we lesser men as the pyramids do over the Mena House, and yet as the latter shares in the reflected glory of the great monuments, so we of his Brigade share in "Pompeys" glory.
More than any other branch perhaps we of the Machine Gun Company, the glorious 15th, reflect him better and more characteristically than any other arm. It was his personality which gave the dominant note to our Company, and our training was carried out by men from his school shedding his influence. Who will forget him in Egyptian days, boots uncleaned, displaying gaudy socks, braces dangling around his hips, sleeves loose and unbuttoned shirt front, strolling around apparently aimlessly and yet constantly on the alert and actively engaged in moulding the Brigade in its formative stage. He was rugged, strong, determined, a man among men, a fighter. This is the reason for our Companys success, a fine type of man imbued with his spirit, led by fine Officers. So we played at soldiering in the desert strengthened by the stories of the Gallipoli Warriors who formed our backbone.
Who will ever forget the march from Tel-El-Kebir to Ferry Post beyond Moasca [Moascar]? The sun high in the heaven burning earth to a cinder, nearly frizzling us all up and yet we were
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denied the water of the fresh water canal along which we marched, because of the pernicious little wriggler called the Nile worm who swims around waiting to catch the unwary. But we were a shrewd mob and as trees grow not in the desert, we by great strategy secured firewood, boiled the little worm until he died and then feasted on a drink of delicious tea of which we made the Brig partake. But we were not quite as shrewd as the old Gyppo whose wood we had burned, for unfortunately for us he discovered the loss of his precious water-wheel. The old chap saw an opportunity of replacing his worn out dilapidated thing by a new one, so calling on Allah and prostrating himself before "Pompey", he won the day and our heartless old chief who had tasted of our bounty, inflicted a fine of 5 piastres on us all. Oh cruel day when worms and water-wheels crossed our tracks!
The march over we settled down at Ferry Post where we left the Canal defence line in order and built pretty little pagoda summer houses, covered them with sand and planted inside each one of them a modern invention called the Machine Gun. That period was a battle with the sand. Lord knows which would have won the day but a more pressing demand dictated a truce and we handed over our posies and took ourselves back to Moasca where we bathed in the lake called Timsah and speculated from morning till night upon our next move. Our Company was the nearest to the Brigade Headquarters and numerous were the "furfies" which were bulletined for the enlightenment of the rest of mankind who lived in our neighbourhood. Truly Jack Gibb who later blossomed into a full blown Warrant Officer was in his glory.
Period 2.
After a great deal of speculation we eventually found ourselves on board the Kalgan waving farewell to the land of sand
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and flies, bound for France the land of unknown possibility and the realm of speculative glory, for in those days we were an unknown quantity as a fighting unit. From Marseilles the wonders of France were revealed to us as we travelled up the Rhone Valley with its juxtaposition of the modern and the ancient. The old castles, the older river and the still older hills with their water worn path ways and the glory of thousands of years of vegetation, took us far back even beyond the dim dark ages of medievalism while the rush of the Rivera [possibly Riviera] express racing in its thunderous way to the sparkling South, recalled us with startling suddenness to the modernism of the age of invention. Three days we were travelling through the place and quietness and each hour bringing us nearer to the stage and turmoil we all so much dreaded and yet longed for.
July 16th saw us in the line with its untold mystery bewildered by the bustle all around us and for the first time letting our viciousness express itself through our lettle instrument of death. The 19th who in Australia shall forget it saw our ordeal by battle and our baptism of fire. Huge was the sacrifice we paid and deep is the memory of that day as we threaded our way up narrow saps of death to deal with an enemy whom we could not see but who was prepared for our coming. But we emerged confirmed in our characteristics as a dogged fighting force which from that day never looked back in thought of ultimate defeat, for we had tasted an offensive battle, knew that we would be feasted on such work. There at Fromelles we learnt the tricks of the trade, became familiar with the enemies methods and offensive weapons, became friendly with the rats the smaller little companions who stick closer than a brother. For many of us they were new lessons which provided much amusem*nt for the veterans of Gallipoli.
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Because of the peculiar features of our positions we proved the value of our gun as a defensive weapon and had the grim satisfaction of upsetting the equilibrium of many a poor unsuspecting Hun as he trudged along on fatigue work well behind his own lines.
After revelling in the joys of billeting at Estaries we betook ourselves to the future field of Australians glory the Somme Valley, in those days a sea of mud, cold, bleak, desolate and deserted. Already the 1st, 2nd and 4th Divisions had added to their scroll of fame by an endurance test carried out in the face of a grim winter and the most primitive conditions of existence that it is possible to conceive. And yet was the grim winter of our discontent made glorious by the valour and doggedness of our warriors. From November of 16 until September 17 is to me a closed book, so I leave others more experienced and with a clearer gift of expansion to tell of the deeds of the great advance which culminated in Bullicourt and was rewarded by a well earned rest in the garden land behind Albert.
It was a glorious summer, enjoyed and appreciated. Often have I heard of an immortal basket ball match played between the 15th Machine Gun and the Trench Mortars. No one knew the rules of the game but it was something between a rough up Rugby match and a glorious free fight and we had the victory and both sides suffered from sore heads and still more weary bodies. Who can wonder that the Hun eventually paid!
Period 3.
The 5th Division monument stands on the Butte at Polygon race-course just the through the wood. It was there for the first time that our guns were used in barrage work and we laid the enemy low in fine style. Inch by inch we pushed our way ahead at last to sit with satisfaction on the ridges beyond Ypres. Shall we
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ever forget the cluster of Machine Gun Companies around Belgian Battery corner, or the shriek and scare of the old rubber gun which moved would persist in sending its all too frequent visitors among us to disturb our happy slumbers? The Menin Road, Chateau Wood, Hell fire corner, Polygon wood, Brudsine [also spelt Broodseinde] Ridge are only names now, but their memory has been seared into our brain. At this stage Muirson our intrepid skipper was transferred to the Indian Army and our wild Irishman FitzGerald (with a capital "G" mark you) took command and we followed in the track of the 3rd Division at Messines. It was indeed a home after Ypres and we mooned along with an occasional raid or an artillery strafe to break the monotony. I wonder how many lives we saved in such affairs by our covering fire? One is proud to feel the confidence placed in us by our infantry.
This the winter of 1917-18 was indeed a contrast to its predecessor, for we were billeted for six glorious weeks in Sleepy hollow, otherwise Coursce, a wee place surrounded by hills covered in Snow provided for the purpose of tobogganing and snow fighting. Dont know who won, the village kids or the company. The kids certainly beat us at
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strategy and had the advantage of being too small to treat seriously.
Period 4.
In February 18 we were back again to the home of Messines. It was too quiet to be regarded without suspicion and yet what could we know. At last the surprise of the Hun dawned upon us.
Rumour ran riot, but more riotous still became the Red Hatted Brigade, while we, the lesser fry, danced to the tune of their piping from villages to trains, till we reached Doulons of the South and then our dancing stopped, and though the music became more wild and we marched steadily along amazed at the evidences of confusion all around us the ceaseless line of traffic leading back from the line. Old FitzGerald our Skipper, excelled himself in Irish cussedness or shall we say that the erraticism of Erins land expressed itself as we drew near to the old scenes on the Somme until we deployed: after weary days and nights of marching along the valley from Corbe [Corbie] to Ribemont, the line which we took up here proved to be the furthest limit of the Hun advance, for although those in front fell back yet never once did they get beyond this first reserve line.
Perhaps the proudest incident in our history occurred at this time and centres around the personality of our gum sucking
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Digger Lieut. Hugh Gordon Hanna M.C. known as "Gawd". When the Hun reached the village of Hamel opening out on the glorious river flats it seemed as if nothing could stop his advance along the river towards Amiens. All the morning he pushed his way over every obstacle and forced the line back by his dash and weight of numbers, until he came upon Hanna who with his men put guns, gear and ammunition in a boat and went forward to meet the Hun. With a flanking guard of an N.C.O. and (5) five men of the 58TH Battalion (some of whom received decorations) he deployed until with his (2) guns in the swamp before Hamel using the river as his line of communication, he, by the flat nature of the country was master of the situation until his ammunition gave out or night came on. Not only was he able to check the onrush but to annihilate the vanguard of the enemy and by his harvest of death demoralilse them. The enemy perceiving the serious nature of this check sent out a special party of men under an officer to capture this apparently small outpost, but their attempt came to grief and the situation was saved by the Inf. Guard who ignominiously defeated their outnumbering attackers by outmanouvering them. Personally I consider that this incident, supported as it was by the other arms of service which definately
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checked the great retreat of 1918. The statement seems too comprehensive and yet I think the truth of it can stand. Never was the M.C. more worthily bestowed.
At this time we lived on the generosity of the Frenchmen, and not knowing the fate of the villages through which we passed believed it our duty to relieve the animals from the discomfit of not being fed and to remove the possibility of the Hun getting drunk if he still continued to advance. Fowls, eggs (growing more scarce each day) rabbits, honey, milk, cream, potatoes, sugar, preserves of every description washed down by such common beverages as Wine and Champagne (Heidseik [Heidsieck] O.6) all were part of our daily fare, while we converted the dark and often time dirty cellars into palatially furnished rooms. We were perfectly happy for weeks with the one exception when the presumptuous one thought he could take Villers Brettoneaux [Villers Bretonneux] and hold it but his glory had departed and we had him beaten. From this time ours was the offensive to our hearts content, we had sufficient work to do to keep us fully occupied until we nibbled away, until we had established a jumping off place for our final victory.
Period 5.
This the last stage of the war is the theme for our epic. And were I gifted
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with poetic powers I should sing the song of Vickers, his gun and the 15th Company. By this time we had been under the influence of the machine gun battalions, for some few months and it had made but little difference to us up to this point. But now we reached the Battalion, worked with other Brigades and divisions and blossomed out under the influence of Lieut. Col. Marsden D.S.O. who made our Battalion famous and popular. We had been looking forward to a grand spell but instead we heard the roar of the guns on August 8th, got lost in the fog but reached our objective 10 kilometres distant at schedule time. What a time that was! After fighting our way on through the morning of the 9th we pulled up in proud possession of German Corps Hdqrs. at Harbonniers [Harbonnieres] and then on to Marcourt, [Maricourt] Villers-Carbonnel over the Somme and right through to Jeancourt. A quotation from the German report is very illuminating, "The enemies machine gun fire was so intense and accurate that it was impossible for our garrison to deal with the attacking Infantry until they were right on to them".
Last but not least is the capture of the Hindenburg Line by the Americans? By some kind dispensation of providence
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for the Americans (whose bravery I greatly admire) we were to go through them, but little were we prepared for the actuality which cost us many lives among them being Capt. Stan Neale of the 59th Battalion. He was the first O.C. of our Company, a soldier and a man. This battle of Bellicourt was a great climax to a thrilling campaign, the Huns stronghold was ours and he was fast being driven back to his home.
Truly then we rested, feasted and enjoyed ourselves.
A fine Company with a splendid record. For the most part lucky, of a record of no Officers being killed. But less fortunate were we with men for at times it seemed as if fate had singled us out with a grim intention and several periods are marked in memory for all times.
We are now scattered but yet are we a unity and the name of the 15th M.G. Coy. will be a sign of brotherhood.
Harold G. Hackworthy M.C.
Lieut.
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President: General H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel Duigan.
Major A.J. Simpson.
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope, Private Mansfield.
January 5th.
Dear Lieutenant Hackworthy,
I write you in connection with the Fifth Division Book. You may have heard something of its compilation but in any case the enclosed circular will give you full information.
I was in Melbourne recently to attend a meeting in connection with the book and it was suggested that I write you for a short history of the 15th Machine Gun Company. Your article should cover about 2,000 words. Now, will you let me now about this as soon as possible indeed if possible by return post. I am sorry to spring this on you so suddenly but the fact is all copy is to be in the printers hands at the end of this month.
If you can also help me with any good war photographs, especially groups of men, I shall be grateful They will be returned to you when the book is published.
Let me thank you very sincerely for anything you may do and extend very good new year wishes.
Yours [s]incerely,
Compiler.
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[Not transcribed.]
[Page 275]
18 Bolton St.
Newcastle
13:1:20
Dear Miss Small,
Sorry that I have been out of touch with my home address but hasten to reply to your memo of 5th inst.
I will endeavour to supply history of 15 M.G. Coy. by the end of the month.
Lt. Ellis late of 5th Div. Hdqrs already has or should have a similar document prepared by me while in France. As it will doubtless contain more precise dates than I will now be in a position to give, I should advise you if possible to get in touch with him.
Yours Sincerely
Harold G. Hackworthy
To
Miss A.A. Small,
Compiler, Some of the 5th Divs. Glory
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Mad Mick
One of the characters of our battalion was Private Daniel OFlaherty, commonly known as "Mad Mick".
Mick, being a man of strong uncontrollable passions, was, in a way, a genius. But his genius was evil and did him no good. It had a thirst.
Here, in Flanders, he oftentimes and on divers occasions treated it to rum, or stout, or strong wine, and, when these failed, to penny beers everything in fact except the odious liquid never named by Drinkers.
Mick had enlisted in Sydney when he was drunk, and when he woke up, his burning anxiety was "Shall I have to be sober long?"
For he was put away in a big camp whose maddening features were dry canteens. Those surrounding Mick couldnt stand, and as the surroundings couldnt stand him, they shipped him away very quickly to the Big Fight.
On the boat he could get nothing stronger than lemonade. He tried to jump overboard, but they caught him in the act. They said "he must be drunk". That stung him. He lashed out and wounded
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five. For the rest of the voyage they kept him in the clink.
When he arrived in France he luxuriated for a short space in estaminets and sly-grog shops. Then they threw him into the trenches.
He would have died in the trenches, but rum saved him. He bought up all the teetotallers, and thus made sure of their share.
Sometimes, being on fatigue at the rear of the firing line, he would squeeze into a village and get properly drunk. At nightfall he would come home, in the grip of the horrors, but quite happy.
At these times his mate, Bob Cunningham, would shepherd him and lead him gently to the post of duty. There, with his eyes staring over the parapet, Mick had to watch out for Germans
One night, when he was particularly happy and particularly dreadful, he thought he had got one. Round the corner of a bay in the long wall of sandbags he came, with frightful energy, to where Bob Cunningham slept, screaming "Ive got one, Bob. If ever Ive killed a German, Ive killed one now. Come and look at the ----".
When Bob didnt
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come, Mick made sure of the matter and woke him with a frightful oath, telling him to look. Be
"By the bleeding hell" he cried "Ive got him on my bayonet!"
Bob flashed his torch on and looked. On the edge of Micks bayonet was impaled (horrible sight) an empty butterbox!
Bob induced Mick to go back to his post. But it was no good. It was Micks night out.
Lieutenant Stickler on his nightly rounds came up to Mick, as he was straining his fiery eyeballs over the parapet. The Officer was a nice young fellow. But Mick forgot himself.
"There goes my Mary" he yelled "going over to them Germans!"
Nobody believed him. They said he was drunk.
"There goes my Mary" he wailed again, and this time he leapt madly on to the parapet.
The Officer acted and leapt after him. He persuaded Mick to come back, and realizing that he was "distrait" put stowed him away safely for the night.
What became of Mick? He couldnt wait. One wet Next day he shot himself.
H.D. Allen
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Not wanted.
Mad Mick
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1732 Pvte George Kelly 56th Batt. A.I.Forces
George was 18 years and 3 mts when he enlisted on the 30th May 1915. He left Sydney on the troopship "Kanowna" on the 19th June of 1915. He arrived at Suez the end of July or beginning of August, and went straight to Heliopolis Camp, Egypt. Being there only a few days he was sent on to Gallipoli arriving at daybreak on August 9th. He was there about eleven weeks, until he became very ill, and was sent to Malta, arriving there on October 24th.
He left Malta in January 1916, arriving again in Egypt January 11th and remained there until June. He embarked at Alexandria on the 22nd June, on the troop-ship, "Huntsend". This boat was formerly a German prize named the "Lutzow".
He arrived at Marseilles on the 29th of June. He was wounded in the shoulder on the 19th July 1916, and sent to England remaining there until November 3rd, when he returned to France. He was then almost continually in the firing line, and came out of his last "stunt" about April the 18th 1917, shortly after going into hospital in France with bad ears, caused through the continual sound & noise of guns. He became seriously ill after
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being there a few days, and was released from the Hospital on May 19th 1917.
The same day as coming out from Hospital he was killed, he was at the Quarter Masters Store, getting a blanket, 5 miles behind the firing line when a shell burst on the store killing him and others. He is buried in the Favreuil British Cemetary, west of Fremicourt, North of Bapaume.
Will you take notice of this strange coincidence, if I may use the term. My son sailed on the 19th June 1915, was wounded on the 19th July 1916 and killed on 19th May 1917. I will now try to tell you about him, he was always a generous and fearless boy, and very impulsive, when I have remonstrated with him, he said I cant help it Mum. I always act first and think after you know. He was working at Lever Bros. Balmain, when he enlisted, and before that at the Austral Box place in Pyrmont. When he recoved recovered from the illness at Malta, he had the chance to come home, but wrote home and said he felt he had not done enough yet in this war, and so he remained there. When he first went to France, he wrote and said it was such a beautiful country, and worth
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fighting for ever for. My last letter from him was dated the 3rd of May from the Hospital where he was, & he said he would write, while there every few days.
Well, those last letters went down in the "Mongolia". He tells me about the Hospital, it was an old Castle, and very interesting, with a high wall about 40 feet high round it, and the only way out, was a drawbridge, but he and some other boys discovered cells and an underground passage leading into the town, and to copy from his letter he says, "Im going down again this afternoon (this letter was dated 3rd of May 1917) looking for more passages, its good sport, we dont get anything like that in Australia, and I might perhaps bump a ghost. He was always a boy to look on the bright side & make the best of things, and ready to do wn a good turn for anyone, fear was unknown to him, being brave to a fault. I will give you an instance. When about 16 he was going to work one morning about 7.30 along Wattle St. Pyrmont, he was riding a new bike, only bought a few days, being a wet morning the blocks were slippery, his bike skidded and he and the bike were thrown under a coal trolley loaded with coal, he had the sense to roll his body away from the wheels, & so only got some bruises, the bike was smashed to pieces
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not a piece of it, but was bent and broken, his lunch was also lost, well not withstanding being bruised and shaken & no lunch, he went on to his work just the same, remaining there until closing time, and saying nothing about his accident until questioned, & even then making light of it, although he had a very narrow escape from death. I just mention this to show you the kind of boy he was. He had several narrow escapes, when a boy, when only four years old, he fell from a balcony, and was nearly killed. When at Gallipoli he was usually known as "the boy" and "the kid", being slight and boyish looking, but I have heard from different men, strangers to me, how he stuck to duty, and refusing to give in, although ill and worn, until a big soldier picked him up in his arms like a baby, and carried him down for medical attention, he then being sent straight way to Malta.
A soldier who was on the Peninsular with him and being sent home, just before going back again to the seat of war, a couple of days or so, came to see us, he said he wanted to shake hands with the parents of a young Kelly one of the bravest lads on earth, he said, he is only a boy, but he has the heart of a lion.
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Im afraid my letter is very rambling but if there is anything you dont understand I will only be too pleased to tell you. I have a box full of his letters but dont know what to pick out of them. Here is another extract from a letter written on the 22 of Feb. 1917. He tells about the awful mud and how they get bogged in it & how they help each other out. Sometimes he says the helping one gets bogged too, in a shell hole & then he says that is the finish of things. (This from the same letter.) Still there is the humor of such things, here is one instance, Mum. Not long ago a party of us, were travelling up to the line, and we saw three men coming along on the left of us, from out of the line, and Fritz spotted them, & was chasing them up with H.E. shells, we enjoyed the joke of watching those poor chaps running and shells bursting all just behind them. Then it was our turn. He spotted us & we got for our lives, none too soon either, as he ploughed up the ground everywhere where we were going. Luckily none of us got hit, though it is marvellous how he misses us. Another item from the same letter is, my mate and myself had a lucky find here. We came across some steak and onions and a few other odds and ends
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and needless to say we lived like Lords for two days, but our stock has now run out. Here is another extract from a letter dated 18th of January 1917. (During the last couple of days, there has been a very heavy fall of snow, it looked very pretty, and we had plenty of snow fights. We were having a go yesterday and our chaplain joined in on our side, the boys made a special target of him and snow was flying for a while pretty thick. The chaplain got even by rolling one chap in the snow. Another extract from a letter dated 27 Feb 1917. (The other day it was very misty, so a couple of us went out in front to see what we could collect in the way of souvinirs. We went about 300 yds out, but did not get much. We hopped in one of Fritzs trenches, got some cigars, and hopped it back again for our natural. The boys in the trenches were out after that, and got some good things, but did not venture too far, as the mist was rising, and Fritz started putting his whiz-bang in the joke. Some joke it was too.
I hope these few pages will be of use to you & would you let me know when the book will be published so I can purchase a copy please. Yours very sincerely,
Ethel Kelly
77½ Fig St.
Ultimo
[Page 286]
77½Fig St
Ultimo
Oct 1st 18
Dear Madam
In reply to your letter, which I received yesterday, about my late dear son, I gladly give you the information you ask for, and will forward it on, in a few days. I will just write it in my own way, & you will use what you require of it.
Yours very sincerely
Ethel Kelly
[Page 287]
[Transcribers note: This document has been transcribed as it was sent to the Editor. Pencilled changes have not been transcribed. Papers about Wal Oldham would be best brought together. He is first described by his Newcastle friend, who was killed at Fromelles, on board ship on the journey to Egypt and later to France. Several testimonies written by senior officers have also been transcribed.]
Lieut. Walter Herbert Oldham D.C.M.
was killed at Peronne on Sept. 1st 1918 while in charge of No 5 platoon B Company,
56th Battalion A.I.F. age 24 yrs.
He enlisted in the A.M.C. in May 1915 and went into camp at Liverpool on June 14th , along with two other Stockton boys Stan Hubbard and Ossie Greaves. He had held the rank of Sgt. in the Citizen Forces and soon settled down to the work at Liverpool. For some time he was in charge of the Measles Company and proved himself rather a favourite, as on sailing for Active Service on Oct. 21st (1915) he was presented with a case of surgical instruments by the boys of the compound. He had become a Sgt. but had to drop his rank on sailing. He left with Capt. Keith Grieve of Sydney of whom he was very fond, and who in return thought a good deal of Wal.
He arrived in Cairo on 17th Nov. and being attached to the 2nd A.G.H. at Ghezireh, was sent to Aerodrome Camp where he was connected with a Clearing and Dressing Station for the 2nd & 5th Batts, in charge of Cpt. Grieve and Cpt. Eric Barbour. Here he spent his first Christmas on Active Service and was often accosted by lads who had known him on the football field. In January 1916 the 2nd & 5th training batts. were separated, causing the splitting up of the Dressing Station Wal remaining with the 5th under Capt. Grieve. He again became
[Page 288]
a Sgt. and when Gen. Birdwood was inspecting was complimented by him on his stretcher bearers.
On 1st March he moved to Tel-el-Kebir where Capt. Grieve had gone ahead of him, and who was good enough to get Wal and two friends Clark and Ricketts into the 56th [Battalion] along with him. Here at Tel-el-Kebir he met almost everyone he knew who had enlisted! This place was full of acquaintances and he felt much happier. Once more he was dragged away from Capt. Grieve and once more recovered; and finally settled down in the A.M.C. detail of the 56th Batt.
The life here got very monotonous soldiers, soldiers, tents, guns, and sick parades, as Wal said. Everyone wanted to get a move on. The boys were dying for a bit of real soldiering. Then came that awful march to Ferry Post on the Canal during the last four days of March. It was during this that Wal made his reputation in the 56th Batt., "when the men found it impossible to keep up, with the sun blazing down on them, the sand over their boot tops and their water bottles dry". The second day they were lost and must have travelled 30 miles!! It was a frightful experience. Men who had been at "the Landing" said they preferred a dozen "Landings" to it! this
Deaths occurred and several went mad through drinking salt water from a lake they reached although kicked back from it by the officers. Imagine one
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bottle of water and two biscuits and some bully beef as rations for a whole day! Men threw away everything. What relief Ferry Post and its water must have been after this. At Ferry Post he stayed until 20th June when he sailed for France on the Troopship A25! Everyone was delighted and hoped never to see Egypt again.
He landed at Marseilles and after a three days train journey through beautiful France arrived took up his abode in "Billets" somewhere near Fleurbaix. He went into action for the first time on 11th July (1916) and the first thing he did was to get the D.C.M. at Pozieres, the official intimation of which read "His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the undermentioned non-commissioned officer for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field. No. 8091, Lance Sgt Walter Herbert Oldham for conspicuous gallantry under operations. He brought in wounded men under heavy fire from "No Mans Land" and afterwards continued tending the wounded without rest for 20 hours under heavy shell fire." At the same time Capt. Keith Grieve was awarded the M.C.
The next three months were spent around Pozieres. In October Capt. Grieve went back to D.H.Q. Wal was very sorry to lose him. At Xmas he himself got his first leave to Blighty 10 days! He returned to his battalion on the Somme to chilblains, frozen [indecipherable]
[Page 290]
etc. a very rough winter! In March the Germans retired and the Aussies much enjoyed the chance of advancing. Here the 56th successfully captured the village of Doignies, and camped just ahead of Baupaume, [Bapaume] which place they had gazed at so often and so long and wondered how they would ever push the Germans out. April found them (56th) right back to where they were in July 1916 near Albert, a two days train ride. Here they had a good camp water laid on, stoves in huts etc. and were issued with new uniforms. It was real Australian weather, and real Aus. Sports. Officers played Sgts. cricket. Wal skippered the Sgrs. who were beaten.
Here the battalion was inoculated and the boys came after Wals scalp "for inflicting grievous bodily harm & was marched under escort to the mess and had no alternative than to plead guilty, and suffer the severe punishment of shouting for the mess".
May found them back in the trenches near Baupaume. Early in June (1917) Wal was sent to London to get his D.C.M. medal, with 10 days leave; but when he arrived by some mistake the medal had been sent to France. However, he was given the honor of being in the enclosure at the Investiture by the King in Hyde Park, the first Investiture to take place in the open. When he rejoined his battalion it was preparing to retire to billets the first time for 6 mths. to retire from forward positions. This was near
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Warloy-Baillons. [Warloy-Baillon] He was very happy here and the weather was perfect. In July they moved 10 miles away. They were inspected by the King, and also "celebrated" the anniversary of the attack at Fromelles. August found them still out of the line about 3 mths. It was in this August (1917) that he changed over to the Infantry. He attended the 1st Anzac Corps School for 5 weeks and found the studies very interesting. His chief friend, Bert Musgrove, of the 56th was attending the same school for signalling. He gained an excellent report here and a recommendation for a commission. In October he rejoined his batt. or what was left of it to find many of his pals "gone west". Had a very rough time in the line during the next fortnight. He went in as platoon commander and gained the confidence of the men. Had never felt braver, which made the men very cheerful. He expected to get his com. on the field but on Colonels suggestion he was sent across to Oxford University. October 30th found him in London with 10 days leave before commencing his course at Keble College, Oxford Uni. He soon proved his old form in football and was given a place in the College team. He and two others were the only Australians in his section all the others being Scotch. His report at the end of the first month read "One of the best men in the Company, efficient enough to be nd an officer
[Page 292]
in any unit". Christmas found him in Scotland on vacation. In January he had a weekend in London with his pal Musgrove. At another time his section visited Warwick where they were billeted on the people. From here they visited Stratford on Avon. While at Oxford the course was lengthened and he got a months extension. On his final leave there he visited Glasgow, Sterling and Oldham. In March he sat for and passed his final exam. He then enjoyed 13 days leave! He went to Ireland with his two Aus. pals Curtis and Tilbrook, and visited Killarney, Cork, Queenstown and Dublin. On his return to London he was sent to the 2nd Training Batt. Sutton Veny.
In April he had a weeks training in tactical musketry at Candahar Barracks, Tidworth where he again met Major Grieve. In May he returned to France as 2nd Lieut. to his own Batt. the 56th and was quite pleased to settle down once more.
He was given charge of No 5 Platoon, B Company a very fine body of men. In June while the batt. was in the line he and many of his company were withdrawn to train for some special piece of work. He was chosen, the men were volunteers. In a letter written at the time he said "I will do my best to keep my head down, but I am here to do my bit, and do it to the best of my ability, come what may. I am proud of the uniform I wear, the men under me, the beautiful country I hail from and the loving family
[Page 293]
and friends at home. All this spurs us fellows on and we will do better yet". Trench fever broke out and he and his men had to go back to the battalion. Then came Villers Brettonneux and more heavy fighting. He lost his runner Plucknett of Hurlstone Park. In July August he was given his second star and was recommended for the M.C. On September 2st, before the attack on Peronne, while bandaging one of his men who had been badly wounded, he was killed by a sniper!!
(I am enclosing copies of letters received after he fell from those competent to judge.)
Lieut. Oldham was born in Lambton, Newcastle on July 17th 1894. He attended both Lambton and New Lambton Public Schools, and on leaving school went to work for D. Morgan & Sons, Storekeepers of Lambton. Here he remained till he enlisted in the A.I.F. and was held in great esteem by all who knew him. He was a fine athlete and keen sportsman football and swimming being his favourite pastimes. He was Captain of Stockton Surf Club when he enlisted and a member of Western Suburbs Football Club.
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Spencer Edward Maxted.
Born in Sydney 1882. Killed in France 19th or 20th July 1916.
Th.L. 1st class honors 1903.
B.A. & Bromby Prize, 1909. Trinity Coll. Univ. of Melbourne. M.A. 1911
B.D. 1911 University of London.
Priested 1908.
Married Jan 1914.
Tried to enlist at end of first week after war was declared. Finally entered camp Sep. 1914, sailed from Melbourne Dec 1914, with 1st reinforcements to 1st Field Ambulance as stretcher bearer.
When in Egypt joined Col (Dr) Ryan & landed at Gallipoli 25th April early in the morning. After a while went back to hospital ships & helped in operating theatre till nurses came. When Dr Ryan became ill he went back to Gallipoli & joined 4th Field Ambulance as stretcher bearer. Was ill for a short time when he went to Alexandria, then back again till the Evacuation. While at Gallipoli did all kinds of jobs from chopping wood for the cook to acting Chaplain. He was acting as Chaplain through the heavy fighting of August 6th & thereabouts. One morning during the hot
[Page 295]
weather he was chopping wood for the cook when a piece flew up & hit him on the nose lip, in the evening he was again chopping wood when a piece flew up & hit him on the nose; the next morning he climbed a long way to Holy Communion & was asked to help in the service. He looked rather a comic object to take part in such a service with his swollen upper lip, his nose a thing of beauty & perspiration streaming from him. In a letter just after the landing he said, the Australian in camp & the Australian in battle are two very different men indeed.
Made Chaplain after the Evacuation, when he was attached to the training camp at Heliopolis for about three months, then transferred to 14th Brigade (53rd & 54th Battalions) which was in the desert the other side of Suez Canal. Writing from the desert he said he did not regret going as private for as he could fully sympathise with the boys knowing what they had to endure.
In summer they had to march through the desert. He could have ridden, but walked & carried his pack. Hundreds fell by the way, he was one of few who got through, though he
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had given away his water & was going from one to the other seeing what he could do for them. If ever there was a big march he was there with the boys.
Landed in France about 29th June 1916, & killed 19th or 20th July 1916 near Fleurbaix while attending a wounded man in No mans land.
It was suggested that he stay behind but said it was his duty to be with the boys & went over with the first of the stretcher bearers. "For five hours he was with them under the heaviest shell fire it was worse than the Somme - & he did not only his priests work, but the work of doctor, ambulance & stretcher bearer, messenger & leader. He must have saved many lives. He cheered the boys wonderfully & gave his steel helmet to a lad who hadnt one."
"He left a wonderful name in the 54th & a noble example for all to follow." "He was the noblest, bravest & best man I ever knew." "He was the gamest man in the 54th." "He was in his our dugout recently for the purpose of getting some bandages, as he intended going over with the boys. We were having tea at the time & he took a cup but refused bread, owing to the short issue & started on hard
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biscuits."
His career in the church was a very promising one. It was said that had he lived he would have been a great man, one of the greatest in the church.
The quotes etc., did not come direct to me but were written to other people. GM
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Capt. Jm. Austin Chapman
Date of Enlisting. Joined the A.I.F. from Duntroon Military College, 1st July 1915
Rank. Captain (now).
Bn. 30th Battalion.
Promotions etc. Lieut. 1.7.15 Captain 16 Temporary. Captain 16 Substantive
Time on Service Joined A.I.F. 1ST July 1915.
Sailed from Australia 9th Nov 1915
Returned to Australia 26th May 1919.
Concise Outline of Military Career.
Entered Royal Military College - Feb. 1913
Graduated for Active Service June 30th 1915.
Instructed in No 1. & No 2. Schools Sydney. July & Aug. 1915.
Joined 30th Bn as Platoon Commander Aug. 1915.
Sailed in Nov 1915.
Landed at Suez 1915 Dec. 1915. & proceed to Helliopolis [Heliopolis] Camp.
Remained in Camp a few days, & then proceed to Suez Canal.
Canal & Inner & Outer Defences end of 1915 & beginning of 1916.
Left with 5th Aus. Div. Advanced Party Landed in France 13th June 1916.
Joined Unit on 3 July 1916 near Hazebrouck
Moved into line for first on 12th July. 1916 Bois Grenier
Platoon Commander from Aug. 1915 to July 1916.
Bn. Intelligence Officer July 1916 to Aug. 1916.
Commanded C Coy 30 Bn Aug. 1916 to Nov. 1916.
Adjutant 30th Bn Nov. 1916 to June 1917.
Instructor 5th Army Inf. School June 1917 Sept 1917.
Intelligence Officer 30th Bn. Brooseinde [Broodseinde] Ridge. Sept. 1917.
Commanded the 30th Bn. for ten days on Anzac Ridge Sept 1917.
2nd 1/Command for a week.
Adjutant, October 1917 to Jan. 1918.
Company Commander Jan. 1918 to Febr. 1918.
Attached to the 55th West Lancashire Territorial Div. Feb. 1918 to beginning of May 1918
[Page 299]
Acting G.S.O. III 5th Aus. Div. May June 1918 to October 1918.
(Including a few days as G.S.O. II)
October 1918 to Dec. 1918. Staff Trainee 5th Aus. Div. H.Q.
Jan. 1918 to March 1918. Brigade May 14th Aus. Inf. Bde.
In Dec 1918 Acted as Div. Entraining Officer at Abbeville & Pont Remy.
Some of the battles in which I participated.
1. Fromelles. 1916.
2. Taking of Sunray Trench, 1917.
3. Capture of Bapaume, 1917.
4. Beaumetz.
5. Third Battle of Ypres, 1917
6. Battle of Givenchy - Festubert - La Bassee Canal & Bethune, (with 55th English Div.) April 1918.
7. Morlancourt 1918.
8. 4th July 1918.
9. 100 Days Battle incl Aug. 1918 & Sept. 1918 including
1) Capture of Peronne
2) Smashing of the Hindenberg Line at Bellecourt [possibly Bullecourt] Sept. 1918.
My only brother left at the same time as I did for the front.
I would like to record the following two names of two Officer pals who were killed in action while nobly doing their duty.
Capt. K.M. Mortimer 29th Bn K.I.A. 19/7/16.
Capt. H. Stevens 30th Bn. K.I.A. 1917.
A short account of a few war experiences will be drafted and forwarded by the end
[Page 300]
of September if this date is not too late.
Decorations & M & D.
Mentioned in Despatches for conspicuous Services.
Second Supplement No. 30107 London Gazette, date 1st June 1917
Australian Gazette No 169 of 4th Oct 1917.
Awarded Officer of British Empire (no Gazette numbers to hand at present.)
[Page 301]
No. 5359 James E. Cull, 54 Battalion, third son of John & Jane Cull was born at Tublo Station where his father was employed on the Prickly portion.
He enlisted when 20 on the 30th Dec 1915 at Darlington Point & saw active service till Sept. 1918 when he was wounded for the second time & returned to Australia in Feb. 1919.
He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal & won the M.M. & D.C.M.
Until he went to Camp he had only lived in his own district & had never been to a city. He has been described by his officers & those who knew him as "a game & fearless soldier & full of natural initiative."
He served in No Mans Land On the Somme he says "the winter of 1916 was the coldest known. Just snow, rain mud & shells, we used to chop our drinking water with an axe & carry it for months in a sand bag".
At Bullecourt he won the "M.M.". He was in charge of a Lewis Machine Gun with four others. He had fired so rapidly for over an hr that his gun grew hot & refused to work, the enemy were pouring down upon them in thousands. He took the gun to pieces, mended it, kept his men throwing pins from the bombs, then poured
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such a volley into the enemy only a few yds away that they retreated & so he saved the position.
He next fought at Pacchendale [Passchendaele] Ridge & Polygon Wood. A desperate fight chiefly in the dark & the enemy were planted in the trees with their machine guns, hidden in little boxes which contained a gun & two men.
Early in 1916 when on the Somme he was very nearly killed. "I was on a raiding party with a few more Diggers. We were sent to get a few Jerrys but instead of getting old Jerry, he got me. We crawled out in shell holes & barbed wire entanglements & were more like snakes than men, it was freezing cold & we were drenched to the skin, covered with muck & mud. It was a terrible night we got to the German Line. I crawled on my hands & knees to his trench. I left the Diggers a few yards away while I listened & not a sound, except the shells bursting around me & the rain teeming down I jammed ten rounds in my magazine & rifle in hand crawled to the top of the Hun trench, listened again, then jumped in & before I knew where I was I got a few inches of cold steel in my chest. It gave me an awful funny feeling the like I never want to feel again there the German had me on his bayonet. I hollered & yelled to my comrades. They were soon in & after a short scuffle soon settled things. We took several prisoners & cleared, & I spent a
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rest in Hospital behind the Lines."
He fought in the great defence of Amiens & was one of those who marched down the streets while the French women & children crowded the streets cheering & crying out "trèsbon Australians".
At Peronne he won the "D.C.M." He was told to take a building which he did single handed with his Lewis gun & captured 30 enemy at great risk of life & held the position until his mates came to his relief.
[Page 304]
Lowbridge, No. 457, Sergeant Sergeant. [30th Battalion]
Sergeant Lowbridge enlisted at Newcastle in August 1915 and sailed for Egypt in November of the same year. Seven months later his battalion was shipped to France and went into action at Bois Grenier, 11 July, 1916. The battle of Fleurbaix followed on July 19th in which he lost a close chum Walter Churchill of Hexham. Sergeant Lowbridge came through the battles of Armentieres Somme, Bapaume, and Le Transloy, where Sergeant Fred Field of Merewether was wounded. Here also Lowg[b]ridge, with a small number of men was ordered to hold the advanced position for 48 hours in a crater with 3 feet of water in the bottom?
It was raining and so intensely cold that that boots soon had to be removed on account of swollen feet. But at the end of 48 hours the hard word came - "No relief. Hold out for another 48 hours". Later, relief meant hospital for the little group and Lowbridge was sent to Beaufort, England. Here the most skilful treatment was used to save the feet. Convalescing, he refused a permanent clerkship on the staff at Salisbury Plains, and returned to the front to instruct the men in the use of the German and Lewis Machine guns. Going back into action at Anzac Ridge he undertook the hazardous work of bailing up the officers and men in the German outpost concrete pillboxes, and relieveing them of valuable papers. For this service he was recommended by the colonel for a for a field commission, being ordered on to Passchendaele, in the four battles fought by the Australians in October 1917. He received the congratulations of General Birdwood for his conspicuous services on the field.
At the fourth battle (on October 22nd) the Canadians coming in fresh, the Australians were ordered back for a rest, when Sergeant Lowbridge along with a mate Dave Price of Tighes Hill, went under a galvanised iron shelter to escape flying fragments of shell. An 8 in. high explosive shell dropped on top of them, killing both instantaneously.
Sergeant Lowbridge is spoken of by his fellow officers as a man who did his bit thoroughly, whose buoyant spirits were an inspiration to all, and who died splendidly in the face of the enemy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lowbridge of Macquarie Street, Junction. He was twenty two years and eleven months of age.
[Page 305]
[P.305 is a retyped, corrected version of part of P.304.]
LOWBRIDGE, NO. 457 Sergeant 30th Battalion.
Sergeant Lowbridge enlisted at Newcastle in August 1915 and sailed for Egypt in November of the same year. Seven months later was shipped to France and went into action at Bois Grenier 30th July 1916. The battle of Fleurbaix followed on July 19th in which he lost a close chum - Walter Churchill of Hexham. Sergeant Lowbridge came through the battle of Armentieres, Somme, Bapaume, and Le Transloy, where Sergeant Fred Field of Merewether was wounded. Here also Lowbridge with a small number of men was ordered to hold an advanced position for 48 hours in a crater with 3 feet of water in the bottom. It was raining and so intensely cold that boots soon had to be removed on account of swollen feet. At the end of 48 hours the hard word came "No relief. Hold out for another 48 hours". Later, relief came and meant hospital for the little group and Lowbridge was sent to Beaufort, England. Here the most skilful treatment was necessary to save the feet. Convalescing he refused a permanent clerkship on the staff of Salisbury Plains, and returned to the front to instruct the men in the use of the German and Lewis Machine guns. Going again into action at Anzac Ridge he undertook the hazardous work of bailing up the officers and men in the
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Lieut. C.E. Fuller
Enlisted 9th Sept 1915. No 4806. Sergt. 15th reinforcements to 3rd Battalion (became 55th Battalion in Egypt).
Corpl. in 55th Battn. promoted Sergt. while in Egypt. Embarked 8th Mar. 1916 arrived France June 1916. In action July 19 near Armentieres (?) Wounded severely 5th Sept. 1916, invalided to England Leicester Military Hospital.
Returned after several requests to be permitted, to France in July (?) 1917. Promoted C.S.M. C Co.
Took part in fighting at Polygon Wood where he was awarded the Military Medal.
Official description of service:-
"Fuller took charge of his company when all the officers were casualties, and held his position and kept his men together until four more officers arrived the next night". (From account of investiture in Oxford Times.
Promoted Warrant Officer Nov. 1917.
Entered Officers Training Battn. at Worcester College, Oxford, May 1918. First place in final Exam. Promoted 2nd Lieut. 1st Jan 1919.
[Page 307]
Lieutenant McCoy, a member of the Naval Brigade for some years was called up on the night of 4th August for duty and served until he with many others enlisted in the Military Forces in July 1915, his regimental number being 241.
He sailed with the 30th Battalion in Nov. 1915 with the rank of corporal, fought and at Fleurbaix in July 16, and for his work there was recommended for a commission which he received in Sept. 1916, when he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion. He was wounded on two occasions, and twice mentioned in despatches. He has been on service almost four years, and was promoted to 1st Lieut. in 1917. At present he is acting as assistant Deputy Assistant Director of Education to the A.I.F. in the United Kingdom.
He participated in all the Battles in which the 30th and 32nd Battalions took part, and has acted as machine gun
[Page 308]officer scout officer, bombing officer and in various other capacities.
This particulars are not by any means complete, and I am not absolutely certain if they are correct, but they are in the main facts. If not too late I should be glad if you let me know when the very latest date of particulars being forwarded as my husband may himself be able to forward a better a/c if in time
Eileen C. McCoy
[Page 309]
The late Lieutenant Fredrick Clark deserves more than just a mention in a book. His death [?] at the war was the climax of an illustrious life. Born Dec 16th 1892 educated at Stanmore Public School, and from age of 12, at the Sydney Grammar School he entered the employment of Marcus Clark and Co when he was 17.
As a business man he showed excellent business qualities & ose rapidly. At the age of 20 he was managing the business of the firm at Goulburn. He was one of the most successful managers that business has had amp; was appreciated & held in high esteem by the whole firm.
He enlisted in July 1915 & went into training at Warwick Farm as a private. Strong in character confident in undertaking, true in friendship and full of humour & goodwill. He was scarcely in camp before he began to rise becoming Corporal & later Sergeant. These promotions led to his going to the officerss school. His natural ability & his educated powers proved so great that everybody expected him to rise to rank & honour. His manner to his men was diligent & bright & he was always a comrade of the highest order.
After training at Moore Park for an officer
[Page 310]
he was appointed to the new camp at Goulburn & when the first reinforcements were leaving the camp they petitioned the senior officer to allow Lieutenant Clark to go with them. Of course military law was observed & he remained in camp from Feb. 1916 till the following September. Sailing to France with the 5th Reinforcements of the 55th Battalion, he landed in England Nov. 19th went through the Officers school at Tidworth & sailed for France in Feb. 1917.
I saw him at one of the rest camps at Albert; who can forget the mud, he was giving bayonet drill. He was a splendid officer & his presence was an inspiration to his men. He had at that time seen battle at the taking of Bapaume & the taking of Hermes [Hermies] & Doignes [Doignies] towns on the Somme area. At the above mentioned rest camp, the Division was training for further battles. Next came Bullecourt with its ebb & flow & then victory. The Division then went North to Polygon Wood, here the Lieutenant won the M.C. for bravery, leadership & organisation, he & his men predominated no mans land. He fought next at Paschendale & on to the more famous place time & place Villers Bretonneaux. Here he was killed while speaking to a Corporal & some of his men a shell fell a dozen yards away he was killed by concussion.
[Page 311]
His body was like his life bearing no scar nor unseemly mark. We honour him with the great dead.
Honour, honour, eternal honour to his name.
He left a widow & one son.
By one of the Bn. boys.
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5 12 6
1 0 0
4 12 6
[Page 313]
The scene was Egypt. The battalion was the 54th.
The exercise was upward jumping. The training officer was a beggar for physical jerks one who never believed in omitting the pause between certain movements. The echoes of his broad Irish and him accents are ringing still.
"and now
"Exercise No. 1 Yez will all sink to the full knees, bend, - pause a minute
Exercise No. 2. Yez will jump up in the air as high as is possible pause a minute then come dern, & stand perfectly stil steady."
R.A. Paull 54th Battalion
(90 words)
[Page 314]
[See image for printed copy of "Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory"]
[Page 315]
The late Captain Fleming (56th Battalion) was inspecting his company on board the T.S Caledonia. Private Smith was hatless. "See you get one" said the Captain. Private Smith did so. It made him break the tenth commandment & later the eighth. He wore it next day with pride. "Ah" said Captain, "Ah & where did you get it?" Then truthfully said Washington Smith, "I carried out orders, Sir, & secured it." "Great Scott, damn it all" shouted the Captain, "I didnt tell you to steal my hat."
[Page 316]
[See image for a further printed copy of "Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory".]
[Page 317]
Education
After a three weeks course in the intellectual air of Cambridge attending a Conference on the A.I.F. Educational Scheme, I returned to the 55th Battalion during the last days of November 1918.
Immediately all the men were addressed and a general knowledge of the Educational Scheme conveyed to them. The next few days saw the Educational Staff busily enrolling students and in a very short time the number exceeded 300. That figure gradually improved until 400 was passed and now after four months duration the enrolment is constant even though many men have been repatriated. The outstanding feature of the enrolments was the desire men had to employ the advantages, which presented themselves, from the standpoint of practical utility. The whole of the groups attracted the attention of many. This battalion has shown a great thirst for information in Agriculture, Dairying, Stock, Fruit Growing and Irrigation. If this zeal is typical of the A.I.F. it should not be a great difficulty for the nation to place these men with advantage in Australia.
Then there is the Trades and Crafts man who is catered for and who, if he is not too apathetic, may proceed to schools in France or England. These centres of instruction deal with engineers, fitters, machinists and others. In many cases they are engaged in rendering renovating the machinery, destroyed or confiscated by the Hun and now returned on the demand of our victorious armies.
Others who require special courses in wool factories, business firms and others have been allotted as opportunity occurred.
Lastly, there is the professional or University man who in some cases has gone to an English firm or University or has been returned to Australia under the "Interrupted University Course Scheme". Thus the scope of activities has been wide and the benefits, in a measure, material.
There is now the Education carried on in the unit itself to be considered.
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The most suitable spot for a school is procured, with heating appliances usually stoves. Let no one delusioned and conjure up comfortable rooms, - but the Digger terms them "Active Service Luxuries". It is only that the "dinkum" has braved many a barrage that he withstands the assaults of smoke barrages, the result of bad coal, bad stoves or open fire places which do not encourage the fires to burn. Imagine that it is a choice between smoke or the influx of air below freezing point off the thickly strewn snows just outside; but the student that who is out to win sees it through. Blackboards, which are essential, are the next consideration and when not obtainable from the civilian schools, have to be improvised. Forms and tables have also to be provided until the school rooms present some of the appearances of a State school meaning business. The hours of instruction are four hours in the morning with as few classes in the afternoon as possible.
Study Circles on "National Health", "Social Problems", "Reconstruction in Australia" and others are conducted in the evenings. These Studies combined with Debate evenings find the hard thinkers always present and much food for thought is the result.
In this unit alone the enrolments have exceeded the actual ration strength and after being four months in operation the same position is maintained. Although it must be allowed that the scheme has many imperfections, which insurmountable difficulties are responsible for, nevertheless it has been worth while and has rekindled the fire of aspirations which have had little or no chance of burning brightly during the years of a Memorable World Struggle for Liberty.
There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to Fortune, omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.
T.C. Wathers Lt.
Ed. Officer
55th Bn
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[Transcribers note: The original typewritten submission to Miss Small is transcribed; editorial changes are not included, e.g. several original paragraphs were crossed out by the editor.]
The Death of Captain Cotteril
Every "Digger" has a yarn of some sort to tell about one of his cobbers who "took the count" in one of the many engagements that the A.I.F. has to its credit: this, however, is an account of a man, who though he may have been someones cobber in particular and probably was yet, he was, as well, a cobber of all the men in his Battalion as well.
To all men of the 55th Battalion Captain Cotteril was well known. How familiar was his figure, his cheery smile and as well his continual companion his pipe: How big is the blank left in the Battalion now that he is gone.
It was on September 3rd (1918) that the 55th Battalion went over the top on the left of Peronne. How the Battalion was held up outside the village of St Denis and yet hung on to the position it had gained is well known; it was in this operation that Captain Cotteril was killed but the actual circ*mstances of his death are are not well known even in his own Battalion.
At about ten a.m. on September 3rd Captain Cotteril (A Company) was ordered to reinforce the front line (B Company) and like the true soldier that he was he went forward first to reconnoitre the ground before leading the company out.
Accompanied by myself and his runner (Darkie Edwards) he reached and pa passed beyond the sugar factory; not knowing exactly where B Company was, he and his runner took refuge in a shell hole (where I had left Captain Cotteril and the runner) empty. Search where I might, I could not find no trace of either.
The necessary information was sent to the rear and B Company was reinforced by C Company.
That night at dusk I accompanied by an officer up to the same shell hole where I had last seen Captain Cotteril and his runner. Our object was to find their bodies. The situation was much the same as at ten a.m. except that the barrage was lighter and the machine guns had ceased firing.
As if guided by an unseen Hand we walked to the spot where Captain Cotteril and his runner lay - the very spot I had searched in vain for in the morning.
The sun was setting. To the left lay the spurs of Mt St Quentin (now in our hands), to the right lay the ramparts of Peronne. In front lay the ruins of St Denis backed by wooded slopes up which Fritz that night was to make his escape. The peaceful evening was spoiled by noise of exploding shells.
It was in such surroundings that the soul of Captain Cotteril passed into Eternity and in his death he was true to theory of life.
Lying on his back with his face to Fritz, Captain Cotteril had died as he had lived with a smile on his face.
With reverent hands we carried him to where a limber was waiting to carry his body back to the rear; and as we moved down the Peronne-Clery road on our way back to Battalion Headquarters we were silent but our thoughts ran thus: "Fritz was retiring, the war was hastening to its close and Australia seemed nearer to us than ever and yet some in many cases the best - could not return with us."
Captain Cotteril is one of these and the fact brings with it a certain sadness: but to those whose views on life were broad this is not so. Captain Cotteril was taken in the full vigour of his manhood with his hand at the plough, cheerfully facing his days work; and though he did not finish it he died as so many others have done in this life and particularly in this war doing his work with a smile.
"To travel cheerfully is better than to succeed and the true success is to labour."
E. Mackay Sergeant
55th Battalion
A.I..F.
In the Field
19-2-19
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"A Reminiscence of Pompey (General) Elliott"
It was towards the end of March 1918 that the Fifteenth Brigade made a famous night march. From around the three destroyed villages Hedd Hedauville, Forceville and Varennes down to Corbie to take part in stemming the German onslaught advance.
For many days previous to this March the Brigade had been constantly on the move and from the time it was withdrawn from the line about Wytschaete and Messines it had known little rest. Consequently it was a very tired and weary Brigade that marched into Corbie in the early hours of the morning.
The Co column was met and halted at a village called La Neuville just outside Corbie by its Commander - Brigadier-General H.E. Elliott C.O. C.M.G. D.S.O. D.C.M. (famous throughout the A.I.F. as "Pompey") the General having proceeded ahead of the column to become acquainted with the situation
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and orders were given then and there to the various Battalion Commanders.
The main task entrusted to the Brigade was to guard the right flank of the Third Army and to take up a line of outposts along the Somme Canal to protect the village of Corbie. On receipt of their orders the Battalions moved off to their allotted positions. It was by this time just becoming daylight.
Some very few hours afterwards "Pompey" decided to inspect his outposts and set out on his faithful charger, "Darky" for the Canal. On arrival he found that our Company of a particular Battalion had been extraordinarily lax in its precautions.
The Company Commander was promptly sent for and subjected to what cannot be better described as one of Pompeys characteristic tornadoes. The unfortunate was informed, that, if it was found that a say single German had crossed the canal through lack of precautions, the consequences would be nothing short of immediate execution.
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The Company Commander listened in terror and, when "Pompey" rode off, set to work to rectify matters.
Whether it was or not that he became flustered or not, is not known but the fact remains that when Pompey returned after the rest of his inspection he found this company extended along the entire company frontage about two men per yard Pompeys bewilderment was only exceeded by his on seeing this was only exceeded by his rage when the first of the long line sprang to his feet and solemnly presented arms.
The following conversation then ensued:
Pompey: What the devil are you supposed to be?
Soldier: Im a sentry, Sir.
Pompey: And what in heavens name are you supposed to be looking for?
Soldier: (decidedly and promptly) You, Sir!!!
G.A. Street
Late Brigade Major
15th Inf. Bde. A.I.F.
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The Funniest Man (Miss Barrett)
(Scene: a comfortably furnished room in a French farmhouse. The C.O. the R.M.O. and the R.O.M. are seated at a table comfortably furnished with bottles. The R.O.M. is ex-Private Hilary Muggins. Hilary has just been promoted to be Regimental Quartermaster and Honorary Captain on account of being the only man in the Battalion who doesnt like rum. Muggins is a small person with big feet. The Colonel is a lawyer slim and spry: the doctor is sleek and well cushioned in the right place.)
C.O.: Now whom do you regard Muggins as the funniest man in the batt.
Muggins: Well sir, its there was our last C.O. - Colonel Bush. He used to make funny remarks when the big shells were bursting all round our dugout. His wittiest remark was "Where did that one go to Erbert?"
M.O.: Where have I heard that before?
Muggins: In your favourite boozer peut-étre.
C.O.: Have a drink Doc.
M.O.: Thanks.
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C.O.: Have another drink Doc?
M.O.: Thanks.
C.O.: Now look Muggins. Im plumping for the Padre as the funniest.
M.O.: What the Padre!
Muggins: A holy man!
M.O.: You cant pick holes.
Muggins: In a holy man.
C.O.: Go on, then
Muggins: There was your predecessor Doc the slowest, sleepiest quack that ever was. He used to open his eye once a day like a crocodile and take everything in. You ought to have heard him read the funeral service commencing "Give him
a
number
nine sergeant."
M.O.: Ha Ha Ha.
C.O.: Talking about the Padre.
Muggins: Then there was the A.M.C. Sergeant Pillinger, by name. If any digger dared to smile on sick parade he used to say "This is not a thircus, its a thick parade." A bit too thick, I thought. Last I heard of him he was on week-end leave to Jerusalem.
M.O.: Ha Ha Ha.
C.O.: Have a drink Doc?
M.O.: Thanks.
Muggins: Talking about ..
M.O.: Have a drink, Colonel
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C.O.: Thanks.
Muggins: Then there was
(Enter orderly room Sergeant Judkins. He is a slick youth with a hop and twitter like a co*cksparrow.)
Judkins: (breathlessly waving a message form) What do you think, Sir? Just come through
C.O.: I never think Judkins and Id sooner have a hard boiled egg. Now Judkins, I put it to you. Who is the funniest man in the Batt?
Judkins: I back old Pete. Remember Bellicourt stunt. His remark to 4 or 5 Fritzes
Muggins: 14 or 15 wasnt it?
Judkins: As I was saying his remark to 40 or 50 Fritzes, who threw themselves on his mercy, is a classic "Dont get the wind up, dearies" he gurgled. "Its only poor old Pete. He wouldnt hurt a lil fly."
M.O.: Haw Haw Haw.
C.O.: Have a drink for poor old Pete.
M.O.: Thanks.
C.O.: Pour the sergeant out a tot Muggins.
Muggins: (Hesitating) Full issue, Sir?
C.O.: No. Double issue. (Judkins smiles, drinks and retires)
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Muggins: Did you hear about the runner in Paris. Paid 50 francs to see a naked
M.O.: What? Did he?
Muggins: No, not what you think at all Doc. It was a naked light.
C.O.: You wont let me say a word about the Padre. Where is he tonight by the way? He is one of the most original characters I know.
Muggins: He certainly has a funny face.
MO: And a funny name. Is it Jaggs or Daggs.
Muggins: Jaggs, Joshua, B.A.
MO: Curate at Pyrmont wasnt he?
C.O.: Yes, they tell me he used to clobber up as a wharfie so as to learn the lingo and the habits of his flock. He enlisted, left Sydney as a private and served over here some years as a cook. Then he decided to be a padre and got the job alright.
MO: He still blackens his face occasionally.
Muggins: And hands out T.N.T.
C.O: Yes, he reckons its his job to blast the Boche.
Muggins: Put the lid on the Boche!
C.O.: Last Sunday he said, "Better a man with smallpox than cold feet."
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M.O.: The mans a humourist.
Muggins: Hes all Punch.
CO: Well he can put a bullet in the right place.
Muggins: Good old Jaggs.
C.O.: The Sunday before last he said he was going to Hell for the special purpose of making it hot for the Huns.
Muggins: Going? As a stoker or as fuel?
M.O.: Phew!
C.O.: Now isnt he the durndest, funniest?
M.O.: Aw
Muggins: Well
M.O.: Ill back old Pete.
Muggins: Ive put a wad on Pillinger.
C.O.: Give me the Pard.
M.O.: Fifty francs on Pete.
Muggins: A hundred on Pill.
CO: Two hundred on the Pard.
(enter Judkins worried looking)
Judkins: This message, Sir
C.O.: Judkins. Have you thought of another funny story.
Judkins: What about Captain Brassrick, the rum king. In the line it was "Is that the rum runner. Have you
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brought the rum, runner? Wheres the run rummer? Put it there runner, just here rummer, and so on." What he couldnt drink, he slept on and what he couldnt sleep on he drank. Did you hear about the time somebody got the rum jar, emptied it and filled it with dirty water
C.O.: Judkins! You may retire. Such things never happen in the Army.
(Judkins retires looking thirsty.)
Muggins: Does he accuse the men of stealing the Captains rum?
C.O.: Does he accuse the men of stealing the Captains rum?
C.O.: Poor, poor Brassrick!
M.O. Did he drink the dirty?
Muggins: Did he go sick?
C.O.: Have a drink, Doc?
M.O.: Thanks.
(Adjutant bustles in)
Adjutant: Judkins tells me, Sir, you havent read this message yet. Its astounding. I dont know what to think
C.O.: (reading message)
Please send escort for Private Jaggs detained Abbeville. Charged with insulting words to
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Military police.
Muggins: Well Im damned
or rather Jaggs is.
M.O. Jolly old Jaggs.
Muggins: Jaggs is jugged.
M.O.: Ha Ha Ha!
C.O.: This beats everything. The padre has disguised himself as a digger and had a night out.
Adjutant: Most strawdinery.
C.O.: Now isnt he the funniest?
Muggins: Well
M.O.: Perhaps
C.O.: Have a drink, Adj?
Adjutant: Certainmong Sir. But about this matter of Jaggs.
C.O.: Well. I win. Pay up Muggins. Pay up Doc.
H.D. Allen
[Page 330]
(Miss Barrett)
"Struth," Bill wat er these blanky things. Dunno Im sure, looks something like a ose pipe one of them observing instruments. Hello Joe watcher got there
Still keeping his eye on the foremost man who was leading them towards the line & pondering all the while, what on earth the meaning of it all was he suddenly recognised one of his old pals from out of the Battalion who had recently been transferred to a new unit. Hello Joe watcher got there eh! 28 lbs. base plate, 46, barrel & 36 the blooming legs, and they calls us, trench mortars. Seems to me though, were a blinking labor corps, cause weve
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got shovels & carts & drag ropes for when we get stuck in the mud & cliners what yer got tabbies with you too. No, cliner-meters you blanky fool.
The conversation here came to a stop as all hands ducked to avoid the usual showers of blessing. After quietness once again resumed its normal condition, Bill was suddenly seized with a brain wave & betook himself away to let his mates know the result of his wonderful foresight.
What dontcher know what them things is, why there the gas meters that put the gas over to Fritz.
This seemed to cause conversation amongst the rest of his hearers & there was a sudden
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rush for gas helmets & the rest of the day was spent in trying them on & testing them for leakages. A stunt was billed to take place early next morning to try out the advantages & disads. of this new piece of trench warfare. Right on zero hour the artillery opened up & with them a battery of eight guns comprised of 2 Mortars.
Who said theres a blooming war one, Bill eh: Look at that one in the air! Cant yer follow it, Struth, there goes a blinking pair of trousers. Gee, anybody in it?
Cant tell yer yet, wait & see how fast they come down. Two lads are right from a two-up ring near by & the crown & anchor fiend not to be done out of his
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say mentioned a buckshee five bob for the first three of a kind.
However, all good things come to an end sooner or later for Fritz who had evidently been taken by surprise though it was not fair that we should have all the say, so decided to make matters more even by sending over some of the latest fruits in season, pineapples. The supply however, was limited & once again hostilities were suspended for an indefinite period.
Wats yer opinion of them, Bill eh.
Theyll do me sonno, what do you say.
Ill tell yer when the pants come down. The general topic of conversation drifted from how far 40 francs would go, to the possibilities & impossibilities of the trench mortars.
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The Commissioning
[Transcribers note: Original writing has been followed throughout. Examples only of editorial changes are included.]
The practice of granting commissions in the field led to many amusing incidents. [This paragraph was crossed out by an editor.]
Frequently the lucky (?) one was either a private or a "lance-jack" before the official notification of his appointment as "second loot" or "one pip artist" came along.
Should his unit happen to be in the line at this time, it was some time before all hands became aware that Private Jack Jones "was now entitled to sign foot rubbing certificates" and ration slates as J. Jones Sec. Lieut. A/C No. Platoon.
In such cases, also, the budding Birdwood would have no such equipment as a Sam Browne, Cap, Fox puttees & dress tunic - that is unless he had been extraordinarily optimistic and far seeing, and his pay book particularly healthy.
One 14th Brigade officer laments to this day the unfortunate circ*mstances that caused him a days hard pick & shovel work when really his only test of physical endurance should have been the burden the of one brand new star on each shoulder.
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On the Somme it was in that glorious 1916-17 winter. When the ground wasnt feet of mud, it was frozen so hard that it scorned the attack of "mad micks and banjos" picks and shovels in correct English.
A trench for buried cables was needed and the job was urgent.
A working party, including Private D-, proceeded to the spot and in the early morning and got busy as Australian diggers always did when they knew the job "dinkum". While they werent digging they were dodging Fritzs hate.
The party returned to the Huts where the battalion was "resting" (the army translation of that word is the most elastic thing conceivable) late that evening, with blistered hands, and an even more blistered opinion of Fritz.
The Colonel sent for Private D-. [Editor: He was commissioned!] soon after their return and informed him that notification had been received of his appointment as 2nd Lieut.
Congratulations, D- said the Colonel, "the word only came through just after you had
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left with the working party this morning."
A few days later the Lieutenant with a star on each shoulder as the only indication of his exalted rank proceeded to Ordnance to equip himself as befitted his position. En route he was halted by a Tommy traffic control who questioned his bona fides. Fortunately he was able to produce his pay book showing his appointment, thus avoiding arrest.
The Tommy was apologetic. Saluting, he remarked "Sorry Sir but you dont look like an officer you know."
He admits he didnt. But many of the best were none too dapper at times. What 5th Div. digger has not seen General "Pompey" Elliott on his regular visits to the line attired in full the regalia of a full private, even the rifle slung over the shoulder?
H.E. Slater
55th Bn.
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A little remark overheard on a route march in France.
We were training for the Polygon Wood stunt at Bayenhem-les-Seninghem near Devres. [possibly Desvres] The country in the locality is very hilly, and with a few exceptions the roads are mostly sunken.
We were proceeding wearily along one of these sunken roads when I heard! "Why do these Froggies build all the roads lower than the ground"? His mates answer was emphatic: "Garn they wasnt built this way its the Aussies always promenading over em that forced "em down"!
H.E. Slater
55th Bn.
[Page 338]
[Transcribers note: pp.338-340 is an incomplete, anonymous cameo of Lieut-Col P.W. Woods who commanded the 55th Battalion.]
Lieut-Col. P.W. Woods D.S.O. (Bar) & M.C. is one of the remarkable men of the A.I.F. Few have gained more rapid promotion and surely none earned advancement more than the C.O. of the 55th Battalion.
Personality, tact and ability were the foundations of his success.
He enlisted in Sydney in 18.8.1914 & proceeded overseas with the 3rd Battalion.
On Gallipoli his work was such that he was soon promoted to Commissioned rank on 19th May 1915. After the evacuation of the Peninsula he returned to Egypt with the 3rd Bn. as lieutenant.
In March 1916 the 5th Division was formed and a number of officers and men were sent from the 3rd to form the nucleus of the 55th Battalion still wearing the chocolate & green of which they were so proud, but perpendicularly instead of horizontally.
On 12th/3/1916 Woods was appointed Captain, and Adjutant to Lt. Col. D.M. McConaghy C.M.G. who commanded the new unit. He remained the Colonels right hand man until January 1917 when he was promoted Major, and awarded the M.C. in appreciation of his splendid services.
He had been adjutant through the
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Fromelles attack, and that awful tour in the Somme Trenches in the latter part of 1916.
Colonel McConaghy became ill and was sent to England, Major Woods taking command of the unit temporarily.
Several C.O.s were sent from other to take command but none remained more than a few days and Major Woods conducted the Battalions operations against Doignies in April 1917. The complete success of the attack was due largely to his excellent organisation & tactics.
In June 1917 Major Woods was promoted. In August 1917 while the Battalion was at Lynde training for the Ypres offensive Major Woods was made Temp. Lieut. Col. commanding the 55th.
In August 1917, while at Lynde, the unit was at its zenith. It was "up to strength" in both officers and men and the Colonel had an opportunity of applying his own ideas of organisation.
The battalion had a field day at Lynde, which will never be forgotten by anyone present. Maj. General Hobbs was visibly surprised. Every part of the battalions organisation was represented on the ground and the efficiency of
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all ranks clearly demonstrated.
General Hobbs then became keenly interested in Colonel Woods and his battalion and frequently held them up as an example to other units.
Colonel Woods distinguished himself at Polygon Wood on 26 September 1917 and afterwards. His orders for the attack were perfect in every detail, and his judgment as well as his luck, beyond question. Where some units suffered heavily whilst moving in and out of that awful salient, the 55th had scarcely a casualty.
He was awarded the D.S.O. shortly afterwards.
After commanding the unit at Wyschaete he led them to Villers Brettoneux to help in the defence of that all-important position. As ever he justified the confidence that all held in him, and the battalion had another successful tour in the trenches.
The raid at Morlancourt on 4th July 1918 was planned and successfully carried out by Col. Woods, and he subsequently led his battalion in the big offensive of August 8th.
The success of the attack on Peronne
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Notes by Lieut. F.H. Allmond
A coy.
54 Btn. A.I.F.
Lt. Lawrence
Canonbury Grove
Dulwich Hill]
I have very little data for working on. Except for dates I have to trust to memory but the detail given can be accepted as correct especially when in reference to my own company.
I joined the 54th early in Feb. 1917 at Montauban (Somme) and was alotted to A Coy in which I served until my return to Australia in Jan 1918.
Enough has been heard of the Somme mud. I have read many reports, none of which were exaggerated. We frequently had to wade through saps with mud & water to the waist, sometimes stumbling over telephone wires much to the chagrin of the stumbler & the linesman sent to repair.
Just before my first trip into the front line & while in support we were issued with thigh gumboots, 18.8.17. These boots were sent up and dumped in a convenient place & were of all sizes, ordered specially so many 10s, so many 9s & so on according to requirements. As soon as they were dumped there was a rush on them
[Page 342]
the first on the scene being the best served, some had difficulty in being fitted, I could not get a pair large enough. We had a remarkably small man in A Coy. Pte Harold, he could not find a pair small enough.
We fitted him out in a pair several sizes too large using more than the usual ankle straps to tie on. Incredibly this was Harolds first trip in too. I wont forget the journey up over the mud, the men heavily laden with rifle, ammunition, rations & water, sliding & slipping into shell holes. We frequently had to halt whilst some poor unfortunate was hauled out of the mud, & had some difficulty in preventing the men from dumping portions of their load.
We had not gone far when poor Harold stuck & in hauling him out he lost his boots, but gallantly continued his way to the front line, where after spending the night in the intense cold & mud he had to be evacuated with a poisoned foot. Harold, although only a small man was very voluble, his expressions at not being fitted with boots & whilst stuck in the mud are not quite fit for publication.
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On the day following our occupancy of the front line, Lieut. Tuck was killed. Tuck in order to escape the mud in the trench visited his posts by journeying over the top & unfortunately was shot by a sniper. A good soldier & comrade being thus lost on his first trip.
Much good detail should be obtained from about March 12th 1917. Btn. holding Sunray & Fire trenches in the vicinity of the great dugouts. Millenson & Millers Daughter. See Capt. Morris, Vine Hall. My data too scanty. Lewis gunners deserve great praise. Bapaume taken by 8th Bde. advance to Louverval. 56th Btn. did a fine piece of work in taking Louverval.
[In margin]
further enquiries.
On the 28th March Btn moved forward from Beugnie [Beugnies], A Coy holding a portion of a sunken Rd opposite Pronville. On our right front our posts were very exposed & subjected to heavy periodical enemy gun fire. On the 31st March these posts were subjected to an extremely heavy, well directed salvo, the occupants having to temporarily leave their posts leaving one of their number severely wounded behind. The Hun saw them hurriedly leaving, a [and] gave the post a heavy bombardment, in the midst of which Lieut. Deacon with a man whom I think was Cpt. Duffy very plucky ran forward and carried Pte Hazleton, the wounded
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man to a place of safety, it was a wonderfully plucky action, and a wonder to me that they were not killed. It was an action which deserved recognition & for which Lieut. Deacon was mentioned in dispatches.
On the same day Pte. J.R. Wright very pluckily volunteered to go back to B Coy Head Quarters to obtain stretcher bearers to convey Hazleton to the dressing station as his condition was serious, to do so he has to go over country devoid of cover in full view of the enemy. He reached headquarters but unfortunately on his way back with the stretcher bearers he was killed by shell fire & the party had to abandon their task until night fall, several of the party were wounded.
Hazleton was afterwards removed, he lost a leg as a result of his wound and although he had to remain unattended for some hours before removal his bearing was most stoical and deserving of great praise.
The two company runners Williams & Scottie deserve special praise for their pluck in frequently carrying messages between company head quarters & front line in broad day light under full view of the enemy & frequently under heavy gun & machine gun fire.
On the 2nd April we moved forward from Morchies to take over from the 56th Btn at Louverval.
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As the march to Louverval was a long one and the weather bitterly cold, orders were received to give the men an issue of rum before leaving. The rum was given to section commanders under the supervision of an officer. Amongst the section commanders in No. 4 Platoon were two Cpls. (Duffy & ONeill) these two must have exaggerated the strength of their section, and drank the surplus liquer themselves, this resulted in argument, of which I will mention later.
Our movements to & from the front line were usually without much incident and undeserving of mention, but this journey I shall not forget in a hurry. Everything went O.K. until we reached a point where it was deemed necessary to break the company up into small sections, for two reasons, firstly safety, secondly the line we were to take over was an outpost line & consequently not linked up. Each small party had a guide from the Btn. We were relieving & was to be taken direct to the post they were to relieve. I was detailed to take charge of our party, part of which I sent on in advance under the care of a guide, carrying boxes of grenades.
I then moved forward with my own guide. We had to go over a large tract of open country, the guide
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had evidently been making use of a Boch dugout, (the German dugouts were usually, very much alive) for at every four yards he would stop and scratch himself in a manner very much resembling a monkey. We had not got very far when we encountered the party detailed to carry the grenades, their guide had deserted them, they were lost and felt greatly relieved on our approach. I tacked them on to my party, and continued the journey, with so much grumbling as to whose turn it was to carry the boxes of grenades, four in all, that I took the lot two under each arm and carried them a short distance. This put the men in better humour, they would not allow me to carry them, and we went our way in peace.
The journey was a long one for men hampered as we were with rations, ammunition etc. After a while we encountered a small wood of large timber, the trees of which had been felled in such a way as to cause a barricade, shells of small calibre were falling in and round this wood very freely, by this I judged we must be near our objective. After picking our way laboriously over the heavy fallen timbers for some time I realized, our guide had lost his way, although he would not admit it. However, I insisted on
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his moving forward alone to make sure of his whereabouts whilst I gave the men, who were by this time very fatigued a rest. The guide was away some time, lost, I was afraid, as I set out to reconnoitre the near edge of the wood myself, leaving the men in charge of the two Cpls. before mentioned. I found the post we were to relieve and on going back to my men found the two Cpls. in heated argument, shouting very loudly, each inviting the other to fight. This took place within a very short distance of the Boch line, I afterwards found out. It was a mercy we were not fired on, they must have heard the noise, perhaps they were amused. I had scarcely quietened the two Cpls. when I heard our guide, roaring at the top of his voice, "54th Btn. relief, where are you". My men got their rifles ready in case of incident, I rushed forward and succeeded in finding & quietening our now frightened guide, and promptly sent him to rejoin his unit. I hope he found it, and we took over our posts without further incident.
The Boch sent over a tremendous lot of metal during our stay, but lacked judgement, his shelling going over our heads into a wrecked sugar factory immediately in rear to our great relief.
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After our stay at Louverval we moved back to Ligny Thiloy [Ligny Thilloy] on the outskirts of Bapaume arriving on the 9th April, and whilst there, very early one morning the alarm was sounded, and Officers at the double, we hurried to headquarters. Our Col. Midgley of whom I cannot speak too highly, he was a good soldier and a good leader, told us to be ready to move within two hours. Nothing was prepared, the men asleep all over the place amongst the ruins. But we were ready for moving on the parade ground fully rationed, limbers & everything complete. A very smart piece of work and for which our L.M. Hon. Lieut Bennet & Transport Officer Lieut. Bates cannot receive too much credit. We marched into Bapaume but received word that the crisis was past so marched back, the men in rollicking good humour. I never heard one man grumble during the whole proceedings. A truly great thing after their very heavy period of work in the line, they were greatly in need of a rest, and new equipment. This much needed yet had been long promised to the Brigade, we moved back to Becourt, near Albert
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to fairly comfortable quarters huts presumable to have it. We hurriedly organized games, concerts, &c., & generally spent an enjoyable time. We had not been at Becourt very long when we heard the sound of continuous heavy firing at no great distance, we conjectured Bullecourt, & felt that our rest was to be short lived. Our suspicions were strengthened a few days later at a concert when we were addressed by Gen. Hobbs and confirmed on April 22nd, when Gen. Birdwood addressed us on Church Pde. and on May 7th we left Becourt after a rattling good time, all ranks feeling very much better for the relaxation and moved towards Bullecourt.
Bullecourt will always stand prominent in my memory. We lost a large number of our tried and trusty comrades. We went in a strong Btn. & came out a skeleton. On the 9th May we reached Noreiul and took over the support line a sunken road on the right of Noreiul and on the 13th May we moved up to take over the front line from the 53 Btn., every available man gong up including buglers & batmen. Our journey up was without adventure, we took up our
[Page 350] [See image for drawing of positions on 15-5-19 of the 54 Btn. In the accompanying text, the date is given as 15-5-17 not 15-5-19.]
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positions, and all went well until the 15th. I shall never forget that day. Very early in the morning the enemies heavy bombardment commenced and about the same time we received a telephone message from Btn. H.Q. giving a list of promotions. Major Leckie then Capt. was notified that he had his majority, I my second star. Major Leckie put up his crown & passed his star on to me & we congratulated each other, that was the last message through from H.Q., for a few minutes afterwards our communications were cut by the heavy firing. We were isolated, then our casualties commenced. In a short while our dugouts were over full with wounded men, the stretcher bearers were kept busy attending to the wounded. It was impossible to take them out owing to the heavy firing. We lost heavily in dead too. At about 7 a.m. the Germans commenced the attack frontal and through a sap running in the junction of where C & D Coys met. What a relief, the enemy bombardment lifted from off our front line. We fired out distress signal rocket for artillery assistance, our Artillery Barrage was wonderful, the earth in front of us tossed like a sea, no Germans got through on our front, one or two got in over to our left, but the 3rd London Regiment who occupied that
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[In margin]
Bullecourt
sector promptly dispatched them. All our available strength was on the parapet doing great work with the rifle. Our artillery barrage could not touch in front of the extreme right of C & D Coys and the Hun poured in there. C Coys casualties were extremely heavy. There were not sufficient men to stem the tide. A Stokes Mortar gun was put on to deal with the position of the front under Lieut Steber and did wonderful work, eventually saving the situation. Capt. Morris seeing that the position was serious, asked me to send any of my available men round to help C Coy & obtain reinforcements from the 3rd London if possible. I gathered all my available men, gave them instructions and sent them round under Sergt. Richards and Cpl. Joyce. These men did wonderful work. I saw the Col. commanding the 3rd Londons in the front line, & hurriedly explained the position. He very kindly lent me some 20 men, & whilst collecting them I came across some Stokes Mortar ammunition which we carried round to our Stokes gun just as their ammunition was running out. The man working the gun was working like a Trojan without even his shirt on. I do not know his name, but his rapid & and accurate fire undoubtedly saved the
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situation, cutting off the oncoming Germans giving great assistance to our men in that sector. On my arrival back from the 3rd Londons I was informed that Major Leckie & Capt Morris had been wounded & had left the line. Lieut Deacon was seriously wounded and taken to the dugout, so I assumed command of A Coy. The situation by this time was well in hand, Lieut McArthur in command of line and within another hour not a living bosch was to be seen on our front. Our artillery ceased & we had a calm and an opportunity of attending to our wounded. The stricken bearers especially Cpl. Buckley, & Pte. T. Morgan and Pte. Smith doing splendid work in taking the wounded back to the dressing station under the most trying & difficult conditions.
The whole place resembled a veritable shambles, as night fell we had to undertake the very sad duty of removing our dead comrades. They were many. This task proved a greater strain than the action, still it had to be done, so with heavy heart we carried their bodies a short distance to the rear & and buried them. Before going further I must mention our two Runners, Williams & Scottie. When the action commenced as our communications were cut, they were sent back to B.H.Q. with a written message. They tried to get
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through the very heavy fire but Scottie was killed and Williams very badly wounded. Still Williams held on to his message and although he had to be carried out eventually he delivered his message. A Btn. runner has a most dangerous job & they are all deserving of very great praise for the heroic way they carried out their duties not only in this action but in all our operations. Too much praise cannot be given to our noble Dr. Leadman, his work was simply wonderful. Shelling did not deter him from doing his duty. The Btn. generally has much to thank this brave man, for always where he was wanted and always cheerful. Col. Midgley too deserves praise for his splendid leadership & total disregard for danger. The 14th Bde Machine gun Coy. did splendid work in this action, the officer in charge, although blown out of his position several times stuck to his post and did great work.
The 3rd London Regiment did splendid work under their brave Colonel who throughout the whole action remained in the front line.
After a second journey into Bullecourt we went back to Bapaume & enjoyed a well earned rest, staying in turn at Beulencourt, Warloy & Herressart where we
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recuperated. On the 29th June medals for the Somme fighting were presented by Gen. Birdwood, the Premier of N.S.W Mr Holman being present. On July 12th great Corp. Sports were held at Henencourt, the King opening them, and on the 31st of July we moved North to Flanders, being billeted at Reniscure, [Renescure] where we were kept waiting for the great turning movement from the Coast, and as this did not eventuate, on Sept 17th we moved forward towards Ypres, halting at Steenvoorde, Reninghelst & Chateau Segard en route during which move I acted, as on the Somme, as advance and billeting officer, very strenuous work I found out. I had to ride a bicycle, a method of travelling of which I had taken a strong objection to.
On Sept 22nd 1917 we reached Zellebeck [Zillebeke], occupying in front of which & on the right of the famous Hooge Crater on the Menin Rd. a small trench in the midst of Artillery positions, Zouave Trench.
Before leaving Renescure, or Eblingham [possibly Ebblinghem] we were all rather startled at a very large shell falling in the vicinity, pieces of it were picked up, and the opinion was unanimous that it was fired from a gun & not dropped from an aeroplane. Evidently Fritz must have
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been trying one of his long range guns, for the shell must have travelled a very long distance. It left a large crater where it burst.
On the evening before we moved forward from Reninghelst, a number of reinforcements arrived some of them were quite new men.
We had been issued with stunt maps and were given the hint, that in the great attack our objective would be Pollegon [Polygon] Wood. It was recognised that our task was a heavy one, and naturally expected heavy casualties. We had gone through rigorous training for this offensive, and had heard much about a new gas the Hun was using, Mustard gas to give it its common name. It was especially dreaded as it could not be smelt, & one could become gassed by sitting in a shell hole 24 hrs after a shell containing this gas had burst. & we were not altogether sure as to the efficacy of our gas helmets to withstand this gas, good as they were, however they offered protection for the face, but the gas attacked the limbs and body, finding its way through the clothing. I always felt sorry for the new men joining up on the eve of a stunt, so many go under the first time in. If you have the luck to see a few stunts through you feel at least that you have had a run for your money. There is something so sad when a man goes under the first time in.
We were camped in tents at Reninghelst and when the new men came along we
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found it necessary to erect new ones. The hour was getting late so I went along to superintend the erection and give a hand.
It so happened that in the next tent to the first one we erected were some men from my own platoon. They had been drinking largely of the good vin blanc & I overheard them discussing the events of the next few days and were betting as to who would be the first over the top. One man said, "Well there is one thing, we have a good leader, Old Dad is a D- fine officer, he knows what he is doing!" I felt as proud on hearing the remark as though I had received a decoration, it is worth more than honors to know that you have the full confidence of your men. I felt proud of them & I can safely say that on no occasion was I let down either on fatigue work or in the line. They deserve all the credit, just a little by way of example and nothing could stop them. I have heard it said that the Australians were ill-disciplined but I have no hesitation in saying that properly administered, with tact, their discipline was as high as any other soldier in the field.
Now to get back to Zouave Trench. On the day following our occupation Fritz sent over a most terrific bombardment on the Artillery positions all round us like hail & within inches of the guns, yet strange to say we did not lose a single man, and I do not think a single gun was
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hit. Yet right on the outskirts of the barrage men from other units were killed. Our C.C. Capt. D.A. McNab with the utmost sang froid sat on the parados of the Trench watching the shells burst, like a child amused until a large shell burst just in rear dangerously close which caused him to seek better refuge in the Trench. Just before the attack we were informed that A Coy was not participating but would serve as a carrying company and would assist the engineers in making roads following the attack. We were disappointed. It is nearly always safer following a barrage, especially such barrages as were given at Ypres than to work behind it, unless of course you got too close. One man said of the barrage, it was so good that whilst waiting for it to lift, he was able to lean up against it & light a cigarette!
When it became known that we were to operate in rear with the engineers, we moved a short distance further back to safer quarters just in rear of the Zellebeck lake with the 14th Field Coy. Engineers. Part of the Company were told off to work with the Engineers, the remainder were handed over to me as a carrying party.
The staff work in this attack was brilliant nothing was missed, the Engineers & their party followed up the attack closely, marking out
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with sign posts the roads, marking them, using duck boards where necessary, and giving the designation of the various units making it almost impossible to become lost. There (their) work was very hazardous & arduous, their casualties heavy, they deserved great praise.
So did the men in charge of the light batteries, they overcame almost super difficulties, one wheel of their gun carriage being frequently immersed in mud, the other one in air, still they used their guns.
My first duty with my carrying party was to make a dump of ammunition just in front of Clapham Junction, the work was done under heavy fire. We had the satisfaction of completing the dump, but no sooner was it made than Fritz blew it all sky high. A whole days hard and dangerous labour gone in one moment. We then carried a load of water & rations to the front line (Battle of Polligon Wood) & after getting back to Clapham Junction my men were played out, so I left them resting in a dugout with instructions to leave at daybreak for Company Hd. Qrs. & I went on to Btn. Hd. Qrs. to report. After I had reported and feeling very tired, I received an inspiration to take a short cut back to the company lines. And instead of following the well defined Menin Rd., I struck off across a vacant waste ground in what I thought was the right direction. It was pitch dark and I
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and I had not gone more than a hundred yards when I fell into a shell hole full of water and in extricating myself, I must have lost my sense of direction, for after wandering about some time amongst a maze of light railway lines, I eventually found myself at a field company of Engineers headquarters in the vicinity of Ypres. They were making early tea, and as no one seemed able to direct me, everyone was strange to the locality, I had tea with them and waited patiently until daybreak when I found my bearings & found the company, my men had arrived before me. It was a case of the longest way round is the sweetest way home, and the first and only time I lost myself in France or Belgium.
For the remainder of our time in the line we were engaged carrying ammunition from Hooge Crater to the Battle of Polligon Wood. Making several journies up per night, on our way back from the Battle we carried wounded to the various dressing stations. The ammunition carrying was extremely heavy work, each man carried a box of 1000 rounds per journey. The distance must have been three miles, over a track which Fritz delighted in shelling.
We endeavoured to use the Youkon packs, a web contrivance to assist men in carrying heavy loads, but the men did not care to use the packs, preferring to carry on the shoulders. Towards the end, Bde. acted on a suggestion I made and sent up pack mules, doing as much on one journey as we could do in two nights. My party were extremely fortunate as we had no casualties. The party working
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with the Engineers under Lieuts. Wood & Ferns were much less fortunate, their casualties being very heavy. On the 1st Oct we moved back to Belgium Chateau & from there on to Reninghelst. We only stayed the one night at Belgium Chateau & whilst there we were bombed by Fritz aircraft. Luckily we had no casualties except that Lieut. Ferns was struck in the back by a pellet from one of our archies which had been firing at the enemys aircraft. He had to be evacuated, rough luck on a man who had been through such a strenuous time & under such heavy fire to meet with an accident when we thought we were in safe quarters.
It reminds me of an incident I heard second hand, perhaps Major Leckie can furnish particulars. Whilst on the Somme, a request was sent from Btn. Hd. Qrs. for the company to furnish a man for the Corp Military Police. Major Leckie sent a man who had rendered excellent service & who had not previously had a rest from line work saying he was sending him on a safe job & wished him luck. The man duly arrived at his headquarters well behind the line, but unfortunately whilst in a supposedly safe dug out, a shell landed in the entrance, killing him. Truly a case of destiny, the mans time had come. I have known several cases where men have felt before going into action that they would not come out again. They did not. This may not be so in every case, but in those cases which came under my own observation it was true. I should have mentioned before leaving my Polligon Wood narrative, that too much praise cannot be given to Capt. N. Lovatt our Adj. and Dr Leadman. Capt. Lovatt regardless of the
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heavy fire visited every company continuously, showing a great example. Dr Leadmans station was in a very exposed position, and subjected to heavy fire continuously, regardless of the heavy firing he worked incessantly, the Drs thought was the boys, he seemed to forget self entirely.
After a short rest in the back area the Btn moved forward again, this time I did not take any part, I was left behind with the nucleus. It was really intended that I should go into the line, but only a certain number of officers were alotted per company, and Lieut. Fullerton, who had recently gained his commission & had missed Bullecourt was very anxious to take my place, he volunteered & was so insistent that his wish was granted. I watched the Btn. move off, and Fullerton as he marched past, said, Goodbye Dad, if anything happens to me let Miss so & so know, giving me her address. I up[b]raided him for giving way to such thoughts. Poor chap he was killed, his presentment was correct. I received a great shock on hearing of his death, & felt sorry that I allowed him to take my place, for I felt had I gone in I would have got through alright. Lieut. J. Bowman was killed in this action, a very fine manly fellow he had studied for the church, but gave his studies up to answer the call, he was a fine worker & a great moral acquisition to the Btn.
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My next and last journey into the line was at Wyschaete (Kemmel) Nov. 13th to Dec 11th 1919. We did 16 days holding the line & 16 days in supports. I was not with the company during their period in the line, I had charge of the gum boot store at Leg Copse, near B.H.Q.
Whilst we were in the line on the Ypres front the Btn was debited with a large number of boots, which had gone astray somehow. Probably through casualties. I had to try & pull this debit down. As we were supplying the whole Btn. with boots, I had to keep a very watchful eye, each Btn would try and get home on me for a few. I did not manage to decrease the debit, but I kept my a/c more than square, to do this I had to salvage a number of pairs from the front line. It is a most difficult thing to keep a stores a/c square on active service, mine was comparatively an easy task. I did not envy the Q.M. his position, it was always the most difficult thing to make men understand that there was a profit & loss a/c in connection with each Btns equipment & stores, and the keener they were to look after their equipment & hand them back to the Q.M. when finished with and also salvage anything that came their way the better the Btns profit a/c and the better they were fed & clothed. The carelessness on the part of the men was to a large extent responsible for the very great difficulty in getting for them
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supplies of new clothing boots etc. which was causing grave discontent at this time and to a large extent influenced many men to vote against conscription, the soldiers vote on the referendum was taken about this time.
During the period we were in supports we were kept busy working by day & night making strong posts, wiring etc. I felt very sorry for a large number of the men, on the long weary trudges to the forward area from Kemmel, the carrying of heavy loads, in very scanty clothing & shocking boots. Try as we would we could not get them replenished, the soles of many of the boots were worn right through, the men must have suffered greatly as the weather was very cold and the ground wet & muddy.
When we did get boots they were mostly second hand, men generally have a great objection to the wearing of second hand clothing. It has an ill effect on the moral generally. With all the talk about the great scarcity of materials in Germany, Fritz, whenever we saw him was always well dressed & well booted, especially when used as storm troops, they were then fitted out brand new.
On the 13th Dec 1917, I was sent to Frenck [possibly Frencq] near Etaples to make arrangements for the Billeting of the Btn., there and at Devris [possibly Desvres] where the men detrained and were put up for the night prior
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to the march to Frenck. Whilst at Frenck I went on leave, and did not return again to France. I was very run down as a result of my billeting excursions per push bike, frequently becoming wet through with perspiration with the unusual method (for me) of transit & having no change of clothing at the end of my long journey & no chance to dry my clothes. I developed severe kidney trouble & afterwards a poisoned foot as a result of which I was boarded and sent home with papers marked P.V.
It must be remembered that this is a company narrative. I have heard of many brave deeds & good work done by Officers & men of other companies but am not in a position to do them justice. I suggest other Company officers should be approached.
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Copied.
No. 2631
Corporal Arthur C. Hall V.C.
Enlisted 3rd April 1916, at Dubbo was soon moved to Bathurst Camp. In July went to No. 11 Non. Com. School & passed as Sergeant which rank was held until going into the firing line.
Sailed Oct. 7th on board Ceramic with 6th reinforcements 54th Battalion. Arrived in England 21st Nov. & wrote from France on 23rd Dec.
Before 11th February 1917, he had spent his first 24 hours in the front line trenches joining up with B Company of 54th Battalion.
In a letter he says "On 17th March we were called out suddenly & our Company was the first to enter Beaulencourt."
Shortly afterwards (on 29th March) he was wounded near Morchies & was admitted to No. 12 General Hospital at Rouen. He joined the Battalion again near Albert shortly after.
Again (in letter) he says "We went by train to Bapaume, from there we marched through
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Vaulx to Nouriel & after 5 days in reserves went to the Frontline. Two Platoons of us stayed in a sunken road about a mile from the Frontline. Almost as soon as we got in Fritz started a 16 hours bombardment. It was terrible to say the least of it, & I am surprised any of us came out alive. We were not in the Front Line, but I think we got more big shells, than the rest of the Battalion.
After the Bombardment, Fritz came over. They were all picked troops our fellows had been knocked about with the Bombardment & Fritz got in, on one spot, but he suffered worse than we did before he retired. We had to reinforce that day, & remained in for three days. It was fairly quiet after that. This was just on the right of Bullecourt. "
For some time he served with the Lewis Gun Section, & after that got his second stripe. Later the Battalion moved further North & in Sept. acted for a few days as a
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[In the margin]
Lt. Bowran who sailed as Sgt. Major with the 6th Reinforcements was killed in the Polygon Wood stunt.
sort of special reserve to the 1st & 2nd Divisions of Australians, who made an advance at Glencourse Wood.
Again he says "Our Brigade was to go over the top on the morning of 26th Sept. At 10 to six by my watch our barrage opened, & you should have heard it! I never thought there were so many guns in the World let alone in that sector. Our Chaps took all objectives including Polygon Wood. We got rather a rough handling where we were on account of the pillboxes as Fritz had the range of them to a T."
They spent Christmas & New Year at Franq twenty kilos from Boulogne. In January 1918 he got a slight attack of trench fever & was sent Boulogne & afterwards to a V.A. Hospital in Devon England, where he was splendidly looked after, & seemed to enjoy himself. He left England on May 21st to rejoin his Battalion. While away he wrote
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"The Battalion has had a pretty rough time the last three months, in fact I believe there are very few of the old lads still going.
My Platoon officer has died of wounds he was one of the gamest men I ever saw, his name was Green. I am not sure what part he came from. The new Colonel who I told you fixed up the Christmas Dinner for us, has also died of Wounds, he came to us from the 55th Battalion & was very much liked."
He took part with his Battalion in various battles on the Somme including the taking of Peronne on 1st Sept. where according to a notification in the S.M. Herald "Corporal A.C. Hall of 54th Battalion single handed rushed a machine gun post captured 2 guns, shot four of the enemy, & captured nine others for which he has been awarded the Victoria Cross.
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He was with his Battalion following up the German retreat, & was at the advance from Nauroy.
The latest letters since the Armistice was signed, tell us he is in the march to the Rhine.
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Extract
Ive just done 21 days of holding the line & I am pleased to say that its the quietest time Ive ever put in on the line. At the moment both sides are sparring for an opening without doubt very soon theres going to be a terrific battle here. Probably it will be the finish of the war for its going to be colossal. I hope that I will be spared thro it all. I have every confidence that such will be the case.
Have you ever realised what holding the line is? It means that youre living dug in at a few hundred yards (more or less) from the Boche & and its your job to make that line as impregnable as you can, so that you can resist him all the more when he comes over & and at the same time youve got to do it so as to keep it dark from him as far as possible. His planes, also ours are reconnoitring all day long & the artillery is ceaseless night and day. Many, many times you are forced to take shelter or cover in some other place, but when his guns shift on to another position you hop back & build up again.
He puts the wind up you to some order. Your section may be quiet this minute & all of a sudden you hear the scream of a 5.9 or 9.2 flying thro the air & then the thud & all the muck & shrapnel, duckboards, & bits of iron & anything it hits comes hurtling thro the air. Wherever one lobs you observe where it landed & watch the next. If its almost in the same place & your position is a fair distance away, stop where you are. If it comes near you go for your life. I believe Jack Donaldson is a champion runner, well Ill back myself against him any time when the shells are bursting. Of course everyone shifts. Thats your job. Its useless to stand & be blown to a million pieces. All armies do the same. Get out of danger if its possible, otherwise take what cover you can when theyre bursting. Your inside pounds against your ribs & your heart beats like a steam engine & when you duck for cover, you do so laterally not to the rear. At night time I was all night out in No Mans Land with a small party on what is termed outpost duty. We had a machine gun with us. & I was No. 2 on it, but it was silent & only in case of attack to be used. We wired our position so that wed have a chance of catching him getting thro the wires & probably get a good haul of Fritzes. Then your turn comes to go out on patrol fighting patrols they were as well as reconnoitring. Job, to approach & investigate a certain part of his line & report thereon, how it is held, defences etc. & if they open on you well put up a fight. Looks simple on paper doesnt it, but just walk thro your own wires thro No Mans Land in & out of shell holes. Take cover when he opens up on you. Perhaps
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lay down in the ice which is freezing & listen for half an hour more. Its pitch dark you get lost. Does anyone know where we are? Not a one, but one has a hazy idea its this or that way. Off you go again. Dont say anything if you fall in a shell hole full of water or if you get caught in his or our wire & tear your hands & your clothes are ripped to bits & youre frozen thro or else he might hear you and stalk you & hes some shot too stay still at all costs when he puts up a flare or else the party will be seen by a movement. Ah! The moon comes up. The officer whispers, this way & off you start again, eventually after 2 or 3 hours you get back & if the Sgt Major or someone else has not drunk all the rum you get a mouthful or so to warm you. You just back in time for Listening Post. Off you go, only 2 of you & lay in a shell hole for one hour. Job, To listen & warn the others if you hear or see any enemy. You are armed with a couple of bombs & if he advances you chuck him these then duck back & get in if you can.
Gee! Ive gone about six pages on the bloomin war & have only just started so its impossible to write you any more about it. So Ill have to cut out a few experiences of carrying parties, Soup kitchens, cable parties, supports jobs, wiring, sniping, Reserves, antiaircraft, guards, Dig out pals. How we live. How we had to buzz off toute suite. His bombardments & ours & by jove our artillery is hot. Fritzs marvellous flares, the colors etc. of them. Peculiarities. Bombed from the air. (by 4? Planes) thats some story. How we marched out mud to the eyebrows, fa*gged completely. How we bogged into some stew when we got there. How the good old Aussie Comforts Fund supplies us with cocoa en route & the padre issuing fa*gs & biscuits sent from the same fund. How we boil up a drink of cocoa in the line with our tommy cooker (also Comforts funds). How we often get new sox from same fund. How we enjoy Aussy tobacco thats sent. How we obliged a chap with a Jack knife to cut open the parcel of cake that he just got over from Blighty or Aussy. How we get off on our own & read the letter weve got from our people. How we look downhearted if we dont get one. How we trudge thro the mud with our load & paniers & how we do Engineers fatigue. How we sling off at the other Battalions the good old 8th, - Tiveys Chocs as we are called & undoubtedly hes a bonzer Brigadier & looks after us like a father. How some of your pals call over to your camp when you are out & see you & you do the same. How you roar when you get a fatigue & you reckon its not your turn. How you beg borrow or steal a candle & fix it up
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on your tin hat which makes a good candle holder & write home. How you spend your pay of 20 francs on grub. How youre broke in a day or two & how if youre well back you go to a picture show or etc. which is an old barn with the shell holes stuffed up with sandbags & dont you enjoy it. The fun you have, sewing up holes & scraping mud off from your knees down & then upwards. How you are ordered not to use such & such wood. You nick out in the night & shake a bag of coal & co*ke & enough wood to last till tomorrow. How you sling off at the chaps in any other Branch of the Army to the Infantry for you know, as well as anyone else that no one has to do such work as the Infantry & when the A.S.C. tell you their experiences how you sneer & ask "what do you know about the War anyhow". How you jibe at the poor old Tommies, when you both pass the same officer & they salute & you take no notice of them even though you know you run a risk of not saluting, but of course we are Aussies leave any dirty work to the Aussies theyll do it for you & and more & hold what theyve taken. Its a wonderful thing to be an Aussie. Some I wouldnt swap with a commission in the Imperial Army & dont our lads talk too!! I can do my share, I suppose.
[Page 374]
Fifth Australian Division
Trench Mortar Brigade
The fifth Australian Trench Mortar Brigade was formed immediately after the arrival of the Division in France and at the inception comprised three medium trench mortar batteries and one heavy battery.
Officers and men were selected from the Artillery & Infantry and sent to the 2nd Army School of Instruction where a course of seven days was taken, then, equipped with all the knowledge that enthusiasm & ordinary intelligence could acquire in so short a period the nucleus of the subsequently styled X, Y, and Z.5.A. Medium Trench Mortar Batteries proceeded to the Fleurbaix sector, there to prepare for the divisional attack on the 19th July 1916.
For this attack the experienced services of three English & two Canadian T.M. Batteries were obtained and, working in co-operation with these, the then T.M. recruits learnt more in a few hours action than many months of school instruction would possibly have imparted.
During the few weeks after the attack when the Division was recovering from the calamitous shock it had sustained the French Mortars were busily engaged in emplacing positions at every conceivable point of vantage along the front and, by daily engaging the excellent enemy targets abounding in the sector, gradually became objects of hatred, the infantry resenting the "receipt" and retaliation drawing propensities of the mortars.
In those days the lot of T.M. man was not easy and the welcome afforded him non-existent, and so, until the 57th Battalion raid on the 19th August 1916. On this occasion the wire cutting was entrusted to the mortars and the time allowed from Zero to Zero plus five minutes, four mortars being allotted to the task. The lying-in position of the raiders was some thirty yards from the wire and the five minutes of bursting "plum puddings" in such close proximity gave the survivors of the raid an experience not easily forgotten. For the infantry to "lie in" so close to 2" bombs was unprecedented and the precedent then established was not followed in any subsequent operations.
[Page 375]
However so effectively was the task of the mortars carried out that a perfect passage was made in the wire and the battery attached to the 15th Brigade never afterwards had occasion to complain of its treatment.
Bomb carrying fatigues were granted extensively with the result that the three batteries daily "straffed" the enemy trenches and the disruptive effects of the "puddings" became a joy to our infantry who suffered with equanimity the daily increasing angry retaliation of the Bosche.
The operations of the T.Ms at Fleurbaix embracing, as they did, so many raids proved conclusively the unequalled disruptive and wire-cutting advantages of the 2"T.M. and the Brigade claims a record for the amount of ammunition expended during the period.
During the period one medium and the 9.45 Heavy Battery became detached to Franks Force and operated on the Armentieres sector participating in many raids and otherwise doing excellent work.
At this time Newton had completed his 6" French Mortar and the Brigade had the honour of being the first to use it in the line; though the mortar was a wonderful improvement on the 2" heavy greater range, and quicker rate of fire and greater accuracy advantages it was not until twelve months had elapsed that the Newtons became generally available.
On proceeding to the Somme in November, 1916 the conditions existing there caused the impression that T.Ms were absolutely impracticable from the point of ammunition supply and the impossibility of emplacing mortars in the mud, so the personnel were attached to artillery batteries and rendered useful assistance. However continued representations by the D.T.H.O. and his officers succeeded at last in permission being obtained to take the mortars into action in January 1917. Ammunition supply was maintained & mortars emplaced in face of almost incredible difficulties. Many and varied tasks were performed including actions in No Mans Land with the silencer attachment, the co-operation with the 13th Battalion in the capture of the Stormy Trench and culminating in the advance with the infantry through Bapaume on the 17th March, 1917.
[Page 376]
The advance through Bapaume revealed the insurmountable obstacles in the way of rapid advance by T.M.s without adequate transport facilities, so until the Division went north again all hands were employed in emplacing and manning positions in the support & reserve lines for defensive purposes and controlling forward ammunition dumps etc.
Prior to the big offensive at Ypres on the 31st July, 1917 the batteries were attached to the 15th (Scottish) 16th and 55th Divisions, cutting wire and taking part in the preliminary bombardments. When the advance started valuable assistance was given to the artillery in clearing a way and helping them to get forward.
In this advance the 9.45" Heavy was man-handled forward with the greatest difficulty and going into action demolished a "pill-box" which was holding up the advance & had resisted the efforts of other natures of ordnance.
As the fighting proceeded in the salient conditions gradually became almost impossible, rivalling the Somme. In spite of this the mortars intermittently got opportunities for action, mainly with the 6" Newtons which then became available & were principally employed at Polygon Wood & Passchendaele. Ammunition supply became increasingly difficult and was only maintained at heavy cost so that the transfer of the Division to the comparative quiet of the Messines sector was regarded with feelings of grateful relief.
The varied nature of the country around Messines lent greatly contrasting aspects to trench mortar warfare, in some places excellent positions being available while in others, positions in the open were necessary and the novel experience of working the mortar in full view of the enemy and the target was afforded the mortarites, admittedly an experience not greatly relished.
In February 1918, after the Division had enjoyed its long overdue spell, the Brigade was reorganized, the 9.45" Battery becoming a part of the Australian Corps Battery and the medium batteries into the 9th and 10th Australian Medium Trench Mortar Batteries.
The Division proceeded to Messines again and enemy
[Page 377]
"pill-boxes", machine-gun and trench-mortar positions became objects of much attention.
On this sector, in anticipation of the expected enemy attack, a scheme of trench mortar defence was drawn up including, in addition to the 6" Newtons, the now obsolete 2" mortars. Positions, well supplied with ammunition, were emplaced in accordance with the scheme, but much to the regret of the batteries the Division was relieved just prior to the regret of the batteries the Division was relieved just prior to the enemy launching his attack at this point. However one of these 2" mortars in the hands of personnel of the Corps Heavy T.M. Battery held up the enemy attack for some considerable time.
Down to the Somme again in April, the two batteries formed part of the impregnable wall of Amiens. Actions were daily carried out against various enemy targets and were greatly effective in reducing enemy machine-gun and trench mortar fire.
During the period the brigade emplaced and manned 15 pounder guns in the outpost line in anticipation of enemy tank attacks, which never eventuated, a fact not much regretted after the preliminary enthusiasm, owing to the more or less suicidal nature of the task.
For these gun pits were sunk, 24 feet long by 8 feet wide & from 2 to 8 feet deep and in their attempts to conceal these pits the mortarites proved themselves super camouflagists, their efforts merely resulting in making them more noticeable, however the unconscious audacity of the scheme apparently tricked the Bosche, who probably regarded them as bluff & consequently didnt bother to give them any excessive attention.
From the 8th August until the end of October the trench mortars assisted in the advance, G.S. waggons being allotted for transport and a more or less roving commission their task.
The silencing of enemy machine guns in front of Harbonnieres was the first action but the attack in front of Proyart gave them
[Page 378]
what was perhaps, the best opportunity of the war; with ideal positions and practically unlimited ammunition supply, hundreds of bombs were rained daily on outposts, machine gun and trench mortar positions with the result that when the attack was launched most of the machine gun and trench mortar opposition had been disposed of. At Peronne, though hampered by the difficulties in the way of ammunition supply, the mortars proved themselves invaluable & unequalled in engaging outposts.
Bullecourt with the Americans next afforded some opportunities for action and, working in co-operation with our infantry, excellent service was rendered in assisting to prevent the initial failure of the Americans from turning into disaster.
At Busigny the Brigade used for the first time the mobile beds, a spade attachment whereby the bed would be placed on the ground and the action of firing the first bomb would firmly emplace the bed, these proved highly adaptable to the conditions of warfare then obtaining and were used with very gratifying results against enemy machine guns.
At the end of October the Brigade was withdrawn from the line and proceeded to Longeau in the vicinity of Amiens being the place of the signing of the Armistice on the 11th November, 1918.
In looking back of over the many years of the war and in reviewing the friendships formed one recalls with greatest pleasure the associations of the 5th Divisional Medium Trench Mortar Brigade, a unit of few parades and less regimental routine but a unit wherein the strongest friendship amongst all ranks conduced to the finest discipline in the line; and finally a unit wherein every casualty was regretted as a deep personal loss by all ranks. The survivors are scattered all over Australia but the friendships of war will endure in peace, firmly cemented by the memory of mutual friends who made the supreme sacrifice.
Ernest Ferguson
The 5th Aust MTM's were the first & only unit to use the 6" Newton mortars in close co-operation with infantry in attack & advancing, transporting the mortar & bombs in pill-boxes drawn by a pair of mules. This operation was carried out whilst supporting the 30th American Divisions in their attack East of Busigny
[Page 379]
on October 20th/18. The Infantry were held up by machine guns entrenched & Capt. A.G. Macalister M.C. D.C.M. engaged them with a section of 6" Newton mortars & not only neutralized their fire but silenced it & the infantry duly appreciated their efforts.
[Page 380]
"Some of the Fifth Division's Glory"
Committee:
President General, H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel W.E.H. Cass, C.M.G.
Colonel M. Purser, D.S.O.
Major F. Hewitt, M.C.
Mr. S. Ure Smith
Mr. J.G. Lockley
Mr. W. Charlton
Major A.J. Simpson
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
"Cassell-Eden"
73 Raglan Street,
Mosman, Sydney, Y1118
October 18th
Dear Captain Ferguson,
I write you in connection with the Fifth Division Book. You may have heard something of its compilation, but in any case the enclosed circular will give you some idea of the scheme. As you will see, a representative committee has been formed and the various commanders and men are being approached for contributions to the book.
Now, it has been suggested by the committee that I write you for a short history of the 15th Light Trench Mortar Battery. This should occupy about 2,000 words. If also you can help me with any photographs relative to the 15th L.T.M.B. I shall be very grateful and they will be returned to you on the publication of the book. Will you let me know about the history at once as I must have it in hand early in December?
We are also asking the Division for contributions on the following subjects:
(1) The most interesting character in the unit from general to private.
(2) The best yarn about the unit.
(3) The most interesting, unofficial story connected with the Division or any one in it.
(4) The bravest thing you ever personally knew of a man in the Division.
You may know of some one who is able to help us here - and if you can get any one interested I shall be very grateful.
Let me thank you very sincerely for all you may undertake.
Yours sincerely,
Aileen A. Small
Compiler
Good war story or photographs.
J.B.
Write Jarvis, 53rd Battalion for Art Contribution - get address from Sun office.
6" wide x 10" deep.
Hindenburg Line or Peronne.
[Page 381]
An amazing incident occurred at Tel el Kebir. Egyptian fruit sellers were rather frequently being robbed of fruit which caused them much annoyance and a lot of soldiers, both Tommies and Aussies boundless amusem*nt. One of the Aussies, a "very dark man" borrowed a rig out from an Egyptian fruit seller, also his basket of fruit, and stationed himself where the Gypo usually took his stand, and started the Gypo's usual mournful cry.
One digger, a noted thief, started his old game of pinching tomatoes from what he thought was a genuine Gypo and in spite of the Gypo's pleading, after taking some tomatoes, pushed the basket over. Judge his surprise when the supposed nigg*r threw off his Gypo rags and revealed an Aussie, at the same moment giving the thief such a trouncing as he had never had, he was never known to go near the Gypo fruit seller again.
Pte. W.J. Bradford.
[Page 382]
For Nurse
Walking along the Strand one day, I was accosted by a lady who asked me some questions about Australia, one of the questions asked was the Australian Bush. I told her that our bush was almost without limit. I told her a person could ride for many days and not reach the end. This she would not believe. I asked if there were anything I could say or do to convince her I was speaking the truth. She replied saying, Yes! if you will say its Fair Dinkum I will believe you. I said why believe me if I said Fair Dinkum. Oh! she said I have heard that is your Australian Oath, which Australians dare not break. I said Fair Dinkum, perhaps the lady still thinks Fair Dinkum is an oath that must not be broken.
Pte. W.J. Bradford.
[Page 383]
President General, H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel H. Duigan
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope, Private Hornsey
November 24th
Dear Major Farquhar,
I have yet to thank you for your kind letter about the book and to forward you the receipt for your copy.
And this letter is really to ask if you will write up the history of the 8th Field Company Engineers. The rest of the 8th Company Engineers tell me you are the man to do it. Now, will you, and will you wire me what your decision is. The article should cover about 1,000 words so there really is nothing formidable, is there? And don't you think it would be nice to do it, not only for the sake of the old Division, but for the sake of the men who loved you so well.
Now, if you are wanting any dates or particulars, you can obtain them from the Secretary for Defence, Melbourne, perhaps it would be as well to mention what they are for.
The enclosed slips will show you the style of contributions we are asking from the Division. Can you help me here - and do you know of others who could help me. I shall be so grateful for any help you extend.
I am also wanting the loan of good war photographs, maps and sketches.
And with many thanks for all you may do,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
Compiler
[Page 384]
President General, H.E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
Colonel H. Duigan
Treasurer: Colonel C.L.S. Macintosh, D.S.O.
Secretaries: Corporal T.H. Cope, Private Hornsey
November 24th
Dear Major Farquhar,
I have yet to thank you for your letter and to acknowledge your receipt for the subscription.
[Page 385]
Tanby
Emu Park Line
Queensland
August 8th 1919
Miss Aileen A.N. Small
Raglan Street
Mosman
Dear Miss Small
I am in receipt of your circular memo regarding the Fifth Division Memorial Book.
I regret owing to my absence from Sydney I was unable to attend the meeting of the 1st inst. but wish you every success in the undertaking.
The information you require will be forwarded later when I may be able to hunt up a few photographs and maps.
Enclosed please find cheque £1.1.0 for subscription.
Yours sincerely
W.G. Farquhar.
[Page 386]
"Some of the Fifth Division's Glory"
Committee:
Colonel W.E.H. Cass, C.M.G.
Colonel M. Purser, D.S.O.
Major F. Hewitt, M.C.
Mr. W. Charlton
Mr. J.G. Lockley
Mr. S. Ure Smith
"Cassell-Eden"
73 Raglan Street,
Mosman, Sy7dney, Y1118
A Book to commemorate the Fifth Australian Division is now in a process of compilation. The volume, which is to bear the title "Some of the Fifth Division's Glory," will contain the records of some thousands of this gallant body of men, tributes to the great dead, and contributions from the living, histories of battles, homage by prominent artists, reproductions of war maps and scenes, group photos of officers and men, etc.
The big ideal is to make the book a little worthy of the Fifth's fine record. Fifth Division men already approached have generously promised their help. Will you, too, help forward the book's success by supplying the following details:
a. Your date of enlisting, number, rank, battalion.
b. Promotions and time of service.
c. A concise outline of your military career, including the names of the battles in which you participated.
d. The official wording of any decorations or mentions in despatches.
e. A short account of some war experiences or humorous incident.
f. The names of two men who served under you, and whose records you wish perpetuated.
g. Other interesting particulars relative to your education or civil life.
h. Please state whether other members of the family have served in the war.
If you have in your possession any clear photographs of any subject connected with the Division the Committee will be specially glad if you submit them with a view to reproduction. The greatest care will be taken of them and they will be returned on the book's publication.
You are specially requested to forward this information as soon as possible. Where some delay may arise in collection of these details, will you kindly forward the intimation that you wish to be associated with the book?
The entire undertaking is voluntary; any credit balance will go to some fund. There is no fee or charge for inserting, and no obligation to subscribe, but as the edition will be limited, you are advised to place your orders now.
The exact price cannot be given to purchasers yet. It is, nevertheless, necessary to give some assurance on the point; therefore the Committee guarantees that the price will not exceed one guinea, and as profit is not sought, every effort will be made to keep the price lower than that. The Committee, having confidence in their efforts to keep the price down, make this offer, that
Those forwarding their Subscriptions now will secure the Volume at a cost of Fifteen Shillings.
It has been suggested that whereas all may not be able to purchase, many may be willing to take extra copies for the wives and mothers of the men who fell, or for some suffering soldier-mate. Your consideration of this point is specially urged; the Committee is prepared to suggest those to whom such copies might be sent.
The compilation is going forward with the Federal Attorney-General's permission.
Yours sincerely,
Aileen A.N. Small
[Page 387]
a. August 1914 - No. 2 Sapper 3rd Field Coy A.E.
b. Corpl. 1/2/15 Sgt. 15/5/15 2nd Lieut. 26/7/15 Capt. 14/3/16 Major 21/3/17.
Time on Service, April 25th 1915 to Dec. 10th 1918.
c. On canal Defences with 3rd F. Coy in Jan. & Feb. 1915 during Turkish attack at Serapeum,
Landed with 1st Div. Gallipoli April 25th 1915.
July 1915 proceeded to Egypt to join 2nd Div Engrs.
Returned Gallipoli August 1915 leaving at Evacuation Dec. 16th 1915.
Proceeded to France with unit in June 1916 remaining throughout with 8th F. Coy till Dec. 1918.
Left England for Australia in Jan. 1919 as O,C. Troops Transport "Berrima"
Appointment terminated with A.I.F. Apr. 28th 1919.
d. D.S.O. C de G. Despatches twice.
g. Civil life Mining Engineer.
h. Private N.R. Farquhar 18th Bn. Killed Gallipoli
Lt. N.G. Farquhar M.C. Kings Royal rifles
Driver J.R. Farquhar 5th Aus. Artillery Bde.
Trooper F.J. Farquhar A.A. Vet. Corps.
Driver N.C. Farquhar 5th Aus. Artillery Bde.
Sister A. Farquhar No. 2. Aus. Gen Hospital
[Page 388]
8 Field Company Aust. Engrs.
(From August 1915 until April 10th 1917)
Originally the 5th. Fld. Coy. this Company was formed in Egypt and joined the 2nd Division on Gallipoli at the end of August 1915. The Co. has the distinction of being the only body in the 5th Division which fought as a complete unit on the Peninsular. After 3 months of mining and general trench work orders were received for the evacuation and we immediately started making strong points and charging mines in case of an attack before the troops were evacuated.
The Co. embarked on Decr. 16th leaving behind a small party on each post including 2/Lts. Caddy and Reid, Sgts. Evans and Conran., Cpls. Penny, Johnston and Thompson to complete the work and fire the mines if necessary. The only mines fired, however, were the 3 on Russels Top, which were exploded at 3.25 A.M. on Dec. 20th after the last party had left their post.
The explosions "put the wind up" the Turks who blazed away with every available rifle and machine gun for 5 minutes afterwards. The officers with the Co. at the evacuation were Major Sturdee, Lt. Farquhar, 2/Lts. Reid, Caddy, Jessep and Woodger (attached from R.E..) On arrival in Egypt we found that another 5th Fld. Co. had been formed in Australia and our number was to be changed to the 8th. Indignation was expressed by all ranks and we thought it unfair that the reputation won by men who at that time regarded themselves as veterans should fall on the shoulders of a new Company who had not heard a shot fired.
In March we joined the 5th Division as the 8th Fld. Co. the officers then being Major Sturdee, Capt. Farquhar, Lts. Farr, Caddy, Jessep, T intosch, and Woodyer.
On March 23rd. Nos. 1 & 2 Sections with Capt. Farquhar, Lieuts. Caddy and Jessep moved out into the desert to the East of Ferry Post the remainder of the Co. taking part later in the much discussed march from Tel-el-Kabir to Moascar.
Two months were spent out in the desert digging trenches and erecting wire, only to see them covered with sand a few days afterwards.
Lieut. Holmes joined the Co. in May and on the 28th we moved to Moascar embarking from Alexandria on June the 17th. On arrival at Marseilles we entrained for the north arriving at a camp near Morbecque on June 28th.
Here we were introduced to tin hats and gas helmets and instructed in gas drill.
On July 8th we relieved the 1st Div. Engineers in the line near Fleurbaix and 2 days later moved to Gris Pot.
Soon after preparations were
[Page 389]
8th F.C.E. [Field Company Engineers]
Here were introduced to tin hats and gas helmets, and instructed in gas drill.
On July 8th we relieved the 1st Div Engrs in the line near Fleurbaix and two days later moved to Gris Pot.
Soon after preparations were started for the Fromelles attack and in that ghastly show on the night of July 19th/20th our work consisted of a consolidation of the captured trenches, digging C.T.s from our old line to the captured line & keeping our communications clear. Lieut Farr with No. 4 Section and a company from 30th Bn. did exceptionally fine work digging under heavy fire at C.T. across "No Mans Land".
Lieut. Tinbosch, Cpl. Morrison & many other of our N.C.O.s & Sappers were killed on this night. Cpl. Chisolm was awarded the M.M. for specially good work. On July 23rd we moved to billets
[Page 390]
8th F.C.E.
in a farm at Les Cornea where Lieut Nangle joined the Company and afterwards proved himself to beone of the best officers in the 5th Div. Engrs. We remained here till Sept 22nd when the Company moved to Armentieres, No. 2 Section being left behind to finish a deep dug out, the entrance to which was down two flights of stairs in a vertical shaft lined with timber & concrete. This job was successfully completed in spite of the fact that many said it was impossible to get a dry shaft through the water bearing sand without the use of steel tubbing.
On Oct 14th the Coy moved to Strazeele & entrained at Bailleul on the 17th en route for the Somme. In the wet weather we arrived at our allotted camp in a wilderness of mud near Bazentin with no shelter whatsoever & had to make the best of it by crawling into holes & covering ourselves with waterproof sheets.
[Page 391]
8th F.C.E.
The following day we got some tents & started preparations for an attack in which our part was to be the digging of strong points. The show did not take place & we commenced draining and repairing the so called roads which were up to the horses bellies in mud, live shells proving an excellent substitute for road metal.
Maj. Sturdee left the Company on Nov 11th to act as C.R.E. Road Circuit & Capt. Farquhar assumed command. On Nov 21st we took over from the Guards Division and occupied a deep dugout in what was once the village of Longueval.
It was here we spent our Merry !!! Xmas & although the dugout was very wet and stuffy it was decidedly more healthy than on the surface with the 5.9" dropping around. Snow fell on Jan. 17th & the change was welcomed by all, for although cold it was decidedly better getting about on the frozen ground than in the mud and slush.
[Page 392]
8th F.C.E.
The Company moved to Waterlot Farm on 18th & fixed up in a fairly comfortable camp.
Our work now consisted of Trench work; wiring, duckwalks, & deep dugouts until Mch. 13th when No. 2 & 3 Sections with Capt. Farquhar Lts. Caddy & Nangle moved to Eaucourt Abbaiye & with the 8th Bde. followed the retreating Hun through Bapaume.
The town hall was destroyed by a delayed action mine on Mch. 25th & after that the engineers were in great demand to examine cellars, any sign of hollowness or recent work being viewed with grave suspicion by the occupiers.
The Company was at this time engaged in road work, water supply & the construction of reserve lines. Majo Capt. Farquhar was now promoted to Major & Lt. Caddy was transferred to the 15th Fld. Coy as second in command.
[Page 393]
8th F.C.E.
For 6 long weary months the Company had been on the Somme without a single days spell through one of the worse winters ever known in France & when we moved back to Mametz the rest was well earned.
On March 9th the Company
Here endeth history to Apl. 10th 1917.
[Page 394]
8th F.C.E.
Maj. VA.H. Sturdee commanded the Company from its formation in Aug. 1915 till Nov. 1916 when he was appointed C.R.E.
Originally with the 1st Div. Engrs. his wealth of Military knowledge and energy carried the Company through the hardships of Gallipoli, the trials of the desert, Fromelles & the early days of the Somme.
Maj. Farquhar took over the Coy. in Nov. 1916 & commanded it till the end of 1918.
Always of a retiring disposition
As an N.C.O. he landed with the 1st Div. on Aug. 25th 1915 and was continuously with his unit in the field till the end of 1918.
He obtained his commission when the original 5th (now 8th) Fld. Coy was formed and his excellent work on Quinns Post is well known in the 2nd Division.
Always of a retiring disposition he never advertised himself
[Page 395]
8th F.C.E.
and his hard conscientious [indecipherable] & many gallant deeds are well known to those with whom he was closely associated.
His awards of D.S.O. & Croix de Guerre inadequately express an appreciation of his unbroken record of truly active service in every battle from the Landing to Bellicourt.
[Page 396]
History of the 8th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
On July 24th 1915 a nucleus of officers and N.C.O.s under Lt. Col. Elliott R.E. left Gallipoli and returned to Egypt in order to raise, organise and equip the Divisional Engineers for the 2nd Australian Division which was then in training in Egypt.
The 5th Field Coy. A.E.(later renumbered the 8th) was raised by selecting, by application and personal interview, men from each of the battalions of the 5th Aus. Inf. Bde.
After a short period of training at Helliopolis the Coy. embarked from Alexandria for Gallipoli with the 2nd Aus Div. landing there in the latter part of August 1915. Major V.A.H. Sturdee R.A.E. was in command having with him as Officers Capt. R. Cutler, Lt. Howell, Farr and Paton and 2nd Lts. Farquhar, Small, Burnett and Woodyer (attached from R.E)
From August to December the Coy. was engaged on general trench work and mining.
During the period casualties through sickness and wounds were high and as practically no Engineer reinforcements were coming through, the Coy. at date of evacuation was low in strength. In October Capt. R.V. Cutler was awarded
[Page 397]
the M.C. for good work performed in mining operations on Russels Top.
In September 2nd. Lts Caddy and Reid joined the Coy.
When instructions for evacuation were received in December the Coy. was immediately switched on to the construction of Strong Points for the troops detailed to cover the evacuations and then, charging of mines already driven under the enemys lines. On the night of Dec. 16th the major portion of the Coy. under Lt. Farquhar left the peninsular, leaving Major Sturdee and a small party comprising Lts. Caddy and Reid, Sgts Evans and Cowan, Cpls. Penny, Johnston and Thompson till the final night of evacuation. At 3.30 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 20th the big mine on Russells Top was fired by Lt. Caddy after the last party had withdrawn from the front posts. No other mines on the 5th Bde. front were allowed to be fired that night.
On the Coys return to Egypt it was found that the Engineers for the 2nd Aus. Div. had arrived from Australia, so it was found necessary to renumber the Coy. the 8th. This from the Coys. point of view was regrettable though of course
[Page 398]
unavoidable.
The 8th F. Coy. after being refitted and brought up to strength joined the 5th Aus. Div at Tel El Kebir in March 1916. The Coy. has the distinction of being the only body of the 5th Aus. Div. which fought as a complete unit on the Peninsular.
The officers of the Coy. on joining the 5th Div. were Major V.A.H. Sturdee in command, Capt. W.G. Farquhar, Lts. Farr, Caddy, Reid Jessop, Tenbosh and Woodyer.
In March 1916 the Coy. moved to the outer Canal Defences with the 8th Aus. Inf. Bde where about two months were spent in the construction of trenches, wire entanglements, hutting and stabling. In May Lt. Holmes joined this Coy and on June 17th the unit embarked at Alexandria for France.
On arrival at Marseilles the dismounted portion of the Coy. entrained immediately for the north arriving at Morbecque on June 28th. The transport section after 3 days in Marseilles entrained for Abbeville where the balance of their wagons and animals were collected. The transport then moved north joining the balance of the Coy. in the Fleurbaix sector on July 9th.
On the night of July19th/20th the Coy. took part in the Battle of Fromelles, a diversion from the
[Page 399]
main British attack then in progress on the Somme. The work on that night consisted of the consolidation of captured trenches and provision of Communication Trenches. No. 4 Section of the Coy. under Lt. Farr together with a Coy. of the 30th Bn. did exceptionally good work in the digging of C.Ts. under heavy shell fire.
The Coy. casualties in this stunt were very heavy, Lt. Tenbosh being killed and about 60 N.C.Os. and sappers being killed, wounded and missing. Corp. Chisolm for his fine work and behaviour that night was awarded the M.M.
Lts. Nangle and Isaacs with a draft of reinforcements now joined the Coy. which from this date till the middle of September was occupied in front line repair work in the Fleurbaix sector.
It was in this sector that it was proved possible to construct deep shell proof dugouts for the troops in the forward area, by sinking through the water bearing sand bed a few feet below the surface. This work was taken in hand by Lt. Caddy and his section and in spite of strong opposition and predictions of failure, successfully completed.
In September the Coy. was transferred temporarily
[Page 400]
to the "Franks Force", then holding the Armentiers Sector. Major Sturdee was appointed C.R.E. to this force, Capt. Farquhar taking over the command of the Coy.
The work in this Sector comprised the construction of concrete dugouts and M.G. emplacements in support and front lines, the remodelling of front line fire bays and parapets, provision of the drainage for the winter months throughout this sector, screening of roads and the maintenance and upkeep of all communications across the River Lys. Owing to the pressure of work Lt. Hall from the Kent R.E. was temporarily attached to the Coy., also 3 officers and 100 other ranks from this Corps Cavalry and 2 officers and 80 O.R. from the 103rd Imperial Bde.
In October the Coy. moved back to Strazeele where Major Sturdee rejoined. From here the Coy. entrained for the Somme ultimately arriving at Longueval after route marching over appalling roads congested with mile upon mile of traffic.
On Nov. 11th 1916, Major Sturdee was appointed C.R.E. "A" Troops where he had a tremendous
[Page 401]
job ahead of him in bringing the so called roads in the Corps area into trafficable ways. In this work he was highly successful his great organising ability and driving force standing him in good stead. It was with great regret the 8th Coy. took leave of him as his wonderful energy and example had brought the Coy. to its high standard of efficiency. Capt. Farquhar took over the command.
From this date to Nov. 21st the Coy. was kept busy on road work in the Longueval area, the roads throughout the Somme battlefield at this time being in a frightful condition. On Nov. 21st the unit took over front line work from the 76th Coy. R.E. of the Guards Division. On till the middle of March the work consisted of trench work, wiring, construction of deep dugouts and duckwalks and the dozens of other jobs which usually fall upon the Field Coys.
The winter of 1916 on the Somme was a particularly severe one, the wet and cold causing a good deal of sickness amongst the men. The weather also told heavily on the mounted sections of the Coy as incessant work
[Page 402]
was necessary in order to keep the animals in a fit condition to face the heavy work the Coy. transport was called upon to do. In March Major Vincent took over the command of the Coy.
On March 13th half the Coy. with Capt. Farquhar and Lts. Caddy and Nangle moved to the Eaucourt Abbeye sector with the 8th Inf. Bde. and on March 17th following up the retreating enemy passed through Bapaume. The balance of the Coy. remained behind on road work, great difficulty being experienced in getting the Divisional transport over the wide stretch of shell torn country.
The principal work of the advance party comprised temporary repairs to roads where blown and blocked; water supply; the collecting and issuing of captured Engineers material and the searching for and removal of delayed action mines and traps.
On April 1st Major Vincent was transferred to C.R.E.'s staff, Major Farquhar taking over the command, Capt. Caddy was transferred to the 15th F. Coy. as second in command., Capt. Carr joining the 8th Coy. from the 4th Div.
[Page 403]
On the enemys retirement to the Hindenberg Line, the warfare again became stationary and this Coy after the roads in the Divisional area were satisfactory moved back to Mametz for a well earned rest after nearly six months incessant work in the front area.
After a week's rest the Coy. again moved up and took over front line work in the Lagnicourt Sector which the 8th Inf. Bde. was holding.
When relieved here it moved back with the Bde. into reserve and from the end of May till the latter end of June was engaged constructing the reserve line of defences covering Bapaume. Here Lt. Dobbs joined the Coy from the O.T.C.
Towards the end of June the 5th Division was sent back into G.H.Q. reserve, the 8th F. Coy. moving into comfortable billets in Corbie. The unit was then fairly low in strength as for months the wastage in men had been going on without adequate reinforcements.
For six weeks the Coy. remained at Corbie during which time it was thoroughly reorganised and refitted; new drafts of reinforcements were received and valuable training in bridging
[Page 404]
and field works carried out. Sports were gone in for largely and altogether the most enjoyable time in France was spent at this charming little town on the Somme.
At the beginning of August the Division moved north into the Bailleul area where the Coy was engaged on the construction of C.C. stations and ammunition sheds until Sept 15th 1917.
On Sept. 17th the unit moved with the Bde. group to Steenvorde [Steenvoorde] and the following day to the Canal area on the outskirts of Ypres. From this date on till the morning of Sept 26th the Coy was kept going at full pressure on preparatory work to the offensive on that morning. Road screens were erected forward from Ypres to Hell Fire Corner and the Bir Cross roads; stores brought forward and a dump formed on the Menin Road near Hooge through Chateau Wood. All this work was attended by severe losses as enemy shelling was continuous and heavy over the whole area. On the night of Sept. 24th the Coys. pontoon wagons, which were running road plants forward, were destroyed by shell fire near
[Page 405]
the Hooge crater, all the drivers of the teams, under Mounted L/Cpl. Walker, being killed and wounded after working gallantly for some hours knowing the work was urgent. The Engineer dump at this spot was also subjected to heavy shelling and caught on fire. Cpl. Thomson in charge did wonderful work in confining the fire and saving many valuable stores essential for the coming operations. For his work Cpl. Thomson was awarded the D.C.M. but unfortunately this very gallant N.C.O. was killed a few days after.
On the night of the 25th by the strenuous efforts of Lt. Holmes and in spite of heavy and continuous fire the plank road was pushed through out beyond Chateau Wood in time for the opening battle. For his excellent work that night and the following day Lt. Holmes gained the M.C. Two days after this very able officer was severely wounded. Good work was also performed by Cpl. Duncanson M.S.M. and his party in assisting the field artillery to move forward over the quagmire of shell torn and waterlogged ground.
[Page 406]
From the 26th to 30th Sept. the Coy. was engaged in sinking wells in the captured area, bringing forward wiring material and assisting in the consolidation of the captured positions.
At this Battle of Polygon Wood the casualties were again heavy and on the 1st Oct. the Coy. moved back to the Outterdom area to rest and refit.
From here Capt. Carr was transferred to command the 4th Field Coy., Capt. Stradwick joining the 8th Coy as second in command. On the 8th Oct. this Coy. again moved forward to the front at Westhoek Ridge where it was engaged in similar work in the Paschendale stunt till relieved by the 15th F. Coy. on the night of the 20th. Casualties during this period were again heavy, Lt. Gillies, who had gained his commission in the field two days previous, being killed and many valuable N.C.Os. and sappers.
On the night of 20th Oct. the Coy. moved back to Ypres and till Nov. 6th was employed on various jobs such as stabling, roads etc. about the town area. Lts. Hopton and Paton with a draft of reinforcements joined the unit here.
[Page 407]
On the night of 27th Oct. Ypres was subjected to heavy shelling by long range H.V. guns. Unfortunately one shell penetrated one of the Coy. shelters killing 11 men and badly wounding 13 others further heavily reducing the Coy. strength.
On Nov. 6th the Coy. moved to the Reninghelst area remaining there till 10th. From here it moved to the Messines sector and took over the front area work from the 11th and 222nd F. Coy. R.E.
The Messines sector was found to be quiet though in a particularly bad state of defence. From now on to Dec. 17th the 8th Coy was kept hard at work constructing Strong Points, erecting wire, draining and generally bringing the Bde. area into something resembling a state of defence.
While here Lt. Dunn and a large draft of reinforcements joined but still the Coy. was very much below strength after its severe losses in the Ypres battles.
About a week before Christmas 1917 the 5th Div. moved back to the Boulogne area to rest and refit. The 8th Coy. moved by motor bus to the Devres area and found billets in the small village of Questreques. Here a most enjoyable Christmas was
[Page 408]
spent and till Jan 18th the Coy. had ample time to refit and carry out some training. New drafts were also received bringing the Coy. up to its proper strength.
On Jan. 18th the unit moved back by motor bus to the Messines sector where the 3rd F. Coy. was relieved and the old work on these defences were again carried on with till March 25th 1918. In this month the Germans had launched their great offensive in the south so when the Division was suddenly withdrawn from Messines little doubt existed as to its destination.
About this time Lt. Nangle was, unfortunately for the 8th transferred as adjutant to C.R.E. 5th Division. His loss to the Coy. was great as he had proved himself one of the most able and gallant engineer officers of the Division.
On 27th March the Coy. entrained at Godwaervelde [also spelt Godewaersvelde] arriving the following morning at Doullens. Here one got an idea of the seriousness of the position as things appeared to be in the utmost confusion. On detraining the Coy. moved to Vauchelles and from there on to Clairfaye on the 29th. On April 2nd on to Lealvillers with instructions to be ready to move
[Page 409]
from there at an hour's notice.
On the night of the 4th in torrents of rain the Coy. embussed with the 8th Inf. Bde. and proceeded to Dours arriving there at 5 a.m. the following morning. It immediately marched on to Blangy Tronville where for some days and nights work was rushed through on various bridges and approaches over the Somme River. By this time the 5th Division was established on the high ground east of Villers Brettoneux and extending north to the Somme.
For the next month the 8th Coy was employed on the construction of a reserve line of trenches in rear of Villers Brettoneux and Corbie. On completion of this the Coy. moved up relieving the 15th F. Coy and from then on to August was kept busy on trench work, wiring, deep dugouts and bridges.
During this period incessant attacks were maintained on the enemy by the Brigades in the line which always created more work for the Field Coys in the consolidation of the captured ground
Lt. Brain joined the Coy here and later on Lt. Browne.
[Page 410]
During these months the Coy. transport was called on for a great deal of heavy work as many tons of engineer stores were utilized in the construction of the new defences. Occasionally the Coy. suffered heavy casualties principally through gas shelling which was a favourite pastime of the enemy. Fortunately reinforcements came promptly allowing the Coy. to maintain its strength fairly well.
On August 1st the unit was moved back for two days rest and then forward again to the line covering Villers Brettoneux. On the morning of Aug. 8th the Aus. Corps attacked on its entire front. The 8th F. Coy. operating with the 8th Inf. Bde moved forward through the 15th Inf. Bde. One section of sappers moved with each battalion and early in the day had reached the Brigade objective a system of old trenches approximately 8 miles east of Villers Brettoneux.
Owing to the store tanks meeting with disaster the previous afternoon, engineer stores were brought forward by the Coy. pontoon wagons The Coys work comprised reports on and
[Page 411]
repairs to roads, road water supply, removal of land mines and any other work found necessary.
A party under Lt. Crampton did excellent work in removing land mines throughout the day, thus allowing transport to get forward quickly. Their work in this respect earned Lt. Crampton the M.C. and L/Cpl. Nicholls the M.M. Other awards on this day were the M.C. to Lts. Dunn and Isaacs, who did excellent work with their sections, and bar to M.C. and M. Medals to Lt. Burrows and Sappers Strahan and Palmer for their work in raising steam and bringing in the 11½ inch long range railway gun and locomotive captured by the 8th Bde. about 500 yards beyond the day's objective.
From now on until the Hindenberg line was reached (a distance of approximately 30 miles) the Aus. Divisions kept the enemy moving. Whilst the 5th Div. was moving the 8th Coy's. work consisted of reports, road repairs, water supply, bridging and the provision of shelter for Bde. H. Qrs. The enemy had been most thorough in the
[Page 412]
destruction of all wells and water points which entailed a great amount of work for the F. Coys. in providing water for the troops. The destruction of roads had in places also been thorough. Good work was carried out at Peronne by Cpl. Huddy and his party at this work, earning this N.C.O. the D.C.M.
After a short period of rest the 8th Coy again moved up and took part in the Bellecourt battle operating with the 8th Bde. and American troops.
In October the 5th Division moved back for a well earned rest to the Abbeville area, the 8th F. Coy settling down in billets at Bouillancourt, [possibly Billancourt] remaining there for over a month. Here the news of the armistice was received which was promptly celebrated with a Coy. dinner.
During this period recreational training and sports were carried out.
Towards the end of November the Coy moved up by train with the Division and by easy stages reached the Charleroi aera.
In December drafts of the older hands
[Page 413]
commenced returning to Australia and others gradually went off to the various shops and schools being run under the A.I.F. educational scheme.
On Dec. 10th Major Farquhar left the Coy. for return to Australia, Capt. Stradwick taking over the command. From him the command was taken in January by Lt. Holmes and in succession by Lts. Patton and Dunn.
In March 1919 the 8th F. Coy ceased to exist as a separate unit, the remaining few of the Coy. being amalgamated with the other two Coys. of the Division which likewise had been gradually falling away in strength.
The following Honours were awarded to various members of the 8th F. Coy. during its career D.S.O. 2 M.C. 6 D.C.M. 2 M.M. 8 M.S.M. 1 Foreign 3 Despatches 10.
W.G. Farquhar Major
Late O.C. 8th F. Coy. A.E.
Tanby Qld.
Feb. 1st 1920
[Page 414]
Villers Brettoneux
Somme
After being relieved front the positions around the town of V.B. the 54th Bn. took over the front line facing Vaire Wood extending from the about 400 y. N of the Cross Roads to the bottom of the forward slope of Hill 104.
On 24th Apl. after a very heavy bombardment which commenced at 3.30. am. the enemy attacked along the line extending from
[Page 415]
Vaire Wood to the South of V.B. Most of the attack was directed at the English troops on the right flank of the Bn. only a small force attacking the Bn. front & this party was easily disposed of by means of well directed Lewis Gun & rifle fire, none of the enemy reaching our wire. The attack on the right was pressed by heavier forces & before long the enemy had a good footing on Hill 104 & further south had captured V.B. Realising that
[Page 416]
enemy had gone ahead well on the right flank of the Bn. the Coy Commander of the right Coy immediately pushed out a defensive flank which enabled the Bn. to maintain its existing positions during the day & the following night when the 15th Bde in conjunction with the 4th Div. counter attacked and retook the Village & the lost trenches beyond it. Great praise is due to this Coy. Commander who maintained his front
[Page 417]
keeping all posts intact until the situation was again restored. Whilst the 15th Bde undoubtedly earned the praise of all for their part of in the counter attack, the H.Qs of the 54 Bn. were lothe to concede this owing to the lapse of some of the attacking troops who passed through our sector & took the opportunity to purloin H.Qrs rations perhaps having in mind the necessity of more than 24 hrs rations being needed for the work in hand.
[Page 418]
Another incident of note which took place on the night of 24th & 25th is worthy of note.
During the night a sentry on post on the extreme right noticed a man approaching the post, so he immediately challenged to which the man replied "Its alright digger" but this did not satisfy the sentry who repeated the challenge but with no effect so he fired bringing the man down. On investigation he proved to be an enemy runner who had
[Page 419]
lost direction whilst coming from Regl. H.Q. & had struck the right post of our line.
Apparently the respect with which the Germans held the Ausns. saved the 14th Bde & in particular the 54th Bn. some hard fighting during the 24th & 25th for beyond the first half hearted attempt on the morning of the 24th no further attack was made on our line although an excellent opportunity presented
[Page 420]
itself on the right flank owing to it being overlooked from Hill 104.
[Page 421]
[P. 421 is Miss Barratts typed version of the hand-written unsigned version transcribed on pp. 414-420.]
[Page 422]
54th Battalion
Chaplain Spencer E. Maxsted.
Chaplain Spencer E. Maxsted was born in Sydney in 1882. He graduated Th.L. with first class honours in 1903. In 1908 he was priested. He gained his B.A. and the Bromley prize in 1909 at the Trinity College University, Melbourne, his M.A. and B.D. (University of London) in 1911. In January 1914 he married. Chaplain Maxsted volunteered the first week after war was declared. Finally he entered camp as a stretcher bearer in September 1914. In December the same year he sailed from Melbourne with the 1st Reinforcements of the 1st Field Ambulance. In the morning of April 25th he landed on Gallipoli under Colonel Ryan, M.C. and helped in the operating theatres of the hospital ships till nurses arrived. Returning to Galllipoli he joined the 4th Field Ambulance and took part in the heavy fighting of August 6th, 1915.
It was in his dugout on the top of the Anzac Cliffs that the Chaplain one afternoon spread some homely delicacies before a few friends. Imbros upon which the little party gazed, was bathed in a flood of glorious sunset light - thoughts turned to home and the missing presences. "If we meet our loved ones again", said Chaplain Maxsted then, "It will be Paradise - if not it will still be Paradise."
He was promoted Chaplain after the evacuation. On the formation of the Fifth Division he was attached to the 14th Brigade. Writing from the desert he spoke of his experiences as private - it helped one sympathize with what men endured. And he was always there there beside them when the march was long and the conditions hard. It was a glowing example - a great spiritual influence. On the march to Ferrys Post when the Chaplain might have ridden he shouldered his pack and footed it beside his men; his allotted bottle of water he gave away.
It was before Fleurbaix Fromelles. In those hours many tried to dissuade him from his intention of going over the top. But need of him was great, he stepped forward to supply it - he was in No Mans Land with the first stretcher bearers.
An eye witness says - "We had to go about 200 yards and the firing was so hot we were obliged to lie down till our artillery fire lifted. Not so Captain Maxsted. He was getting about amongst the wounded lads, bandaging, carrying wounded and giving water to others. He must simply have led a charmed life. Someone said Captain Hansen was wounded and he went through a perfect hail of fire to him. If ever one man deserved anything it was Captain Maxsted. He simply did not know what fear was".
For five hours he worked. He not only did his priest work but the work of doctor, stretcher bearer, messenger and leader. Courage, coolness and cheerfulness glorified those moments and saved many lives. To a lad who had none he gave his steel helmet. There in the midst of his noble work death came swiftly to claim him while bandaging a wounded man.
His life was a mighty heritage to bequeath to the twin daughters he never saw. Yet he has come home - Home in the hearts of his fellow officers and men. And where the great men of the "Fighting 54th" are spoken of, there too will the name of Maxsted be reverenced as a man among men.
[Page 423]
"Some of the Fifth Divisions Glory"
COMMITTEE:
President: General H.E. Elliott,
Colonel W.H.Cass, Colonel Duigan.
Colonel N. Purzer, Mr. S. Ure Smith,
Major Hewitt, Mr. J.C. Lockley,
Major A.J. Simpson. Mr. W.R. Charlton.
Corporal Horsen. Treasurer: Colonel O.L.S. Macintosh
Secretary: Corporal T. Cope
73 Raglan Street, M
Mosman. November 3rd
Dear Lieutenant Wark,
I wrote your brother Colonel Wark sometime since about the Fifth Division Book. But I have heard nothing from him. Will you please remind him for me. If he is not undertaking the history or part history of the 32nd Battalion I must try and find some one who will. You see I must have all copy in hand early in December. The book involves tremendous work and I must know just where I stand in the matter. I hope with all my heart he does undertake it - it means so much to the books success in every way and he was so much loved by his men.
And this letter is really to ask if you will give me an account of the 54th Battalions part in Villers Brettoneux. I had Captain Vine-Hall and Major Stutchbury in during the lunch hour and they both suggested that I write you for that. I have a dugout at 26 Jamieson Street if you would care to call. I am always in between one and two but city 3240 will find me if you care to make an appointment. And if your mother could care to come in someday she is in town then I should be delighted.
Let me hear from you soon, wont you and also what the Colonel is going to do. By the way I want his photo for the book.
And with all kind wishes,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
[Page 424]
The Fifth Division
[Insignia graphic] To Our Brave Boys
Too bashful to submit their names for publication
The Fifth Division was formed in Egypt 1916, after the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsular. It was composed of reinforcements, with an even stiffening of men who had already seen service with famous Battalions on Gallipoli. On being formed the Division left for the Suez Canal, and that memorable march from Tel-El-Kebir across the desert will never be forgotten by the men concerned, such were the terrible privations suffered by some of the Brigades, particularly the 14th.
The Division was kept for some months doing duty on the Canal and outpost duty in the desert, leaving for France in June 1916 the men took over their portion of the Battle Front in July 1916. On the 19th July the Division stormed the German positions at "Fromelles", and notwithstanding the most appalling fire hitherto experienced this new division fully upheld the traditions established on Gallipoli. In Oct. 1916 the Division entered the Somme Area, and their trials in the mud and slush, under the heaviest of shell fire beggars description. Towards the end of Feb. 1917 we learned that the Germans were falling back.
Now followed the capture of Bapaume, Lagnicourt, Bullicourt etc. After Bullicourt the Fifth were withdrawn from the line and in Sept. 1917 was again in action carrying its objective at Polygon Wood and Passarndale [Passchendaele] Ridge suffering heavy losses but gaining other glory and laurels. In March 1918 at the outset of the German offensive the Division was rushed back to the Somme and helped in Saving Amiens, taking part in Villers Brettonneux and the subsequent battles winding up at Peronne, after which the Division was withdrawn at the end of Sept. 1918 having covered itself with Glory from Fromelles July 1916 to Peronne Sept. 1918.
"One of the Lads"
[To the right of the lower page is a sketch map of France and "Rene Brien"]
[Transcribed by Jean Hart, Judy Gimbert for the State Library of New South Wales]
