Numerical List in Collection

Acting Sergeant: 2896 Hector Francis YOUNGSON.

by

34th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Acting Sergeant: 2896 Hector Francis YOUNGSON.

Born: 16th October 1882. England, 

Died: 30th March 1918. Killed in Action. Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Father: James R Youngson. 

Mother: Frances Youngson. 

INFORMATION

Hector Francis Youngson enlisted with the AIF on the 20th April 1916 at the Dubbo Sports Ground and was appointed to Acting Sergeant on the 6th June before he was marched in to the No:4 Officers School at Duntroon until the 30th October and was allocated as Acting Sergeant, 6th Reinforcements 34th Battalion AIF on the 31st October 1916. Hector embarked for England from Sydney on board HMAT A72 "Beltana" on the 25th November 1916 and disembarked at Devonport England on the 29th January 1917. 

Hector proceeded overseas for France via Southampton, England on the 19th March 1918 and disembarked at Havre, France the next morning and was marched out to the lines transferred to the 33rd Battalion AIF on the and Taken on Strength on the 24th March 1918.

30th March 1918.

COUNTER ATTACK OPERATION. AFTERNOON AND EVENING MARCH 30TH, 1918.

33RD BATTALION A.I.F

At 10;30 a.m. on March 30th the 33rd Battalion moved from billets in CACHY to a position of readiness on the south Western edge of the BOIS D'AQUENNE. The enemy shelled CACHY from 10 a.m. but we suffered no casualties. At 2;15 p.m I reported to you at the Brigade Report Center at H.33,0,35,40 and received your orders to capture and establish a line from the Copse immediately South of the first c in MARCELCAVE to AUBERCOURT, and to capture AUBERCOURT which was in possession of the enemy. The 33rd would work in conjunction with the 12th Lancers, who were 400 strong, and would have the 34th in support.

The following orders were issued by me verbally to Company Commanders at 2;45 P.M. "B" Company Lieutenant: 5017 John Graham Antill POCKLEY will establish a line from the Oppue just South of the first C in MARCELCAVE to a point 100 yards east of the Crossroads to V.14.b. "A" Company Captain: John Lovelock FRY will establish a line from 100 yards East of the Cross Roads in V.14.b. to V.20.b.20.00. "D" Company Captain: James William SHREEVE. will capture AUBERCOURT and establish a line on the Eastern and Southern sides of the village. As DEMUIN is held by the enemy particular attention is to be paid to the roads loading over to do LUCE from BEMUIN and COUXCELLES. "C" Company Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN will be in reserve in the valley South East of the BOIS DE HANGARD and to be ready to capture DEMUIN.

Battalion Headquarters will be the Reserve Company "D" Teams, according to S.S. 156, will not take into action but will be sent to BLANCY TRONVILLE. At 3;10 p.m the Battalion marched under the command of Major: Francis George GRANT. from BOIS D'AQUENNE and moved across country to the West of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX - AUBECOURT road in U.12. This position was reached at 4;35 p.m. At 3;00 p.m I sent forward two patrols from the Platoon of the 9th Corps Cyclists to reconnoitre North and South of the wood East of BOIS DE HANGARD and then as far forward towards AUBERCOURT and MARCELCAVE as possible. I regret to report that the Platoon Commander Lieutenant: Phillip Charles GRATWICKE was killed.

Phillip Charles Gratwicke

Lieutenant: Phillip Charles GRANTWICKE. 9th Corps, Cyclist Battalion. Killed in Action 30th March 1918.

The 12th Lancers proceeded the Battalion and reached the wood East of BOIS DE HANGARD at about 4;15 p.m.(This wood was in future be referred as LANCERS WOOD) My Adjutant, Scout Officer and Cavalry Liaison Officer went ahead with the Cavalry and reconnoitre the position. On our way to LANCER WOOD we passed several bodies of troops particularly had recklessly entrenched in queer places and large parties of stragglers. On reaching the wood we found the whole front line garrison East of LANCER WOOD withdrawing although there was no hostile fire of any kind and no signs of attack. I met two Brigadiers and a Battalion Commander in the wood and informed them what was happening at once. This they promised to do. The Cavalry Commander also helped in this matter by sending a Squadron dismounted to re-establish the line. The infantry went forward with the cavalry but in a reluctant manner. During the whole time we sore forward men constantly leaving the line. The seemed to be no effort to check this straggling.

It was a proud privilege to be allowed to work with such a fine Regiment as the 12th Lancers. Their approach march instilled in the mementos confidence and enthusiasm and I am glad to say greatly counteracted the effect of so much straggling. They lost no time in effectively clearing LANCERS WOOD and get there just in time as the enemy had obtained a footing on the southern and South Eastern edges. The Lancers protected the edges and allowed us to move forward to the attack. On seeing the cavalry there the enemy shelled LANCER WOOD very heavily, chiefly with 5.0s. paying particular attention to our fringes. Fairly heavy casualties to horses were inflicted there, the horses were soon led from the wood to a position West of the VILLER-BRETONNEUX - AUBERCOURT Road. The discipline during the heavy shelling was a subject lesson. During the attack the cavalry protected both our flanks, the left with two Machine Guns. They withdrew at about 7.00 p.m.

All ranks were eager to give every possible help to us, throughout there was whole hearted cooperation. The experience gained in this our first operation with cavalry was invaluable. One was able too judge of the splendid work they are doing for the Army at this present time and they cannot be too highly praised. The 33rd Battalion moved forward from the position of assembly at 3:00 p.m. The formation adapted by Companies was as follows; One Platoon in extended order, followed by two Platoons in line in Artillery formation; the fourth Platoon in reserve also in Artillery formation.

"B" Company moved along the Northern edge of LANCER WOOD and widened its front on clearing the wood. "A" Company moved throughout the wood. Owing to enemy shelling while moving through, the whole company was extended into three lines and resumed normal formation on clearing the wood. No casualties were sustained in the wood. "B" Company worked in single file along the brindle track near the Southern edge of the wood and formed up under cover of the terraced bank on the South East edge. Three casualties were sustained on entering the wood. "C" Company formed up on the sunken road in U.18.a. and not where was first ordered, owing to the hostile shelling.

The movement forward was splendidly carried out. On the right slight opposition was en counted but easily disposed of. no real opposition was not until we were about 200 yards clear of the wood when all three Companies came very heavy machine gun and rifle fire. They deployed at once and moved forward without flinching. All ranks displayed the greatest determination and eagerness to get to the Bosch with the bayonet, this eagerness was to some extent responsible for the heavy casualties as the principle of advancing under covering fire was not sufficiently observed. On the Left most progress was made in spite of heavy losses, and the enemy hurriedly retired but on discovering later in strength he reformed.

30th March 1918

The enemy was well entrenched and in strong force as we had no artillery support his fire was consequently extremely heavy and unfortunately very accurate. Owing to such strong opposition we were not able to reach our objectives. The attached map shows approximately the line we established. The line is well sited and is a very good defensive position. With determined troops the enemy could easily be held, and any advance he attempted would be very expensive. Owing to casualties and to the wide front the Reserve Company to reinforce the right flank. This Company made good the gap between the right and center Companies. At the same time I requested the 34th Battalion which was in support in U.18.a. and U.12.c. West of the VILLERS-BRETONNEUX - AUBERCOURT Road, to send a Company to reinforce the left flank. I instructed Company Commander Captain: Telford Graham GILDER. to reconnoitre the position first and then move forward at 6.00 p.m. This Company advanced in two lines of two Platoons each and took the newly-made enemy trenches about 250 yards East of the line then held by us, capturing two light machine guns one of which was damaged, and four prisoners belonging to 91st Oldenburg Regiment.

Wilhelm CONZE; Company-Leader in the 91st Infantry-Regiment (03 Apr 1917-14 Oct 1917) Wounded, in Reserve Hospital in Gotha (23 Mar 1918-22 May 1918) Transferred to the Replacement-Battalion of the 91st Infantry-Regiment (22 May 1918-01 Jul 1918) Company-Leader in the 91st Infantry-Regiment (01 Jul 1918-30 Sep 1918) In French Captivity (30 Sep 1918-14 Feb 1920) Released from Captivity and back with the Processing-Office of the 91st Infantry-Regiment (14 Feb 1920-29 Mar 1920)

Captain GILDER withdrew and made good the gap between the left and center Company's. At 10:00 p.m. I requested the C.O. 34th Battalion to send two company's forward, one to the sunken road in U.18.a the other to a position 300 yards North East of LANCER WOOD. At 11:00 p.m. the enemy attempted a local counter attack against my left company but was repelled. Heavy rain fell from early in the afternoon till late at night. Walking over the ploughed fields under such conditions affected the Lewis guns and rifles. Every man was drenched to the skin and very cold, but this did not dampen his ardour. All maps were soon rendered useless and the writing of messages was extremely difficult. Our flanks were somewhat in the air, on our left the Warwicks were about 600 yard behind. The 66th Division were on our right, but touch with them was not obtained.

In order to secure my right flank the right Support company, of the 34th Battalion supplied a Platoon for patrolling and also to establish a post South of LANCER WOOD on the VILLERS-BRETONNEUX - AUBERCOURT Road. Our front was well protected by Vickers and Lewis Guns. We had five Vickers guns from the 9th Australian Machine Gun Company - two covered either flank and one the center, and we had 25 Lewis guns. We were relieved by the 10th ESSEX and the ROYAL WEST SURREY Regiment of the 18th Division this morning; the relief Battalion Headquarters were established at V.7.d.30.95. The Pre-arranged position was unatonable.

Lieutenant Colonel: Leslie James MORSHEAD.

Commanding 33rd Battalion A.I.F.

Hector was Killed in Action on the 30th October 1918 and is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

Hectors War Medal:54240 to A/Sgt 2896 H.F. YOUNGSON 33 BN AIF was acquired in September 2024 and is now in the Harrower Collection.

Family Information

Hector served with the Royal Navy prior to immigrating to Australia. He enlisted on the 22nd March 1900 and served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry. Plymouth Division, service number 10248. Hector served for 12 years and was discharged when his time was served in 1912. Hector was a single 30 year old Waiter from Sydney, New South Was upon his enlistment with the AIF. His mother Francis was recorded as his next of kin who lived at 89 Croxted road West Dulwich, London, England. Sister Clare Blaxland

Military Records

Under Construction: 11/09/2024.

Private: 12059 Burton Disney RUTHERFORD

by

9th Australian Field Ambulance

Private: 12059 Burton Disney RUTHERFOORD "RUTHERFORD"

Born: 1873. Bectine, Miatt, Ireland. 

Died: 13th September 1934. 30 Thompson Street, Darlinghurst via East Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:11437/1934.

Father: John Rutherfoord. (1830-1908)

Mother: Laura Ellen Rutherfoord. nee: Booth. (1835-1877) 

INFORMATION

Burton Disney Rutherford served with Lumsden's Horse service number 43 as a Trooper and was promoted to the rank of Veterinary Sergeant and was awarded the Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Vet Serj B.D. Rutherford, Lumsdens Horse)

Burton served with the Behar Light Horse as a Trooper who was one of 54 men of the unit who served in the Boer War attached to Lumsden's Horse in 1900.

Queen South Africa Roll. Veterinary Sergeant: 43 Burton Disney Rutherford. Clasp. Johannesburg-Cape Colony- Orange Free State.

The ‘Atlantian,’ however, did not reach Bombay Harbour until 7 A.M. on December 31, with the following officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of Lumsden’s Horse on board:

Colonel Lumsden, Captain and Adjutant Taylor, Captain Beresford, Captain Noblett, Captain Holmes, Surgeon-Captain Powell. Staff—Regimental Sergeant-Major Hewitt, Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Dale, Staff-Sergeant Stephens, Farrier-Sergeant Marshall, Farrier-Sergeant Edwards, Pay-Sergeant Fraser, Orderly-Room Sergeant Graves, Sergeant Longman, Lance-Sergeant S.S. Cuthbert, Saddler Briggs, Privates Lowe, Lee, and Hayward. A Company—Company Sergeant-Major Mansfield, Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Booth, Sergeants Fox, Llewhellin, Stowell, Donald, and Rutherfoord, Corporal Macgillivray, Lance-Corporals Lemon and Godden, Privates E.S. Clifford, F.M. Clifford,  C.H.M. Johnstone, Corbett, Dickens, Bradford, Cowen, Webbe, Kennedy, Courtenay, Zorab, Renny,  Ritchie, Gordon, Atkinson, Watson, Brown, Henry, Allan, Aldis, John, Newton, Reid, Campbell, Bell, Macdonald, Haines, Smith, Hughes, Tancred, Bolst, Burnand, Dowd, and Palmer; Transport-Sergeant Power, Privates Lovegrove, Doyle, Manville, Paxton, Daly, and Scott; and Lance-Corporal Wheeler. B Company—Sergeant Conduit, Lance-Sergeant Warburton, Corporal Jackman, Privates Nicolay,  Bagge, Innes, Williams, Nolan, Betts, Turner, Powis, Thelwall, Lytle, Spicer, Lungley, Winder, Dexter, Martin, Moorhouse, Maxwell, and Allardice; Transport-Sergeant Smith, Privates Rice, Crux, Meares, Rust, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Morris.

Before going on shore at Bombay, Colonel Lumsden received the following telegram from Sir Patrick Playfair, C.I.E., Chairman of the Calcutta Reception Committee:

The people of Calcutta bid you and your gallant corps welcome. They are proud of the way in which Lumsden’s Horse has represented India against Britain’s enemies. They wish to do you honour on arrival in Calcutta. You will be given a public reception, and the military bands will play you into your camp. It is proposed that your corps should take part in the Proclamation Parade on the morning of January 1, and then attend a special Divine Service at the Cathedral. His Excellency the Viceroy will entertain the corps at luncheon on Wednesday, January 2, and the reception committee are organising an evening party in the Town Hall for the night of the same day.

History of Lumsden's Horse

Burton Disney Rutherford enlisted with the 9th Australian Field Ambulance at Holdsworthy Army Camp on the 21st October 1915 and proceeded overseas for England on the 1st May 1916 0n b0ard HMAT A24 " " and disembarked at Plymouth England on the 9th July 1916. Burton was marched into camp and proceeded overseas for France via Southampton on the 23rd November 1916.  

12059 PTE. B.D. RUTHERFORD 9 F. AMB. A.I.F.

 Burton was admitted to hospital on the 21st December suffering from Influenza and was discharged to duty on the 26th and re joined his unit. On the 20th February 1917 Burton was Charged with the Offence of whilst in France on the 23rd December 1917. Conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline in that being awarded Fatigue Duty failed to appear for such Fatigue. Award 4 Days Forfeit Pay No:2 with Forfeiture of 7 Days by C.O. 

The 9th Australian Field Ambulance supported the 9th Infantry Brigade in all theatres of the Great War. 

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.

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 October 1917

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE I

At 1:30 am rain showers began. By 2:30 am it was raining lightly but steadily, by 3:30 fairly heavily. the infantry moved through the pitch dark in single file. In some battalions each man held on to the equipment of the man ahead of him; if touch was broken, those in front had to come back. The news that the line as reported by the 66th division was not held only just reached the incoming troops. Accordingly, in the right brigade (9th) the leading Company Commanders Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. and Captain: Telford Graham GILDER M.C. both of the 34th Battalion stopped their men at the entrance to Broodseinde railway cutting, and themselves went to make sure that their column might not run into the enemy.

The Battle of Passchendaele saw 60 Officers and 1,322 other ranks loose their lives.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.

33rd Battalion. AIF 11 Officers 273 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 323 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF 18 Officers 296 Other ranks
36th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 383 Other ranks
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF 1 Officer 36 Other ranks
9th Light Trench Mortar Battery. - Officer 11 Other ranks

Burton was treated for an Ulcer on his Tongue at the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital  and was discharged to England on Furlo and was marched in the the No:2 Command Depot at Weymouth before he returned to Australia on the 7th July 1918 where he was Discharged on the 3rd of August 1918 as Medically Unfit.

Family Information

Burton was initiated on the 18th September 1895 in the Lightin Tirhoot Lodge 1998 at Mazufferpore, Bengal and then on the 8th February 1898 in The True Blue Lodge at  Motihari Bengal. Burton served during the Boer War Lumsden's Horse and the Behar Horse in India for 5 years. Burton noted that his next of kin was Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford DSO who served as  Captain John Brownley Rutherfoord in South Africa with Behar Light Horse and Lumsden's Horse.  

A unique Boer War D.S.O. group of three to Captain J. B. Rutherford, Behar Light Horse, late Lumsden's Horse

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Capt. J. B. Rutherford, Lumsdens Horse); Volunteer Force Long Service, E.VII.R. (Captn: J. B. Rutherford, D.S.O., Behar Lt. Horse.), minor enamel damage and depression to D.S.O. centre, official corrections on the third, very fine (3)

A unique award to the Behar Light Horse for South Africa.

D.S.O. London Gazette 19 April 1901:

'In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.'

John Brownley Rutherford was born in October 1864 and commissioned into the Behar Light Horse. He was one of 54 men of the unit who served in the Boer War attached to Lumsden's Horse in 1900. Following the announcement of his appointment to the Distinguished Service Order, he was invested with the insignia by the Lieutenant Governor of Begal in 1902. Rutherford is recorded as having died in India.

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Capt. J. B. Rutherford, Lumsdens Horse); Volunteer Force Long Service, E.VII.R. (Captn: J. B. Rutherford, D.S.O., Behar Lt. Horse.), 

LUMSDEN'S HORSE

On the evening of the 29thApril 1899  Colonel Ross received orders that the corps was to make a demonstration next morning at daylight on the right flank of the Boer lines for the purpose of drawing them from their position and enabling the 14th Brigade, under General Maxwell, which was to have come up on our right, to get behind and cut them off.

Captain: John Brownley Rutherfoord. DSO

The Mounted Infantry portion of General Tucker’s division, under Colonel Henry, joined hands with us at 5 A.M., half a mile from our camp. A portion of my corps was ordered to occupy Gun Kopje, a position 155believed to be held by the Boers, about four miles distant on our right front, the remainder extending and taking up positions on our left. I went forward with the right flank, Major Showers accompanying me. This portion consisted of the Adjutant, Captain Taylor, Captains Rutherfoord, Clifford, and Chamney, Lieutenants Sidey and Pugh, and four sections, the others having been detached by order of Colonel Ross to hold various points. Mr. Pugh was sent out in advance with the scouts, and it was when on this duty that Private Franks was shot. Mr. Pugh very pluckily assisted him in getting on his horse and endeavoured to take him out of the fire; but Franks was unable to stay on his horse, and, dropping to the ground, had to be left. Mr. Pugh and the remaining scouts were only just able to save themselves by galloping up and joining us on the kopje at the extreme right, to which we had just advanced, and which we held from 7 A.M. until ordered to retire at about 1 o’clock.

Early in the morning I ordered Corporal Chartres with eight men to occupy a kopje about 800 yards to our right and prevent the Boers turning our flank. There they held their ground until ordered to fall back. It was a small party for this important position, but in the circumstances no more could be spared, I having only about sixty men with me, twenty of whom, under Lieutenant Sidey, were detached by Colonel Ross to protect the Vickers-Maxim (commonly styled ‘pom-pom’) in the centre of the position.

The following was then the general disposition:

There were four ridges diverging northerly towards the enemy. The extreme spur of the right ridge was held by myself with four sections Lumsden’s Horse as described; the second held by Lieutenant Crane and one section, he being directed there at the outset by Colonel Ross; the third and fourth by the rest of the brigade, the two pom-poms and our Maxim being at the head of the re-entrant between the second and third ridges, with Captain Noblett and three sections on its left.

Shortly after our arrival the Boers took up a position on a kopje about 1,500 yards directly in front, and quickly opened rifle fire on our position. Fortunately the men had time to ensconce themselves behind rocks, and, consequently, though bullets fell fast about them, they were able to maintain a steady fire on the enemy without exposing themselves. It was here, I deeply regret to say, that Major Showers met his death. He was at the extreme right of the firing line and under a hot flanking fire from the Boers, who had moved a party into a donga some 300 or 400 yards to their left.

I personally begged him not to expose himself, as also did Captains Chamney and Rutherfoord; but he would stand erect, using his field glasses and presenting a most conspicuous mark for the enemy’s fire, 156which resulted fatally to him shortly after noon, a Mauser bullet entering his right side half way down and coming out through his left arm above the elbow. In risking his own life he had drawn a heavy fire on the spot where he fell, and it was with much danger and difficulty that Captain Powell, with Captain Chamney and others, succeeded in removing him from the summit of the hill to a place of safety about thirty yards down. I should like to take this opportunity of adding a few words by way of tribute to the memory of Major Showers. When he heard of the corps being raised, he was in command of the Surma Valley Light Horse in Cachar, with the rank of Colonel, and was looked upon as one of the smartest commanders of Volunteer Cavalry in India. He wrote me and said, ‘If you will take me as your second in command, I will gladly forfeit my rank and come as Major.’ I may have made many fortunate selections in choosing my officers, but I never made a wiser one than in selecting Colonel Showers. A better or a braver man never breathed, and his loss to me so early in the campaign was irreparable.

Shortly after the commencement of the Boer attack the whole of the left were forced to retire owing to their flank being turned, taking one pom-pom and our Maxim with them. Captain Noblett was consequently obliged, at about 11 A.M., to conform to this movement, having no support, and took his men out of the shell fire with great difficulty but had only a few casualties.

Lieutenant Crane, receiving no orders to retire, and being detached from me and unable to communicate with me or I with him, deemed it his duty to retain his position as long as possible, which resulted in close fighting and the loss of nearly half his section.

While the Royal Engineer Company were busy blowing up the railway at this point, Captain Rutherfoord on the left, with our scouts, with his usual keenness soon came in touch with those of the enemy, and a brisk fire ensued on both sides, Captain Rutherfoord holding his position until I was able to reinforce him on his right flank. Colonel Ross soon hurried up further reinforcements on his left, which enabled us to hold the kopje and forced the enemy to fall back on the convoy they were covering. As night was approaching, pursuit with our tired horses was utterly hopeless, and we were ordered to move to our left and encamp at Germiston, which lay in the hollow behind us.

This, being the junction of railway lines that branch off in several directions, was the key of the Boer position. Our day’s movements had, however, been very successful, and Colonel Henry issued a brigade order next morning saying he had been congratulated by the Commander-in-Chief on the day’s work; while Colonel Ross was also congratulated on the prominent part taken by his corps, which resulted in the capture of fourteen engines and a large quantity of rolling-stock. This was very pleasant news to us, but the work was telling its tale on the horses, who 244were dead beat and fast tumbling to pieces from overwork and want of food. Our casualty was fortunately only one during the day—namely, Private J.D. Bewsher, who was shot through the knee while we were engaging the enemy opposite Boksburg.

Owing to the pace we had travelled and the hilly nature of the country, our Maxim gun under Captain Holmes, with its escort, had not come into camp when we retired to bed. The men, as on many previous occasions, had to turn in without food, and their horses were in the same plight.

After Pretoria had been taken A Company and Headquarters remained at Irene, and B Company went to Kalfontein, ten miles south on the line. The duties at both places were similar, in that they had to patrol the line and the neighbourhood. One of the Irene regular patrols was to Pretoria and back daily.

On one of the usual patrols into that town Captain Rutherfoord passed a German ambulance proceeding south, who explained that they had been 259allowed to do so, but carried no pass. Arriving at Pretoria, he reported the fact to the authorities, and also that he had stopped the ambulance until he could get orders concerning it. On inquiry, having ascertained that nothing was known about it, he obtained a letter to the Commandant at Irene, who was told to ascertain that the ambulance people were carrying no papers for the use of the enemy, and, if satisfied, to allow them to proceed. The Commandant, being a man of high ideals, did not see his way to thoroughly searching the ambulance, which contained four German nurses, in addition to the four doctors, and he therefore allowed them to pass on having taken the senior doctor’s word of honour that they had with them nothing of any use to the enemy in the way of papers. The ambulance then went on its way, but stopped the night at Kalfontein, ten miles beyond Irene. In the evening a wire came to us for an officer’s patrol to bring all those people back to Pretoria. Captain Rutherfoord was accordingly sent to Kalfontein for the purpose, and returned in the evening with the party.

Colonel Lumsden and all of us felt so sorry for the prisoners that we decided to ask them to dinner, which invitation being accepted, in due course we all sat down together in our little mess-house.

During our stay at Irene, as it was bitterly cold, we had run up a small hut: walls of piled-up stones, a tin roof, and a most cunningly contrived fireplace which did not smoke. We decorated the place with flowers, had a tip-top dinner, and drank crème de menthe as our only beverage. The dinner went off in the wonderful way dinners do. None of us could talk German, and none of them English, and yet we conversed freely and had the greatest fun. The show concluded with songs, and the last remembrance I have of it was that the Colonel and the prettiest ‘sister’ were taking down one another’s addresses and betting gloves about something in the quietest corner. Rutherfoord had been hiding as much as possible, as he felt himself to blame for being the cause of all their trouble, but we gave him away at the end, and though they all pretended to be very angry with him, we unanimously allowed that he had beaten all but the Colonel in winning the favours of the fair sex.

At about 2 A.M. we escorted them back to their caravan and said good-night, first of all pointing out that a sentry was posted over them, with orders to shoot at sight if anyone left the waggons during the night. They started for Pretoria at daybreak, but most of the officers were there to see them off, while one met them a few miles up the road. The Colonel was late for breakfast that morning. We heard afterwards that on arrival at Pretoria they were searched, and the result was that the doctors went to gaol, and the dear ladies were sent under supervision out of the country. We all, however, are quite certain that they were innocent victims of Boer duplicity.

Some officers of Lumsden’s Horse were in the Pretoria Club that night, but it was not they who gave away the countersign. Occasional visits to Pretoria in the vain hope of finding that some articles of luxury or much-needed outfit could be bought there became great events in the lives of both officers and men during their banishment to lines of communication. Somehow a goodly number of them, for whom sport was an irresistible attraction, managed to assemble 262on ground a mile outside the racecourse when three score of competitors started for the first military steeplechase ever ridden near Pretoria. After this event Colonel Lumsden wrote with pardonable pride:

Beharis will be pleased to hear that Captain Rutherfoord, of ours, won the first paper-chase in Pretoria. There were sixty starters over a stiff country, with the result that grief was plentiful.

Pretoria did not give itself away all at once to the temptations of a novel spectacle; but there were ladies in carriages among the little crowd of sightseers, and some stolid burghers looked on with approval, while others took part in the chase, for Boers have a bond of sympathy with us in love of horse-racing and field sports. The Commander-in-Chief came, sitting his shapely chestnut with a firmer and more workmanlike ease than half the horsemen present could boast of, and looking as if he could still show them all the way over a stiff hunting country. His appearance at the starting-point was a signal for marshalling the forces into line.

Then a Staff officer gave the word to go, and away went the motley field, more than half a hundred strong, spurring, 264hustling, charging like a Cavalry squadron for all they were worth. A light-weight, who served with distinction in Her Majesty’s Navy years ago, was quickest off, and led them over the two stone walls, closely followed by Captain Cox, of the New South Wales Lancers. Then came the second flight, riding for the walls knee to knee. Thanks to bold hearts and resolute riding, they all got over. A fall in that dense formation with another rank rushing close behind would have brought more than one rider to unutterable grief. But the ranks began to thin where a spruit had to be crossed, with steep banks into and out of the drift. There the ‘Skipper’s’ pony, with speed unchecked, gained a good lead, but he came down at the next made-up fence and gave his rider a nasty fall. The active light-weight, however, nipped into the saddle and went on cheery as ever. Then in clouds of dust, through which the fences could scarcely be seen, leggy horses and diminutive ponies rushed onward, jostling for a lead as before. Captain McNeil, of Montmorency’s Scouts, came down and broke his collar-bone, and Gibbs, of the Somerset Yeomanry, falling with his horse on top of him, had two ribs broken. But still ‘the chase went sweeping heedless by’ over a wide dug-out, with a hurdle to screen it and a trappy ditch where the road had to be crossed. Then they spread out to gallop over stony ground for the spruit, into which many floundered. The pace was beginning to tell on horses out of condition as they struggled up hill to go for a formidable bank of sandbags topped with loose earth that had been dug out of the ditch in front. Down-hill again to a hollow, where the little stream meandering between boggy ground had to be crossed three times. There several jaded steeds came to a standstill, having shot their bolts, and only a select few went up the next hill to the trappiest fence of all, where water flowed between deep banks. There the ‘Skipper’ got his third fall, but he mounted again and followed the leaders as they rounded the flag and rode for home. Captain Cox had also been left behind, and the running was taken up by Captain Rutherfoord, of Lumsden’s Horse, with Major Kenna, V.C., of the 21st Lancers, in close attendance. Flanks were heaving and pipes wheezing before the next boulder-strewn ridge had been crossed. ‘A run is nothing without music,’ said a subaltern as he roused his panting 265steed for another effort. He nearly blundered, as many others did, over the next little fence, and they were being left hopelessly behind. Kenna and Rutherfoord charged the last stone wall side by side, and rose together at it. Rutherfoord landed first, and had the race in hand, but, mistaking the post, eased his horse too soon. So Kenna, V.C., got a neck ahead in the straight run home, and thus won his right to claim the brush or whatever may be a substitute for it in paper-chasing. That was the official verdict, but Lumsden’s Horse still hold that their champion was first past the post.

One day a pleasant incident enlivened Colonel Lumsden’s ordinarily uneventful round of inspections. He had been visiting posts south of Irene, and was hurrying back to headquarters on an affair of urgent importance, when a train stopped at one of the sidings. Before he had time to realise that it was a special, or to make any inquiries, the train began to move again. So he jumped on to the nearest platform, and presently found himself in a corridor, cleaner and more carefully looked after than any he had seen on a Transvaal railway up to that time. Not knowing what to make of it, and half-expecting to meet an angry Chief of the Staff face to face, he refrained from exploring further. Presently a lady passed and said, ‘Won’t you come in?’ Colonel Lumsden was smoking at the time, and declined for that reason. ‘But mother wishes you to come,’ was the reply. So the gallant Colonel yielded with ready grace, and found himself in the presence of Lady Roberts, who, with her daughters, was on the way to Pretoria. They were just then nearing Irene, and Colonel Lumsden drew attention to the camp of his Indian Volunteers, in whom he thought Lady Roberts would naturally be much interested. To his surprise he saw a huge bonfire burning, and in silhouette against it were the words, ‘Welcome to Lady Roberts!’ Sergeant-Major Stephens had hit upon this happy idea, and put it into execution just at the right moment. One of the daughters, seeing it, said, ‘Oh, mother, there is a warm welcome for you, at any rate!’ Lady Roberts frequently referred to this impromptu welcome in conversation with Colonel Lumsden afterwards, and spoke appreciatively of the pleasure it had given her.

For nearly two months from the fall of Pretoria on June 5 to 26 July,  29th Lumsden’s Horse were scattered up and down the railway lines between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Colonel Lumsden gives the following official account of this period in a letter to the executive committee of his corps:

The names of several other applicants are still before His Excellency, and I hope to advise you soon of their having received commissions also. At the same time I do not expect any of these will leave the corps until its disbandment. Young Maurice Clifford has been taken on by General Ian Hamilton as orderly, and is also likely to receive a commission, as well as Leslie Williams, son of the late popular Gwatkin Williams.

Captain Rutherfoord, Lieutenant Crane, and Sergeant Macnamara have been offered commissions in the Transvaal Mounted Police, and will probably remain in this country, as I believe will a good many others.

Captain Stevenson is likely to obtain an important veterinary appointment out here, and Dr. (Captain) Powell is also in the running for a high medical post should he prefer this to returning to India.

All the above, added to the continued requisitions for men of my corps for various offices, point to the esteem in which they are held by the authorities apart from their fighting qualities. In fact, were it not for strong remonstrances on my part to official requests, I should be in a fair way to lose a big percentage of my men before the work for which they came out has been completed.

In my previous letter I mentioned the sad plight to which our horses had been reduced, and that at the time of writing I doubted my ability to place ninety mounted men in the field fit for a two-days’ march. You will now be pleased to hear that in this respect things have improved, and that 269I can now mount 180 officers and men on fairly serviceable animals, few, however, remaining of our original Indian chargers. In this connection I may also mention that out of sixty Argentine remounts received at Kroonstad, only one is alive.

Now comes the important question of finance.

I have been spending various sums on comforts for the men, the largest item being 50l. for a much-needed supply of tobacco.

The men are very badly in want of clothes, especially breeches, tunics, and boots. I have indented on the Government Stores at Bloemfontein for a complete outfit, and hope to receive it shortly. This, of course, will be issued to us gratis. Nothing in the shape of clothing can be got for money.

I am enclosing a statement showing roughly the financial position of the corps. From this you will see that, provided the war is not prolonged beyond our present anticipations, there will be an ample balance left to admit of the payments estimated for in Calcutta.

On January 4, 1901, just one year after they had assembled on the Maidan full of high hopes and noble aspirations, these Indian Volunteers, who had made for themselves a name that will long be honoured among British soldiers, were disbanded. So the curtain fell on the war scene in which the two hundred and fifty men known to history as Lumsden’s Horse played their parts. They had been in the field ten months, marched from camp to camp over 1,500 miles, fought in thirty-nine actions, lost seven men killed in action, two from enteric, several at various times incapacitated by wounds; they had left nearly sixty of their number in South Africa, some as administrators, some in the Regular Army, and some in the Police; they had brought back to Calcutta only four of the horses with which they started, and had used up 750 remounts. They had been twice mentioned in despatches by the Field-Marshal, and had been praised by every General under whom they served. Out of a total of fifteen officers, one, Colonel Lumsden, was decorated by Her Majesty Queen Victoria with the C.B.; another, Major Chamney, received the C.M.G.; two others, Captain Rutherfoord and Lieutenant Pugh, obtained the D.S.O.

The Adjutant and the two Regular officers who had commanded companies were promoted a step, to the rank of Brevet-Major. Trooper J.A. Graham, whose act of valour at Crocodile River has been recorded, received the Distinguished Conduct Medal; similar decorations were awarded to Corporal Percy Jones, Troopers P.C. Preston, H.N. Betts, W.E. Dexter, and Regimental Sergeant-Major Marsham; while seven other N.C.O.s and troopers were mentioned in despatches. It is a noteworthy 410fact that of all those whose names were brought forward by Colonel Lumsden not one failed to obtain recognition from the Commander-in-Chief, and only three received less honourable distinctions than their Colonel thought they were entitled to. All these things prove that nobody was recommended except for meritorious services of which clear and conclusive evidence could be given. All soldiers will appreciate what that means. And of twenty-three who obtained commissions in the Regular Army and others gazetted to Irregular corps, only two resigned subsequently. Colonel Lumsden was exceptionally fortunate in securing this number of commissions, and still more fortunate in selecting men worthy to retain them. It must not be forgotten, however, that the majority of those serving in the ranks of Lumsden’s Horse were Public School boys, some of whom may have failed in their examinations for Sandhurst, and gone out to fight their way in India as indigo, tea, and coffee planters, and who, when the occasion arose, were just the right men to fill the appointments they got. Their merits were recognised not only by our own military authorities, but also by the enemy. One Boer told the Rev. J.H. Siddons, of Great Berkhampstead, whose letter is quoted by permission, that Lumsden’s Horse were ‘exceptionally good both at scouting and shooting.’ The same authority also says that he had similar testimony to their merits from a corporal of one of the Cavalry regiments. This is not surprising, as Lumsden’s Horse and their comrades of the Line were always on good terms, and had a mutual admiration for each other. In a letter to the Colonel, Trooper D. Morison says:

I am afraid I cannot help you much with my personal experiences and views. No doubt everyone who writes you on the subject will be full of praise and admiration for Mr. Thomas Atkins as we found him on the veldt. But I should like to record what a splendid chap he is. Whether Scotch, Irish, Welsh, or from any other part of the country, he is all the same when it comes to a tight corner.

Decorations

Colonel D.M. Lumsden, Assam Valley Light Horse C.B.

Major H. Chamney, Surma Valley Light Horse.

Captain J.B. Rutherfoord, Behar Light Horse D.S.O.

Lieutenant H.O. Pugh, Calcutta Light Horse D.S.O.


Following are the recommendations made by Lieutenant-Colonel Lumsden, late commanding Lumsden’s Horse, in bringing the names of the undermentioned officers and men to the favourable notice of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, the Commander-in-Chief, as having done special and meritorious work during the service of his corps in South Africa. The promotions or honours given subsequently are placed within parentheses.

Previous to the date of these recommendations, Major Chamney had been gazetted a Companion of St. Michael and St. George, while Captain Rutherfoord and Lieutenant Pugh had received the decoration of the Distinguished Service Order.

History of Lumsden's Horse

Passenger List: S.S. Largs Bay from Southampton to Fremantle, Australia 10th June 1932.

Burton made a last trip back to England and departed Southampton, United Kingdom on the 11th May 1932 on board the "Largs Bay" bound for Australia and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on the on the 10th June. Burton gave his residential address as Landridge Street, Bondi via Sydney, New South Wales.  

Burton was buried on the 15th September 1934 at the Rookwood Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia, Anglican Section 14, Grave 911. 

findagrave.com

IRINGA CEMETERY, South Africa.

At the outbreak of the First World War Tanzania was the core of German East Africa. From the invasion of April 1915, Commonwealth forces fought a protracted and difficult campaign against a relatively small but highly skilled German force under the command of General von Lettow-Vorbeck. When the Germans finally surrendered on 23 November 1918, twelve days after the European armistice, their numbers had been reduced to 155 European and 1,168 African troops. Iringa was captured in September 1916 and an officers' hospital was posted in the town. Twelve burials were made in Iringa Cemetery from May 1916, to December 1917, and after the Armistice 135 graves were brought in from other burial grounds. Iringa Cemetery now contains 131 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and one from the Second World War. The Commission also cares for 16 German war burials within the cemetery.

RUTHERFOORD, Lieutenant, ARTHUR HENRY, 1st. Rhodesia Native Regiment. 23rd July 1917. Age 27. Son of Ellen Rutherfoord, of Alma House, Collingham Bridge, Leeds, England, and the late John Brownley Rutherfoord. II. A. 4.

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 10/04/2024-16/04/2024.

Private: 7708 Kurst BLASSER.

by

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.

Lieutenant: Alfred Charles EADE

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Garrison Reserve - 34th BATTALION AIF

Lieutenant-Honorary Captain: Alfred Charles EADE

Born: 30th March 1884. Croydon, Middlesex, England. 

Married: 1913. Mosman, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:13491/1913.

Wife: Emily Louise Eade. nee: Turnidge. (1884- 01/06/1971) Died at St Leonards via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:48951/1971.

Died: 27th February 1949. Moree, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:5713/1950.

Father: Henry Eade. 

Mother: Hannah Eade. (1853-16/05/1913) Died in New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:6788/1913. 

INFORMATION

Men participating in the March to Freedom guide two horse-drawn and loaded carts across the Great Dividing Range. One of 12 images relating to a 1918 "March to Freedom" First World War recruiting march. Led by Captain (Capt) Alfred Charles Eade, Officer Commanding Lithgow Camp, this march ran for a month starting on the New England Tableland, across the Great Dividing Range and through the Hunter Valley, arriving in Cessnock on 6 June 1918. Initially planning to finish in Newcastle the men were directed to Sydney and 300 men arrived there on 10 June. Following the success of this march, a southern march was organised and commenced on 2 July from Albury. Capt Eade was an experienced militia officer, serving with the 43rd Regiment, he accompanied the Coo-ee recruitment march in 1915 and spent time as an AIF instructor in 1915. He later was commandant at Bathurst and Lithgow camps before his own enlistment in the AIF in April 1918. He embarked as a general service reinforcement (Paybook number 513115) in July 1918 and on arrival was attached to the 34th Battalion. He was hospitalised with nephritis for a month and returned to Australia in June 1919.

"Pipe playing one column into Cessnock. Capt Eade O.C. [right] and Lieut Colyer, 2nd in command on horseback". 

 

"No lack of cheering here. A Strong Post at Kurri-Kurri Welcoming the March to Freedom column". Young children, humorously described as a [military] strong post, some with flags line the road as the new recruits of the March to Freedom pass by. 

 

"Capt Eade commanding March to Freedom being welcomed by the Mayors of Newcastle & Hamilton". Captain Eade on horseback approaches dignitaries in front of an archway decorated with flags, material and a sign over the arch reading "Welcome to Newcastle, through to Berlin". Alderman Kilgour, mayor of Newcastle is fourth from the left at front in a dark suit.

 

Alfresco meal at Broadmeadow, Newcastle, of soldiers and recruits during the March to Freedom.

 

Alderman R G Kilgour, Mayor of Newcastle welcomes the men of the "March to Freedom" recruiting column. In front of the post office, the flag-covered dais is flanked by children, some with small flags. Captain Eade is turning his head away and the war memorial dedicated in 1916 is to the right of the image.

 

The March to Freedom column leaves Singleton (caption on back of print). Townspeople line the road.

Australian War Memorial

Alfred Charles Eade a bank officer who was appointed to the AIF on 27 April 1918. He embarked for England 17 July and arrived on 27 September 1918. On 6 January 1919 he joined the 34th Battalion in France. He embarked for Australia on 3 May and arrived on 21 June 1919. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 7 August 1919. Prior to his enlistment in the AIF he had been a Captain in the Citizen Military Force and was in full time service in Australia. He was involved in the organization of the Cooee March in 1915 from Gilgandra to Sydney and the March to Freedom from Armidale to Sydney in 1918. He ran the recruiting centre at Lithgow from July 1915. Then he was in command of the recruit training camp at Bathurst between late 1915 and 1917 and then continued his involvement in recruit training at the Liverpool camp.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Monday 24 July 1916, page 9

A CAPTAIN FINED.

ABUSED AN EDITOR.

Sydney, July 23.

Alfred Charles Eade, a captain in the A.I.F, was fined £1, with 27/ costs at the Bathurst court yesterday, for having used insulting words to Absalom Gartrell, managing editor of the "Bathurst Times." The evidence showed that the defendant abused the editor for publishing a few lines of verse which the defendant said were against the site of the Bathurst camp, and all drunken lies. He called Gartrell liar and a drunken skunk.

Family Information

He is the brother of Captain: Henry Arthur EADE  35th Battalion AIF and brother-in-law of Private: 9147 Arthur Linnett TURNIDGE 1st Field Ambulance and Private: 7200 Harold Gladstone TURNIDGE 2nd Battalion AIF.

The Honour Roll is located in what was the main banking chamber of the former Commercial Bank of Sydney's head office.

Bronze plaque mounted on wooden carved backing

The Honour Roll was recently unveiled in the banking-chamber at the head office in the presence of the directors, general manager, and members of the metropolitan staff. The ceremony was performed by Mr. O. J. Cohen, who mentioned that 345 officers of the bank enlisted for active service and 58 failed to return. Special honours gained were:— D.S.O., 5; O.B.E., 1 ; M.B.E., 1; M.O., 8; D.C.M.,1; M.S.M., 1; M.M., 5; mentioned in despatches, 9; Card of Honour awarded by Brigadier, 1.

Sydney Mail, 20 October 1926.

IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS OF THIS BANK
WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 -1919

On the 23rd of April 1938 Alfred attended the 34th Battalion AIF reunion at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney at 7:30pm followed by a Smoko at Sargents, Market Street, Sydney commencing at 8:00pm sharp. Alfred signed the card belonging to Lieutenant: Augustus Gibson FARLEIGH. 

34th Battalion Reunion Card 1938

Family Information

Alfred was a married 34 year old Bank Officer from "Bunyah" Mustow Street, Mosman, N.S.W upon his enlistment with the AIF. He served as Captain with the 43rd Infantry for 1913. Emily Louise Eade was Cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. 

Warialda Standard and Northern Districts' Advertiser (NSW : 1900 - 1954), Monday 9 January 1950, page 3

Sudden Death of Mr. A. C. Eade

LED FAMOUS RECRUITING MARCH

Alfred Charles Eade (65), collapsed and died in his room at the Hotel Criterion, Moree. The body was discovered by the housekeeper, Mrs. McGrath. The late Mr. Eade was born in England and came to Australia as a boy. He joined the staff of the Commercial Banking Co of Sydney at the age of 16. Stationed at Gilgandra on the outbreak of World War 1, he led the famous "Cooee" recruiting march from that centre to Sydney where he enlisted with the A.I.F., and went overseas with the 34th Battalion, in which he served with the rank of lieutenant. At the cessation of hostilities he re joined the bank where he remained until he retired some three years ago, having been made a relieving manager. In all he served 46 years with the bank. The late Mr. Eade came to Moree about three years ago and took an active interest in the Bowling Club. Keenly interested in gardening, he did much to improve the surroundings of the Bowling Club. He was also a member of the Services Club. Interment took place in the Moree cemetery after a service in the Church of England conducted by Archdeacon Border. Pall bearers were members of the Bowling Club. A guard of honour was formed by members of the Returned Servicemen's League. The Last Post was sounded at the graveside.

graveside.—"N.W. Champion."

Trove Article

Grave of Hannah Eade (1853-1913) Gore Hill Cemetery via Western Sydney.

Australian Cemeteries Index

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 22/08/2023

 

Private: 50849 William Henry CONNELL

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GARRISON RESERVE - 35th BATTALION AIF

Private: 50849 William Henry CONNELL

Born: 9th November 1882. Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:

Married: 1918. Burwood via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:4638/1918.

Wife: Mabel Rose Connell. nee: Stone. nee: Hogan. (1898-1983) 

Died: 6th June 1919. Died of Pneumonia, 1st Dermatological Hospital, Tidworth, England.

Father: Peter John Connell. (1849-1906) Died at Forbes, N.S.W.

Mother: Elizabeth Louisa Connell. nee: Clothier. (1862-1919) 

INFORMATION

William Henry Connell was born at Forbes, New South Wales, Australia on 9th November, 1887 to father Henry Connell. The 1913 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Ashburnham, subdivision of Forbes, NSW recorded William Henry Connell, Groom, of Dowling Street. William Henry Connell married Mabel Rose Stone (nee Hogan) in 1918 in the district of Burwood, Sydney, NSW.
William Henry Connell was a 30 year old, married, Labourer from Forbes, NSW when he enlisted in Sydney, NSW on 14th February, 1918 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His service number was 50849 & his religion was Church of England. His next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs M. R. Connell, Parramatta Road, Burwood, Sydney,

NSW. (Note: Originally the next-of-kin was listed as his father – Henry Connell, “Wisbeach Villa”, Parkes Rd, Forbes, NSW.) Private William Henry Connell was posted to Show Ground Camp, Sydney, NSW on 18th February, 1918 for recruit training. He was transferred to Recruit M. & D. Depot at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW on 22nd February, 1918. Private Connell was transferred to “D” Company, 1st Depot Battalion on 13th March, 1918 then transferred to 1st General Service Reinforcements (NSW) on 14th March, 1918. Private William Henry Connell embarked from Sydney, NSW on RMS Osterley on 8th May, 1918 with the 1st New South Wales Reinforcements.

He was admitted to Ship’s Isolation Hospital in 12th May, 1918 while at Sea as a V.D patient & discharged from Ship’s Isolation Hospital on 10th June, 1918. Private Connell forfeited 30 day’s Pay - £7-
10-0 for a total V.D. period of 30 days. Private Connell disembarked at Liverpool, England on 10th July, 1918. Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Private William Henry Connell was marched in to 5th Training Battalion from Australia on 11th July, 1918. He was allotted to 20th Battalion Reinforcements from 11th July, 1918 whilst at 5th Training Battalion.

Private William Henry Connell was transferred to Reinforcements of 35th Battalion – 9th Training Battalion at Fovant, Wiltshire on 26th July, 1918. He was taken on strength 35th Battalion from 20th Battalion Details ex 5th Training Battalion on 26th July, 1918. Private William Henry Connell proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone on 24th October, 1918 from 9th Training Battalion, Fovant, Wiltshire. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Rouelles on 26th October, 1918 & marched to the Front on 28th October, 1918. Private Connell was taken on strength of 35th Battalion in France on 29th October, 1918.

Private William Henry Connell was sent sick to Hospital on 23rd April, 1919. He was admitted to 11th Field Ambulance on 23rd April, 1919 then transferred & admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital in France the same day with V.D. Private Connell was transferred on 23rd April, 1919 & admitted to 39th General Hospital at Havre, France on 24th April, 1919. He was transferred to England on 25th April, 1919 on Hospital Ship Panama.

Private William Henry Connell was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire, England on 28th April, 1919 with Gonorrhoea. Private William Henry Connell was transferred to Military Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire on 2nd June, 1919 with Pneumonia & was reported as dangerously & seriously ill. Private William Henry Connell died at 05.10 hrs on 6th June, 1919 at 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia. A death for William H. Connell, aged 31, was registered in the June quarter, 1919 in the district of Amesbury,
Wiltshire, England.

Grave of William Henry Connell. Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire England,

Private William Henry Connell was buried on 10th June, 1919 in Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England Plot number C. 377 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. From the burial report of Private Connell - Coffin was Elm with brass mounts.

Deceased was buried with full honours the coffin draped with the Australian flag being borne to the graveside preceded by a Firing Party from Headquarters A.I.F. Depots in United Kingdom. Six of deceased’s late Unit comrades supported the Pall. The “Last Post” was sounded and volleys fired over the grave. A number of Australians followed the remains and were present at the graveside ceremony. Headquarters, A.I.F. Depots in United Kingdom were represented at the funeral.

Private William Henry Connell requested in his Will, dated 12th April, 1918, that in the event of his death the whole of his Estate (both real and personal) be bequeathed to his wife Mrs Mabel Rose Connell, Parramatta Rd, Burwood, Sydney, NSW. Mrs Connell was also appointed Executor of his Will. Private William Henry Connell was entitled to British War Medal & the Victory Medal. A Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were also sent to Private Connell’s widow – Mrs M. R. Connell, as the closest next-of-kin. (Scroll sent August, 1922 & Plaque sent October, 1922).

Williams Victory Medal: 58566 to PTE 50849 W.H.CONNELL. 35BN A.I.F and Memorial Plaque:342869 were acquired from Noble Auctions in July 2022 and are now in the Harrower Collection. His plaque was first issued to his widow on the 26th October 1922.  

Military Records

Under Construction: 25/07/2022.

Corporal: 734 Thomas McGillivary CRAN

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36th BATTALION - 35th BATTALION AIF - 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery.

Corporal: 734 Thomas McGillivary CRAN

Born: 28 January 1885. Farmton, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Died: 12 June 1917. Died of Wounds. Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium. 

Father: John Cran. 

Mother: Elizabeth Cran. nee: McGillivary.

INFORMATION

Thomas Cran enlisted with the AIF on the 28th March 1916 at the Rutherford Army Camp at West Maitland with the rank of Private allocated to the 36th Battalion, C Company embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 "Beltana" on 13 May 1916 and disembarked on the 9th July at Plymouth, England. Thomas was marched in the the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp. Here the Battalion settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine.

Thomas was transferred from the 36th Battalion to the 35th Battalion on the 2nd August 1916 where he continued his training before he was Taken on in Strength with the 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery whist at Lark hill. He proceeded overseas with the 9th Infantry Brigade on the 21st November 1916 and en trained at Amesbury for Southampton, embarking on the S.S "Arundel". The transport section left by S.S. "Princess Victoria". The Battalion arrived at Le Harve, France on the 22nd November 1916. Disembarkation commenced at 8:00 am and the Battalion marched to No;1 camp on the Hill, arriving at 2:00 pm. 

Thomas was marched out to the Divisional Training School on the 21st January 1917 and after completion we re joined his unit with the 9th Light Trench mortar Battery. Thomas was promoted Temporary Corporal on the 11th May 1917 when Corporal:2172 George KNOWLES was sent to Divisional Training

1st June 1917.

3:00pm. An Ammunition Dump at Hyde Park Corner was Blown Up. Explosion caused apparently by a truck load of Stokes Bombs capsizing. Our casualties were heavy, numbering 110 Killed and Wounded. 

(3rd Division Artillery Unit History)

Thomas was Wounded in Action on the 1st June 1917 and Died of Wounds at 12:15 pm on the 12th June 1917 at the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne, France, from a Gun Shot Wounds to his Thigh and Leg and Arm he received accidentally owing to explosion of ammunition dump at Ploegsteert Wood and is perpetuated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, France. Reverend J WOODWELL officiated the service.

 

Clatt War Memorial. Clatt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Thomas Cran being the only one who served with the dominion forces

 

A Scottish 'Digger's' Great War casualty medal pair: Corporal Thomas McGillivary Cran, 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Imperial Force

- British War Medal. Silver issue (734 Cpl. T. Mc G. Cran 9 L.T.M.B. A.I.F.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (734 Cpl. T. M. Cran 9 -L.T.M.B. A.I.F.)

Sold together with:

- Australian Imperial Force. Cap badge. Kings Crown, complete with slider suspension as issued

- Australia. Blackened brass shoulder title. Complete with 2 x copper loop fittings as issued

Important: Corporal Thomas Cran is recorded as having 'Died Of Wounds' at Ploegstreet Wood, Belgium, on 12 June 1917

Note: Both medals confirmed as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War (recipients extant service papers held by the Australian National Archives refer)

Thomas McGillivary Cran, son of John Cran (a Farmer) and Elizabeth Cran (nee McGillivary) was a native of, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born on 28 January 1885. His father farmed at Farmton, Glenkindie, Strathdon. Prior to the Great War, Thomas had migrated to Australia. Thomas attested for service with the 36th Battalion Australian Imperial Force on 8 March 1916 at West Maitland New South Wales, giving his age as 30 and his profession as 'Engine Driver'. After a period of training in Australia and later in England he embarked for France in November of that year, and was assigned to the 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery from 8 May 1917. Promoted Temporary Corporal a day later, sadly he was not to enjoy his new unit or step up in rank for long as on 2 June 1917 he was wounded in action and died of his injuries on 12 June - an annotation in his record notes: 'Died of wounds received accidentally owing to explosion of ammunition dump at Ploegsteert Wood'. A parcel of personal effects was forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Cran, of Clifton Road, Aberdeen, Scotland.

The life and supreme sacrifice of Thomas Cran, who Died-of-Wounds died during the Great War, is perpetuated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, at the Boulogne Easter Cemetery, Boulogne, France, where his bodily remains lie buried. Cemetery: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
Grave or Reference Panel Number: IV. A. 1.

He is also commemorated on the Clatt War Memorial 1914-1919, located at Clatt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This latter rural memorial listing 7 x soldiers, Thomas Cran being the only one who served with the dominion forces

Clatt Public School Roll of Honour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Thomas Cran.

For those with a particular interest in the 'Fallen' of the Great War who hailed from the, Strathdon area, of, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, see the monumental web-site for the Kennethmont, Gartly, Rhyne & Kearn and Clatt war memorials at;

- www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Thomas's British War Medal:38769  and Victory Medal:38456  to 734 CPL. T. M. CRAN 9 -L.T.M.B. A.I.F. were acquired from Aberdeen Medals on the 25th April (Anzac Day) 2022 and are now in the Harrower Collection. 

Family Information

Thomas was a single 31 year old Engine Driver from Dartmouth, Muswellbrook, New South Wales upon his enlistment with the AIF. Hi mother Eliza was recorded as his next of kin who lived at 36 Clifton Road, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 24/06/2022-26/04/2022.

Sergeant: 820 John Stanger MOORE.

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36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Sergeant: 820 John Stanger "Stan" MOORE.

Born: 1892. Stonehenge, Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:14163/1892.

Married: 1948. Canterbury via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:17599/1948.

Wife: Enid Muriel Moore. nee: Hampton. (1905-1985)

Died: 1974. Concord Repatriation Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.

Father: John Wellington Moore. (1860-20/05/1952) N.S.W. Australia. 

Mother: Margaret Jane Moore. nee: Volkhardt. (1861-21/01/1944) Died at Croydon, N.S.W. Australia. 

Step Mother: Constance Blackett. 

INFORMATION

John Stanger Moore enlisted with the AIF on the 1st February 1916 and was allocated to C Company 36th Battalion AIF. John was a member of the Glen Innes Rifle Club and the bulk of the Battalion's recruits had enlisted as a result of a recruiting drive conducted amongst the RIFLE CLUBS of New South Wales by the Minister of Public Information in the New South Wales Government, Ambrose CARMICHAEL. Thus the Battalion became known as "CARMICHAEL'S THOUSAND". Carmichael led by example and enlisted as well, serving in the Battalion as a Captain.

On the 6th November 1917 John was promoted to Temporary Sergeant when Sergeant: 715 Archibald James BOURNE reverted back to the rank of Corporal and then to Sergeant on the 17th January 1918 to complete the Battalion's establishment. 

John was transferred to the 33rd Battalion AIF when the 36th Battalion AIF was disbanded on the 30th April 1918.

36th Battalion last parade

5th May 1918.

The Nucleus garrisons with the exception of 2 men per post rejoined their Companies during the afternoon. The men rested during the day and that evening moved up to the left Battalion Sector to assist the 35th Battalion in operations to advance their line by taking the trenches held by the Bosche opposite. Two Companies of 33rd Battalion, B and C Companies were to hold the Line. A and D Companies to provide carrying parties for the attack. 

A Company carrying from 35th Bn H.Q to forward dumps in the front of 35th Line and D Company from there to the new position. Zero hour was 11:45pm when it turned out to be extremely dark and raining lightly. Despite this everything went well. The objective was taken and also the support trench, 200 yards further on. 3 Officers and 165 other ranks, 9 Machine Guns and 3 Trench Mortars were captured. Many casualties were inflicted on the Enemy both by the barrage and the advancing troops.  

The Line was advanced on a front of 1500 yards to a depth pf 800 to 900 yards and a much better position occupied than that previously held. Carrying Parties. A Company employed 2 Officers and 45 other ranks. D Company employed 3 Officers and 45 other ranks. Stores carried. Bombs, 20 boxes. S.A.A. 12,000 rounds. French wire, 48 coils. Screw pickets, 200. Barbed wire, 60 coils.

Time spent - 5 hours. The No: 1 and 3 carrying parties of D Company encountered parties of Bosche in the German Front Line that had not been mopped up. These were dealt with without casualties. 1 N.C.O. and 10 men detailed by 35th Bn to carry for the 9th A.L.T.M. Battery, 8 men from A Company also detailed for Stretcher Bearers.

8th May 1918.

A, C and D Companies attached 34th Bn, B Company attached 35th Bn. At 6 a.m. C Company was ordered to stand in J.23a in reserve. D Company received orders at 4 a.m. to report to 34th Bn and was placed in position in the old front line from J.18.c.10.25 to J.23.d.50.00. A Company of the 44th Bn, relieved D Company at 9 a.m. and the Company moved to a position J.18.c.10.25.c.25.45.

The remaining 2 platoons of A Company No: 1 an 4 dug a Communication Trench 4'6" by 2' from J.23.b.25.10 to J.23.d.50.95 during the night. D Company supplied a carrying party for R.E. stores to the 34th Bn Front Line. 33rd  "B" Teams under Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK with a strength of 5 Officers and 105 other ranks relieved C Company of 34th Bn at 1.30 a.m. on the 9th.  The remainder of the nucleus garrison reported back to the company's during the evening. 

Lieutenant: 129 Walter Gillian MASON and a runner whole returning from guiding the composite Company into position encountering 8 Bosche, with a 10th Brigade Machine Gunner, about 1000 yards behind our Front Line. The Bosche and Lieutenant: 129 Walter Gillian MASON without wounding him and he ran to a post near by and with their assistance captured the Bosche after having wounded 3 of them They had been relieved in their own Lines and then lost their way so staying into our Lines.

33rd Battalion War Diary.

John was Wounded in Action during this operation on the 8th May 1918 where he received a Gun Shot Wound to his Right Thigh and was evacuated to England where he was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley on the 27th June 1918.

John returned to Australia on the 20th November 1918.

ANZAC PARK, Glen Innes, New South Wales.

John's Victory Medal:42734 to 820 SJT J.S.MOORE 36 BN AIF was acquired in December 2021 and is now in the Harrower Collection.

Family Information

John was a single 23 year old Farmer from Coonil, Glen Innes, N.S.W. and was a member of the Glen Innes Rifle Club prior to his enlistment with the AIF 

GLEN INNES DISTRICT RESERVE RIFLE CLUB ROLL OF HONOR

Glen Innes Examiner (NSW : 1908 - 1954), Monday 20 November 1916, page 3

John and Margaret Volkhardt were married in 1887 at Randwick, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:3019/1887.

 

Not Confirmed

Half Brothers and Sisters to John Stanger MOORE.

Margaret Janet Valentine BLACKETT. Born 1894 at Coonamble, N.S.W. and died in 21/01/1944 at Haberfield, N.S.W. Dorothy Agnes BLACKETT. Born 18/01/1897 at Coonamble, N.S.W. and died in 1989. Eunice Anna BLACKETT. Born 10/04/1899 at Coonamble, N.S.W. and died 1925. Laura Hunter BLACKETT. Born 1888 and died 19/11/1925 at Paddington, N.S.W. Constance Rose BLACKETT Born 1891 and died 12/03/1939 at Hurstville, N.S.W. Albert William BLACKETT. Born 1892 and died 16/11/1967 at Liverpool, N.S.W. Claude Edward BLACKETT. Born 1886 and died 17/08/1971 at Burwood, N.S.W.

Military Records

Under Construction: 15/12/2021.

Private: 917 Angus William KENNEDY

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33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 917 Angus William KENNEDY

Born: 19th February 1897. Inverell, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:12967/1897.

Married: 30th January 1926. Leichardt, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:

Wife: Edith Alfreda Kennedy. nee: Millwood. (1899-1999)

Died: 10th May 1984. Lindfield, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:10080/1984.

Father: Angus John Kennedy. (1870-19..)

Mother: Aga Agnes Kennedy. nee: Cross. (1867-1934)

INFORMATION

Angus William Kennedy enlisted with the AIF on the 3rd January 1916 at Inverell, New South Wales and was an original member of the 33rd Battalion. Angus was also an original member of the first contingent of recipients of the Inverell Recruitment Medal.

114 Men known as the Kurrajong's lined up against the Drill Hall in Inverell prior to marching to the railway station on the 12th of January 1916. The men all wore a white panama hat and were issued a pair of hand knitted socks and the Inverell Recruitment Medal.

Angus was allocated to C Company 33rd Battalion and travelled to Sydney from Farley Station with the 33rd Battalion before embarking for England on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the 4th May 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 9th July 1916 where they were marched in to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp, where the Battalion settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine.

On the 2nd September 1916, Angus was marched in to the Trench Mortar School at Perham Downs and was hospitalised on the 25th of September suffering from Pleurisy and was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital on the 27th as his condition worsened as he was seriously ill with Pneumonia. Angus remained in Hospital until he was discharged on the 16th October and was marched in the the No:4 Command Depot before proceeding overseas for France on the 10th April 1917. 

The 33rd rested in their billets on the 6th June 1917 at Nieppe and marched to StYves on the 7th of June for the Brigades push 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 defense 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 9:00am 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. 

 Angus was given this photo of a German Prisoner of War and Card after he was captured during the advance at Messines on the 8th June 1917 as he was being marched to the neared Prisoner of War Camp.

Photo of  German Prisoner and Card were acquired in November 2021 and are now in the Harrower Collection

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)

Angus was Wounded in Action, 1st occasion on the 21st June 1918 but remained in the Lines

8th August 1918.

The approach was made in two stages. The 33rd Battalion moved from VIEW SECTOR on the night of August 6th/7th to AUBIGNY and rested there for 24 hours. On the night of August 7th/8th the Battalion passed the starting point at C.3.C.70.20 at 10.20 pm. "A" track was used. The marking of the route was not sufficient, consequently it was picqueted by 30 men, including the band, under an officer. The march was made without incident or interruptions and we suffered no casualties. the head of the column reached the jumping-off line at 1.10 am. The march discipline throughout was excellent.

"A" track was laid to our left flank, consequently a tape line was laid to the center of the Battalion front. "A" and "B" Company's wheeled in single file to the right, and "C" and "D" Company's to the left. As shown in the attached map, the jumping line was in rear of our outpost line in places. There was plenty of room in the front line (BARRABOOL TRENCH) for the whole Battalion to be under cover. The original plan was to remain in this trench until zero minus 5 minutes. But the situation was so quiet that the Companies were able to take up their dispositions in their ordered formation, and so rest in the open.

This assembly was completed at 2.10 am. We had no casualties before zero hour. Lieutenant: 129 Walter Gilligan MASON. (A Company Scout Officer) had charge of laying the tapes and did this work very well. Six direction tapes each 100 yards long were laid, one on each flank of the Battalion and one in the center of each platoon front. These proved of the greatest value owing to the fog. The 33rd Battalion Scouts relieved those of the 38th Battalion who were holding the sector at 10.00 pm. At 10.30 they encountered an enemy post at P.21.B.30.20; the enemy threw bombs and wounded five of our men. Ten minutes later the 38th Battalion had an Officers patrol in NO MAN'S LAND but no further trace of the enemy could be found.

The Assault at about 4.00 am, as a dense fog arose, so dense was it that it was impossible to see more than 10 feet ahead. The whole artillery opened fire with great precision, and the barrage was very accurate. The fog made it extremely difficult to keep direction and to maintain formation, consequently the advance resolved itself into small parties moving on their own initiative. Only the first of the special ACCROCHE WOOD Signals could be seen, the smoke accentuated the fog. Even the barrage could not be seen.

ACCROCHE WOOD was strongly garrisoned and contained an abnormally large number of machine guns, but the garrison offered no resistance and readily surrendered. The attack was quite unexpected, and the fog was certainly to our advantage. The enemy remained in his dugouts during the bombardment. He gave us very little occasion to use bombs as he readily came forward with his hands extended above his head, one would almost think this was one of his favourite P.T. exercises.

Most of the guns in LONE VALLEY got away they were aided by the fog and all that we could do was to open fire on them. We captured only three guns in this valley, three 4.2's south of RAT WOOD. HAZEL WOOD was captured without difficulty. The GREEN LINE was reached according to schedule and consolidation immediately commenced. On the left protective barrage at 8.20 am when the 4th Division passed through us to the second phase of the attack, this line was re-sited and ran from Q.25.B.40.80; to Q.20.A.40.10; We were in touch with the 35th Battalion on our left and the 18th Battalion who did not occupy their allotted front. The sector was organised into four Company Sub Sectors each with two Platoons in the front line and two in support. Battalion Headquarters were established at P.23.D.50.50; The re-organisation and refitting of the Battalion was carried out without delay.

The barrage was excellent, not a single short being reported. All ranks are most enthusiastic in their appreciation of the exceedingly fine work of our artillery. The movement forward of our batteries to assist in the second phase was splendidly carried out. Special mention too must be made to the good work of the 10th and 9th A.L.T.M. Batteries and the 5th and 6th A.M.T.M. Batteries. One expected to see many more enemy dead in the area, not more than 50 were seen. The enemy's resorting to deep dugouts and his good form in athletics accounted for this.

The enemy's artillery was surprisingly feeble. At no time was his fire effective. When he eventually did learn something of the situation he lost no time in beating a hasty retreat. In the early stages the tanks were no assistance, being behind our troops most of the time. When the visibility allowed the tanks to go forward they did excellent work. Only one tank reached the green line with our troops. When they did get in front they were handled to great advantage. Their effect on the enemy's moral greatly delighted our men. The supply tank formed our dump 300 yards in rear of our line. The value of getting such large supplies forward so early and saving of infantry carrying parties cannot be overestimated.

The work of our machine guns could only be heard. Their fire appeared to be well concentrated and undoubtedly must have been accurate. Only one means of communication was possible, namely runners, and they had very great difficulty in finding their way; On the fog lifting viability and telephonic communication was established. The liaison patrols with the 5th Brigade on our right did not function.

Seven officers, 500 other ranks were captured. This is a conservative estimate and much below the totals submitted by the Companies. 457 can be definitely accounted for these having passed through Battalion Headquarters. 4 x 4.2 Howitzers and 6 x 77 MM Guns. These were captured by Lieutenant: 3072 Frank Albert HUTCHINGS M.C. and party and were marked and tagged. This party worked in the Second Division's area and captured these guns just north of LA MOTTE-en-SANTARRE. On returning in the afternoon to ascertain the number they found, that the guns had been taken away. The remaining there were captured at LENA WOOD. 30 machine guns. Of these 16 have been sent to the HAMELET dump. We have not the numbers of the remaining 14, but the total of 30 is a low estimate. a number of our guns were removed by other units which did not take part in the attack. 1 x Anti-Tank gun. 10 light Minenwerfers, 2 medium minenwerfer, 1 horse, 2 typewriters, large quantity of shells, rifles, equipment, documents and war material.

Casualties 10 Killed in Action, 50 wounded.

(33rd Battalion Unit Diary)

Angus was Wounded in Action, 2nd occasion during this action where he received a Gun Shot Wound to his Chest and was 1 of the 50 men wounded. 

Angus embarked from England on HMAT A30 "Borda" on the 11th May 1919 and returned to Australia on the 28th of June before being discharged from the AIF on the 12th August 1919.

Inverell War Memorial

Family Information

Angus was a single 18 year old Iron Worker from Inverell, NSW upon his enlistment with the AIF. Angus served during World War 2 with the rank of Lieutenant with the Volunteer Defence Corps, service number N71759.

Angus and Edith Millwood were married at the All Souls Anglican Church at Norton Street, Leichardt, New South Wales, Australia. 

Obituary Notice. Edith Alfreda Kennedy (1899-1999)

Military Records

World War 2 Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 28/11/20210-06/12/2021.

Sergeant: 1068 Frederick BOWERS

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35th BATTALION AIF

Sergeant: 1068 Frederick BOWERS

Born: 6th February 1896. Lambton via Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:786/1896.

Married: 1932. West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:9803/1932. ?

Wife: Mary Florence Bowers. nee: Morgan. 18..-1975) New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:14567/1975. ?

Died: 19th September 1960. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:29798/1960. ?

Father: Abraham Bowers. (4/7/1858-29/1/1934) Died at West Wallsend, N.S.W. Death Cert:1947/1934.

Mother: Amelia Bowers. nee: Creasey. (1858-1931) Died at West Wallsend, N.S.W. Death Cert:2726/1931.

INFORMATION

Frederick Bowers enlisted with the AIF on the 7th December 1915 at West Maitland, N.S.W. and was allocated to D Company 35th Battalion where he was promoted to Sergeant on the 1st January 1916 and was an original member of the Battalion. Frederick embarked from Sydney with the 35th Battalion on the 1st May 1916 on board HMAT A24 "Benalla" for England and disembarked at Plymouth on the 9th July 1916 and en trained during the afternoon for Amesbury, arriving at midnight and marching to hutments at Larkhill. Here the Battalion settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine.

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 defense 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 9:00am 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. 

Fredericks British War Medal:41541 to SGT F. BOWERS 35 BN A.I.F. was acquired in September 2021 and is now in the Harrower Collection. 

Family Information

Frederick was a single 21 year old Labourer from Wilson Street, West Maitland, N.S.W. upon his enlistment with the AIF. Frederick served during World War s service number: N79829, enlisting at Randwick, N.S.W.

Grave of Amelia Bowers (1858-1931) - Abraham Bowers (1858-1934) West Wallsend Cemetery

Military Records

Private: 2172 George KNOWLES

by

36th BATTALION AIF

Private: 2172 George KNOWLES

Born: September 1878. Forest Hill, Catford, Kent, England. 

Married: December 1903. Catford, Kent, England.

Wife: Rose Matilda Knowles. nee: Fletcher/Futcher. (31/05/1878-08/10/1971) Died at Ashbury N.S.W. Australia. 

Died: 12th October 1917. Killed in Action. Passchendaele, Belgium

Father: James Knowles. (1843-1917)

Mother: Mary Knowles. nee: Russell. (1850-1903)

INFORMATION

George Thomas Knowles enlisted with the Depot Company Newcastle on the 17 May 1916 at Pelaw Main, New South Wales and embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 24 August 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 11th October 1916. George was marched in the the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp and proceeded overseas for France on the 22nd of January 1917.

22nd January 1917.

Armenteries. Enemy started light shelling at 10:00 am. At 2:00 pm locality 16 & 17 was heavily bombarded also locality 14 which ended in a box barrage being put on at 4:10 pm and an attack by the enemy from Pimple Salient. They entered our trenches but were only in 10 minutes. Our casualties 11 killed, 36 wounded, 4 missing. It is quite possible the 4 missing have been buried by Minnies.

Killed in Action; Lance Sergeant: 11 Francis Anthony ANGELINETTA. (A Company) - Corporal: 937 John Jack WILDRIDGE (A Company) - Private: 172 Charles SLOCOMBE. (A Company) Private: 183 Denis Alfred STINSON. (A Company)

Wounded in Action; Private: 33 Ralph Albert ASH.

Missing in Action; later confirmed Killed in Action;  Private: 180 William Lionel STALKER. (A Company) - Private: 1706 Andrew WILLIAMS. (A Company) 

Informant; Private: 176 Oscar Norman SMITH "On the 22nd January 1917 at Houplines, Armentieres the German bombarded out trenches heavily before raiding them Private: 180 William Lionel STALKER and another Private: 1706 Andrew WILLIAMS were missing for several days after the bombardment. We then found their bodies buried in a shelter and frozen in the ground and up to the time of my being wounded on the 6th of February their bodies had not been but out owing to the frost. There can be no doubt at all as to the identity of these men. I am surprised they have not been reported killed.

17th February 1917

On the night of 17th-18th February last. Lieutenant: Clarence William BODDY 36th Bn when on patrol in NO MAN'S LAND, crawled close up to a Machine Gun emplacement in the enemy wire when the Gun therein suddenly Opened fire. Sergeant: 731 Gordon Mott COX who was hit and their presence became known to the enemy who thereupon opened up a concentrated fire on them. Lieutenant BODDY who was carrying a demolition charge which was hit by a bullet without causing it to explode, thereupon crawled backwards to within about six yards of the gun, with the charge under him, fired it and he and the Sergeant both dashed away and sheltered in a crater. The charge exploded and the gun at once ceased fire and it is probable that it was destroyed. Corps, Divisional, and Brigade Commanders desire to congratulate Lieutenant BODDY on his successful and hazardous enterprise.

(36th Battalion War Diary)

4th 6th March 1917.

(1) HOUPLINES. 34th Battalion relieved by 36th Battalion- Working Parties and Training started.

7th March 1917.

Orders received to relieve 42nd Battalion in EPINETTE Sector. All arrangements made. Advance Parties sent into trenches. Orders cancelled late at night.

8th March 1917.

Working Parties of 35th Battalion taken over as well as our own. Major: John Alexander MILNE. promoted to Lieutenant Colonel as from 24th February 1917.

9th to 11th March 1917.

Very busy with Working Parties. No Training possible.

12th March 1917.

TRENCHES. Took over the whole of the HOUPLINE Sector from locality 8 to RIVER LYS. S.O.S. went up from locality 16 that night. Enemy raid possibly avoided.

13th to 16th March 1917.

Intermittent Artillery dual throughout course of tour of duty.

17th March 1917.

HOUPLINES. 34th Battalion relieved 36th Battalion. Took up quarters as "C" Battalion-Working Parties.

18th - 20th March 1917.

Working Parties - These were excessive on the the night of 20th. When 240 men worked from 5.00 am to 1:00 pm and again from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Rest given the next day.

22nd to 25th March 1917.

Battalion engaged as Working Parties. Took over Trenches on 25th.

26th March 1917.

TRENCHES. Heavy Artillery fire over whole Sector. Enemy working at night in front line C.29.

27th to 28th March 1917.

Intermittent shelling during two days. Snow falling. Cold intense.

29th March 1917.

Artillery dual progressing. Enemy heavily shelling our front line. Heavy and medium Trench Mortars carried out a shoot with good effect. IRISH AVENUE heavily strafed with 77 m.m.

30th March 1917.

TRENCHES, HOUPLINES. Patrols state enemy front line held very lightly. Enemy shelling HOUPLINES with 4.2 howitzer. Light Trench Mortars got on to a working Party of enemy and inflicted loss.

31st March 1917.

Light Trench Mortars again scored a Working Party. Heavy Trench Mortar fired with good effect damaging enemy support line. Enemy considerably shelled our front line.

1st to 2nd April 1917.

TRENCHES. HOUPLINES. Considerable shelling all over Sector. Nothing important. 34th Battalion relieved 36th Battalion on morning of 2nd April. Battalion moved to Billets in ARMENTIERES.

3rd to 8th April 1917.

ARMENTIERES. Battalion supplied Working Parties for HOUPLINES Sector.

(36th Battalion War Diary)

7th April 1917.

Our Artillery fairly active. Trench Mortars fired in retaliation for pineapples from locality 16.13 and behind J Gap, No Mans Land as usual. Patrols, a number of Enemy covering parties discovered but disappeared on fighting patrol sending shot. Aircraft Patrol of 8 Planes passed over enemy lines returning in 1 hour. Enemy reconnaissance, a plane which flew low over our lines, it would appear likely that enemy anticipate some action. Killed 1 Evacuated 3.

Private: 1801 Albert Joseph CLARK was Killed in Action in the Houplines Armentieres, France on the 8th of April 1917. Albert was the only man from the 34th who was Killed in Action during April 1917.

(34th Battalion War Diary)

9th April 1917.

Battalion under orders to proceed to ST OMER District for Training.

(36th Battalion War Diary)

9th April 1917.

On the 9th the 33rd once again took over the front line, again at L'Epinette. They moved to Senninghem on the 12th where they were headquartered until the 25th. Then once again they were on the march, via Renescure and Pradelle to Armentieres, Where, on the 28th they gained a well earned rest. On the 21st May the men of the 33rd were moved to Le Touquet to Ploegsteert Wood for the usual working parties, trench maintenance being high on the agenda for the coming offensive. Three days later they were at St Vyes for more of the same, relieved on the 26th May by the 34th Battalion and moved back to billets at Nippe.

(Never a Backward Step; Edwards 1996)

10th April 1917.

Left ARMENTIERES at 10:00 am Marched to STEENWRECK and en trained for ST OMER. Marched from ST OMER to WIZERNES.

11th April 1917.

WIZERNES. Marched to JOURNY (2nd Army Training Area)

12th to 24th April 1917.

JOURNY. Battalion engaged in Training.

25th April 1917.

Battalion marched to ARQUES.

26th April 1917.

ARQUES. Battalion marched to Gd. Sec. BIOS.

27th April 1917.

Gd.SEC BOIS. Battalion marched to ERQUINGHAM.

28th April 1917.

ERQUINGHAM. Resting.

29th April 1917.

TRENCHES. LE TOUQUET. Battalion took over Le Touquet Trenches from 11th CHESHIRE REGIMENT. Relief being completed by midnight.

30th April 1917.

At 4:10 am enemy opened a heavy bombardment on our on our front line from RIVER LYS to LOWNDES AVENUE, being particularly heavy on left Company Sector. At this point enemy dropped a curtain of shrapnel and H.E. on Supports and Communication Trenches. S.O.S. was at once sent up. Artillery responded at once. Enemy evidently attempted to raid but did not reach our parapet. Barrage slackened at 6:35 am. Enemy used light and heavy Minnewerfere together with all sizes of H.E. Our casualties, 5 killed, 15 wounded, including 1 Officer Lieutenant: Clarence William BODDY slightly wounded.

Private: 2383 John SLATER. 36th Battalion. Killed in Action 30th April 1917.

9th May 1917.

Informant; Lieutenant: 1205 William Alexander McLEAN. At 1:00 am I reached the bombing post and the left of "D" Gap. We were observing down the gap and saw movement 70 yards down the gap. We then saw three crouching figures with round caps making for our support line. I ordered the men to get there rifles and bombs ready and told them to fire. The three Germans dropped flat. Private: 5043 Albert Francis LANE of his own accord jumped out of the bay and got to a point 15 yards down the gap and commenced to throw bombs. The Lewis Guns then commenced to fire at the place where the men had been seen. We then saw 25 Germans making back to their own line. The Lewis Guns then fired three separate bursts at them and we saw at least 6 Germans fall, in NO MAN'S LAND 70 yards from our own front line. The Lewis Guns continued firing and were sweeping perfectly. We then saw a German limping 30 yards from our own trench; the Lewis Gun was turned on him and he fell.

Three men and myself went out immediately and found a German sitting in a shell hole. We brought him in although he was screaming with pain. The stretcher bearers were sent for and the German was taken to Company Headquarters, then to the Aid Post. Our party threw 24 bombs and fired 50 rounds from their rifles. The Lewis Gunners fired 10 magazines. The Germans made their entrance by means of the old trench which runs from our lines through NO MAN'S LAND. From the point where Private: 5043 Albert Francis LANE threw bombs the gap is heavily wired and we could make no progress to attack them. The Germans also left in a diagonal direction so it was impossible to get in NO MAN'S LAND and cut them off.

Officer of the Watch.

LE TOUQUET 1:00 am. Enemy silently raided our trenches and were driven off with Lewis Gun fire and bombs leaving 1 prisoner in our hands. Trench maintenance and repairs were carried out over the next 4 days.

33rd Battalion Unit Diary

17th May 1917.

On the 17th of May the Germans tried to raid the 34th Battalion at Le Touquet. The enemy this time employed the British method of a very short, though heavy, preliminary bombardment. The preliminary registration however had been observed and the Australian counter-barrage came down within 10 seconds of the S.O.S signal fired by Lieutenant: 4559 Frederick Murchison WAUGH. M.C. 34th Battalion. A party of Bavarians attempted to enter by a gap in the front line. One climbed the parapet and said "Hands Oop!" He was at once shot, and fell dead into the trench. Lewis Guns, in particular that of Private: 1416 Joseph Edward KIRK. M.M 34th Battalion, drove the enemy off.

On the 18th of May the previous night's attempt against the 34th Battalion was repeated after a short heave bombardment. On the S.O.S. being fired by Lieutenant: 1118 William Wright EDMONDS. M.C. 34th Battalion, the protecting barrage again came down instantly, but the enemy entered a gap near a sector in which cylinders had been installed for an impending release of gas. Working alone the line, they bombed a Lewis Gun Team, wounding three. The remaining men, Lance Corporal: 1530 James HAM D.C.M. 34th Battalion and Private 1248 Bertram Guy TAYLOR M.M. 34th Battalion, continued to fire, and killed all five intruders.

Lieutenant: Benjamin Greenup BRODIE and the scouts afterwards went out, driving back the German covering party and stretcher-bearers, brought in a wounded Baverian Pioneer, and evidence and identification from 11 Germans who had been killed.

( History of World War 1. Vol IV. Bean) Charles Edwin Woodrow BEAN

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 defense 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 9:00am 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. 

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)

Military Medal was awarded to Private Donald Cranston MURRAY  33rd Battalion on the 28th June 1917.

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.

On the 7th of July a special Parade held at ‘Hillside Camp’, when the Corps Commander presented Medals to sixteen members of the Australian 3rd Division.

Sergeant: 1425 Cyril Russell EATON. 33rd Battalion AIF. M.M

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)

12th July 1917.

MESSINES Relieved 41st Battalion in Sector u.11.b to u-5-b as per Bn 0.0.47 d/9/7/17 and Intelligence summary d/127/17. Enemy Shelled road south of MESSINES and caught tail of relief Killing two. Two men killed and others wounded. Trenches found to be in very bad condition. They had been very badly sited no attention having been paid to conformation of ground. The first principles of trench siding had not been observed and no attention paid to drainage. Communication trenches were straight, shallow and through not having been duck boarded when dug had become quite impassable in places an account of mud. Front Line had rifle on us field of fire and both it and the Support line were crude observation from WARNETON from whence they were directly exploded in places.

(33rd Battalion War Diary)

19th July 1917.

Casualties 1 killed "Private: 2097 John Henry JAMIESON" and 5 wounded Private: 198 Edward Abraham "Ted" SULLIVAN in WELLINGTON TRENCH. Enemy firing gas shells intermittently all night. 

(34th Battalion War Diary)

23rd July 1917.

Relieved by 33rd Bn AIF and 35th move back to Close Support position. Casualties during tour in front line 45 including 12 killed. 2nd Lieut: Thomas Laurence GRAY was wounded 25/07/17.

26th July 1917. MESSINES.

Relieved 33rd BN in front line, Captain: Hugh John CONNELL was buried by a shell in the front line 28/07/17 and evacuated. On night of 28/07/17 enemy placed a heavy barrage on the 35th Bn front line (Douve River to Steicnvast Farm) and finally attempted to raid our Right Company "A Coy" on the River Douve. They were successfully repulsed with considerable loss to themselves. Our counter barrage, both Machine-Gun and Artillery being excellent. Captain: Henry Charles Dight CADELL was in command of A Coy. Our trenches were badly damaged but no entrance was affected, our men though very tired and worn fought splendidly.

35th Bn AIF was relieved by 41st Bn (Brigade Relief) 35th moved back to Douve River Camp. Casualties during 27-30/07/17, 41 including 13 killed. This month was the most strenuous in the history of the Battalion (not including the big offensive of June) as the new ground in front of Messines was in a very wet and muddy state, and hastily constructed trenches combined with long tours in the line and the natural desire of the enemy to prevent us settling down made conditions very trying for all ranks.

Private: 2915 Frederick James DEARING. 35th Battalion.

1st August 1917.

NEUVE EGLISE Battalion at rest in DOUVE RIVER CAMP after coming fom MESSINES SECTOR. 3/8/17. 7:00 am Battalion leaved DOUVE RIVER CAMP and marches via NEUVE EGLISE and STEENWERET to YIEUX BERQUIN AREA. Battalion arrives at billets at 10:30 am Battalion Headquarters at Le YERRIER.

(35th Battalion War Diary)

1 September 1917.

RECREATION

George was grated leave to England from the 12th September until the 29th of September when he re joined the Battalion for the advance at Passchendaele. 

12th October 1917

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE I

At 1:30 am rain showers began. By 2:30 am it was raining lightly but steadily, by 3:30 fairly heavily. the infantry moved through the pitch dark in single file. In some battalions each man held on to the equipment of the man ahead of him; if touch was broken, those in front had to come back. The news that the line as reported by the 66th division was not held only just reached the incoming troops. Accordingly, in the right brigade (9th) the leading Company Commanders Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. and Captain: Telford Graham GILDER M.C. both of the 34th Battalion stopped their men at the entrance to Broodseinde railway cutting, and themselves went to make sure that their column might not run into the enemy.

At Keerselaarhoek Cemetery they found the tape duly laid, and met the officer of the 36th Battalion who had laid it, and by 3:00 am the time set, the 34th battalion was extended on its jumping-off position. But during the previous halt and afterwards, as it lay on the tape, the battalion was persistently shelled and suffered many casualties.

The first shell killed three signallers. Lieutenant: Albert Leslie WATSON. a signal officer of the 34th Battalion, a brave and enterprising leader who also was at the head of the column was severely wounded and all his staff hit. After establishing a forward command post Lieutenant: Thomas Fraser BRUCE 36th Battalion was also killed. Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE. 36th Battalion supervising the assembly was knocked down by a shell but continued to command. Captain, Chaplain: Charles MURPHY was also wounded.

(BEAN; History of World war 1 Vol IV p911) Charles Edwin Woodrow BEAN

Only one Australian Division, the 3rd, was wholly employed in the days offensive. but the division was to capture Passchendaele an in spite of the depressing conditions, it was eager to achieve the distinction of doing so. One unit carried the Australian flag,to be planted in Passchendaele, and although officers and men in general were not enthusiastic concerning such "stunts" the Commander-in-Chief had been informed, and had told General: MONASH that, when this flag was planted, the news would be immediately cabled to Australia.

Some keen spirits looked on the operation simply as a dash for Passchendaele. One young company commander of Monash's reserve battalion, the 33rd, in face of a strict prohibition, led on his company as soon as the barrage fell. Starting from a line 350 yards in rear of the general alignment, the 3rd Division was out of touch with its neighbours from the outset. The heavy shelling on the tapes had made orderly disposition there almost impossible, as German Machine-Guns, undisturbed by the barrage now opened immediately, no opportunity offered of restoring proper formation.

The 9th Brigade went forward in the utmost confusion and a terrible mix up as reported by Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON D.S.O 35th Battalion at 6:40 am and "Great Confusion" was the description given by Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion. Even on the ridge, the mud was difficult, the hope, if there ever was one, of catching up before the quick barrage finished.

The 9th Infantry Brigade's intended direction lay not along the ridge and the Passchendeale road, but diagonally across them, and parallel to the railway, which most of the brigade could not see. As the jumping-off line was practically at right angles to the ridge, the brigade tendered to advance alone the heights. The Machine-Gun fire at the start came, on the 9th Brigade's right, from the ruined house near Defy Crossing; on its center from, "Hillside Farm"; and on its left from Augustus Wood.

The pillbox opposite the center was supported from the rear by a trench in which were Germans with Machine-Guns, and here occurred a delay which threatened to wreck to whole attack. it was not until an hour after the program time that these places were rushed by the neighbouring portion of the line under Captain: Henry Vince CARR and Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O of the 35th Battalion. The trench contained 35 Germans and 4 Machine-Guns. Part of the line was also held up by a pillbox close to Passchendaele road near the highest point of the ridge.

Here there was practically no shelter from attack, but Captain Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. of the 34th Battalion managed to organise a party, with Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE and another N.C.O Corporal: 2036 Vere Cummings STEVENSON and a dozen men, and outflanking it, charged the place from the rear, capturing 25 Germans and 2 Machine-Guns. These actions set free the advance. The pillbox captured by Captain Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. being not far short of the first objective, the 34th Battalion dug in there.

Great loss had been uncured; the 34th Battalion had only three officers left and there were wide gaps in the line. The right flank had swung far away from the railway, along which the 4th Division was attacking, but on the left Captain: Telford Graham GILDER M.C. of the 34th Battalion who had been wounded by a Machine-Gun bullet, but was carrying on found the 10th Brigade digging in slightly to his left under Captain: LATCHFORD, 38th Battalion, and fell back seventy yards to join it.

The Advance to the second objective was to begin at 8:25, the low clouds had opened, and fleecy cirrus with patches of blue were widening overhead and the sun had come out. The 9th Brigade had been so late in reaching the first objective that, while most of the 34th Battalion dug in, the 35th Battalion, allotted for the second phase, moved straight on. Standing on the Passchendaele road, Captain: Henry Vince CARR and Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O of the 35th Battalion endevoured to decide where the barrage then was; at first Carr thought it may be behind them, but finally decided that it was ahead.

The confusion at the start had split the brigade into mixed parties of all battalions and many of the 34th went on with the 35th, the main body of which, about 100 in all, now advanced along the south-eastern side of the ridge in order to catch the barrage. The hour was probably a little before that for the second advance. A German Machine-Gun in the gap between the brigade's right and the railway immediately opened with deadly effect.

Major: John Bruce BUCHANAN 36th Battalion, the senior forward officer was killed. At this critical juncture Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. of the 34th Battalion, again accompanied by Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE, led out a few men from the first objective and made for the gun. it was shooting in short bursts, and he was able to work up fairly close. Seizing a moment when it was firing to the north, he and his men rushed at it from the west. It was switched round, killing him, and sending his men to the ground.

But when its fire eased they worked round it, rushed the position, seized 25 Germans and 2 Machine-Guns. This gallant and effective action Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for removing the chief danger to the advance along the crest, but as soon as the 35th Battalion crossed to the eastern side of the hill it became the target of a number of field and heavy guns which, from the hedges and other cover in various parts of the landscape, fired over open sights.

After passing a corpse on its right, the 35th Battalion settled down on what its officers took to be the second objective, although on the extreme right they were actually short of the first. Captain: Henry Vince CARR, now the senior officer on the spot, reported; 8:35. On objective, with about 100 Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. DSO and three officers. Casualties 25 or 30 per cent. Captain: Henry Charles Dight CADELL M.C   Lieutenant: Charles Teesdale MAIN   Lieutenant: Keith Maitland DAY reported killed and Lieutenant: Frank HORNE   Lieutenant: Christopher Kyffin MEARS  Lieutenant: Charles John HENRY were wounded. Prisoners sent back 400-500. Contact on flanks uncertain, being heavily shelled.

Three posts were established under surviving officers, right Lieutenant: Norman Beade D'ARCY M.C centre Lieutenant: Joseph Francis ADAMS left Lieutenant: Harold Sydney WYNDHAM. In this brigade the battalion for the final objective was the 36th, and a report came along that it had gone through. Actually, it had advanced with the 35th, but, on the left, penetrated to the second objective, which bad been reconnoitered during the previous halt by the commander of the company Captain Robert Austin GOLDRICK. M.C.

He went up the road towards Passchendaele. The barrage, he said afterwards was no hindrance to him, although he left the line lying as close to it as possible "or where he thought it was." He was unable to detect the intensification of the barrage for the second phase, but led his men forward at the proper hour.

As no other battalion was there, he now established the line with its left on the road 600 yards from the church, about the point reached by the 66th Division's troops on October 9th. In front of the position Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK. M.C. and Lieutenant E.H FLEITER (39th Battalion) found hidden in a shell hole men of the 66th Division. One had a broken arm, the other trench-feet. They took the Australians at first for Germans. When reassured,"we knew the Australians would come," they said, 'We prayed hard."

From the direction of the church, which lay straight down the highway, no fire came. two Germans ran up the road and surrendered. South-east of the village, along the Moorslede road, were the Germans who seemed "very windy," and near the road two 5.9-inch howitzers began to blaze at the troops digging in.

The 9th Brigade had taken its second objective and the 10th its first, but the position of the officers in charge of these advanced lines was full of anxiety. On the eastern slope Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion, the senior officer in this part of the 9th Brigade's front, could see the 4th Division somewhat ahead of its right, and by 10:55 he had discovered that the 36th was on the left, but farther left than the 10th Brigade was far behind on its first objective . The German Guns ahead were sniping with dreadful accuracy. Carr on the western slope, sent back for instructions: "what am I to do?"

Word of the true situation reached headquarters slowly. As on the 9th, the first news was all encouraging. General: MONASH in the Ypres ramparts heard shortly after 7 that both brigades were "well away"; but by 8:26 he had ample evidence that the first objective was taken. At 9:25 the intelligence officer examining prisoners (Lieutenant: Frederick Morley CUTLACK Official War Correspondent) reported having heard from the wounded men that the second objective had been reached.

At 10:28 headquarters was informed of a statement of a wounded man, that the 38th Battalion had gone through. A further report that Australians had been seen at Crest Farm although quickly contradicting but probably true nevertheless. Which confirmed Monash's impression that his division was succeeding. Concerning the New Zealand brigade on his left, however, there was no word until, at 10:50, there arrived the tragic information that the New Zealand Division was stopped by the enemy alone the entire front.

Monash has already heard at 9:55 that the 10th Brigade was held up by fire from Bellevue Spur. Believing that his division was still advancing, he asked that every gun that the New Zealand Division could spare should be turned upon that ridge to suppress the fire. Meanwhile, he would order the reserve (39th) battalion of the 10th Brigade to be ready to assist in holding the ground already won. The reserve battalion the (33rd) of the 9th Brigade he was still keeping back to assist in the capture of Passchendaele.

Shortly after noon news of the true situation arrived. Lieutenant Jackson of the 40th Battalion had established at Waterfields pillbox near the Ravebeek a forward report-centre from which a series of messages, admirably accurate, was flashed by lamp to the headquarters of Lieutenant Colonel Lord of the 40th Battalion. Thus Brigadier General McNicoll of the 10th Brigade was able to inform Monash of the precise position of Giblin's Line. He added that the situation was very serious and the casualties very heave. At the same time from the front line of the 9th Brigade arrived a pigeon message, sent by Captain: Richard GADD of the 36th Battalion.

We are on the Blue Line (second objective) with composite force all three battalions, both flanks in the air.

The New Zealand Division was to make a second attempt at 3:00 pm, and Monash was of the opinion that from the 9th Brigade, well forward on the ridge, patrols might still work northward around Crest Farm. His reserve, the 33rd Battalion (9th Brigade), was accordingly ordered to attempt this at 4:30 pm and the 10th Brigade's forward line being meanwhile reinforced by its own reserve, the 39th Battalion.

These orders went out, but none of them were fulfilled. The New Zealand Division had been defeated by obstacles which no hastily renewed bombardment could have overcome. no infantry in the world could have crossed the Ravebeek mud, penetrated the dense wire, and attacked the crowded pillboxes of Bellview with the assistance of a barrage which did not even screen the advance. No blame can attach to the artillery. Its commander, according to the New Zealand official history, had reported on the previous day that his guns might be unable to give efficient support.

This magnificent division, which lost nearly 3,000 men, had been held up in almost exactly the same position as the 49th three days before-the left brigade penetrating half-way to the first objective, the right stopped almost at the start. The Germans were reinforcing. The New Zealand battalion commanders knew that their men had no chance of succeeding by renewed attack, and the order was eventually cancelled.

As for the Australians, of the two battalions that MONASH had now ordered to participate, the 39th had already to a large extent been involved in the fighting, and the 33rd, endevouring to reach its position of readiness for outflanking Passchendaele, had suffered great loss. No less than 6 of its Officers were killed or mortally wounded. Captain: Wilfred Frank HINTON in command of the forward company, Lieutenant Leonard Rockley BROWNLOW  Lieutenant: Thomas Acheson ARMSTRONG   Lieutenant: Albert George KILPATRICK  Lieutenant William REES-REYNOLDS and Lieutenant: Norman Francis GOBLE.

By the time Lieutenant Colonels Henderson DSO 39th Battalion and MORSHEAD attempted to carry Monash's orders, they found that the attacking force of both brigades was back almost at its starting point. What had happened was as follows.

Neither Major: GIBLIN near the Ravenbeek nor Captain: Henry Vince CARR on the ridge had received their messages sent several hours earlier. The 9th Brigade's line was still being battered by the German Guns. Captain: Richard GADD 36th Battalion, whose troops were being wiped out, informed Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion that Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O 36th Battalion had now come forward to Hillside Farm. CARR accordingly sent Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O with GADD to explain to Milne the desperate nature of their situation. Milne said that he would try to get their troops relieved after dark, but till relieved they must hold on.

(BEAN; History of Word War 1 Vol IV page 921) Charles Edwin Woodrow BEAN

Meanwhile, however, the German artillery was annihilating some parts of their line. All leaders of Carr's three posts were out of action. Lieutenant: Joseph Francis ADAMS was Killed in Action and Lieutenant: Norman Beade D'ARCY M.C and Lieutenant: Harold Sydney WYNDHAM were wounded. Of the remaining officers of the 36th Battalion, Major: John Bruce BUCHANAN and Lieutenant: Fredrick William PUTNEY had been Killed in Action and Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK M.C wounded. Farther back Lieutenant: Sydney COOK had been Killed in Action and Lieutenant: William WAND and Lieutenant: Herbert Reginald MAILER were wounded.

At 3 o'clock rain began to fall steadily. at 3:15 pm Captain: Richard GADD 36th Battalion, thought agreeing with  Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion that to hold on meant annihilation, refused, in view of his Colonel's orders, to retire. Carr consented to wait while Gadd again sent word to Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O. Carr himself at 12: 30 had sent Captain Robert Derwent DIXON.  D.S.O to the headquarters of the 35th Battalion at " Seine", from which no word had been received all day.

At 3:45 pm, no reply having come from Milne, and Dixon not having returned as he had been kept at 35th Battalion headquarters awaiting the arrival of an order from brigade headquarters concerning the projected operation by the reserve battalion, Gadd agreed to withdraw and Carr sent along the line a note: The 35th Battalion will retire.

When visiting Gadd, Carr had warned the troops of the probable order to withdraw, and he now saw that the left had already begun to retire. He told men whom he passed to get back as fast as they could to the 34th Battalion (which he believed to be on the first objective). Captain: William James GORDON M.C 36th Battalion, strongly dissatisfied with the order, went straight to Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O urged that the forward position was tenable, and with Milne and Major: John Martin HAWKEY M.C rushed out to stop the withdrawal. But it was too late.

The 34th was not, as Captain: Henry Vince Carr 35th Battalion, believed, on the first objective. The Commander of the line, Captain: John William RICHARDSON 34th Battalion, on hearing of the extreme weakness of the force at the second objective, had reinforced it. He and his only remaining officer's Lieutenant: James Clement BURGES  Lieutenant: Bruce Gray McKENZIE   Lieutenant: John Abbott LONGWORTH had all been Killed in Action while organising on the first objective, and the first objective now lay empty. The retiring troops, being without orders as to the position to be taken up, streamed back past Milne's headquarters.

All that Hawkey, Gordon, Gadd, and others could then do was to lead a fraction of them forward again to the first objective, where they remained during the night. Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON.  D.S.O. with Captain: John Grieve PATERSON adjutant of the 35th, went up to organise the 35th there, but could find none of it's men. When eventually re-formed the remnant of the 35th was temporarily attached as a Company to the 33rd Battalion.

9th-12th October 1917 saw the 3rd Division, 9th and 10th Infantry Brigade in action during the Battle of Passchendaele, which saw massive losses and suffering in the Australian ranks. The casualties numbered 3,199 men in 24 hours during the height battle. The 34th Battalion lost every officer that day, either killed or wounded including their Medical Officer, Major: Gother Robert Carlisle CLARKE and some of his staff were killed while dressing the wounded. The spirit of some of the wounded is illustrated by the case of Corporal: 3170 Winsleigh Alexander MURRAY   35th Battalion, (formerly a Methodist Minister from Newcastle) gave up his place in a queue waiting for stretcher bearers and was never heard of again.

The Battle of Passchendaele saw 60 Officers and 1,322 other ranks loose their lives.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.

33rd Battalion. AIF 11 Officers 273 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 323 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF 18 Officers 296 Other ranks
36th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 383 Other ranks
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF 1 Officer 36 Other ranks
9th Light Trench Mortar Battery. - Officer 11 Other ranks

George was originally recorded as Missing in Action before a Court of Inquiry changed his status to Killed in Action and he is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Menin Gate War Memorial.

Menin Gate War Memorial

21st December 1917.

To Honorary Secretary of Red Cross Committee.

Dear Sir or Madam. I am writing to thank you for your kindness in finding me the information I asked of my brother in law Private: 2172 George KNOWLES. 36th Battalion. If you at any time obtain further information as to his death I would deem it a great favour if you would kindly advise me. Again thank you for your kindness, 

Remain yours faithfully

Warrant Officer: 431 Richard FLETCHER. DCM. 35th Battalion AIF. 

George's Memorial Plaque:3380210 was first issued to his wife Rose on the 14th February 1923.

Family Information

George was a married 38 year old Brick Layer from Third Street, Pelaw Main, New South Wales, where he lived with his wife Rose and 4 children. George served for 3 years in the West Kent Militia prior to immigrating to Australia when he was aged 30 years. George was educated at the Plassy Board School, Catford, Kent, England. George and Rose Knowles were married in 1903 in England and had 4 daughters. Doris Rose Knowles was born on 26th May, 1904 at Catford and died in 1991 in Ashfield, N.S.W. Florence May Knowles was born on the 27th of July 1905 at Catford and died in 1989 in Ashfield, N.S.W. Gladys May Knowles was born on the 26th September 1907 at Catford and died in 1995 in Ashfield, N.S.W. Their only child born in Australia was Nellie Knowles who was born on the 20th November 1914 at Pelaw Main, N.S.W. and died on the 22nd August 2006 at Baulkam Hill, N.S.W.

Pelaw Main War Memorial 24th November 1917

Hi, here is the story of the Knowles family in Australia.

George Knowles married my grandmother, Rose Matilda Futcher/Fletcher in 1903 in Catford. Their first daughter, Doris Rose was born on 26th May, 1904 at which time they were living at 19 Brookdale Road, Catford.  They had 2 more daughters born in Catford, Florence Mary on 27th July, 1905 and Gladys May on 26th September, 1907. George could not find work in England so he sailed to Australia on TSS Geelong at 2pm on 13th October, 1908. When he arrived he got a job at a Coal Mine in Cessnock as a bricklayer. 

His wife, Rose and the three girls then followed in 1910 on the ship Norseman from London to Sydney, a 6 week trip.  They opened a general store at their house in Pelaw Main which is near Newcastle, about 2 hours north of Sydney. My mother, Nellie was born there on 20th November, 1914. 

In 1916 George enlisted in the Australian Army and was shipped to England and then sent to Belgium where he was killed on 12th October, 1917 in the third battle of Passchendaele.  His remains were never found and his name is on the Menin Gates at Ypres which we visited a few years ago.  His name is also on the Memorial Wall at the Church in Catford which I have also visited and at the school in Pelaw Main where the girls went.

It was a very hard life for Rose then to be left with 4 young girls and no husband and only 1 family out here, Rose’s brother who had also come out with his family in 1912. George’s half sister, Bertha Russell, also came out to Australia but I don’t know when. She had one son that I know of, George Drayton, and he and his wife Chris came to live out here and Bertha came to live with them.  I met George and Chris when I was young, they lived in Queensland and we stayed with them. So unfortunately there are no Knowles to carry on the name in Australia which is rather sad.

Stephen Russell

Birchington, Kent, England. January 2021.
George's Memorial Plaque was first issued to his widow on the 11th October 1922 and was acquired at Auction in August 2021 and is now in the Harrower Collection. 
 
Military Records
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