Concentration Camp Guard – The Harrower Collection

Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER.

December 22, 2023November 30, 2023 by David Harrower ACM

4th BATTALION - 45th BATTALION - 34th BATTALION AIF - Concentration Camp Guard.

Private: 7708 Kurst "Gustef" BLASSER. (Estonian. Russian Subject) - Private: 3490 Kust BLASSER. (East Lander)

Born: 22nd October 1880. Dago Island, East Lander Baltic Sea, Russia.

Married:

Wife:

Died:

Father:

Mother:

INFOFMATION

Kurst Blasser enlisted with the AIF on the 6th of December at the East Sydney Recruitment Depot, 167 William Street Darlinghurst before he was entrained to the Liverpool Army Depot before embarking from Melbourne, Victoria on the 28th February on board HMAT A71 "Nestor" with the 26th Reinforcements 4th Battalion AIF and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 20th April 1918. Kurst was marched in to the 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny that day where he commenced his training. On the 5th June he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford where he was taken on in strength with the 45th Battalion.

Kurst proceeded overseas for France on the 15th July 1918 where he was marched in the the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Havre, France on the 18th July where the men remained in Billets until being marched out to their units the next day. On the 21st July 1918 Kurst was transferred to the 34th Battalion and 10 days later on the 31st July 1918 Kurst was Wounded in Action when the dug-out that he was sheltering in was hit by a shell and partially collapsed in on him. Kurst was treated by the 10th Australian Field Ambulance before he was transferred to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station with a Bruised Knee and Back.

His injury was recorded as (accidental) and was heard by a Court of Inquiry. Kurst was admitted to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen, France before he was invalided to England on the 8th August on board the Hospital Ship "Gloucester Castle" and upon his disembarkation he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Thorpe. Kurst was later discharged from Hospital and granted a furlo before he was Taken on in Strength with Headquarters in London from the 5th September until the 25th of September when he was returned to the 34th Battalion and marched out to the No: 1 Command Depot at Sutton Vent.

25th October 1918.

Evidence

Re No 7708 Pte Blasser K.

This man occupied the same dug-out as myself in the line. In 31.7.18 the dug-out was partly blown in by a shell. Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER received injuries through part of the dug-out falling on him.

(Sgd) Private: 1780 Albert BURGE. 34th Battalion AIF.

34th Bn.

Here with Army Form3428 concerning accidental injuries of Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER and Private: QUICK. I have made the necessary enquiries and am of the opinion that neither of them were to blame in there respective cases. I have filled in para 4 to this effect. Would you please obtain the C.O's signature and fill in date when signed to this para.

(Sgd) Captain: Telford Graham GILDER. O.C "A" Coy.

Kurst was marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge, Deverill on the 18th November and embarked for his return to Australia on the 25th January 1919 0n b0ard the Hospital Transport "Ceramic" and disembarked at Melbourne on the 14th February where he en trained for Sydney where he attended the ANZAC Buffet and was discharged from the AIF as Medically Unfit on the 22nd of May 1919.

Kurst re enlisted as a Concentration Camp Guard at Holsworthy with service number 3490. Records indicate that he did not report for service and that he was (Not Arrested) This may be the reason that no further records of him have been un covered by me at this time.

Kurst's War Medal:80087 and Victory Medal:76011 to PTE 7708 K.BLASSER 34BN AIF were acquired at Noble Numismatics Auction in November 2023 and are now in the Harrower Collection. These medals were from the George Snelgrove Collection as a copy of the research paper he compiled was purchased with his medals.

Russian Anzacs

George Snelgrove Notes

All of the above was of interest about the other Blasser in the War Memorial Records? On entering the requested surname and the conflict of war, Blasser and World War 1, the same two Blasser's came up again. Having already looked at Blasser K records, this time the file of Blasser/Kust was examined. An A.I.F. Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisting for Service Abroad appeared. The word HOME was written in between for and Service and the word Abroad was crossed out. He was issued with a number No:3490, His surname was Blasser and Christian name Kust. His unit was to be Concentration Camp Guard and he joined on 21-5-19.

He declared that he was born on Dago Island, East Lander Baltic Sea. He that he was an East Lander. He was born on the 22nd October 1880, a seaman by trade or calling, Single, No next of Kin stated, and his permanent address in Australia, 23 Clarence Street, Sydney. His description on enlistment was 6 feet 2-1/2 inches in height, weight 13 stone 3 lbs. Complexion Dark, Eyes Brown, Hair Black. A Certificate of Medical Examination declared him Fit for Home Service and signed by a Examining Medical Officer.

To sum up on the two Blasser's it seems that they are the same person, apart from his Christian name changing from Kurst to Kust, and the second occasion he was an East Lander and not Russian. His permanent address in Australia was the same, but no next of kin. He declared that he served in the 34th Battalion for 1 year and 162 days No: 7708. He grew 1/2 an inch in height and lost 11 lbs in weight, his religious denomination and description of his tattoos etc were fairly indecipherable and he darkened up considerably.

So no doubt Blasser must have decided to stay in the forces for the security of a job and reapplied. But what went wrong? At the last moment he was seen as not required written across his Attestation Application was the words ENLISTMENT CANCELLED. The last entry on his 34th Battalion No:7708 records stated that on 22-5-19 he was discharged from the A.I.F. at Sydney - Medically Unfit, this was one day after his 22-5-19 application was cancelled.

George Snelgrove 2017.

His Attestation Papers also have recorded NOT ARRESTED as the final entry. I have found no other information on Kurst or Kust Blasser. I have not been able to ascertain weather he left the country fearing being arrest for not attending Holsworthy German Concentration Camp as directed after his enlistment as a Guard.

David Harrower ACM 2023.

Family Information

Kurst was a single 37 year old Sailmaker and Rigger from 23 Clarence Street, Sydney where he lived with Mary Tierney. He worked for the Illawarra Shipping Company on the South Coast on N.S.W and was a member of the Seamans Union.

Kurst was born at Dago, a Russian island in the government of Esthonia at the entry of the Gulf of Finland, and N. of the island of OEsel, from which it is separated by a narrow channel. It became Russian in 1791, and the inhabitants who are Danish, Swedish, and Russian, subsist chiefly by hunting and fishing - especially sealing. There is some coasting trade. Area 370 square miles.

Military Records

Re enlisted as a Concentration Camp Guard

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 03/11/2023-29/11/2023.

Driver: 3127 Allan Gordon Stanley SPARK.

December 8, 2023June 8, 2018 by David Harrower ACM

Concentration Camp Guard - 33rd BATTALION AIF - AMTS

Driver: 3127 Allan Gordon Stanley SPARK.

Born: 13th August 1894. Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:20610/1894.

Married: 1916. Scone, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:16407/1916.

Wife: Cecelia Francis Spark. nee: Chalkley. (1891-1968)

Died: December 1967. New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:20/1968.

Buried: 22nd December 1967. Rookwood Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia. M2 - C, 540 Catholic Section.

Father: Stanley Herbert Spark. (1846 – 1929)

Mother: Caroline Mary Spark. nee: Farrell. (1852-1908)

INFORMATION

Allan Gordon Stanley Spark served with the 34th Infantry and served at the German Concentration Camp at Liverpool before enlisting with the AIF on the 10th November 1916.

German Concentration Camp Hat Badge

Holdsworthy Concentration Camp

Allan was fist allocated to the 18th Battalion until the 18th December but was re allocated to the 24th Reinforcements 1st Battalion for the next months before being re allocated again the the the 7th Reinforcements, 33rd Battalion AIF on the 17th January 1917. The Reinforcements proceeded overseas for England from Sydney on board A68 "Anchises" on the 24th January and disembarked at Devonport England on the 27th March 1917 where they proceeded to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp.

Here the Reinforcements settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine. After 4 weeks of training, Allan was transferred to the 62nd Battalion but ended up in Hospital a few days later suffering from Laryngitis. Upon his discharge from Hospital he was Taken on in Strength with the Australian Mechanical Transport Section at Tidworth and promoted to Motor Driver on the 26th July 1917.

Records show that Allan was admitted to the Tidworth Infirmary on the 20th December 1917 suffering from a Broken Left Leg, Injuries to his Right Leg and Head. From these injuries it appears that Allan may have had a Motor Vehicle accident as his condition was reported as "Seriously Ill" and he remained in hospital for some time.

After he was discharged from hospital, Allan was Struck Off and returned to Australia as Medically Unfit for Active or Home Service and was discharged from the AIF on the 12th March 1919.

Allan's British War Medal: 68622 to DVR 3127 A G S SPARK. 33 BN AIF was acquired in June 2018 and is now in the Harrower Collection. This was his only entitlement of World War 1.

Family Information

Allan was a married 22 year old Musician from Sydney, N.S.W. upon enlistment. His wife Cecilia was listed as living in the care of Mrs C Carey of Park Street, Hamilton via Newcastle, N.S.W. Allen served for 4 years with the Public School Cadet Forces before enlisting with the 34th Infantry, and served with them for 3 years including 3 months at the German Concentration Camp at Holsworthy. Allan lived at No: 1 "Silverton Flats" at Pine Hill, Double Bay, N.S.W. in 1959 and was a retired Chemist when he died in 1967 and is buried in the Catholic Section of the Rookwood Cemetery with his mother. His brother and father are buried in the Church of England Section of Rookwood Cemetery.

His parents Stanley and Caroline Spark were married in 1879, Queensland, Australia and had 4 children

Kathleen Mary Smith (Spark) (1880-1969) Rodney Bueno Stanley Spark (1902-1972) Alexander Francis Stanley Spark (1882 – 1943) Allan Gordon Stanley SPARK (1894-1967)

Brother

Alexander Francis Stanley Spark (1882 – 1943)

Alexander Francis Stanley (Frank) Spark (23 October 1882 – 12 July 1943), was born in Cassilis and died in Randwick. He was a stretcher bearer with the 3rd Australian General Hospital in World War I. He served in Egypt during 1916 and was medically discharged due to asthma and chronic bronchitis on 7 March 1917. He was a carpenter before the war and later became a farmer. He is buried in the Church of England Cemetery Rookwood with a World War I services headstone adjacent to his father’s grave (section 09, grave 2941). He married Margaret Adeline (May) Lomas, (26 May 1891 – 9 Feb 1976) in January 1916 at Woollahra, soon after enlisting in the army. After he was discharged from the Australian Military Forces they lived at 12 McLean St Paddington. In about 1930 (during the Depression) they moved to Concord and lived with May's brother Percy.

Father:

Stanley Herbert Spark (1846 – 1929)

Stanley Herbert Spark (31 December 1846 – 16 August 1929), 2nd son of A B Spark, became a manager with the Australian Joint Stock Bank (later to become the Australian Bank of Commerce), serving at Stanthorpe, Tenterfield and Cassilis. For the last 36 years of his life he was accountant for Elliott Bros, a pharmaceutical and medical instrument manufacturing company in Balmain. He married Caroline Mary (Carrie) Farrell (1852 – 21 Jan 1908) in 1879 in Queensland. She was the daughter of Kate and Michael Farrell, a publican. Stan and Carrie initially lived at Cassilis, west of Muswellbrook but had moved to Greenbank Street Marrickville by 1894. In 1915, Stanley (now a widower) was living at 290 New Canterbury Road Petersham. He died at North Sydney and is buried in the Church of England Cemetery Rookwood with no headstone (section 09, grave 2940).

Mother;

Caroline Mary Spark. nee: Farrell. (1852-1908)

Grandfather;

Alexander Brodie Spark (1792-1856)

Alexander Brodie Spark was born in Elgin, Scotland on 9 Aug 1792, and died at Tempe, Sydney on 21 Oct 1856. He is buried at St Peters Anglican Church with no remaining headstone or clear record of his grave site.

Alexander was raised and educated in Elgin but travelled to London in order to seek employment opportunities. From June 1811 he worked as a clerk in an accountancy firm (Tod's counting house) and having literary inclinations as a young man founded a small literary society in London. In 1817, still with Tod, he was captivated by his work in the shipping department. He undertook a tour of Europe in 1820 and spent some time in Italy with William Wordsworth (the major English Romantic poet), his wife Mary and sister Dorothy.

Grandmother;

Frances Maria Spark nee: Biddulph. (1807-1887)

Frances Maria was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire on 5 October 1807 and christened on 18 May 1808. The family migrated to South Africa when she was 12.

She met Dr Henry Wyatt Radford in South Africa probably while he was on leave from India. There is a record of their appearance at Matrimonial Court on 5 June 1823 at Graaff Reinet, Cape Colony. They were married on 2 July 1823 in the local Church of England. This was 3 months before her 16th birthday.

They came out to Australia on the Greenock, arriving in January 1824 and having been given a grant of land settled in the Hunter Valley and started a family. Alexander Spark knew the family between 1824 and 1829, having property in the area and selling some land to Dr Radford during this period.

The Radfords returned to India in 1829 with the 62nd Regiment and suffered terrible hardship. They lost 5 children during this time – two to cholera, the two older boys drowned in the shipwreck of The Lady Munro in October 1833 whilst returning to Sydney to go to school at The Australian College (founded by Rev John Lang). A daughter was burnt to death in a fire.

The Radfords returned to the Hunter Valley in October 1834 and Dr Radford died in 1836. Frances Maria was a widow at the age of 28 and had 3 young children (5 already having died).

She moved to Sydney and in June 1837 there is a record of her living at Miller's Point. She then rented a two story house in Elizabeth Street, Hyde Park and is recorded as living there in November 1837 and April 1839. She then moved to Erskine Villa, Newtown. Erskine Villa, built by the Rev George Erskine in 1830 subsequently gave its name to the suburb Erskineville. She did not own the property but rather had a landlady (this is mentioned in Spark’s letter of proposal). The landlady was possibly the Rev Erskine's widow - he died in 1834.

Frances Maria was financially independent although it was nearly eighteen months before Dr Radford’s will was finalized. The original will was lost with The Ceres when it was wrecked in September 1836 en route from Newcastle to Sydney. Alexander Spark and Leslie Duguid (Spark's neighbour and general manager of The Commercial Bank of NSW) assisted with administering the will on 7 June 1837. It is likely that Alexander Spark looked after her interests. She often attended functions with him and moved in the same social circles. They became good friends over the next few years. This culminated in their exchange of typically early Victorian proposal and acceptance letters on 9 April 1840. Spark's letter was prompted by his understanding that Frances Maria was about to be evicted. This may have been a ploy by Frances Maria and her landlady to encourage the reluctant bachelor. They were married 18 days after he proposed, 3 days before she supposedly had to leave Erskine Villa.

Alexander Brodie and Frances Maria were married on 27 April 1840 in St Peters Anglican Church. They lived at Tempe House on the Cooks River, the country estate of A B Spark. They had 6 children

1. Alexander Brodie (Alick) (30 Apr 1841 – 21 May 1912) 2. Frances Maria Ann (Fanny) (7 May 1842 – 25 May 1908) 3. Mary Gordon (18 Sep 1843 – 4 Oct 1893) 4. Edith Burnet (16 Sep 1845 – 22 April 1920) 5. Stanley Herbert (31 Dec 1846 – 16 Aug 1929) 6. Florence Sophia (23 Feb 1850 – 22 June 1932)

Alexander Brodie Spark died from heart failure on 21 October 1856 and was buried at St Peters Anglican Church.

Frances Maria and the children had to leave Tempe House. They moved to 69 Old South Head Road after Tempe House was sold to the Maguire Brothers in 1859. (Caroline Chisholm leased the estate from 1863 to 1865 and set up an educational facility for young ladies called Green Bank. Tempe was sold to Frederick Gannon in 1884 and then to The Sisters of The Good Samaritan in 1885).

There was a name change to part of Old South Head Road and the address became 69 Oxford Street in 1875. The house was located near the intersection of Riley Street. In 1877 Frances Maria may have been running a Ladies School from the Oxford Street address. In 1879 Frances Maria moved to “Glenara” 172 Victoria Street North, Darlinghurst and stayed there until her death in 1887. Her younger daughters probably lived there with her. In her will she left a number of valuable shares in the Australian Gas Light Company to her three younger daughters and properties to her sons and eldest daughter, including shares in a private school in Newcastle.

Great Uncle;

Colonel Robert Spark (1824-1852)

Robert Spark was born July 24, 1788 and died on the February 20, 1852. He is buried at Elgin, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Military Records

Under Construction: 08/06/2018.

Private: 463 Arthur Bernard JONES

December 8, 2023October 4, 2017 by David Harrower ACM

35th BATTALION A.I.F. - Concentration Camp Guard

Private: 463 - 3547 Arthur Bernard JONES

Born: 25th July 1895. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:19010/1895.

Married: 9th October 1937. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert: 16860/1937.

Wife: Yvonne Winifred Jones. nee: Cross. (1912-1953)

Died: 2 November 1956. Umina via Gosford, New South Wales Australia. Death Cert:

Father: Samuel Herbert Jones. (1868-1924)

Mother: Mary Ann Agnes Jones. nee: Marshall. (1867-1953)

INFORMATIONArthur Bernard Jones enlisted with the A.I.F at West Maitland on the 25th November 1915 and was allocated to B Company 35th Battalion at the Broadmeadow Camp. Whilst in Camp Arthur was Charged with being Absent from Midnight Parade 14/4/16 and Talking in Ranks. The 35th Battalion en trained for Sydney and embarked on board HMAT A "Benalla" on the 1st May 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 9th July 1916. The 35th were marched in the the Durrington Army Camp at Larkhill where the Battalion settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and general Camp Routine. Later the Battalion finished off their training, which included six days' battle practice and field work at the Bastard Trenches.

Whist at Larkhill Arthur was Charged with (1) Offence; Leaving Camp without leave. (2) Failing to Salute an Officer. Award Forfeit 12 Day's Pay by No:2 Lieutenant Colonel: GODDARD. The 35th Battalion embarked for France on the 21st November 1916 and saw their first major action at Messines.

7th June 1917.

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

The 3rd Australian Divisions first major offensive was at Messines Ridge on the 7th June 1917. The Australian 3rd Division was a part of the II Anzac Corps which was allotted to the first assault. The 25th New Zealand, 3rd Australian Division with the 4th Australian Division in reserve. The 4th Division were battle hardened troops who had fought many major battles. The 3rd Australian Division were having problems getting to the "jump off" point. The day before the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades were bombarded by German Gas-Shells around Hill 63 and Ploegsteert Wood. Many of the Aussies were not wearing gas masks, but despite this they pressed on even though they received 500 casualties.

They made it to the "jump off" point but only just with some of the men from the 9th and 10th going straight over the top without stopping. The mines went up and the attack commenced behind a protective barrage. The II Anzac Corps were attacking on the right with their objective being the southern shoulder of the ridge which included Messines, the Dover and St Yves areas as far south to the east of Ploegsteert Wood.

Major General Sir John MONASH's 3rd Division had to contend with a tricky 3 mile approach out of Ploegsteert Wood and after the German gas attack, but they were not deterred. The 9th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General: Alexander JOBSON and the 10th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General W R NICHOLL had just made the jumping off point but some of the men did not stop, going straight into the assault from the approach march.

Their objective lay between St Yves and the Douve. The mines at Trench 127 and Trench 12 at Factory Farm were laid to aid this task. The explosions erupted a few seconds before zero hour and created craters of 200 feet in diameter, completely obliterating the German defence line as the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades went over the top. The mine crates forced the 9th and 10th Brigades to veer to the left and right which caused some confusion with the main assault. It is testimony to the quality of training that every man knew the ground, tasks and objectives so well.

Private: 1804 John CARROLL 33rd Battalion, rushed the enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comrades who had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The German forward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken during the offensive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme Barn north of Douve.

The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before the infantry had to become too involved. The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had made little impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received many casualties from German artillery. (70% of all casualties during WW1 were from artillery).

By 9:00 am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in disarray, but there was a major problem as the Australians received less casualties as anticipated and when ordered to dig into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were dug in around Seaforth Farm.

The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn) were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Ploegsteert Wood was now behind them.

Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrage to stop and counter attack was shortened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00 pm this part of the Oosttaverne Line was abandoned. At 10:45 pm General: Alexander John GODLEY ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.

The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks loose their lives.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.

33rd Battalion. AIF	8 Officers	382 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF	10 Officers	378 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF	5 Officers	431 Other ranks
36th Battalion. AIF	9 Officers	421 Other ranks
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF	2 Officer	17 Other ranks
9th Light Trench Mortar Battery.	1 Officer	2 Other ranks

Field Dressing Station, Messines 07/06/1917

FIELD DRESSING STATION, MESSINES 7th June 1917.12th June 1917

Nueve Eglise was the billeting area for the battle-weary remnants of the 33rd Battalion, when finally they were relieved from Messines on June 12th 1917. After 2 short days of rest they were again marched to new billets at Douleu, where they stayed for the next ten days. By then Command must have considered them sufficiently rested for they were ordered back into the front line, to relieve the 10th Cheshire Battalion on June 23rd.

(Never a Backward Step; Edwards 1996)

1st-7th July 1917. MESSINES.

35th Battalion occupied Support Trenches just S West of MESSINES (The Brigade being in Support) The Battalion HQ was established in our old front line. Enemy was fairly quiet except for Counter Battery work which was very constant. During this time men were constantly employed digging and improving communication trenches towards the new front line. On 1/7/17, 2 Lieut: Mortimer Eustace LYNE was wounded by a shell entering his dugout. Captain: Frank Harold JARRETT was wounded on the 5/7/17 by a piece of shell entering his dugout. He died of wounds received at 2:00 pm in the Main Dressing Station on the same date.

7th July 1917.

33rd Battalion AIF relieved by the 35th Bn AIF in Support Trenches MESSINES SECTOR 35th Bn went to Billets at NEUVE EGLISE. Casualties during the tour of duty in MESSINES SUPPORTS 28 including 4 killed.

7th-11th July 1917. NEUVE EGLISE.

Rested and Trained whilst in Billets and also supplied small working parties.

11th July 1917. MESSINES.

Relieved 43rd Bn AIF in Case of Supports Messines Sector. (RIVER DOUVE to STIGNASTFARM) Brigade Relief. Supplied working parties while in Supports. We were at times subjected to fairly severe enemy shell fire while in Close Supports Casualties from 11-7-17 to 17/18-7-17 were 34 including 6 killed.

17th July 1917.

Relieved 35th Bn AIF in front line Messines Sector. 19th Lieutenant: Wynter Wallace WARDEN wounded whilst supervising transport of rations over Messines Ridge.

(35th Battalion War Diary)

Arthur was Wounded in Action on the 17th July when he received a Gun Shot Wound to the Abdomen and Elbow and was invalided to England and embarked for Australia on the 31st October and disembarked on the 31st December 1917 and was discharged from the A.I.F on the 4th December 1918.

Arthur enlisted a a Guard at the German Concentration Camp at Holdsworthy on the 28th May 1919 with the rank of Private, service number: 3587 and was discharged on the 10th June 1919 discharge certificate: 122659.

German Concentration Camp Hat Badge

Holdsworthy Concentration Camp

Arthur was discharged to join the A.I.F. but there is no record of him re enlisting with the Special Services to return internees to Europe. Arthur's home address was 38 Clara Street, Newcastle when he enlisted and he listed his brother S.J. Jones of Lidcombe, N.S.W. as his next of kin.

Arthur's War Medal: 41806 to PTE 463 A.B. JONES 35 B.N. A.I.F. was acquired from Victoria in October 2017 and is now in the Harrower Collection.

Arthur enlisted with the Armed Forces during World War 2 at Paddington, N.S.W. Service Number N109401

Family InformationArthur was a single 19 year old Blacksmith Labourer from Warawee Dockyard, at Miller's Forrest via Raymond Terrace, N.S.W. upon enlistment. After returning from World War 1, Arthur lived at 38 Clara Street, Newcastle in 1919 before he enlisted as a Guard at Holdsworthy. In 1937 he married Yvonne Winifred Cross and moved to 148 Ocean Street, Narrabeen, N.S.W. with the last recorded address was at 12 Sydney Avenue, Ocean Beach, Woy Woy, N.S.W.

Jones Family

Private: 463 A.B.JONES. (1895-1956) Place of burial Point Clare Cemetery on the 5th November 1956. Section. Roman Catholic 1 Row 15 Plot 7

Military Records

Under Construction; 04/10/2017-08/12/2023.

Lieutenant: 1142 James Martin JUDD. M.M.

December 8, 2023April 19, 2017 by David Harrower ACM

36th BATTALION - 35th BATTALION A.I.F.

Lieutenant: 1142 James Martin JUDD. M.M.

Born: 29th November 1895. Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:3449/1895.

Died: 22nd August 1918. Killed in Action near Bray, France.

Father: Tom James Judd. (18..-1941) Died at Petersham, N.S.W. Death Cert:845/1941.

Mother: Mary "May" Judd. nee: Bye. (1869-1952) Born at Goulburn, N.S.W. Birth Cert:10596/1869 and Died at Newtown, N.S.W. Death Cert:1461/1952.

INFORMATION

James Martin Judd served with the Gordon Club Cadets at Goulburn and the N.S.W. Irish Rifles before he enlisted with the AIF at Casula, N.S.W. and was allocated to duty as a German Concentration Camp Guard at Holsworthy, N.S.W for 14 months.

The largest internment camp in Australia during World War One was at Holsworthy, near Liverpool on the outskirts of Sydney. The camp held between 4,000 and 5,000 internees, most were either from the Austro-Hungarian empire, staff of German companies temporarily living in Australia, crews of vessels caught in Australian ports and naturalised and native born Australians of German descent. Prisoners were interned without trial, often without knowing their “crime”, and without the knowledge of their families.

James Martin Judd re enlisted with D Company 36th Battalion AIF at the Rutherford Army Camp in March 1916.

Maitland Camp at Rutherford 1916

MAITLAND CAMP RUTHERFORD N.S.W. 1916.24 June 1917.

MILITARY MEDAL

Sergeant: 1142 James Martin JUDD. 36th Battalion AIF. 'The Brigade Commander has much pleasure in placing on record the name of this N.C.O. who was conspicuous for his bravery and gallantry in recent offensive action' 18 June 1917.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 20 December 1917. Page 3377, position 103

London Gazette: 16 August 1917. Page 8427, position 104

Family Information

Tom and May Judd were married in 1892 at Goulburn, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:3770/1882 and had 5 children. Eric L Judd born 1893 at Goulburn, N.S.W. Birth Cert:14637/1893. James Martin Judd born 1895 at Goulburn, N.S.W. Birth Cert:3449/1895 and died 1918 in Belgium during World War 1. Dulcie E Judd born 1898 at Goulburn, N.S.W. Birth Cert:30708/1898. Beatrice A Judd born 1906 at Newtown, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 16367/1906. Ellen A Judd born 1907 at Newtown, N.S.W. Birth Cert:27082/1907 and died 1923 at Marrickville, N.S.W. Death Cert:17854/1923. Grace F Juddborn 1909 at Marrickville, N.S.W. Birth Cert:38608/1909.

Cousin: Private: 477 Pte Albert Selwyn JUDD. 36th Bn, killed in action, 7 June 1917.

Military Records World War 1 Records

Under Construction; 04/04/2016-31/10/2020.

Private: 50947 Hilton Claude STEWART.

December 8, 2023April 1, 2017 by David Harrower ACM

British War Medal: 82467 and Victory Medal: 77671 to PTE 50947 H.C. STEWART 35BN AIF

Concentration Camp Guard - 35th BATTALION A.I.F.

Private: 50947 Hilton Claude STEWART.

Born: 20th April 1899. Singleton, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:16051/1899.

Married: 23rd February 1922. Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:1804/1922.

Wife: Dorothea Alice Eva "Doris" Stewart. nee: Gooch. (1900-2003)

Died: 28th August 1955. Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:17861/1955.

Father: William Bourne Elphinstone Stewart. (1876-1960)

Mother: Emily Mary Dryer Stewart. nee: Church. (1877-1937)

INFORMATION

Hilton Claude Stewart served at the German Concentration Camp at Holsworthy, N.S.W. for 5 months.

The largest internment camp in Australia during World War I was at Holsworthy, near Liverpool on the outskirts of Sydney. Sources may refer to it as either ‘Liverpool camp’ or ‘Holsworthy camp’. The camp held 6890 internees, most having German or Austrian parentage.

German Concentration Camp Hat Badge

Hilton enlisted with the Army Medical Corps on the 23rd October 1917 and went into camp at the Sydney Show Ground before being transferred to the Field Hospital at Liverpool on the 9th of November. He attended the Garrison Hospital from the 14th November until the 4th of April 1918 where he was transferred to the Garrison Reinforcements before embarking for England on board HMAT A "Osterley" from Sydney on the 8th August 1918.

H.M.A.T "Osterley"

Hilton disembarked at Liverpool England on the 10th of July and was marched to the 5th Training Battalion where he was allocated to the 19th Battalion AIF on the 11th of July. Hilton was Transferred to the 35th Battalion AIF and Taken on in Strength on the 26th of July before proceeding overseas for France via Southampton on the 17th October 1918. The reinforcements were marched into Rouelles the next day where he was sent to relieve in the Field. Hilton was in France when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 and he proceeded on leave to England on the 31st of March 1919. Hilton rejoined his unit from Leave in France on the 19th of April and was marched out with the No:51 Quota on the 12th of May and proceeded for England on the 19th of May and was marched in at Codford England on the 20th. Hilton embarked from England on board the "Prinz Hubertus" on the 3rd July and returned to Australia on the 26th of August before being discharged from the AIF on the 11th September 1919.

Prinz Hubertus

"Prinz Hubertus"

Hilton's British War Medal: 82467 and Victory Medal: 77671 to PTE 50947 H.C. STEWART 35BN AIF. were auctioned in 2011 and are in a private collection in Queensland, Australia. These medals were on sold to a dealer in Western Australia and where acquired in April 2016 for the Harrower Collection.

Singleton War Memorial

SINGLETON WAR MEMORIAL

Family Information Hilton was a single 18 year old Clerk from William Street Singleton, N.S.W. upon enlistment. He served for 4 years with the Senior Cadets. His parents William and Mary Stewart were married in 1896 at Singleton, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:6060/1896. They had 4 children Hilton Claude Stewart born 1889 at Singleton, N.S.W. Birth Cert:16051/1899. and died 1955 at Burwood, N.S.W. Death Cert:17861/1955. Cyrus Bourne Stewart born 1900 born at Singleton, N.S.W. Birth Cert:19637/1900. Warwick W Stewart born 1904 at Singleton, N.S.W. Birth Cert:7266/1904. Eric M Stewart born 1905 at Singleton, N.S.W. Birth Cert:37888/1905.

Hilton Claude Stewart and Dorothea Alice Stewart were divorced on the 6th July 1939.

Military Records