Private: 2066 Wentworth Lincon EAST.

35th BATTALION A.I.F.

Private: 2066 Wentworth Lincon EAST.

Born: 1889. Nowra, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert: 34030/1889.

Died: 7th June 1917. Killed in Action Messines Ridge, Belgium.

Father: John East.

Mother: Elizabeth East. nee: Jarman. (1852-1944)

INFORMATIONWentworth Lincon East enlisted with F Company, Goulburn Depot on the on the 3rd of April 1916 before en training to Newcastle where he was allocated to the the 3rd reinforcements 35th Battalion AIF on the 6th of May 1916. Wenty embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A68 "Anchises" on the 24th of August 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 11th of October 1916. Wenty was marched to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp at Larkhill where he commenced training for Trench Warfare and overseas deployment. The 3rd Reinforcements proceeded overseas from Southampton for France on the 21st of November and Wenty was Taken on Strength with the 35th Battalion in the field.

7th June 1917.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrage to stop and counter attack was shortened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00 pm this part of the Oosttaverne Line was abandoned. At 10:45 pm General: Alexander 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.Wenty was Killed in Action on the 7th of June 1917 Buried in German Wire, 100 yard's East from an overturned German Concrete Dugout 1 1/2 miles West South West of WARNERTON. Wenty is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Belgium.

Obituary Notice for Private: 2066 Wentworth Lincon East

MENIN GATE WAR MEMORIAL Menin Gate Memorial

Wenty's War Medal:46211 to PTE 2066 W.E. EAST 35 BN AIF with his Bible, letters and other items were acquired from a deceased estate in March 2004 and are now in the Harrower Collection. WW1 pair for Private 2578 Denis Patrick FOSTER. 35th Battalion was also with the estate items.

War Medal: to PTE 2066 W.L.EAST 35BN AIF

War Medal: 46211 to PTE 2066 W.E.EAST 35BN AIF and Memorial Plaque to WENTWORTH LINCOLN EAST. Letter from Chaplain Osborn

Chaplain: John Edward Norman OSBORN Wentys Lighter

Wentworth Lincon East's trench made lighter Letter from CMS McFadden

Letter from Company Sergeant Major: 850 John McFADDEN C Coy 35th Battalion AIF 02/07/1917

Letter from Sergeant: 2169 Gilbert WALTERS to John East, the father of Private: 2066 Wentworth Lincon EAST

Testament presented to Wentworth Lincon East upon his departure to England from the congregation of the Methodist Church, Kiama, New South Wales on the 2nd of July 1916. (Harrower collection)

Family Information

Front Row; Elizabeth East, Elsie, Mary and John East. Back Row; Percy, Ambrose, Aubrey, Ruby Muriel and Wentworth lincon East.

Wenty was a farmer from "Ellerslie" Dunmore via Kiama, N.S.W prior to the Great War. John and Elizabeth East were married in 1875 at Kiama, N.S.W. Marriage Cert: 2869/1875 and had 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. Grace Adelade East born in 1876 at Kiama, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 13425/1876 and married Ira R W Huthnanor in 1907 at Kiama, N.S.W Marriage Cert: 1617/1907. (no death records N.S.W.) Percival John Wentworth East born in 1878 at Kiama, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 14797/1878 and died in 1962 at Wollongong, N.S.W. Death Cert:17542/1962. Elsie May East born in 1879 at Kiama, N.S.W. Birth Cert:15824/1879 and married Hugh D Woolley in 1908 at Kiama, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:1803/1908. Aubrey Oswald John East born 1881 at Kiama, N.S.W. Birth Cert:19395/1881 and married Ida E Cornford in 1905 at Kiama, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:7058/1905 and died in 1953 at Byron Bay, N.S.W. Death Cert:29922/1953. Ruby May East born 1883 at Kiama, N.S.W. birth Cert:21653/1883 (No Marriage or Death Record in NSW). Ambrose Thomas Henry East born 1884 at Kiama, N.S.W. Birth Cert:23501/1884 and married Daisy E Hurst in 1909 at Kiama, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:11482/1909 and died in 1961 at Lismore, N.S.W. Death Cert:2276/1961. John East born in 1886-7 at Petersham, N.S.W. Birth Cert:6147/1886-7 and died in 1886 at Petersham, N.S.W. Death Cert:3499/1886. Wentworth Lincon East born 1889 at Nowra, N.S.W. Birth Cert:34030/1889 and died 7th June 1917. Messines Ridge, Belgium. Mary E East born 1892 at Nowra, N.S.W. Birth Cert:27029/1892 and married Arthur S Cornford in 1915 at Kiama, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:1563/1915 and died in 1975 N.S.W. Death Cert:100644/1975.