Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram (Bert) NORRIS

53^rd Battalion AIF

By Ian Curtis

‘On the morning of the battle he knelt down before his men and received communion from me’¹

Ignatius Bertram (Bert) Norris was born on 31 July 1880, the youngest son of Richard Augustine Norris and Marianne (née Fennessy), in North Sydney, New South Wales. Bert’s father was born in County Cork, Ireland and came to Australia with his parents shortly after the Crimean War, on account of the death of his brother, Surgeon Major JJ Norris of the Connaught Rangers. Richard Norris entered the service of the Bank of Victoria and later moved to New South Wales where he managed the Haymarket branch of the Australian Joint Stock Bank and was treasurer of St Mary’s Cathedral building fund.² Richard married Marianne on 1 August 1868 in Melbourne and they had four sons and four daughters.

Ignatius Bertram was born on the feast day of Saint Ignatius. He was christened with the saint’s name but was always called by his second Christian name, ‘Bertie’ when he was young and ‘Bert’ as he grew older. His parents were devout Catholics and Bert was always strong in his Christian faith.

Bert’s family lived at Hunters Hill and in 1890 his parents enrolled him at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview where he spent seven successful years. Bert was small in stature and fearless, jumping into the pool without learning to swim properly. In his first year he almost drowned in the college pool, Lane Cove River, but a fellow student, Charles Lennon of Brisbane saved him, and Father Edward Pigot SJ³ revived him. In 1893 he escaped serious injury when he was run over by a dray at the Lime Street Wharf, Darling Harbour. It was believed he escaped death because he was wearing the scapular of the Sacred Heart, over which the dray passed.

‘He was one of the many Catholic boys who rowed or ferried across the Lane Cove River to climb the steps up to the fine stone building that commanded such spectacular views towards the city.’⁴

Bert showed academic promise from an early age, winning prizes for Latin and English in 1894. In 1895 he was first in aggregate in the Easter examinations. He was also an outstanding sportsman for the school playing both cricket and rugby in the first teams. He was recorded as a hard-hitting batsman in the 1^st IX in 1896. He often ‘swung with the tide’ favouring the leg side with his shots.⁵ In the rugby team he was a fearless forward who ‘dribbled and heeled out well’⁶ He also excelled in debating, handball and tennis. Bert joined the College cadets in 1894.

Bert graduated in 1896⁷ and was entitled to present himself as a candidate for the Sydney Public Service competitive examination held 27-29 January 1897.⁸ He was successful and studied law, starting his career in the office of Messrs Brown and Beeby and then qualified as a solicitor. At the same time he studied for the bar. Bert was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in May 1908 and in 1910, he was appointed secretary to the vice-president of the Executive Council, which is the formal, official arm of government to give legal authority to such things as proclamations and regulations under the Acts authorised by Parliament.

Bert worked from the University Chambers, 167 Phillip Street Sydney, which also housed Messrs Barry and Norris, his brother Osbourne’s firm of solicitors. He broadened his interest and abilities in sport, playing 1^st grade hockey with the Corinthians Club⁹ in Sydney, as captain of the team which was successful in being selected to play for New South Wales against Victoria in 1909. He was also a committee member of the club.

In the Sydney tennis competitions, Bert honed his skills, and won the Neutral Bay Championships in 1909 against a large field of entries. He beat Mr C Royle 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-3 in the final. He continued to play cricket with the I. Zingari club.¹⁰ He also liked to play golf and was a member of the Royal Sydney Golf Club, Rose Bay.

Bert kept his devotion to his school and was the honorary secretary of the Old Boys’ Union in 1904. He was regarded as an eloquent after-dinner speaker at Union functions.

In 1897, Bert found time to join the New South Wales Irish Rifles as an unpaid military volunteer. His future father-in-law, John Lane Mullins, was a captain of the unit. He, along with other well-known members of the Irish community, attended a public meeting at the Sydney Town Hall in November 1896 that proposed the formation of the Irish Rifles in Sydney. Three companies were raised and they were initially attached to the Scottish Rifles to form a tactical regiment, which lasted for three years before they split to form individual units.

On 1 March 1901, after completing his examinations, Bert was promoted to the rank of 2^nd lieutenant. In October 1903, he was promoted to lieutenant.

Three years later, in August 1906, he was promoted to captain and between March 1907 and June 1908, he was the volunteer adjutant of the 1^st Irish Battalion. The New South Wales Irish Rifles wore a green uniform with black facings. Their slouch hat was also green. The Irish Rifles remained an unpaid volunteer force, until it ceased to exist when the Australian Army was reorganised in 1912. Bert held the position of second-in-command at the time of the reorganisation. Under the new system the unit became the 33^rd Infantry Regiment. At the same time Bert was gazetted major on 1 January and given command of the 40^th Battalion senior cadets. New South Wales at that time had 32,814 cadets in training. In 1910, Bert took command of the St Ignatius College Cadets as they formed an honour guard during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament of the Feast of Corpus Christi. In April 1913, Bert was transferred to the unattached list but soon was again transferred to the 34^th Battalion, a new unit that was located in the Enmore, Newtown, Marrickville and St Peters area under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jobson.¹¹

On New Year’s Day 1914 Bert’s father, Richard, died age 71, at the family home “Osterley”, Stanmore, after a long and painful illness. He was buried at Gore Hill Cemetery on 2 January, with his sons as official mourners.¹³ Bert’s mother passed away on 20 October 1915 and was buried with her husband.

On 25 March 1915, Bert and Jane Elizabeth (Bessie) Mullins, the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs John Lane Mullins of “Killounton”, Darling Point, were married in a military-style wedding at St Canice Catholic Church, Darlinghurst, by Father J O’Gorman, administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral. They had announced their engagement only a few weeks earlier. Bert had applied for a commission with the AIF on 1 March 1915. Among Bert’s groomsmen were three officers from the 34^th Battalion. Page 4

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jobson also attended. The wedding breakfast was held at the home of Jane’s parents before the couple departed for their honeymoon at the Blue Mountains.¹⁴

Jane Elizabeth (Bessie) Mullins was born on 13 October 1888 in Sydney. Her father, John Francis Lane Mullins, was a well-known businessman and church-goer in Sydney. He was born in Sydney and educated at St Mary’s College, Lyndhurst and St John’s College, graduating with a Master of Arts degree when only 21 years old. In 1885, he was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court and was called to the Bar in August 1930. He assisted with the formation of the New South Wales Irish Rifles, held the rank of captain, and had a long association with St Mary’s Cathedral from boyhood and was appointed the first treasurer. During 25 years, he was the honorary secretary of St Vincent’s Hospital and later became the honorary treasurer. John Lane Mullins was elected to the Sydney Council, 1900 to 1912 and was also well-known in the arts world for his own personal collection and as president of the National Art Gallery. He was a director of a number of companies, including Toohey’s Ltd. John married Jane Mary Francis Hughes, daughter of John Hughes and they had four daughters and one son¹⁵. Jane passed away on 15 January 1926 and John on 24 January 1939. Both are buried at the South Head Cemetery. ^16,17

John Lane Mullins’ brother was Colonel George Lane Mullins MA MD, a founding member in 1913 of the Red Cross movement in New South Wales. He was educated at St Mary’s College Lyndhurst and Sydney Grammar School. At Dublin University, he graduated in Arts and Medicine. He held positions at St Vincent’s Hospital and Sydney Hospital. For ten years he was commissioner in the Commonwealth for St John’s Ambulance Brigade. His military service saw him hold various positions including commanding officer, No 4 Base Hospital, Randwick. He was a member of the Australian Catholic Congress in 1900 and held a keen interest in the Sacred Heart Hospital for the Dying. Colonel George Lane Mullins passed away on 19 March 1918 and was buried at Waverley Cemetery. For many years after his death the Lane Mullins Shield, donated by the family, was awarded to the best squad of the St John’s Ambulance in New South Wales, in honour of the Colonel.

A younger brother of John and George was Lieutenant Thomas Lane Mullins who, during the Boer War, was a member of the New South Wales Citizens’ Bushmen Contingent.

He was promoted captain and served subsequently with the 1^st Australian Commonwealth Horse. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal with five clasps. Thomas had been a well-known swimmer with the East Sydney Club. He died, in the prime of his life, on 9 January 1912 at Wentworth Falls, New South Wales and was buried at Waverley Cemetery.

On 1 March 1915, Bert, age 34, applied for a commission in the Australian Imperial Force. He stood 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 10 stone. Bert named as next of kin, his new wife who was living with her parents in their Darling Point home. His application was not recommended and certified by the commanding officer until 7 May 1915 (appointed major), nor by the district commandant until July (after he had sailed). Prior to embarkation, Bert deposited his Will with his brother Osbourne and Sir Allen Taylor¹⁸ as executors. He was appointed to the 1^st Battalion and led the 5^th Reinforcements on their trip to Alexandria. They embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 25 June 1915. On arrival, he was appointed Commanding Officer 7^th Training Battalion. His expertise as a solicitor was used as Judge Advocate in Courts Martial on a regular basis.¹⁹

Bessie, who was pregnant, followed her husband to Egypt so that they could be near one another for the birth of their child.

On 18 January 1916, Major General James Spens CB, commanding officer Cairo District, wrote a letter to Major General Sir Neville Smyth VC, requesting Bert be transferred to a battalion and recommending him as a commanding officer, stating he was ‘a hardworking and trustworthy officer keen and anxious to get on, in my opinion he is one of the best COs who have passed through my hands.’ ²¹

On 18 February, Bert and Bessie’s son, John Richard Bertram Norris, was born in Egypt.

On 24 February, Bert was transferred to the 53^rd Battalion as its first commanding officer.²² The 53rd Battalion was raised in mid-February 1916 as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force which took place in Egypt. Formed from reinforcements sent from Australia as well as experienced men drawn from the 1st Battalion, plus officers from other units, the 53rd was assigned to the 14th Brigade, 5th Division. 

Upon formation, they took part in the defence of the Suez Canal against forces of the Ottoman Empire, for which they would receive their first theatre honour (Egypt 1916), although they did not take part in any actual fighting. During this time, Bert trained his unit and built up his officer numbers.

On 16 June 1915, the 53^rd Battalion commenced their movement to the Western Front departing Ferry Post, marching to Moascar and camping overnight. The following day they entrained to Alexandria where they boarded SS Royal George.²³ On 22 June at 11am the Royal George put to sea with the 53^rd Battalion consisting of 32 officers and 958 other ranks. The ship arrived at Marseilles at 8am, 27 June and the unit disembarked. The 53^rd Battalion travelled north to Thiennes where they were billeted and undertook training as final preparation for their entry into the war on the Western Front.

On 16 July, the 53^rd Battalion left Thiennes and marched to Estaires and then the following day to Fleurbaix ²⁴ replacing the 59^th Battalion in the trenches at Fromelles.

Bert’s battalion command group was as follows: Second in Command: Major Oswald Mosley Croshaw^25; A Company: Captain David Thompson^26; B Company: Captain John Joseph Murray^27; C Company: Major Victor Horatio Buller Sampson^28; D Company: Captain Charles Arblaster^29. The battalion adjutant was Lieutenant Moffitt^30; the Chaplain, Captain John Joseph Kennedy^31; the Medical Officer, Captain Charles Cosgrove.³²

On the morning of 19 July 1916, the chaplain, Father Kennedy, celebrated Mass and Bert knelt down before his men and received Holy Communion. Bert was the first to receive the ‘August Sacrament’.³³ Bert was liked by his men. Several times a day he would visit them, always with a smile on his face. His men were his chief care. On the night before the battle, exhausted, Bert called for Father Kennedy and after discussing a number of issues and concerns, he told Father Kennedy, ‘I feel almost convinced that tomorrow will witness my first and last fight. Strange to say, the thought does not worry me, until I think of Bessie and my child. My God, if ever a man was blessed with a perfect wife, I am. Perhaps we are too happy. Should anything happen me! I mean should the worst befall, will you write to her?’ ³⁴ Father Kennedy replied, ‘Nonsense, Colonel. Put the silly thought out of your head. The battalion is bound to do great things tomorrow.’³⁵

The attack at Fromelles had been planned as a diversion in order to distract the enemy and keep a German division in the north, away from the Somme where, already on 1 July, the British forces had suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 fatalities.

The 14^th Brigade was the centre unit with the 15^th Brigade on the right and the 8^th Brigade on the left. The 14^th Brigade lined up with 53^rd and 54^th Battalions in the front and the 55^th and 56^th in support. To the right of the 53^rd was the 59^th Battalion from 15^th Brigade. The objective was to take the German trenches to the left of the Sugarloaf, then link up with other units, which would be the key to the attack’s success. The Sugarloaf, a heavily-manned position with many machine guns facing the British and Australian lines, had to be taken by the battalions of the 15^th Brigade. Fire from there could enfilade any troops advancing. If this strong German position were not taken, the 53^rd Battalion would be subject to murderous enfilade fire. The area of no man’s land between the opposing trench lines was wide – far too wide – for the 53^rd it was 250 yards. The land was flat, boggy and overgrown, crisscrossed with drainage ditches and a small rivulet known as Laies Stream.

At 4pm the 54^th Battalion joined the left-side 300 feet of the trenches. The 53^rd closed in from its original 800 feet with A and B Companies forward and C and D Companies in support. The 2iC Major Croshaw³⁶ had been appointed as a liaison officer between the battalion and the brigade and would faithfully carry out his task, personally reconnoitring the position, keeping in touch with the brigadier, and endeavouring to furnish supplies.

At 5.05 pm Bert sent to Staff Captain Geoffrey Austin Street, 14^th Brigade, the following message which was received at 5.18pm on 19 July;

“Our trenches are being very heavily shelled along the whole of our front AAA The wireless station is wrecked AAA The telephone lines from my forward Head Quarters to the Brigade forward Head Quarters are much cut AAA Until this connection is re-established only runners can be used AAA All ranks in excellent spirits AAA The enemy trenches have been wrecked by our Artillery AAA”.

This was Bert’s last communication with brigade headquarters. A copy of the message³⁷ is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

The Australians’ preliminary artillery barrage was loud and impressive but not always accurate. The men soon discovered that shells bursting among them were coming from behind as well as from in front. At 5.43pm the 53^rd battalion went over the parapets. Times for companies to advance were staggered due to the width of no man’s land in front of each battalion (only 100 yards for 54^th, but 250 yards for 53^rd Battalion).

The 53^rd Battalion which formed the right-half of the 14^th Brigade’s attack was at some disadvantage before the attack. Its first wave is recorded to have left the trench at 5.43pm, moved across no man’s land, and laid down in front of the German wire. Its right, however, was exposed not only to fire from the front,³⁸ but to the same enfilade as the 15^th Brigade. When the bombardment lifted, the Germans, firing and bombing from their front line, held up the right of the battalion in front of the trench until the arrival of the second wave. Further to the left, the other flank of the 53^rd Battalion and the whole wave of the 54^th, swept over the enemy’s parapet without trouble, finding the front trench somewhat dishevelled by artillery fire and the enemy cowed and crouching in their dugouts. Two machine guns were captured. The first wave stayed there temporarily to rout the enemy from his shelters, while the three succeeding lines went straight on, as ordered, seeking the trench which they were to convert into their new firing line.

Australia’s official war historian was to write: “In both the 53^rd and 54^th battalions, the loss of officers during the first twenty minutes of the advance had been extraordinarily heavy. In the 53^rd the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Norris and his staff crossed no man’s land with the fourth wave; but as the party moved forward from that trench towards the enemy support line, a machine gun was turned upon it and Norris, his adjutant, and several others were killed. Shortly after the senior company commander Major Sampson was also killed.”³⁹ After Bert was hit, a signaller, Lance Corporal Frank Leslie Croft⁴⁰ endeavoured to get him to the shelter of a trench, but failed. Croft was later awarded a DCM for his actions. Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris last words were, ‘Here, I’m done, will somebody take my papers.’⁴¹Captain Arblaster was then in command. On 20 July, the Germans had regained the trenches and re-established themselves. Bert was recorded as missing.

Despite valiant deeds against the well-prepared foe, the battle became a bloody catastrophe, with no tactical advantage resulting. It is recorded as the worst day in Australia’s military history. The 53^rd Battalion went into the attack with 28 officers and 823 other ranks and lost 6 officers and 30 ORs killed, 10 officers and 343 ORs wounded and 8 officers and 228 ORs missing. Many of the missing would later be found either as prisoners of war or were recorded as killed in action.

When Bert went to the Western Front, Bessie sailed to live in England with relatives, to be there when Bert was able to take leave, then she and Bert with their baby son could all spend time together. She was living with Mrs D’Apice at 7 The Avenue, Blackheath, London, when she received the news of her husband. Through her brother, Brendan Lane Mullins, who was in England as a cadet in the Royal Artillery, Bessie sent a cable to the family back in Sydney advising that Bert had been killed and that the news had been communicated officially to her.⁴²

KILLED IN ACTION LIEUTENANT COLONEL NORRIS

Photograph and article Evening News (Sydney), 1 August 1916

In Sydney, a memorial service was held at St Mary’s Cathedral, 9 August 1916, with The Reverend John O’Gorman, administrator of the cathedral, celebrating the Requiem Mass. He was assisted by Archbishop Kelly and a number of other clergy including The Reverend Father Pigot of St Ignatius College, Riverview. In the course of his address Archbishop Kelly said, “Lieutenant Colonel Norris had shown the noblest quality of courage and the highest form of patriotism. There could not be a more admirable example of service and sacrifice in a time of national peril than to die for one’s country while fighting for freedom under the banner of justice.”⁴³ Many family members attended, including an uncle, Sir Thomas Hughes, and dignitaries including Captain Antoine William M D’Apice, aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales.

Father Kennedy wrote to Bessie soon after Bert’s death, referring to her son John who was only six months old when his father was killed. ‘Oh, Mrs Norris, he died a hero’s death, and you will be able to tell your child later how brave his father was, and above all, how noble and conscientious a Catholic.’⁴⁴ ‘He was a man in a million, a gentleman to speak to, and if anyone got into Crime Street, and came before him, he got sound advice and the minimum penalty. I had a chat to him on the morning of the charge, and he might have been a private, so nice and friendly was he to me.’ ⁴⁵

An enquiry by the Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Bureau established that Lieutenant Colonel IB Norris had been killed in action. This was confirmed when his name appeared on a German list of dead dated 4 November 1916. A copy of the German Army death voucher was provided.⁴⁶

Ignatius Bertram Norris was recognised at VC Corner Cemetery, Fromelles. The cemetery was constructed in 1920-21. It is also a memorial to 1,299 Australians, including Bert, who were lost in the battle and who had no known resting place. Their names were inscribed on the curtain wall, before which stands the Cross of Sacrifice. There are no headstones in this cemetery, the only one devoted entirely to Australian soldiers. Beneath the two lawn areas surrounded by gardens, the remains of 410 unidentified bodies of Australians were buried; they had been collected from the battlefield after the Armistice.

In a letter to Brendan Lane Mullins dated 8 October 1916, Major George Street MC⁴⁷sent a copy of the last message written by Bert for him to give to Bessie.

Also in October, the AIF Kit Store 110 Greyhound Road, Fulham, London dispatched to Bessie, via Thomas Cook & Son, Bert’s effects which included a valise, brown kit bag and a sealed black kit bag. Among his kit were a copy of The New Testament and his rosary beads and a camera in a box addressed Mrs NH Murray⁴⁸ Manly New South Wales.

On 14 June 1917, Bessie’s brother Brendan Lane Mullins was killed in action in the Battle of Arras when a shell landed on an observation post he was manning. Brendan was the only son and had made his own way to England with two cousins Geoffrey Hughes⁴⁹ and Maurice Hughes⁵⁰ to enlist. All three were accepted as officers in the British Army. Brendan had attended Riverview College but later completed his education with the Jesuits in England, four years at Beaumont College, taking both academic and sporting prizes, including the 100 yards sprint and being captain of the rowing team. Seven members of the Beaumont College rowing eight would later be commissioned during the war. In 1911, Bessie accompanied her parents and attended the school’s jubilee and then the family went to Italy and were granted an audience with the Pope. Brendan had shown a military interest in his early years. After returning to Australia in late 1912, he qualified for a commission with the 35^th Battalion, but was too young for active service. On his return to England, Brendan gained a commission with the Warwickshire Artillery Regiment as lieutenant. After training he went to France in May 1917.

The High Commissioner’s Office at Australia House, Strand London, advised the Officer-in-Charge, Base Records, Victoria Barracks Melbourne on 22 April 1921 that Bessie and her son John had returned to Australia and all further correspondence should be forwarded care of J Lane Mullins Esq, Killountain, Double Bay, Sydney. The 1914-15 Star awarded to Bert was returned to Base Records for redirection. During 1922-23, Bessie received Bert’s medals, Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque.

Memorial Window to 2nd Lieutenant Brendan Lane Mullins (killed in action 1917), and Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris (killed in action 1916) in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, installed in 1921.

(Source: St Mary’s Cathedral Bulletin 11 November 2018)

Located in St Mary’s Cathedral are two stained-glass windows which were donated by the Lane Mullins family. The first (in picture above) located above the Altar of the Irish Saints in the cathedral, commemorates John Lane Mullins’ only son, 2^nd Lieutenant Brendan Lane Mullins and also his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris. It consists of two vertical lights and three foils. In the left-side light, beneath a Gothic canopy marked with a “B”, stands the Irish Saint Brendan “the Navigator” (died AD 580) with his attribute, a ship, in hand. Kneeling below the saint are John Lane Mullins and his wife Jane, in Edwardian attire; their deceased son Brendan Lane Mullins is shown as a military officer in khaki uniform and dark cape, kneeling in supplication. An angel at the bottom of the light supports the Lane Mullins armorial escutcheon. In the right-side light, beneath a canopy marked “P”, stands Saint Patrick, who is, unusually for him, shown clean-shaven. It may be that his visage is actually a portrait of Cardinal Patrick Moran (Archbishop of Sydney 1884-1911). Below the saint is an officer in uniform and cape kneeling on one knee and unlike the officer on the left, whose face is not shown, he faces the viewer squarely. This appears to be a portrait of Ignatius Bertram Norris.

Below another angel holds a plaque which reads: ERECTED BY JOHN LANE MULLINS AND HIS WIFE, JANE, IN MEMORY OF THEIR ONLY SON, BRENDAN LANE MULLINS, SECOND LIEUTENANT, ATTACHED WARWICKSHIRE R F A. KILLED IN ACTION ARRAS, FRANCE, JUNE 14^TH, 1917. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. ⁵¹

The Norris Memorial Window, located at the base of the south-west tower in the cathedral was officially unveiled in September 1928, when this section of the cathedral was completed. Archival records show that Mr John Lane Mullins donated the window in memory of his son-in-law, Ignatius Bertram Norris. The subject of the window is Saint Martin of Tours (died AD 397). It recalls the event where Martin, who was a soldier, encountered a poor beggar and dividing his cloak in two with a sword to share it with him. Martin later comes to realise that the beggar was Christ himself. He eventually became a bishop. In the three quatrefoils at the head of the window are depicted, on the left, a bishop’s pastoral staff and the saint’s initials SM; at the top, a bishop’s mitre; on the right a golden sword upon a sunburst, emblem of the soldier-convert.⁵²

Memorial Window to Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris

at St Canice Catholic Church, Elizabeth Bay.

In the early 1920s, a stained-glass window in memory of Bert was installed in the transept of St Canice Catholic Church, Elizabeth Bay. The larger part of the window (photograph above) depicts the four evangelists, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John with Bert, on his knees in prayer. There are three other windows for two military officers and a women, all praying. The two other officers are the grandsons of John Hughes who paid to have the church built in 1889. Captain Doctor Roger Hughes served with 1^st Australian Field Hospital in France and died on 11 December 1916, of wounds he received when a shell hit a dressing station where he was working. The second officer depicted is Bessie’s brother, Brendan Lane Mullins.

Bert’s son John Richard Bertram Norris grew up in Sydney and following his father, he attended Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, between 1929 and 1934. He was a good student and a top-order batsman in the School’s 1^st XI, 1933-1934. He later attended Sydney University where he studied law, but the Second World War interrupted his studies.

With the 2/17^th Battalion, John saw service at Tobruk and El-Alamein. At both places, he was wounded in action. John was commissioned in the battalion and was promoted to captain in 1943. His former adjutant, Lieutenant General Arthur Newton said, ’He was a good soldier as he hobbled towards the enemy, using his rifle and bayonet as a crutch after being wounded at El-Alamein, when he was the battalion’s second in command. He was ordered to go the other way and spent the rest of the war as a staff officer’ ⁵³

John Norris married Betty Barry Evans in Sydney in 1943 and they had a daughter Prue and two sons Tony and Simon. John had lived with his mother until he married. After being discharged from the Army on 21 January 1946, he returned to his studies and practiced firstly as a solicitor and later as a barrister in Sydney. He built a substantial practice, specialising in personal injury work.

In 1967, John moved to Canberra and became a familiar figure in the ACT Supreme Court. He served as a member of the Federal Police Disciplinary Tribunal and was a formidable opponent known for his mellifluous voice, his charm and always, his courtesy. He also showed the qualities of a good judge. John and Betty lived at 18 Gawler Crescent, Deakin.

John’s mother, Jane Elizabeth Norris never remarried. She lived at New South Head Road, Double Bay. She had ensured that her son was given the best education and opportunities. Bessie died in Sydney on 12 July 1975 at the age of 86 years. She is buried at the South Head General Lawn Cemetery, Row 37. Her headstone is engraved with the words: Widow of Ignatius Bertram Norris

John received a letter from the Secretary of the 53^rd Battalion AIF Association Mr W (Bill) Boddington, conveying their deepest sympathy for his sad loss of his mother. ‘Our members have everlasting remembrance of our beloved Commander.’ ⁵⁴

While hearing a case as a member of the tribunal, John suffered a severe stroke. Although semi-paralysed, he retained his cognitive faculties, courage and quick wit during the next ten years of disability. He was a keen cricketer even in his sixties; he had been a feared fast bowler in the annual cricket match between ACT solicitors and barristers who played for the IB Norris Trophy. John Richard Bertram Norris QC, died at Bowral, New South Wales, on 30 November 1994.

John and his mother ensured that Bert’s name was preserved at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. From 1916 to 1981, the Gold Medal for Senior Debating was named in his honour. John also gifted to the Dalton Memorial Chapel at the school, a stained-glass window, depicting Saint Ignatius in soldier’s uniform, in honour of his father.

At the base of the window are the words:

I SERVED LOYALLY

THE GIFT OF JOHN BERTRAM NORRIS ⁵⁵

As the years passed, commemoration ceremonies were held every year at Fromelles. Following careful research and passionate advocacy of a Melbourne school teacher, Lambis Englezos, a joint Australian and British government mission was launched to organise a detailed search of the site where evidence pointed to the existence of a mass grave established by the German Army. The aim was to re-bury with full military honours, Australian and British dead from the Battle of Fromelles, 19-20 July 1916. Between May and September 2009, Oxford Archaeology recovered 250 sets of remains from the site; each was interred in a separate grave in the newly-built Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, which was designed by Barry Edwards.

Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery

Source: Mosman (Sydney) Library Service Blog: Doing our bit, Mosman 1914-1918

Behind the lines: ‘View through Norris’s memorial window’ Death of Lieutenant Colonel Norris – Killed in France. Author: Darragh Christie, March 2019

A combination of forensic archaeology, archival research and DNA testing resulted in the identification of 97 Australian soldiers, who now have named headstones.

On Wednesday 7 July 2010 after 94 years, Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris remains were found, but both his wife and son had passed away.

The cemetery was formally dedicated on 19 July 2010.⁵⁶

There were 14 officers and other ranks from the 53^rd Battalion whose names are inscribed on the screen wall at the VC Corner Cemetery. Their bodies were found, identified and now rest in the newly-hallowed ground at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery, in the care of the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission.

The search for relatives goes on, and it is hoped that further identifications may be possible as family members come forward to offer tests for DNA.

Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris’s grave

at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery.

Source: findagrave.com

Two weeks before the planned ceremony at Fromelles, there was a press release on 7 July 2010, from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Further Fromelles soldiers identified

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin, is pleased to announce the names of a further two Australian soldiers identified as being amongst those recovered from Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France.

Mr Griffin said, “The two soldiers are North Sydney-born Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris from 53^rd Battalion, 14^th Brigade, and Private Harold Charles Pitt⁵⁷ from the 32^nd Battalion, 8^th Brigade, who was born in Magill, South Australia.”

“An extraordinary Joint Identification Board was held on 5 July to consider additional DNA evidence, made available in recent weeks. Further testing of existing samples led to the unanticipated result.

Restoring the identity of an additional two Australian soldiers just prior to the 19 July Dedication Ceremony in Fromelles provides an opportunity for us all to consider the service and sacrifice of these men.

After almost a century it is still vitally important that we can honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

Identification of these soldiers brings the total [number of] names to 96. Of the 250 men recovered from Pheasant Wood, 205 have been identified as Australians (96 by name); three are British and 42 remain ‘Known unto God.’

“We will continue to take all reasonable steps to identify the remaining 154 men by name. Their families can then pay their last respects at a known grave as 96 sets of families can do so now.” Mr Griffin said.

“All but one of the soldiers have been reburied in individual graves in the purpose-built Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, with the final soldier being laid to rest at a commemorative event on the 94^th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.”

(Source: The Honourable Alan Griffin MP Press Release 033/2010, Wednesday 7 July 2010)

Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris is remembered on Panel 157 of the Australian War Memorial; VC Corner; Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery; St Canice Catholic Church; St Mary’s Cathedral; Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview on the Honour Roll and in the Dalton Memorial Chapel; and New South Wales Solicitors’ Honour Roll.

A Soldier of Christ.

Lest we forget

Medals of Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris

1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal

proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bean CEW, The Official History of Australia in the War 1914–1918. Volume III, Chapters XII and XIII.

Burness Peter, The worst night in Australian Military History, Fromelles. Article on AWM website dated 18 July 2008.

Cobb P, Fromelles 1916 History Press Ltd, 2010

Kennedy JJ Father, DSO CF, The Whale Oil Guards. Naval & Military Press, England 2009, reprint of original 1919 publication.

Lindsay P, Fromelles: Our Darkest Day. Hardie Grant Books, Victoria, 2016.

Rodgers J, To give and not to count the cost, St Ignatius’ College Riverview Sydney, 2009 

Walsh K, Sharing the Story of Our Parish and the First World War. Catholic Parish of St Canice, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

NAA: B2455 NORRIS, Ignatius Bertram

Australian War Memorial

AWM: Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau file, 1DRL/0428 Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris, 53^rd Battalion.

New South Wales Government Gazette 16 June 1897

www.anzac-22nd-battalion.com Commanding Officers: 22^nd Battalion

www.aif.adfa.edu.au

Website – Supreme Court of New South Wales, The War Memorial Project, WW1 Honour Roll, Solicitors as at 16 May 16, list compiled by Tony Cunneen, (last modified date: 28 March 2017) includes: Norris, Ignatius Bertram. Barrister, University Chambers. Lieutenant Colonel, 53rd Battalion, KIA, Fromelles, 19 July 1916, aged 35.

Email correspondence – Father Don Richardson, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, 21 April 2020

www.suhc.asn.au History of SHA and Hockey in Sydney

Sunday Times (Sydney) 17 March 1912

Catholic Press (Sydney) 8 January 1914

Sydney Morning Herald 1 August 1916.

Sydney Morning Herald 8 August 1916

Sydney Morning Herald 5 February 1918

Sydney Morning Herald 21 March 1918

Sydney Morning Herald 1 October 1934

Sydney Morning Herald 25 February 1939

Sydney Morning Herald 16 January 1928

Sydney Morning Herald 21 June 1917

Sydney Morning Herald 27 February 1939

Goulburn Evening Penny Post 1 August 1916

Catholic Press 28 June 1917

Canberra Times 7 December 1994

Freemans Journal (Sydney, 1850-1932), 12 June 1913

The Catholic Weekly is an English language newspaper currently published in Sydney, Australia. It is published in tabloid format. Throughout its history, it has also been published as The Freeman’s Journal and Catholic Freeman’s Journal.

Press Release, The Hon Alan Griffin MP 033/2010 7 July 2010

www.tntnews.co.uk Fromelles TNT at Opening

www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/remembering-a-brave-soldier 3 February 2010

www.abc.net.au

www.ancestry.com

www.findagrave.com

Acknowledgements

James Rodgers, former student and currently Director of Students, Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Sydney. Author of book To give and not to count the cost to honour 60 former students killed in the First World War.

Endnotes

^ From a letter to Jane Elizabeth Norris from Father John Joseph Kennedy DSO CF, Roman Catholic Chaplain of the 53^rd Battalion. He later wrote an account of the time he spent with the 53^rd Battalion at war and called it The Whale Oil Guards, published by James Duffy, Dublin 1919

² Catholic Press (Sydney) 8 January 1914, page 30

³ Edward Francis Pigot (1854-1929) Jesuit priest (ordained 31 July 1889), astronomer and seismologist arrived at Riverview in August 1889. He returned to Dublin in 1892, then travelled further afield before returning to Australia in 1907. He built an observatory of international standard at Riverview where he undertook research while teaching at the school. He followed Bert’s career, and attended his wedding. Father Pigot died on 22 May 1929 and was buried at the Gore Hill Cemetery.

⁴ The Law at War (1916). The author included details of students who lived on Sydney’s North Shore and attended Riverview College.

⁵ To give and not to count the cost

⁶ Ibid

⁷ Bert was a well-rounded student at Riverview College.

⁸ NSW Government Gazette 16 June 1897

⁹ The Corinthians was the first men’s hockey club formed in 1905. By 1907 there were eight clubs playing competition hockey in Sydney and formed the New South Wales Hockey Association.

¹⁰ I. Zingari (from the Italian gypsies) cricket club is one of the oldest clubs in Australia. It played competition until 1894 when it was excluded as it did not meet the necessary district qualifications. It was a founding member of the city and suburban competition formed in 1903 and has played regular weekend fixtures since then. It also plays invitation matches against schools and the Army.

¹¹ Colonel Alexander Jobson was born in Clunes, Victoria. An accountant, he enlisted on 10 February 1916 and was appointed brigade commander 9^th Brigade. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and MiD. After the war he became New South Wales President of the RSSILA. He was a financial writer and was considered one the keenest and most searching financial critics. He also held numerous directorships. He died of a coronary artery occlusion on 7 November 1933.

12 Now 49 Cambridge Street. A Victorian-era Italian-style villa, now listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.

¹³ Catholic Press (Sydney) 8 January 1914, page 30

14 Daily Telegraph 26 March 1915, page 11

15 Jane Hughes was a leader, with her husband John, in Catholic society in Sydney.

16 Sydney Morning Herald 25 January 1939 page 13

17 Sydney Morning Herald 16 January 1926 page 21

18 Sir Alex Taylor (1864-1940) was a timber merchant, ship builder and politician. He was an Anglican.

19 At this time there was no legal division in the Army so officers were selected for court martial duty and those with a legal background found themselves in court on a regular basis.

20 Copy of the letter is on Lieutenant Colonel I B Norris’s file at Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

21 Lieutenant Colonel Richard Armstrong Crouch was born in Ballarat Victoria on 19 June 1868 and commanded the 22^nd Battalion between March to December 1915, including at Gallipoli from the landing on 5 September. He transferred to command the Base Camp at Mudros in early December. Due to illness, he returned to Australia in March 1916 and his appointment was terminated. He died 7 April 1949 at Point Lonsdale, Victoria.

22 Lieutenant Colonel Robert (‘Bob the Bastard’) Smith took command of the 22^nd Battalion (23 February 1916 – 1 January 1917). He enjoyed his nickname and was a close friend of Brigadier Pompey Elliott.

²³ A Clyde-built British passenger ship originally named SS Heliopolis, renamed in 1910.

24 The attacking troops were not familiar with Fromelles because it was held by the Germans and the nearest village was Fleurbaix. For a long time after the war, many would name the battle site as Fleurbaix.

25 Major Oswald Mosley Croshaw was born on 11 March 1879 in Blackheath, Kent. He was commissioned on 11 March 1896 in the 3^rd Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. Due to the death of a lieutenant in the 18^th Hussars, he gained a commission in the regular army, as 2^nd Lieutenant and served with the regiment until he resigned in September 1912. Because of his extensive experience with horses, he became Remount Officer for Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire on 22 February 1913 and was appointed Captain. At the outbreak of WW1, he left Britain as battalion 2iC 1/1^st City of London Yeomanry. He later became a staff officer and was unhappy with the role and told Cyril Wagstaff GSO1 of the newly-raised 5^th Australian Division; Wagstaff then recommended Croshaw for the position of 2iC 53^rd Battalion. He later became commanding officer and was killed in action at Polygon Wood. He had rebuilt the battalion after Fromelles under a guiding principle, “Your men before yourselves.’

26 Captain David Thomson later major, was born in Haddington, Scotland on 17 February 1882 and at the age of 16, served through the Boer War and later in India with the Gordon Highlanders. Before the Great War he immigrated to Australia and was a warrant officer Instruction Staff in Brisbane. He enlisted on 17 August 1917 and was the original RSM of 1^st Battalion AIF. He was commissioned during his time at Gallipoli and during the reorganising of the Force in 1916, he was appointed to the 53^rd Battalion. During the battle at Fromelles, his company was reduced to 3 officers and 60 men of the original 204. He later served with the 14^th Battalion. At the end of the war he suffered from the Spanish Flu, and was offered a position with the American Army, bur problems prevented him from taking the position. He worked for the Repatriation Department until he died on 16 October 1928.

²⁷ Captain John Joseph Murray was born in Sydney on 26 April 1892 and served with the 33^rd Infantry Regiment before enlisting on 6 March 1915. He left as a 1^st Battalion reinforcement on HMAT Ceramic on 25 June 1915 and although taken on strength, did not serve at Gallipoli. He was transferred to 53^rd Battalion as a temporary captain in March 1916. For his courage and leadership at Fromelles he was awarded a Military Cross. He served the remainder of the war with the battalion, being awarded a DSO and also MiD. After the war he returned to the Militia force and rose to command the Australian Army Service Corps 1^st Division followed by appointment as Brigade Commander. In 1940, he was placed in charge of the Eastern Command Recruitment Depot. During WWII, he commanded 20^th Brigade at Tobruk and was awarded a bar to his DSO. He returned to Australia and undertook a posting in the country until the end of the war. He was Australia’s trade commissioner to New Zealand from 1946.

28 Major Victor Horatio Sampson was born on 12 May 1888 at Upper Manilla, New South Wales. Victor was an outstanding rower, cricketer and excellent rifle shot. He was a clerk living in Liverpool, a member of the Australian Garrison Artillery and an area officer for Pyrmont. He joined the Expeditionary Force to Rabaul and on return, joined the officer school and became captain. He boarded HMAT Ceramic as major in command B Coy 19^th Battalion on 25 June 1915. He fought at Gallipoli and was hospitalised in England with malaria and diarrhoea. On return to Egypt, he was taken on strength of the 55^th Battalion and then transferred to the 53^rd Battalion on 28 June 1916. He was killed in action, 19 July 1916.

29 Captain Charles Arblaster was born in Victoria on 21 February 1895 and attended Melbourne High School. He spent three years at the Royal Military College Duntroon before being promoted lieutenant and posted to the 8^th Light Horse Regiment responsible for the machine gun section. He served in Egypt and at Gallipoli and was promoted temporary captain on 7 August 1915. He was wounded in action on 26 September with a bullet wound to the foot and transferred to England for treatment. When he returned from England to Egypt, he was transferred to the 53^rd Battalion on 11 March 1916. He was reported killed in action, 19 July 1916 but was subsequently reported as died of disease (septicaemia) Gefangen Lager, St Clotilde, Douai 24 July 1916, while a prisoner.

30 Lieutenant Harry Lowry Moffitt was an accountant from Victoria and was initially rejected by the AIF. On applying a second time, he was appointed 2^nd lieutenant on 29 March 1915 and taken on strength of the 21^st Battalion on 21 October. He was admitted to hospital on 22 October with gastroenteritis and remained there until January 1916. After attachments to 5^th and 6^th Brigades, he was taken on strength of the 53^rd Battalion on 9 April and promoted to lieutenant on 11 May 1916. He was killed in action alongside Bert Norris on 19 July after standing up in a trench calling for volunteers to take Bert’s body back. He was shot in the head and is remembered at VC Corner Cemetery, as he has no known grave.

31 Chaplain 4^th Class John Joseph Kennedy was born on 28 October 1881 in Kerry, Ireland and after being ordained in the Catholic faith, he volunteered for the Australian Mission. He was employed in Victoria before joining the AIF on 1 December 1915 and being posted to the 14^th Brigade and attached to the 53^rd Battalion and quickly developed a close identity with the men. During the battle of Fromelles, he worked with the medical staff in the aid-post and demonstrated astonishing bravery and generosity with the wounded men carrying the wounded from the front trenches to the dressing station under heavy shellfire. He was awarded the DSO for his actions. He fell ill in December 1917 and left the 53^rd Battalion for the 3^rd Training Brigade and returned to Australia in April 1918. He wrote the battalion history The Whale Oil Guards which was published in 1919. Before the war, he had written three novels; after, he wrote a controversial play about the war. On return to Australia he continued his work in Victoria before immigrating to the United States. He died at Augusta, Georgia on 18 February 1957.

32 Captain Charles Cosgrove MC was the unit medical officer until he left exhausted in March 1917. A well-respected member of the battalion who was awarded the Military Cross for his work during the battle of Fromelles. He was a Riverview College boy.

33 The Whale Oil Guards, page 50

34 Ibid page 50

35 Ibid page 50

36 Kennedy, The Whale Oil Guards, page 45. Major Oswald Croshaw was later awarded the DSO for his work; he took command of the battalion which had lost 625 officers and other ranks.

37 Copy of message held on file at Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, along with a letter from Major G Street. The message was sent at 5.05pm and received at 5.18pm.

38 In particular a German machine gun firing down Rue Delvas (the road leading obliquely across no man’s land on the right of the 53^rd Battalion) is thought to have caused havoc. The fact that many dead afterwards lay beside the road gives support to this conclusion. The gun was captured at an early stage by the 54^th Battalion, and progress became easier.

39 Bean, Battle of Fromelles, pages 368-9

40 Lance Corporal Francis Leslie Croft was born in Bulli, New South Wales. He was a fireman when he enlisted on 26 June 1915 as a member of 2^nd Battalion 11^th Reinforcements. The DCM was awarded for conspicuous gallantry in action when he made an attempt to rescue Bert. Later he displayed great courage and determination in maintaining communications and laying wire under intensive fire. He returned to Australia and was discharged on 31 March 1919.

41 Newspaper article, Fraser Coast Chronicle, McRae, Toni, Remembering brave soldier Norris

42 Goulburn Evening Penny Post 1 August 1916 page 2

43 Sydney Morning Herald 8 August 1916 page 8

44 To give and not to count the cost

45 ibid

46 Red Cross Bureau File 1DRL/0428

47 Geoffrey Austin Street was a soldier, grazier, politician and cricket devotee. He was born on 21 January 1894 at Woollahra and attended Sydney Grammar School. He studied law and at the outbreak of the war originally served as a private in the Naval, Military and Expeditionary Force in New Guinea. He transferred to 1^st Battalion, was wounded at Gallipoli and later undertook a number of staff appointments until he was shot in the right wrist in 1918. After the war he purchased a property in the Western Districts of Victoria and developed a sheep flock. He was involved in agricultural, Council and Federal politics. He was later appointed Minister for Defence and was a key member of the Menzies Government. He died with Fairbairn, Gullet, Brudenell White,Thornthwaite and others in an air crash in Canberra on 13 August 1940.

48 Mrs N H Murray was a well-known Catholic in Manly, wife of Norman Hector Murray a solicitor and sailor. Her son Jack served under Bert.

49 Geoffrey Forrest Hughes was born 12 July 1895 and was an aeronautics pioneer. He was the aide-de-camp to the governor in 1915. He went to England via America to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. He was awarded the Military Cross and the Air Force Cross. He continued his interest in flying after the war and was a solicitor and a well-known businessman. He died of pneumonia on 13 September 1951.

50 Maurice Hughes also went to England with his brother and enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps.

51 Father Don Richardson MA, Dean of St Marys Cathedral, Sydney

52 ibid

53 Canberra Times 7 December 1994, page 8

54 Letter from the 53^rd Battalion AIF Association dated 3 August 1975

55 To give and not to count the cost

56 www.cwgc.org

57 Private Harold Charles Pitt was only 18 ½ when he enlisted. Born in South Australia he was a labourer enlisting on 15 July 1915. He was a member of 32^nd Battalion when he was killed in action on 20 July 1916.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

Captain Stanley Connebee JAMIESON V.D.

1^st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry

2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital attached to 8^th Light Horse Regiment

By Robert Simpson

Stanley Connebee Jamieson was born on 26 January 1870 in Kew Melbourne Victoria. His parents were Francis Jamieson and Anne Hince. For more on their story and his family, see the story on his brother, Douglas Dunbar Jamieson.

The Argus of Melbourne on 23 June 1886 in page 6 had an entry under University of Melbourne for matriculation exams, with a list of successful candidates which included 126 Stanley Connebee Jamieson from Scotch College Melbourne. He attended the University of Melbourne where he studied medicine. His name appears in various Argus newspapers; in passing a matriculation exam in the February term 1886 as number 126, on 27 October 1888 he was listed under Biology Part 1. Third Terminal Examination as the first name in ‘Class III. (in order of merit).- 15, Stanley Connebee Jamieson’. The Argus on Monday 7 January 1889, page 6 had the results of a matriculation exam at University of Melbourne for October 1888 which included under First Year Medicine Third Class ‘Stanley Connebee Jamieson (Ormond College)’ who was equal with another person. There were no people named for First or Second Class. On 27 September 1889 the paper had a notice under Materica Medica, Medical Botany and Elementary Therapeutics, result of two terminal examinations, under Second Class was ‘9, Stanley Connebee Jamieson, 50.5 per cent’. He was recorded in the annual exam in December 1889 for second year medicine and was at Ormond College. On 24 December 1894, an article from the University of Melbourne on the conferring of degrees by the Chancellor had a listing under Bachelor of Medicine for Stanley Connebee Jamieson. The Weekly Times of Melbourne on Saturday 23 March 1895 in page 35 had an article on conferring of degrees at University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Surgery being awarded to Stanley.

In the 1896 Post Office Directory, Stanley was listed as a surgeon in Hobart. He is listed in the 1899 Medical Directory as ‘Jamieson Stanley Connebee M.B. Melb 1894 ; ch.B. Melb. 1895 ; Hobart’. The 1900 directory has all the same information, but records his town as Gormanston. By the 1901 directory it lists his address as Hobart again. The Mercury of Hobart on 16 January 1900 in page 4 had entries from the Hobart Gazette of the day which included ‘Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson, granted a commission as lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the Tasmanian Defence Force.’

The First Tasmanian Contingent for the Boer War was raised in October 1899. It was subsequently strengthened by a draft which included one officer (Medical Staff), who was Lieutenant S C Jamieson, after it had been decided to send a doctor to act for the whole contingent. The draft left Hobart on 18 January 1900, embarked on the transport Moravian at Melbourne on 23 January and arrived in South Africa on 20 February. In South Africa they converted to Mounted Infantry. They did very hard riding and were involved in a number of skirmishes and engagements. A summary of their service included operations around Colesberg, advancing from Bloemfontein to Pretoria; including actions at Karee Kloof, Brandfort, Vet River, Zand River, Elandsfontein, Johannesburg and Diamond Hill. Then from Pretoria to Komati including actions at Belfast and occupation of Kapsche Hoop. In October they went to Pretoria and were inspected by Lord Roberts. Stanley is mentioned in a book on the war, where the author had been wounded in a leg and was taken to a hospital, where the bullet was removed with three doctors and ‘Doctor Jamieson’ in attendance. The Contingent embarked on the transport Harlech Castle at Cape Town on 3 November 1900 and after stopping at other Australian ports, reached Tasmania on 7 December and were disbanded the next day. Under ‘War Service and Honours’ is listed ‘Jamieson, Lieutenant S. C. (Medical Staff).- Operations and actions as stated except Colesberg. Specially mentioned in Commanding Officer’s report, 7^th December, 1900. Queen’s Medal with five clasps.’

The 1^st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry Draft Album contains the photographs of nearly all the men who were listed as having embarked for service to South Africa. They were known as the ‘Bloodthirsty 45’. The photographs were extracted from John Bufton, Tasmanians in the Transvaal War, Launceston, 1905, pp. 130 – 131. Below is the photo of Stanley in the album.

In the Mercury of Hobart on Tuesday 26 February 1901 in page 3 was an extract from the Hobart Gazette which included ‘Mr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson, M.B., Acting Health Officer of the port of Strahan, and Government Medical Officer, in the absence of Mr. John Hugh Mackenzie, F.R.C.S.’

The Mercury of Hobart on Monday 16 December 1901 in page 3 had an article which mentioned Stanley: –

‘THE RISDON-PARK FATALITY. CORONIAL INQUIRY.

At the Hobart General Hospital on Saturday forenoon, the City Coroner, Mr. Alexander Riddoch, held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Edward Morris, jockey. Mr. J. N. Pool was foreman of the jury. Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson deposed that on Wednesday afternoon last he witnessed the accident at the Risdon park races, whereby deceased was injured’.

In the (Queens) South African Medal roll under Tasmanian Mounted Infantry is a listing for Surgeon Lieutenant S C Jamieson, stating the medal was issued. Another list shows he was entitled to five clasps, which were issued on 10 September 1903. They were for Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free State.

In the 1902 British Army Lists he is listed as Surgeon-Lieutenant S C Jamieson in the Army Medical Corps. He was also part of the London Detachment for the 1902 Coronation. Stanley was listed in the Australian Coronation Contingent, London Detachment roll, under officers as Captain S C Jamieson, Tasmania.

In the officer’s mess at Anglesea Barracks Hobart is a silver cup which is inscribed: –

TASMANIAN MOUNTED INFANTRY 12^th A.L.H. REGIMENT SQUADRON CHALLENGE CUP FOR FIELD WORK THE CO TO DECIDE ALL CONDITIONS PRESENTED BY CAPT. S. C. JAMIESON SURGEON To 1^st CONTINGENT

Wises Tasmania Post Office Directory has the same listing for him under Medical Practitioners in the 1905 directory as in the 1901 one.

In 1904, Stanley played in the finals of the men’s singles of the Easter Tournament for tennis.

Original house opposite the Court House in Yarrawonga where Dr Jamieson first lived.

He was listed in the 1909 Australian Electoral Roll for Yarrawonga, at Yarrawonga, recorded as a surgeon. On 9 March 1909 Stanley married Jeanne Emma Denis in Victoria. Jeanne had been born on 11 September 1876 in Mauritius. Her father was Dr Denis, who was another doctor in Yarrawonga at the time. Arthur Adrien Denis registered in Victoria on 10 June 1880 and in 1927 register of Medical Practitioners for Victoria in listed at Yarrawonga with qualifications M.D. France 1868. Stories were told of her ‘sneaking out of her Father’s house during the pre marriage romance under threat that in no circumstances was she to frequent the presence of that other upstart Doctor!’ It would appear they had no children.

Picture of Doctor Denis and the bride leaving ‘Verdun’.

The Argus of Saturday 10 April 1909 in the Marriage column on page 9 had ‘JAMIESON–DENIS.—On the 9th March, 1909, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Yarrawonga, by the Rev. E. Forbes, Stanley Connebee, elder son of Francis Jamieson, of Kew, to Jeanne, elder daughter of Arthur A. Denis, of Yarrawonga. At home April 15, 16, and 20.’

Stanley had a significant role in the Yarrawonga Rowing Club. In the 1912 British Army Lists, he is recorded as a Captain in the AAMC. The 1912 electoral roll has them both at the same address, with Stanley still a surgeon and Jeanne doing home duties. In the 1913 roll, their details are still the same.

The 1914 country directory has Stanley listed in ‘Yarrowee’ as a medical practitioner.

In the 1915 British Army List he is noted as a Captain in the unattached list. The 1916 list just records him as a Captain, with the 1917 list recording the same details as 1915. In the 1915 and 1917 electoral rolls, they are both listed as previously recorded.

An attestation paper for Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson of the AAMC (Australian Army Medical Corps) was filled out by him on 5 September 1918, although someone has added the date 12 September 1917 in the top of the form as the date that he ‘Joined on’. The same date was recorded on his active service form in the in the ‘Enlisted’ and ‘Service recons from’ dates. The attestation form shows he was a Natural born British subject, age 48 years and 8 months (born 26 January 1870), for calling he wrote ‘Physician, surgeon etc.’, he had not been an apprentice, his next of kin was his wife Jeanne Emma Jamieson of Verdun Piper Street Yarrawonga, which was his permanent address. He was still serving in the AAMC reserves and was on the Reserve Army Officer’s List. He had never been rejected from an armed service and had no illness or disease listed. He was prepared to be vaccinated. For his description he was 5-foot 10½ inches tall, weighed 182 pounds, had a chest measurement of 37 to 43 inches and had a fair complexion with blue eyes and grey hair. His religious denomination was Church of England and for distinctive marks he had vaccination marks on the left arm. He was deemed medically fit for service on 5 September in Melbourne after being examined at the town hall. It also showed his physical development was good and his pulse was normal. He had four vaccination marks on his left arm and had been vaccinated in 1900. He had three TAB vaccinations between 24 August and 18 September 1918 and was shown to be immune.

Stanley joined the AIF on 12 September 1918, and that was also the date his pay book (611971) commenced. His application for a Commission in the AAMC AIF noted ‘Transport’ after that. For educational qualifications it has MBBS Melbourne and that he was now serving in the Australian Military Forces and ‘See A.M.F. Officers List’. The rest of his form was the same as his attestation form but included that his eyesight was 6/6 in both eyes. He was appointed and recommended on 5 September 1918 to be a Captain in the AAMC AIF by the Commanding Officer and District Commandant.

In a Nominal Roll for the Australian Imperial Force for Medical Officers is an entry for Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson age 48, a Medical practitioner in the 3^rd Military District. His address was Yarrawonga and his next of kin was his wife, Mrs J E Jamieson of “Verdun” Piper Street Yarrawonga Victoria. His religion was Church of England. He was paid 26 shillings a day, with a deferred pay of 3 shillings 6 pence, an allotment of 5 shillings and a net pay of 17 shillings 6 pence. He embarked at Sydney on SS Port Darwin on 14 September 1918 for ‘Voyage only’, disembarking at Port Suez on 20 October 1918, where he was taken on strength of 14^th Australian General Hospital at Port Said. A note in his statement of service also says voyage only and noted his time in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 and he had the Coronation Medal for Edward 7^th. The next day he was transferred to 2rd Australian Stationary Hospital at Moascar and was taken on their strength that day. He was taken on strength from reinforcements on 21 October 1918.

His statement of service in the AIF shows he was a Captain with the 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital (attached 3 December 1918) and then detached to 8^th Light Horse Regiment from 6 December 1918 in the Field. Another record states he was attached from 3^rd Light Horse Field Ambulance (Medical Officer) with (or to) the 8^th Light Horse Regiment on 6 December 1918 (another record has 8) and on 8 January 1919 he was attached from 8^th Light Horse Regiment to 14^th Australian General Hospital. His service records stated he was marched out from 8^th LHR to Suez for embarkation on 25 December 1918, then was taken on strength of 14^th AGH on 27 December 1918 at Abbassia.

A certificate for his will shows that Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson AMC Medical Officer had his will lodged with Mr J A Hargrave, a Solicitor of Yarrawonga.

There is a sticky note on his copy attestation page which says ‘to O I/C for Miss C. C. Jamieson “Overton” Pakington St Kew Vic’.

On 15 January 1919 he embarked on HT Berrima (another record originally recorded it as Karmala and amended the name on 21/2/19) for Australia, ex Suez as Duty Medical Officer and was struck off strength of the AIF. Carrie C Jamieson of Overton Pakington Street Kew wrote a letter to Base Records on 18 January 1919, ‘I have just received a little note from Colonel Heritage in which he tells me you are looking after my brother’s (Captain S C Jamieson’s) luggage which is on the “Nestor”. I am so sorry you are so much bothered but will you kindly have it sent to me at “Overton” Pakington Street Kew, as my brother will be staying with me on his arrival. We are so afraid he has been ill & so compelled to miss that boat even after his luggage was on board. We have had a cable saying he is sailing on the “Karmala”. He will expect me to meet him, will you kindly let me know how I will get tickets so that my sister-in-law Mrs Douglas Jamieson and I can meet him on arrival. Feeling very sorry to trouble you so much’, she signed the letter. Base Records replied to her on 22 January 1919: ‘I acknowledge yours of 18^th instant, concerning your brother Captain S. C. Jamieson, Australian Army Medical Corps, but so far have no advice that he has left abroad for Australia. I am cabling for a report as to his present condition and whereabouts, so as to have the matter cleared up. I’ll appraise you of the results. As regarded his personal baggage stated to be on the “Nestor”, I have arranged for your request to be complied with provided the Custom Authorities will release the packages. You will be advised re this later on.’

On 24 January 1919 Defence sent a telegram to Cairo ‘State present condition and whereabouts of Captain Jamieson Stanley AAMC’.

Another letter from Base Records to his sister on 30 January 1919 stated ‘Following upon my communication of the 22^nd instant, concerning your brother Captain S. C. Jamieson, Australian Army Medical Corps, I am now in receipt of advice that he is returning to Australia per H.M.T. “Berrima”, which left Egypt 15/1/19, and is due in Melbourne about 11/2/19. I enclose 2 cards of admission to the Depot at Sturt Street, and can only suggest you keep watch upon the newspapers as to the movements of this transport – the actual date of disembarkation will depend upon the quarantine restrictions in operation at that time.’ Carrie wrote a reply on the same day that she received ‘a cable yesterday from Colombo saying “all well” & he was transhipping from the ‘Karmala’ to the ‘Berrima’ & so he must be almost here now.’ She again asked about his luggage. Another letter from her on 6 February said she had found out that his luggage was ‘a kind of compressed cane suit-case & a yellow cabin trunk. It is in charge of Major Robbins (a vetinary {sic} surgeon) so I think it will be easier to trace now, & my brother is not certain whether he sailed on the ‘Nestor’ or ‘Somali’.’ A cablegram backs that up, but has a couple of different handwriting on it, one of which from Major Robbins says ‘Left at Office of Medical Embarkation Staff Suez’ and a note from F.B.H. says that Stanley was his friend and could someone look after the baggage. It also says he expected Stanley to be on the ‘next ship to Nestor from Suez’. Base Records replied to her two letters on 9 February 1919, saying they had interviewed Major Robbins and the ‘baggage was left at the Office on the Medical Embarkation Staff, Suez, for him to pick up when calling at that port.’ Carrie replied to them on 13 February, thanking them, but wondering how they came to be left in Suez. She said Stanley had wired her from Freemantle about it so he would be home soon and presumed she would have to follow them up. A cablegram from Defence on 18 February was sent to Cairo advising them to send his trunks to Base Records in Melbourne. The cost of the cable was written on the form and also a note saying Stanley would pay for it if needed. Lieutenant-Colonel Heritage, from Perth, sent a letter to Base Records on 19 February asking about the trunks, as Stanley had asked him to find out. He obviously knew Major Lean, as the last line reads ‘I am busy fighting the demon rum here & closing pubs’. A reply to him from Base Records on 4 March noted that Major Lean was ‘just recovering from a severe attack of pneumonic influenza’ and would be away for three more weeks. The officer also let him know that they had found out where the trunks were and when ‘Captain Jamieson arrived at Melbourne, he called at this office to see if his baggage was here’. A reply from Cairo on 3 March said the trunks had been located and would be sent in the next consignment to Australia.

His medical report, done on 17 February 1919, shows he arrived back to Australia on that day and he was ‘perfectly well’. Nothing was recorded but he had a loss or decay of teeth, which was aggravated by his service. Stanley had his appointment in the AIF terminated on 3 March 1919 in the 3^rd Military District.

On 6 April 1919 Stanley wrote to Base Records ‘I have approached your department with reference to my kit, which is lost in Egypt. It was put in charge of Major Robin of the A.A.V.C. who when he found I was not embarking on the Nestor handed it over to Captain Leahy of the Head-quarters medical Staff in Cairo. That officer left it with the Embarkation medical officer at Port Tewfik Suez, in whose office it should be now. This information has now just come to me by Major Robin. As the kit is a value to me – with about £150.’ He went on to say it contained valuable instruments and ‘a pair of field glasses used by me in the Boer War’. Stanley went on to say he would appreciate every effort to return them to him. Base Records replied to him on 8 April acknowledging his letter and saying that communications were being followed up and he would be let known of any details.

Base Records replied back to the Finance Secretary on 11 April 1919, noting the only information they held on Stanley was as follows:

‘(1) 12/9/18 Appointed to the Australian Imperial Force as Captain vide Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 171 of 1918. (2) 14/9/18 Embarked at Sydney per S.S. “Port Darwin”. (3) 21/10/18 Taken on strength of 2^nd Australia Stationary Hospital from Reinforcements, authority M.E.F.O. No.46 of 1918. (4) 8/12/18 Attached from 3^rd Light Horse Field Ambulance (M.O) to 8^th Light Horse Regiment, authority M.E.F.O.59 of 1918. (5) 16/1/19 Embarked from Egypt per “Berrima” on duty for return to Australia. (6) 17/2/19 Disembarked at 3^rd M.D. ex “Berrima”.’

On 24 April, Base Records replied to him letting him know of cables from Cairo and that they had been located and would be sent to Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. He wrote to Major Lean at Base Records on 27 April 1919 saying ‘I am very pleased to learn that my kit has been located, thank you for your efforts in tracing it. These are valuable articles which have a sentimental value as well as an intrinsic one. I will be grateful to you if you will kindly notify me when the kit arrives.’

Carrie wrote to Base Records on 15 July 1919 asking if she and her brother’s wife could have tickets to the procession that was to be held ‘next Saturday’. She was also enquiring about Stanley’s bags. Her address was Cooraminta Wellington Street Kew. On 22 July Base Records wrote back to her saying they were being forwarded to Victoria Barracks ex Orari and he would be advised when they arrived. They let Stanley know of their arrival at Victoria Barracks Melbourne on 23 July in a letter to him at Verdun Yarrawonga on 25 July.

Stanley received his Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration for 18 years’ service in 1920. It is recorded in the Commonwealth Gazette No 58 of 1 July 1920 on page 932 as ‘Capt. S.C. Jamieson. A.A.M.C. 3^rd.M.D.’

The 1919 Australian Electoral Roll lists them as living at “Verdun” Piper Street Yarrawonga in Victoria with Stanley as a surgeon and Jeanne doing home duties. Subsequent rolls in 1921, 1922, 1924 and 1928 have the same details recorded for them both. In the 1925 and 1927 rolls Stanley is listed as a surgeon at Yarrawonga with Jeanne listed at Verdun, Piper Street Yarrawonga, doing home duties. The 1934 roll erroneously lists his surname as Jameson and shows he was living at 45 Cotham Road Kew as a medical practitioner, with Caroline Constance Jamieson, (his sister), listed as doing home duties. The 1936 and 1937 rolls have the same information and name error.

Base Records sent his Commission Form out on 24 August 1920 as a Temporary Captain in the regular forces of the British Army, to S C Jamieson of Verdun, Piper Street Yarrawonga. Receiving his Commission Form, Stanley signed for it on 28 August 1920 and returned to Base Records, who received it on 31 August. Stanley signed for his British War Medal on 28 September 1921 and his Victory Medal on 16 October 1922, both at Victoria Barracks.

Verdun. Apparently, it was removed illegally from its site in Yarrawonga to Wilby, where it deteriorated severely before the present owner is restoring the house. Wilby is 10 km south of Yarrawonga.

State Records (Western Sydney) has a photograph of Stanley Connebee Jamieson doctor [no date] Number NRS-9873-1-[2/721]-[349]. Unfortunately, it is not online and can only be viewed there.

The Argus of Melbourne on Wednesday 23 May 1928 in page 19 had

‘DR. DENIS’S WILL.

SON-IN-LAW IN WITNESS-BOX.

Prescriptions Not Taken.

There were bright passages in the cross-examination of Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson, of Yarrawonga, one of the pro-pounders, of the last will of Dr. Arthur Adrien Denis, also of Yarrawonga, in the First Civil Court yesterday. The hearing was continued before Mr. Justice Mann of the action over Dr. Denis’s will. A caveat was lodged by Mrs. Alice Olga Vennermark, of Camberwell, the younger daughter of Dr. Denis, on grounds of undue influence on the part of Dr. Jamieson and Dr. Denis’s elder daughter, (Mrs. Jeanne Emma Jamieson), wife of Dr. Jamieson, and want of testamentary capacity shortly before and at the time of making the will on November 7, 1927. Dr. Denis died on December 12, aged 83 years. He left estate valued at nearly £50,000. Under his last will two-thirds of his estate was given to his daughter (Mrs. Jamieson) and one-third, to Mrs. Vennermark.

Dr. Jamieson said:-I began to practise at Yarrawonga in 1904. I became friendly with Dr. Denis and his family, and in 1909 I married Dr. Denis’s elder daughter. In 1925, against my wife’s wish, I sold my practice at Yarrawonga; but at the suggestion and wish of Dr. Denis I cancelled the sale, and paid £1,000 compensation and £60 commission. Dr. Denis asked me to remain with him until he “pegged out.” That was one of Dr. Denis’s favourite expressions. On November 7, when the last will was made, I had a conversation with him. He said, “Stan, I want to alter my will. Will you please get it from the bank. Under it Jeanne and Alice have equal shares. That is not right. It is not fair to Jeanne. I will divide my property into four parts. Jeanne will have three parts and Alice one part. I want Alice to have £500 a year.” I said, “Have you thought of the heavy probate duties? What is your income?” Dr. Denis said that his income was between £1,700 and £1,800. I said, “Don’t you think that it would be better if Jeanne had two-thirds and Alice one-third.” Dr. Denis agreed. At this time Dr. Denis was not suffering from any disease, but merely from debility. He had a weak heart following an attack of influenza, but mentally he was sound in every way.

Mr. Lewis (counsel for Mrs. Vennermark).-What previous illnesses had Dr. Denis had?

Witness -I once asked him if he had ever been ill. He replied, “Oh, yes. Let me see. Was it in ’83’ or ’84? (Laughter.) In 1918 Dr. Denis had an attack of influenza and went to bed. That was the first time I had ever known him to be in bed through illness.

You went to Japan in 1926? Yes, on July 12. When I returned I found that Dr. Denis had bronchitis and gout. I did not prescribe for him. I had prescribed for him in 1918, but he never took the medicine. (Laughter.)

He was a medical man? Yes, he knew. (Laughter.)

Docs not influenza recur each year similar to snakebite, of which there is a recurrence on exactly the same day in each year? That is absurd. The theory about snakebite is a relic of the dark ages. (Laughter.) I have heard about the theory, but scientists ridicule it.

“Always Feared September.”

You say a person is susceptible to influenza? There in a susceptibility to influenza. Dr. Denis always feared September. He feared it since September, 1918, when he had an attack of influenza.

Was Dr. Denis’s whole attitude to you and your wife inconsistent with his ever having made a statement that he was being “bossed”?-Dr. Denis was the “boss”. He used to say, in a jocular way, that he was being “bossed” by me and by my wife. Twenty-four years ago, when I first met him, he told me that he was being “bossed” by his wife. (Laughter.)

Your wife and Mrs. Vennermark were not on friendly terms? I do not think so.

Jessie Maud Hargrave, solicitor, of Yarrawonga, said:-My father practised as a solicitor at Yarrawonga for many years before he died in 1926. During the latter part of Dr. Denis’s life I was on particularly friendly terms with him. On my visits to him we discussed all kinds of subjects. I never found any deterioration in his intellect. His will of November 7 was drawn by me. Dr. Denis was as perfectly able to make a will as any person for whom I have ever made a will.

The case for the propounders had not closed when the Court adjourned.’

The Register of Adelaide on Tuesday 22 May 1928 in page 13 continued the story:-

‘SISTERS AT LAW Doctor’s Will Disputed. MELBOURNE, Monday.

Two daughters of the late Dr. Arthur Adrien Denis, who practised as a doctor at Yarrawonga for many years, and who accumulated a considerable estate, are parties to an action in which his will is being contested before Mr. Justice Mann, in the First Civil Court. Mr. Dixon (for the propounders) said that the action was the return of an order nisi calling upon the caveatrix to show cause why probate of the will of Dr. Denis should not be granted, notwithstanding the caveat. Dr. Denis died, on December 12, 1927, aged 83 years. The propounders of the last will were Dr. Denis’s elder daughter (Mrs. Jeanne Emma Jamieson) and her husband (Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson). Dr. Jamieson was also a medical practitioner at Yarrawonga. The will which the Court was asked to admit to probate was dated November 7, 1927, and had been made some five or six weeks before Dr. Denis died. The caveatrix (Mrs. Alice Olga Vennermark) was the younger daughter of Dr. Denis, and had for 20 years lived away from home. In 1919 she had married, and after marrying had lived in Adelaide and Melbourne. The will, which was propounded, in substance, divided the estate into, one-third and two-thirds. Dr. Denis gave two-thirds of his estate to Mrs. Jamieson, and one-third to Mrs. Vennermark. The estate was worth nearly £50,000. The probate duty was likely to be large, and the difference between one-third and one-half of the estate would probably amount to some £8,000. Under a previous will the caveatrix had been left one-half, and that really was the dispute between the parties. The grounds upon which caveat had been lodged were undue influence on the part of Dr. and Mrs. Jamieson, and want of testamentary capacity confined to a period shortly before and at the time of the execution of the last will. The hearing was adjourned.’

The Argus on Friday 25 May 1928 on page 13 had a discussion of the case again, with a conclusion in that ‘Mr Dixon said that that matter had been considered by his clients and himself it was submitted that it was a clear case where the caveatrix should be called upon to bear the whole of the costs of the proceedings, but his clients had for reasons of family relationship decided not to ask for that order. Mr Justice Mann accordingly made an order that each side bear its own costs but the propounders to receive their costs out of the estate.’

The Daily Telegraph of Sydney on Friday 20 July 1928 in page 12 had “IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.— PROBATE JURTSDICTION. — In the Will of ARTHUR ADRIEN DENIS late of Yarrawonga in the State of Victoria Doctor of Medicine deceased. APPLICATION will be made after 14 days from the publication hereof that the Probate granted to JEANNE EMMA JAMIESON Married Woman and STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON Medical Practitioner both of Yarrawonga in the State of Victoria by the Supreme Court of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction on the 24th day of May 1928 In respect of the above Estate may be sealed with the Seal of this Court and all notices may be served at the offices of the undersigned. Dated the seventeenth day of July 1928. ABBOTT TOUT CREER and CO. 67 Castlereagh Street Sydney Agents for HARGRAVE and HOLROYD-SERGEANT Yarrawonga Victorian Proctors for the Applicants.’

Jeanne passed away on 29 July 1930 at Yarrawonga and was buried in the Jamieson family plot. Probate for her will was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 23 February 1931 in page 2 ‘IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES -Probate Jurisdiction -In the Will of JEANNE EMMA JAMIESON late of “Verdun ‘ Yarrawonga In the State of Victoria Married Woman deceased-Application will be made after 14 days from the publication hereof that the Probate granted by the Supreme Court of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction on the fifteenth day of September one thousand nine hundred and thirty to THE TRUSTEES EXECUTORS and AGENCY COMPANY LIMITED of 412 Collins-street Melbourne In the State of Victoria and STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON of “Verdun” Yarrawonga aforesaid Medical Practitioner in respect of the above Estate may be sealed with the Seal of this Court and all notices may be served at the offices of the undersigned. Dated this 16th day of February. 1931. J. RELPH. Solicitor. 160 Castlereagh-street. Sydney.’

The Cobram Courier of Victoria on Thursday 25 September 1930 in page 2 had a couple of entries in general information for ‘Dr. Jamieson, with his sister. Miss C. Jamieson, left Yarrawonga recently for a trip to Fiji’ and ‘Probate of the will of Jeanne Jamieson, late of Verdun, Yarrawonga, married woman, who died on 29th July, has been applied for by the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company Limited, and Dr Stanley Connebee Jamieson. The estate, which is valued for probate at £23,550, consists of realty £2186 and personalty £21,364, and is held in trust for her husband and Relatives. There are also assets in New South Wales.’

He was a doctor in Yarrawonga from 1904 to 1930 and enjoyed an excellent reputation there.

Stanley Connebee Jamieson died on 10 February 1938 at his home in Kew and was buried in the family plot.

His service records note his death after discharge. It was recorded there as 4 February 1938, and noted ‘Major S.C. Jamieson “V.D.” Retired list of R/O.’ Probate to his will was granted on 1 April 1938.

The Argus on Thursday 31 March 1938 in page 4 had: – ‘BEQUESTS MADE TO COLLEGE

Under Doctor’s Will

Scholars of Scotch College will have new prizes in French and chemistry and a new racing boat as a result of the will of Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson, of Nirvana, Cotham road, Kew, who died on February 10. Dr. Jamieson left real estate of a gross value of £100 and personal property of a gross value of £28,307.

Dr. Jamieson’s will dated February 5, 1937, and five codicils were lodged for probate yesterday. Provision is made for the payment of £100 to the Presbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts Corporation to provide the French prize, to be known as “The Jeanne Jamieson Prize”, a similar sum to provide the chemistry prize, to be known as “The Stanley Jamieson Prize,” and £150 for a racing boat, to be known as The Jeanne Jamieson Provision is also made for £100 to found a prize, to be known as “The Stanley Jamieson Prize,” for natural philosophy for first year medical students at Ormond College.

Subject to legacies to relatives, friends, his nurse, and his housekeeper, Dr Jamieson left the residue of his estate to his sister, nephew, and niece.’

The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday 9 June 1938 in page 2 had ‘IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES-Probate Jurisdiction-In the Will and live Codicils of STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON late of Nirvana 45 Cotham Road Kew In the State of Victoria Medical Practitioner deceased -Application will be made after fourteen days from the publication hereof that the Probate granted in respect of the last Will and Testament (with five Codicils thereto) of the abovenamed deceased by the Supreme Court of Victoria on the First day of April One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight to DOUGLAS RONALD JAMIESON and SHEILA EVELEEN MCBRYDE the Executor and Executrix named in the said Will may be sealed with the seal of this Honourable Court and all persons having any claims against the Estate of the said deceased are hereby required to forward particulars within the said period of fourteen days to the undersigned at their undermentioned address BARKER and JONES Proctors for the Executor and Executrix. Perpetual Trustee Chambers 33-39 Hunter Street Sydney.’

In 1919 the committee of the Yarrawonga Avenue of Honour published a list of names who enlisted and embarked from the district which included Dr S C Jamieson. The Tungamah Express of 11 September 1919 had an article on the Avenue of Honour which reads: – ‘The Yarrawonga Shire Councils plan for commemorating the memory of the soldiers (dead or living), who inlisted {sic} from this district will, among other things, take the form of an Avenue of Honour. Over 230 Kurrajong Trees will be planted in certain streets of the town, along Belmore Street from McNally Street to Telford Street from Belmore Street along Lott Street along Telford Street to the railway crossing. If these trees are well and truly planted and properly cared for until they are soundly established, they will greatly add to the attractiveness of Yarrawonga. As, we presume each tree will eventually bear a plate with the name, etc. of the soldier it represents, it becomes a solemn duty on the part of the townspeople to see that every tree survives. The best way to ensure this would be to delegate to the relatives or friends of the soldier the privilege of seeing that his particular tree is well cared for. We are sure those concerned would gladly undertake this labour of love. The holes for the trees have been dug by Returned Soldiers employed by the council from the Federal Government Repatriation Vote, and the trees will be planted out almost immediately.’

The three last remaining kurrajong tees of the Avenue of Honour in Lott Street Yarrawonga.

His identification plate from his kurrajong tree. The plate is currently at the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Pioneer Museum.

A book of ‘The History of the Midwives, Medicos and Matrons of Yarrawonga and District from 1859 to 1978’ by Olive Hardgrave, titled ‘A Whiff of the Past’ contains stories on Dr Davis and Stanley. Dr Adrian Arthur Denis was there from 1879 to 1927. The book says he was ‘a likeable, loveable eccentric, a man of compassion. He served in the Franco-Prussian war, and was a. M.D. graduate of the French Medical School. His wife “Madame” was French Swiss… who kept strictly to the rules of etiquette.’ ‘Madame and her daughters were extremely artistic.’ They had two daughters only. Stanley arrived at Yarrawonga in May 1904. When it was suggested Dr Denis meet with him the reply was “Consult with that boy! – Never.” Jeanne became his partner in the mixed foursomes at the local golf course in 1905. “The friendship … soon became a budding romance. They were known as Stan and Jan by their friends in and around Tom Street. With the help, and encouragement of these friends the romance flourished, and when at last they were married, the whole town celebrated.’ When Dr Denis died, he was buried in Mulwala Cemetery, the only monument facing west, facing a friend. The book also discusses the issues around his will and the problems following his death.

Arthur Adrien Denis M.D., B.A. Born at Sens France 28th May 1844 Died Yarrawonga 12th December 1927 Former Medicin Majeur to the 6th Regiment Chasseurs Cheval For 48 years Medical practitioner in this District.

The book also has a page on Stanley, as follows: –

‘Captain Stanley C. Jamieson served as a young man in the Boer War attached to the A.A.M.C.. The war ended in 1902. In May 1904 Dr. Jamieson purchased the practice of Dr. O’Sullivan in Yarrawonga. Soon after that doctor’s departure, he moved into his house in Piper Street opposite the Court House, and from there he conducted his practice. This fair young man, big and athletic, enjoyed life himself, and infected others with his good humour. Jovial and generous, he was ever ready with a kindly word, a kindly deed. He was soon loved and trusted by one and all. Lawn tennis was the first sport to receive a boost from his activities. Other members of the club were inspired by his skill and enthusiasm, thus laying the foundation for Yarrawonga’s famous Easter Tournaments. At golf, which in those days was played at the Show Grounds, he was on scratch. When competing in the mixed foursomes, he always presented his partner with a box of chocolates. Miss Denis became his partner in the mixed foursomes, so in less than a year, he had put an end to the feud between the two practices. To the delight of all their friends this partnership blossomed into an interesting romance. Madame Denis, being something of a tyrant, “Stan and Jan” did their courting at a friend’s home nearby in Tom Street. They were married by the Presbyterian Minister Rev. Mr. Forbes, and lived in the house in Piper Street, until they moved into the Denis home, “Verdun”, where Dr. Jamieson conducted his practice until 1930. After their marriage, they continued their work in the community. Dr, Jamieson became President of the “First Autumn Flower Show” of the Yarrawonga and Border Association. They both rode bicycles. By 1910 the rowing club was established, and Dr. Jamieson was appointed judge of the races. He had been active in the Committee of Mechanics Institute for some time, and continued to be re-elected. The Agricultural Show, and the Turf Club were fortunate to have him as Honorary Surgeon at their races. He would escort his wife to the Christmas Prize Distribution and Concert of Miss Thomas’ Alexandra College, adding life and zest to the presentations and speeches. His wife assisted him with his many commitments, taking great pride in her own artistic entries in many sections of the Show, and assisting with concerts and other entertainments, especially where children were participating. Her piano playing and exceptionally lovely singing voice continued to thrill her audiences. The Doctor himself managed to prepare a few entries for the Show, and on one occasion won a special prize for his chokoe.. As a change from tennis, golf, rowing and horse racing, Dr. Jamieson would travel to the north of the continent shooting buffalo. Hunting these animals could be dangerous, but he found it exciting and exhilarating. He brought back the best and biggest horns of his quarry for display on the walls of his house. As Health Officer for the Shire, he was continually battling for better drains. He believed the epidemics of typhoid fever and diphtheria were due to the unsatisfactory drainage, and advised the Council to get rid of the wooden drains, and replace them with brick. After many years of happy married life, his wife became seriously ill and died in a hospital in Melbourne. Dr. Jamieson then turned to travel, but always returned to Yarrawonga to visit his friends, and the place where he had lived a full and happy life. Having no family, he was faced with a very lonely existence. He visited Yarrawonga for the last time in 1934, after which he became ill and was admitted to the Austin Hospital. Many of his Yarrawonga friends visited him there, and when the end came he slipped away peacefully in the company of those who were dear to him.’ The book also mentions him in the midwives’ section, in that he inspected their premises.

His medals are Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Belfast, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Orange Free State and Cape Colony; British War Medal, Victory Medal, Edward VII Coronation 1902 and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration.

The medal group is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

His picture in a book on the contingent to the Boer War.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

Lieutenant Clifford Clapcott BARCLAY

Canterbury Infantry Battalion NZEF

By Ian Curtis

¹

‘He was a very capable and popular officer and fought well under most trying circumstances’ ²

Clifford Clapcott Barclay was born on 25 April 1893 at Waimate, Canterbury, a town on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. He was the elder son of Herbert Clifford Barclay and Ruth Annie (née Clapcott). He had an older sister Dorothy and two younger siblings – Ruth (known as Marjory),³ and George.

Herbert Clifford and Ruth Annie were married at St Paul’s Cathedral Dunedin on 30 September 1890, by The Venerable Archdeacon George Barclay (brother of Herbert) assisted by The Reverend Mr Yorke.

Ruth, who was born on 3 June 1867 in Otago, was the second daughter of Henry Clapcott Esq, BA (Cambridge) of Halfway Bush, a suburb of Dunedin. He was a businessman and trustee of the Dunedin Savings Bank. In the role of politician, he was the elected member for Wakatipu in the Provincial Council of New Zealand.

He married Mary Jane (née Power) in 1858. She gave birth to a son on 27 October 1859, but died a week later; the baby died on 13 November.

On 18 January 1862, Henry Clapcott married Annie Harriet (née Bedborough) at Dunedin.

Herbert Clifford Barclay (the father of Clifford) was one of the first two New Zealand-trained doctors to be appointed to hospital service. In 1889, Dr HC Barclay and Dr GA Copland, graduates of Otago Medical School, were registered on 1 May and appointed to the staff of Dunedin Hospital.

Herbert was surgeon-superintendent at Waimate Hospital between 1890 and 1914 and in 1891 was appointed public vaccinator for Waimate. He was surgeon-captain with Waimate Rifles Volunteers, appointed captain on 10 April 1901 and between 1898 and 1900, was mayor of Waimate.

He transferred to the 2^nd South Canterbury Regiment on 28 February 1911 and was promoted major on 17 March. During his service with the New Zealand Territorials he received medals representing five long service awards. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 21 March 1914 and then worked with the Russian Red Cross for four months at Warsaw from September 1914 to January 1915. He had a profound admiration for the people of Russia, though not necessarily for the government.

Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Clifford Barclay, MB ChB NZ 1889, MD NZ 1891, MRCS LRCP 1896, FRCSEd 1896.

(Source: The Barclays in South Canterbury)

Herbert was appointed to the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1915 until the end of the war, retiring on 4 July 1919, which saw him provide a total commissioned service of 21 years 46 days. After the war he practised in London, then in Kent before relocating to Hampshire after 1923.⁴ His name was removed from the New Zealand Medical Register in 1921. Herbert never returned to New Zealand. He passed away on 1 December 1932 and was buried at Pine Road Cemetery, Hampshire, England. His wife Ruth passed away 26 November 1938 at her residence, Onslow House, St Kilda, Dunedin. She was cremated two days later.

Clifford was educated at Waimate and Waitaki High Schools where he was recognised as a very good rifle shooter, winning a number of shooting medals and gaining the rank of sergeant during his five years with high school cadets. After leaving school, he obtained employment as a stock agent with the auctioneering and commercial firm, Guinness Le Cren in Shearman Street, Waimate. Clifford joined the 13^th (North Canterbury and Westland) Regiment ⁵ and was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant on 18 April 1913. In December, due to a change of residence, he transferred to the 2^nd (South Canterbury) Regiment.

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was formed on 7 August 1914, when the New Zealand Government cabled the Imperial Government in London offering the services of the headquarters staff and personnel of a division of two brigades, one of mounted rifles and the other of infantry. The offer was accepted on 14 August and mobilisation began immediately. Major General Sir Alexander John Godley, KCMG, CB was appointed to command the Division.⁶

Clifford was one of the early volunteers. The infantry brigade was recruited on a Territorial basis. The Canterbury Battalion consisted of the 1^st Canterbury, 2^nd South Canterbury, 12^th Nelson and 13^th North Canterbury and Westland Regiments.⁷ The battalion strength was 33 officers and 977 other ranks, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Douglas McBean Stewart who at the time was commanding officer of 1^st Canterbury Regiment. Clifford was appointed lieutenant in August 1914 in the 2^nd (South Canterbury) company which was commanded by Major David Grant. Clifford stood 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 141 pounds and had a fair complexion. At the time of appointment he was 21 years 4 months, Presbyterian faith and had a small scar over his right eye.

Addin

Major David Grant and subalterns at Addington, September 1914.

L to R , back row: Lieut Francis Maurice, Lieut Clifford Barclay Lieut John Hill: Front Row: Lieut Douglas Fraser, Major David Grant, Lieut Raymond Lawry. (South Canterbury Museum)

Training began at Addington showgrounds immediately the troops marched in, with the bulk of the training carried out by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the battalion. At the beginning of September, bad weather made the showground camp uninhabitable, so the battalion moved to the adjacent ground of the Metropolitan Trotting Club. On 7 September they moved again, this time to the Plumpton Park Trotting Ground at Stockburn. They remained there until 23 September, when at noon, they entrained and travelled to Lyttelton, from where they embarked on HMNZT 11 Athenic, bound for the harbour at Wellington.

The departure date from New Zealand for the Expeditionary Force was postponed due to the presence in the South Pacific of enemy warships and the lack of a naval escort sufficiently powerful to protect the transports.

The escort ships arrived on 14 October and the New Zealand fleet left Wellington Harbour at 6am on 16 October. The fleet called at Hobart on 21 October before steaming to Albany, Western Australia. On the morning of 1 November, the Australian and New Zealand transports put to sea. There was widespread expectation that the destination would be England.

The convoy arrived at Alexandria on 3 December and the New Zealand force was ordered to camp at Zeitoun, four miles from Cairo. When the first troops arrived, they found that the camp existed in name only. During December, training and many ceremonial parades were held. By the end of January, the troops were well advanced in their training and the New Zealand Infantry Brigade was considered fit to support the 11^th (Indian) Division, which was holding the defence of the Suez Canal.

The New Zealand Brigade was divided into two portions, with the headquarters and the Auckland and Canterbury Battalions being sent to Ismailia, on Lake Timsah, midway between Port Said and Suez. The remaining battalions went to El Kubri, near Suez. The troops entrained at Palais de Koubbeh and Helmieh stations on 26 January and reached their destination the same day.

Clifford’s 2^nd South Canterbury company was stationed at Ismailia Ferry Post as a general reserve. On 3 February the expected attack was made by the Turkish forces on other posts along the defence lines.

Although the Turks were found to be entrenched about half a mile to the east, no attack was made on the Ismailia Ferry Post, but the New Zealanders were exposed to shellfire during the day. On the night of 3 February, a half-hearted attack was made by the Turks, after which they withdrew the bulk of their forces to Kataib El Kheil.

No further attacks were made on the Suez Canal, but the battalion remained in garrison of its posts until 8 February when it was relieved by the 1^st Australian Brigade. The battalion remained in the canal area, manning a few posts north of Ismailia, but continued training until 26 February, when it returned to Zeitoun.

The New Zealand and Australian Division, under the command of Major General Sir Alexander Godley, was part of the force entrusted to attack the defences of the Dardanelles. The main fleet of transports left Alexandria at 6pm Monday 12 April and entered Mudros harbour, on the island of Lemnos, early in the morning of 15 April with Clifford’s company travelling on Lutzow. The time at Mudros was spent in company and battalion training ashore and practising boat drill in preparation for the landing.

The Australian Division, under the command of Major General William Bridges sailed from Mudros harbour on the afternoon of 24 April and arrived at the Gallipoli shore at dawn on Sunday, 25 April 1915. Meanwhile, the first transports of the New Zealand and Australian Division left Lemnos at 1am and Lutzow with Clifford’s company arrived off Anzac Cove at 7am. Due to the confusion caused by the alteration of the landing place and the casualties incurred, the first troops of the Canterbury Battalion did not leave the ship until 10am. Disembarkation was completed by 12.30pm and although the landing was made under shrapnel fire, no casualties were incurred.

Clifford’s battalion was immediately ordered to reinforce the left flank of the 3^rd Australian Brigade and to fill the gap between the flank and the sea. There was much confusion while the order was being carried out and thus, the two Canterbury companies became mixed.

Lieutenant Colonel Stewart with Clifford’s company got well forward and took up a position on the upper portion of Walker’s Ridge, which ran north-east from Pope’s Hill down to the sea and immediately, they became involved in heavy fighting.

Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, who went back to bring up reinforcements, collected a large group of Australians. Being at that time in an exposed position, he was killed while leading the Australians up to the firing line. There, Clifford’s company and the Australian reinforcements repulsed with bayonets, three Turkish attacks. They then withdrew slightly to more suitable ground, where they dug in.⁸

The casualties of the Canterbury Battalion on the day of landing totalled 198, including one officer missing, Lieutenant CC Barclay.⁹

Clifford’s official records show that on his 22^nd birthday, 25 April 1915, he was recorded as ‘Wounded and Missing’.

It was not until 16 January 1916 that an official Court of Enquiry was held at Ismailia by the New Zealand Infantry Brigade headquarters. Lieutenant Clifford Barclay was officially recorded as dead, causes unknown.

Of interest is a letter from Private W O’Brien to his relatives in New Zealand, written on 21 May 1915 from hospital in Alexandria, which reads in part; ‘I suppose you know that Lieutenant Barclay, from Waimate, was killed the first day.’ ¹⁰

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Edward Loach (Canterbury Battalion) wrote; ‘He was a very capable and popular officer and fought well under most trying circumstances’. Lieutenant Still said, ‘I have met some of Lieutenant Barclay’s men; they give glowing accounts of how bravely he led them into action; his bravery and coolness under fire was wonderful. We are all proud that he was one of us.’ ¹¹

Also revealed later was a strange account that while in Egypt, Clifford had been told by a fortune-teller that he would be killed on his next birthday, which happened to be 25 April 1915. On the eve of the landing at Gallipoli, he said goodbye to each man in his platoon, telling them that he would be killed next day and sure enough the prophecy was fulfilled. ¹²

Lieutenant Clifford Clapcott Barclay has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial (panel 73) at Gallipoli with so many other Anzacs. He is also remembered at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Wall of Memories.

Waimate World War 1 Memorial. Clifford Clapcott Barclay is listed on the left-hand side panel (Source: nzhistory.govt.nz)

Clifford is remembered on the Waimate World War I memorial and also on the Te Kuiti World War I memorial. It is presumed that because his job as a stock agent for Guinness Le Cren took him to Te Kuiti on many occasions, he was sufficiently well regarded by the community to be listed on their memorial, although he had no family links to the town. He is also remembered on the memorial wall, Timaru, and at St Augustine’s Church as G C Barclay [sic].

In memory of her son Clifford, Mrs Ruth Barclay donated a stained-glass memorial which was unveiled on Anzac Day 1926 at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Waimate. The window (in two panels), manufactured by the London firm Morris & Company, depicts young Galahad in a scene from Tennyson’s epic poem “Idylls of the King” (1869). The figure of the knight was recognised as the embodiment of heroism and devotion to a righteous cause.¹³

Lieutenant Clifford Clapcott Barclay’s Memorial Plaque is proudly on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

Lest we Forget

References

www.paperspast.narlib.govt.nz

Evening Star, 21 September 1897 page 2

nzhistory.govt.nz

En.wikipedia.org

www.aucklandmuseum.com

sites.rootsweb.com/~nzlscant/Barclay-htm The Barclays in South Canterbury

www.100nzmemorials.blogspot.com

nzetc.victoria.ac.nz – The History of the Canterbury Regiment NZEF 1914-1919

New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Form No 2 Clifford Clapcott Barclay

New Zealand Defence Force Form No 4, Appointment of Territorial Officer, Clifford Clapcott Barclay

New Zealand Military Forces Form R 68 Officers (Territorial Forces) Transfer 1268

Brereton Major C B, Tales of Three Campaigns 

Endnotes

1. Auckland War Memorial Museum
2. UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1919 Volume 2, page 19
3. Marjory became the first registered female doctor on 3 May 1897 in New Zealand. She graduated with MB ChB from Otago Medical School and specialised in diagnostic radiology. She passed away in 1978.
4. The Barclays in South Canterbury
5. The regiment was formed in 1911
6. The History of the Canterbury Regiment, Chapter 1
7. Ibid.
8. The History of the Canterbury Regiment, Chapter 3
9. Ibid.
10. Canterbury Times 7 July 1915, page 56
11. UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1919, Volume 2, page 19
12. Brereton, page 121
13. The Barclays in South Canterbury Additional information was gained after a phone call to the Vicar of St Augustine’s Church, Waimate, with an extract from The Anglican Church in Waimate 1844-1972 by The Reverend LE Cartridge and D Kenyon.

“In January 1972, Professor KL Goodwin of the University of Queensland came to New Zealand to look for examples of stained-glass windows made by the English firm of Morris and Company and one of its leading designers, Sir Edward Burne-Jones. So far as Professor Goodwin knows, St Augustine’s, Waimate is one of only four churches in this country with such windows. Although many hundreds of churches in England contain glass by this firm, only eight of their windows came to New Zealand, and two of these are in St Augustine’s. Professor Goodwin came to Waimate and identified the windows on either side of the sanctuary in St Augustine’s as having been designed and manufactured by Morris and Company. The window on the north side of the sanctuary depicts Sir Galahad’s vision of the Holy Grail, the cup used at the Last Supper… The window consists of two separate panels or “lights”…. Professor Goodwin said that the design was based on part of a set of tapestries designed by the famous English artist, Sir Edward Burne-Jones. The tapestries depicted six scenes from the legend of the Holy Grail, of which the scene in this window is one.”

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

Lieutenant Herbert Gerald HINTON

2nd Light Horse Regiment AIF

By Ian Curtis

“A soldier’s death thou hast boldly died,

A soldier’s grave won by it”.²

Herbert Gerald Hinton was born in Brisbane on 23 February 1879, the second son of John Edward Hinton and Mary Elizabeth (née O’Reilly). Herbert was one of eight children.

John Edward Hinton was born in Buckinghamshire, England and after leaving school, age 12, he followed a seafarer’s life. At 16 years, he served on HMS Oberon on the west coast of Africa.

He came to Australia in 1868 on the ship Young Australia and obtained employment in the Charleville district. Not liking the country life, he went to Melbourne and joined the permanent artillery, serving for three years.

John then returned to Queensland where he worked on the staff of the Governor of Queensland for a number of years, before moving to the Registrar-General’s Office.

Still interested in military duty, John joined No 1 Artillery Battery in Brisbane as a gunner. When he retired, he held the position of captain and adjutant. Following the passing of an Act in 1882 to constitute a properly organised fire brigade (there was only a voluntary brigade till then), he applied for the job of Superintendent.

Herbert’s father, John Edward Hinton, was known as “The Grand Old Man” of fire services in Brisbane, with a career spanning 43 years, firstly as Chief Officer of the Brisbane Fire Brigade, then Senior Assistant Superintendent from 1882 until 1883, Superintendent from 1883 until 1921 and finally Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade from 1921 to 1925.

John Hinton built the Brisbane Fire Brigade into a fine fire-fighting force, recruiting firemen and purchasing horse-drawn reels and establishing branch stations in the suburbs. John, like many firemen, had a number of close escapes. On one occasion his death was reported in the morning newspapers. Fortunately, the report was greatly exaggerated!

On 18 November 1933, John became ill before retiring to bed and he died at 8:15 the following morning, at his home in Chelmsford Avenue, Lutwyche (where he had an exceedingly well-kept garden).

Superintendent Hinton was accorded a formal fire brigade funeral. The service was held at All Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane followed by burial at the South Brisbane Cemetery.

Herbert was educated at Brisbane Boys’ Central State School, Spring Hill. Soon after leaving school he became a citizen soldier, serving in the ranks with Queensland Volunteer Rifles and Queensland Field Artillery. He was a keen and capable shooter, a member of the Queensland Volunteer Rifles, (second rifle team) and a member of the No 2 Battery, Queensland Artillery Rifle Club.

Herbert enlisted to serve in the Boer War, being accepted as a private in B Company, (Regimental Number 110), the First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent. After a special parade through the streets of Brisbane and a banquet on Saturday 28 October 1899, followed by a camp open day on the Sunday, the unit loaded its horses and equipment.

At midday on 1 November 1899, they marched to Pinkenba Wharf. They departed Brisbane for South Africa on SS Cornwall the same day, reaching Port Elizabeth on 11 December.

The first opportunity for the men of the unit to distinguish themselves occurred on New Year’s Day at Sunnyside in Cape Colony where they received orders to attack alongside a party of Canadians, a company of Munster Fusiliers Mounted Infantry and a section of Royal Horse Artillery. Two Australians were killed in the action.⁴

In a letter written by Private Hinton dated 12 January 1900, he tells of the battle.

“We were advancing in skirmishing order near the position to be attacked, when I saw eight men galloping off, and obtained permission to try a shot, I landed a pony in the leg with the rifle sighted at two thousand yards. I shall never forget the climb we had, and without a drop of water. The sun was terribly hot. I and another chap were behind a fair-sized rock, and were about to blaze away when it occurred to me to try their own dodge, ⁵ and I put my hat on top of the rock. It was not there ten seconds when a bullet went through it. If it had been on my head I would have been with poor McLeod and Jones.”⁶

On 25 July 1900, Herbert was medically evacuated and invalided to England on board SS Gascon with enteric fever (typhoid) and received treatment, 16–24 August at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. He then resided at Miss Bradley’s home, Middle Claydon, Winston, Buckinghamshire for a month to recover, whilst on furlough. On 16 January 1901, arrangements were made via Queensland’s Agent-General in London for Herbert to be attached to the Royal Horse Artillery for instruction while he was there.

However, the attachment did not proceed as Herbert obtained a commission as Lieutenant with Warren’s Mounted Infantry ⁷ which was raised by the Cape Colonial Government in January 1901 and taken over by the Imperial Government on 20 July 1901. After arranging his own travel, Hinton served with the unit from 18 January until 8 August 1901.

He then secured a commission in the South African Light Horse and served with the unit until June 1902, after which he returned to Australia, leaving the Cape on SS Yarrawonga on 18 July 1902.

Herbert fought in ‘numerous engagements, including Sunnyside, the first time the Queenslanders came in contact with the Boers. His 21^st birthday was celebrated at Paardeberg and he also fought at Douglas and Bloemfontein.’⁸ For his Boer War service, Herbert was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps: Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Paardeberg, Transvaal; and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps: South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.

On returning to Australia, Herbert applied to the Under Secretary, Foreign Office, London for appointment with either the Somaliland Expedition, West African Field Force or the Central African Field Force. He attached a reference from Major CH Carrington-Smith of the South African Light Horse, dated 7 July 1902 which said that Herbert had, ‘given every satisfaction as a steady, trustworthy, hard working and reliable officer.’⁹ Neither appointment was gained in Africa.

Herbert then obtained work in the pearling industry, working on the schooner Wanetta as a sheller for Mr Hockings in Dutch New Guinea and later Thursday Island. A few years later, he returned to Brisbane and worked for Edward Butler and Sons,¹⁰ saddlers and leather products, which had its head office opposite the Customs House in Queen Street. He moved to Warwick in 1909 for his employer.

Herbert married Mabel Cecilia Mahony in Brisbane on 9 August 1909, at All Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane and spent their honeymoon at Southport. His brothers were his groomsmen. Mabel was the daughter of Mr Henry Thomas Mahony of Indooroopilly who, for many years, was Queensland manager of Central Agency Ltd of Glasgow, the Scottish sewing cotton firm.

Herbert and Mabel lived in Canning Street, Warwick before returning to Brisbane in 1913, to live at Station Street, Indooroopilly. Herbert worked as a salesman, and later as a commercial traveller, for Butler and Sons.

Mabel Cecilia Hinton (née Mahony)

Source: Family file

Herbert and Mabel had four children, three sons and a daughter. Having returned to Brisbane, Herbert rejoined the militia in 1912, serving two years with the 2^nd Australian Light Horse.

Herbert received a Queensland Police Commendation¹¹ for the actions he and his patrol took during the 1912 Brisbane Strike. The Queensland Government swore in a number of defence force personnel to be special constables and issued them with batons.¹² On 12 January, in Mary Street, an offender against the law took refuge in a crowded room of waterside workers and Herbert, as Sergeant in command of a patrol displayed ‘very plucky and exemplary performance of duty on the occasion.’

Soon after the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, Herbert volunteered for a commission on 20 August. He had recently passed his examinations to be appointed 2^nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron. Herbert was 35 years old, 5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall, 10 stone in weight, religious denomination, Church of England. His wife Mabel and the children were living at “Wanetta”, Graceville in Brisbane. Mabel was recorded as Herbert’s next of kin.

After a short period of training under the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Mackay Stodart, at Enoggera¹³ and a farewell parade in the streets of Brisbane, the 2^nd Light Horse Regiment left Pinkenba on board HMAT Star of England on 24 September 1914. Due to the German Pacific Fleet being active in the area, the ship was diverted to Melbourne where it waited a month before continuing its journey.

During the time in Melbourne, Lieutenant Colonel Stodart sought and obtained approval from the Prime Minister for the emu plumes to be worn as an official part of the dress.¹⁴

The regiment re-embarked on 20 October 1914 and reached Albany, Western Australia on 26 October, where the fleet took on water and supplies. On 1 November, Star of England sailed as part of a convoy of forty large transport ships escorted by British and Japanese warships.

At that time, the destination was presumed to be England. While in transit, the regiment learnt that their destination had been changed to Egypt. The ship arrived at Alexandria on 9 December, after a voyage of seventy days. The modern equipment on the quays was an eye opener to the Queenslanders and unloading progressed smoothly, with most of the horses giving little trouble.

Colonel Henry George (Harry) Chauvel arrived from England and assumed command of the 1^st Light Horse Brigade which included the 1^st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales), 2^nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) and 3^rd Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania) and commenced training the Brigade.

Chauvel trained his regiments hard. ‘All day and every day was spent in the desert….protection on the move….at rest…..attack and defence…..night operations, etc ….till we could have found …..the landmarks blindfolded.’ ¹⁵ The men of the 1^st Light Horse Brigade were not traditional British Cavalry, but Mounted Infantry who were trained to fight on foot.

Soon after 25 April 1915, casualties from Gallipoli began arriving back at the hospitals in Egypt. The Anzacs called for 1,000 volunteers from the mounted regiments to help fill the terrible gaps in the ranks of the exhausted infantry battalions.

Chauvel and Brigadier General Andrew Hamilton Russell (commanding officer, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade) volunteered their brigades as dismounted units. Despite the protests of the frontline commanders, their proposal was accepted and the 2^nd Light Horse avoided dissolution.¹⁶

The troopers handed in the saddlery and equipment used by mounted soldiers and were issued with improvised infantry equipment. On 8 May, they marched to Helmiah railway station where they entrained for Alexandria. The following day, the 1^st and 2^nd Light Horse Regiments embarked on SS Devanna. At 7am on 12 May 1915, the troops were taken aboard destroyers before transferring to lighters, which were towed to the beach at Anzac Cove, landing at about 11.15am.¹⁷

While on board Devanna, Herbert wrote what was to be his last letter¹⁸ home to Mabel.

On board transport

May 1915

My Darling Beloved Wife

We are on board the transport & bound for the front which is where Father mentioned in his letter. I expect to meet Arty who has been there some time. Everybody is quite happy about it & looking forward to some excitement.

You must be very brave darling and not worry unnecessarily about me. We are all in the hands of the Almighty & one might be just as safe as anyone at home. I place my trust entirely in Him who controls everything & pray for His guidance in the execution of my duty, that I may do it without fear, & well. We must make up our minds darling that His will is all for the best & I pray for His protection & blessing for us all.

I cannot give you any particulars of our doings as it is strictly forbidden.

God bless you my darling & my darling children & may He bless you & lead you in all things.

Fondest love and kisses sweetheart from

Your loving husband

Herbt. G. Hinton

That night, the 2^nd Light Horse Regiment bivouacked in Monash Gully before taking over from the 15^th Battalion which had held Quinn’s Post since 29 April. At noon on 13 May, the regiment assumed responsibility for Quinn’s Post. That afternoon and the following day Lieutenant Hinton, Lieutenant Boyd and 32 men were wounded from hand bombs. Herbert was slightly wounded in the eye but returned to duty.

The regiment had little understanding of bombs. Because the Australian trenches were wide, it was nearly impossible for any bombs that were thrown by the enemy to avoid dropping into them. The men quickly learned how to smother the bombs, or better still, throw them back.¹⁹

Following the failure of an attack by the regiment on 15 May, it was relieved by the 15^th Battalion and a system of 48-hour rotation of units through the post was introduced.

On 6 August, attacks were planned in several locations including Quinn’s Post, Pope’s Hill, Russell’s Top, German Officers’ Trench and Lone Pine. The 2^nd Light Horse Regiment’s task was to capture Turkish trenches opposite Quinn’s Post. The regiment attacked on 7 August 1915 at 4.30am.

Preparation activities included the taking of other objectives, the firing of a mine, the provision of artillery support and the element of surprise. Then, the troops were to emerge from tunnels.

Surprise was impossible and the enemy were perfectly prepared. Extracts from the Official History²⁰ provide more detail;

…The 2^nd Regiment knew before dawn … that German Officers’ Trench was still in the hands of the enemy. As for the bombardment ….the fire of the field guns against such a position was useless, except to repel attack. It followed that … the assault would be dependent for success solely upon surprise, and since all night long the enemy had been roused not only by the fighting at the Pine and German Officers’, but also by demonstrations – intended to cover the advance of the main columns – loyally and thoroughly carried out by the very troops who were to attack at Quinn’s, Pope’s and Russell’s Top, there was small chance that surprise would be achieved….

Nevertheless, the troops who were to make the assault, though their intelligence showed them that every condition was against them, faced their task with grim determination. …

But here, as at The Nek, the enemy was perfectly prepared. As the troops scrambled from the trenches, intense fire was opened upon them. One Turkish machine gun was shooting from the direct front, two from Dead Man’s Ridge and a fourth from German Officers’.

Major Thomas James Logan, who led the line, was killed before he could go five yards. … With one exception, every man of the first line was killed or wounded, the majority before they had gone six yards. Many owed their lives to the fact that they were struck when on the parapet and fell back wounded into the trench. … In this action Major Logan, Lieutenants Burge and Hinton and 14 others had been killed.²¹ Lieutenant Norris and 36 others wounded.

Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton, age 36 years, was killed while firing over the parapet, providing covering fire during the withdrawal of the wounded.

After the failure of the first line, any further assault would result in annihilation. Major George Herbert Bourne²² ordered the second line to stand fast and sought further orders from Colonel Chauvel who deferred any further attempts. The regiment all day continued to provide rifle and bomb support to their front, but it was now obvious that the offensive had failed.

The official grave of Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton.

Source: John Meyers

Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton was buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Plot IV, Row D, Grave No 14, Anzac, Gallipoli. He is remembered on Panel 3, Australian War Memorial, the Honour Board of the United Service Club, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, The Fire Brigade Roll of Honour, ²³ Sandgate Honour Roll located in the town hall, and the Booroodabin Bowling Club Roll of Honour.²⁴

Booroodabin Bowling Club Roll of Honour United Service Club Honour Board 1914-1918

The Great War 1914-1918 Their Name Liveth For Evermore

It is worthy of note that Hinton’s Post at the head of Monash Valley is named after Herbert. ‘Lieutenant Herbert Hinton held an important post in Monash Valley early in the campaign, which became known as Hinton’s Post.’²⁵

When Herbert embarked for Egypt, his wife Mabel and children, Kenneth, Stanley, Norman and Frances Doris, moved to live in Brighton Terrace, Sandgate. Mabel received many letters and telegrams of sympathy when Herbert’s death was announced. Mabel and the children each received a pension dated from 16 September 1915.

Mabel received £91 per annum and the children received £13 each. Herbert’s medals, Form of Commission, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll and Identity Disc were all forward to Mabel over the following years, along with his personal belongings.

On 30 September 1918, Mabel wrote to the Officer in Charge, Base Records advising that she had a large quantity of military books which had belonged to her husband. She sought advice as to how to dispose of them, along with his uniforms and Sam Browne. She received a reply dated 10 October stating that Base Records could not advise her on this matter.

Mabel passed away in 1953 and is buried with members of her family at the Sherwood Cemetery, Brisbane. The Hinton family grave at South Brisbane Cemetery includes memorial inscription for Herbert: Not dead: Alive in Christ ²⁶

Herbert’s brother Francis James Hinton was born in Brisbane on 22 February 1882. After completing his education in both State and Catholic schools, he worked from 1901 for the Queensland National Bank, initially as a clerk at Muttaburra. In 1909 he joined the Bank of North Queensland at Cairns and served at several branches including Atherton. While Francis moved around with his job, he was, from 16 August 1901, a lieutenant with the Queensland Rifles, until being placed on the Reserve of Officers, in December 1904.

On 20 February 1915, he was commissioned as Captain in the 25^th Battalion. On reaching Egypt, Francis was transferred to the 54^th Battalion on 13 March 1916 and again shortly afterwards he was transferred to the 14^th Training Battalion. Francis departed Alexandria for Southport, England on 29 July 1916, to be taken on strength of the battalion at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, on 2 September.

On 13 February 1917, Francis embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses for Australia with an injury to a knee joint that made him permanently unfit for General Service, but still fit for home service. On return to Queensland, he rejoined the service of the Bank of North Queensland, which meantime had amalgamated with the Royal Bank under the name of the Bank of Queensland. Francis married Margaret May Largey on 3 November 1917. In 1919 they moved to Toowoomba, where Francis was appointed accountant in the local branch. Then he was sent as manager to Imbil, Kalbar, Laidley and Texas before transferring to Woolloongabba in 1934.

n Anzac Day 1938, Herbert Gerald Hinton’s brother, Francis James Hinton passed away at his home at Cracknell Road, Annerley. He had been in ill health for some months.²⁷

Medals for Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 four clasps; King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps; 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

Lieutenant H G Hinton’s Identity disc and Memorial Plaque are also on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

‘Lest we Forget’

The Memorial Plaque

and Identity Disc

of

Lieutenant Herbert Gerald HINTON

are also on display

at the

Maryborough

Military & Colonial Museum

Bibliography

Akeroyd, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher (Ret’d), United Services Club, History and heritage notes, The Men on the Board 1914–1918, Honour Roll Great War. Bean CEW, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, Vol II, Chapter XXI Bourne G H, The History of the 2^nd Light Horse Regiment Calthorpe KD and Capell K, Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925. Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, 1997, page 146. Clark, Major Rex, First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War. Published circa 1977 by the Military Historical Society of Australia, ACT BranchHolloway David Clare, Combat Colonels of the AIF in the Great War, Big Sky Publishing, NSW, 2015, page 233. McLachlan M, Gallipoli: battlefield guide Starr J, Sweeney C, The History of the 2^nd/14^th Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry)

References

The Brisbane Courier 18 January 1901 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 25 January 1907 The Queenslander 21 August 1909 The Queensland Times 1 June 1915 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 18 November 1933 page 15 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 26 April 1928

NAA: B2455 Hinton Herbert Gerald NAA: B2455 Hinton Francis James NAA: J1795 7/442 Hinton Francis James

https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/memorial-boxes/1/object-list/emu-plume www.aif.adfa.edu.au www.discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au www.ancestry.com www.unitedserviceclub.com.au

Facebook.com Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery.

Endnotes

1 Photo provided from the family collection; a further picture can be found in The Queenslander Pictorial Supplement, 5 June 1915, page 25.

2 The Brisbane Courier Family Notices, Roll of Honour, 7 August 1916 page 6.

3 Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery; also Calthorpe KD and Capell K, Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925, Preface.

4 Private David Cumming McLeod and Private Victor Stanley Jones were both killed during the attack. Victor Jones, a native of Mount Morgan, Queensland, was the first Australian to be killed on active service in South Africa.

5 ‘dodge’ is slang for a shifty trick.

6 First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War, p8

7 Lieutenant Colonel F J Warren, a corps of three squadrons.

8 The Queensland Times 1 June 1915 page 6.

9 The original reference is located in his file at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum.

10 Edward Butler & Sons (originally Edward Butler and Frederick Rathbone) were located at 424-426 Queen Street from 1899 till 1948. They were importers of wholesale saddlery.

11 The Commendation letter, date 20 February 1912, is kept on his file at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

12 Robert Stodart (later CO of the 2^nd LHR) was one of the special constables; his baton is held at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

13 The 2^nd Light Horse Regiment camped at the Rifle Range. Enoggera.

14 The practice of light horsemen adorning their slouch hats with emu plumes was first adopted by the Queensland Mounted Infantry during the Great Shearers’ Strike in the 1890’s. They chased emus on horseback to break the monotony of long patrols and decorated their hats with the birds’ feathers. The plumes were worn with pride by the Queenslanders during the Boer War and the Great War.

15 Bourne G H, The History of the 2^nd Light Horse Regiment, page 13

16 The History of the 2^nd/14^th Light Horse, page 62.

17 ibid., page 62

18 The letter is located on his personal file at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

19 The History of the 2^nd/14^th Light Horse Regiment, page 65.

20 Bean, Chapter XX1 pages 629-631.

21 The History of the 2^nd/14^th Light Horse Regiment, page 70.

22 Bourne had taken temporary command of the regiment and would later be appointed commanding officer on 1 July 1916.

23 Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925. In 1915, an honour board was erected at the Brisbane Fire Brigade, in recognition of firemen who volunteered to join the armed forces. Sadly, it was to become a silent reminder of the death of the Superintendent’s son, Lieutenant Herbert Hinton who was killed in action at Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, page 146. List of names, page 209. Diligent enquiries were made by copyeditor Diane Melloy to Fire Brigade headquarters at Kemp Place Brisbane and to the Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, to ascertain the present whereabouts of the honour board, to no avail. Officers at both places advised that they had no knowledge, ever, of such a memorial item.

24 Newsletter-New Farm and District Historical Society, April 2017 Vol XXIII, Booroodabin Bowls Club at Newstead is Queensland’s oldest bowls club, established in 1888. In November 2016, the restored Honour Board, which had been found under the building, was recognised as a valuable heritage item.

25 Gallipoli: the battlefield guide, page 75.

26 Ancestry.com

27 The Telegraph 26 April 1938 page 14, Francis James Hinton has a lengthy repatriation file in National Archives.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

2^nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers

by Robert Simpson

Herbert Cooper was born on 9 January 1874 in Norwood, Surrey. His parents were Thomas Cooper and Mary Ann Pocock. A marriage reference for them cannot be found, so it is not known where or when they married. Thomas had been born on 27 August 1844 in Chiswick, London and Mary had been born in early 1849 in Newbury, Berkshire. Herbert was their first child and only son. On 28 March 1875 Herbert was baptised in West Dulwich Emmanuel Church in Lambeth, England with their address stated as Ivy Villa, Hamilton. Thomas was listed as a gardener. A record for Salters Hill School, Gypsy Road, Lambeth, for an admission for Herbert Cooper on 7 July 1879, lists his parents as Thomas and Mary of 6 Cleveland Terrace but gives his date of birth as 23 January 1875. It also records he left the school on 8 September 1879. This is the only record which gives a different birth date, all his service records have the above date.

Grace Cooper was born in 1877 in Norwood and was baptised on 28 January 1877 in the same church and their address had changed to 6 (hard to read?) Terrace, Hamilton Road and he was still a gardener.

Edith Cooper was born in 1883 in Chiswick. She died in 1925 according to another family tree.

Elizabeth Cooper was born in 1885 in Chiswick.

Their last child, Florence Cooper was born on 17 January 1886 in Hammersmith, London. According to another family tree she died in Wandsworth London on 19 April 1975.

In the 1891 census they were all living at 14 Carthew Road, Hammersmith, London. Thomas was listed as jobbing gardener; Herbert was a provision porter and three of the girls were scholars. Sometime between this census and the 1901, Mary passed away. There is a record for a Mary Ann Cooper born about 1849 who died in late 1897 in Whitechapel, London but it is not known if she is the right person. By the 1901 census, they had moved to 6 Garrick Grove Chiswick. Thomas was listed as a domestic gardener and was living with the three youngest daughters, with Edith and Elizabeth being packers in a soap factory. According to another family tree, Thomas passed away in 1924. No other details can be found on the family.

Herbert attested with The Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow on 9 September 1892 for short service and was given the Regimental Number RF 4391. The newly formed regiment was established as the city regiment for London and started numbering from 1 in 1881. He stated he was born in Norwood London and was an 18 year 8-month old porter. Herbert was already serving with the 5^th Royal Fusiliers and was not married, not an apprentice and had no sentence or discharge. His physical description showed he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 131 pounds, had a chest measurement of 32½ to 34½ inches and had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England and his address on enlistment was 86 Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, London. He took the oath and was considered fit for the army on that day. Herbert received a conditional discharge of militiaman which showed he had been in 5^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and had performed 71 days of drill whilst with them. It was dated 10 September 1892. A medical history also shows his physical development was good, he had two vaccination marks in the left arm from infancy and he was fit. He was also re-vaccinated with two injections in the right arm on 22 September 1892.

On 30 September 1896, a court of inquiry was held at Station Hospital Curragh in accordance with para 253 Curragh Standing Orders 1896, the purpose of was to enquire into and report on an injury sustained by No. 4391 Corpl. H. Cooper 2/Roy. Fusrs. Herbert stated ‘On 22^nd Sep. I was playing football & in trying to kick the ball I sprained my knee. I took no notice of it at the time, but on Sep 26^th I had to go sick & reported to hospital the following day.’ Medical evidence was supplied. It was considered ‘I. That Corpl Cooper sustained the injury to his knee when not on duty. II. That it is the result of an accident. III. That it is not likely to affect his efficiency as a soldier. I do not recommend the remission of hospital stoppages.’ Whilst stationed at Gibraltar, on 23 February 1900, Herbert completed a form asking to extend his army service to complete 12 years with the colours. He was recorded as 4391 Sergeant Herbert Cooper, who had served 7 years and 6 months, had a very good character and was awarded two good conduct badges. He had been promoted to corporal on 7 January 1895 and to sergeant on 4 April 1898 and his army service was to expire on 9 September 1904.

Herbert is possibly one of the middle Sergeants.

His medical record from 1892 to 1903 shows he mainly had no admissions apart from his right knee sprain in 1897 at Curragh and ‘Syph Prim’ while at Guernsey for which he spent 53 days in hospital. It lists various places he was at including Belfast, Dilwara and Bermuda and a few ships.

Herbert married Rose Hannah Martin on 14 July 1905 in Bermuda, West Indies and was recorded in General Register Office Index for Army Marriages. Rose had been born on 14 February 1879 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and was baptised there in the Church of England on 23 March 1879. Her parents were listed as Henry and Jane, with Henry being a labourer. They were living in Gloucester Street.

While at Prospect, Bermuda, Herbert filled out a re-engagement paper stating that 4391 Colour Sergeant Herbert Cooper 3^rd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers had enlisted for 7 years with the colours and 5 years with the reserve and desired to re-engage with the Royal Fusiliers to make up a total continuous period of 21 years of army service. His commanding officer recorded Herbert had 11 years and 316 days service towards discharge and signed the form on 22^nd July 1904. He was also medically examined and found fit for service on the same day. He was re-vaccinated on 20 November 1909 with two injections in the left arm.

In the 1911 census they were recorded as with the 2^nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers with Herbert a Sergeant Major aged 36, married, ‘none’ for trade or occupation and born in Norwood Surrey. Rose was listed in ‘Return of Wives and Children of Officers and Soldiers, who passed the night of Sunday, April 2^nd, 1911, in these barracks or quarters’ as a wife aged 31, who had been married for 5 years and had no children and was born at Cirencester England. The cover of the census book shows it was an enumeration book for military establishments for 2^nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers at Hugh Rose Barracks Jubbulpore. The commanding officer was Major C H D Lyon-Campbell. The Delhi Durbar 1911 medal roll for the 2^nd Battalion the Royal Fusiliers (city of London Regiment) lists that 4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper was in the army allotment and it was sourced from the adjutant general in India. Herbert received an anti-typhoid inoculation on 24 October 1911. The Long Service and Good Conduct Register for the Royal Fusiliers Regiment in 1911 lists that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper was recommended for the medal on 1 January 1911.

Sergeants 2nd RF Jubbulpore June 1913 “Tennis at Home” Herbert on far-left standing.

On 4 January 1913 he was examined and found fit for continuance of service over 21 years. In January 1913, Herbert signed a form to continue for longer than 21 years in service at Jubbulpore. It showed that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper had served 20 years and 4 months, his character was exemplary, he was entitled to four Good Conduct Badges, he had been promoted to a warrant officer on 25 March 1908, his date of birth was 9-1-74 and his period of army service expires on 8 September 1913. It was signed by a medical officer and a captain at Hounslow on 4 February 1913. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General 5^th Mhow Division sent a memorandum to General Officer Commanding Jubbulpore Brigade about the retention in the service of Sergeant Major Cooper 2^nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 4 April 1913. He was permitted to continue the service as a warrant officer on that date. On 19 August 1913, he signed an insurance form to continue his insurance under the National Insurance Act of 1911 and for 1½d per week to come from his pay. It was signed at Jubbulpore by the officer commanding D Company. On 12 December 1913 he was in Calcutta.

Herbert appears in British Army Lists, with the 1912 list showing him as a sergeant major in the Royal Fusiliers with a birth date of 9 January 1874. In the 1915 list he was a 2^nd Lieutenant, by the 1916 list he was a Lieutenant, which continued in the 1917 and 1918 lists.

His service record from 1892 to 1913 reads: – Attested The Royal Fusiliers as Private 4391 on 9 September 1892 Posted to 2^nd Battalion as Private on 30 November 1892 Appointed Lance Corporal 12 May 1893 Granted Good Conduct pay at 1d on 9 September 1894 Promoted to Corporal 7 January 1895 Posted to Depot as Corporal on 1 October 1896 Posted to 2^nd Battalion as Corporal on 9 November 1897 Appointed Lance Sergeant on 4 April 1898 ‘Elected to come under new messing rates Special Army order of 2^nd April 1898’ on 18 April 1898 Posted to 3^rd Battalion as Sergeant on 1 November 1898 Promoted to Colour Sergeant on 15 January 1900 and granted Class 1 Service pay at 7d on 1 April 1904 ‘Re-engaged for “The Royal Fusiliers” at Bermuda on the 22^nd July 1904 for such term as shall complete 21 years service’ as a Colour Sergeant Posted to 4^th Battalion on 19 December 1905 Posted to Permanent Staff 4^th Battalion on 18 September 1906 Posted to 4^th Battalion on 1 January 1908 Promoted to Sergeant Major, dated 16 January 1909, on 25 March 1908 Posted to 2^nd Battalion on 4 March 1909

Paid £16.15.0 Deferred Pay on February 1909 Permitted to continue in the Service beyond 21 years, dated 4 February 1913

The 2^nd Battalion was stationed at Calcutta, India, and on 4 August 1914 returned to England. They arrived there in January 1915 and moved to Nuneaton to join the 86^th Brigade of the 29^th Division.

The London Gazette of 15 January 1915 on page 483 had an entry under War Office for that date for Regular Forces that the ‘undermentioned Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers to be Second Lieutenants’ from 7 December 1914 and included an entry under Infantry, ‘The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)’ for Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper as one of eight entries for that regiment. His service record noted he was granted a commission as 2^nd Lieutenant ‘in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers with effect from 10.11.1914 (vide Gazette of India, 10.11.14)’.

In the graduation list of officers for 1915, Herbert is listed in the 2^nd Lieutenants as Herbert Cooper, born 9 January 1874 and it records he was in ranks for 15 years and 197 days and a Warrant Officer for 6 years and 227 days.

The War Diary for the 2^nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers starts at Stockingford on 18 January 1915, where they were mobilised. On 21 January their colours were handed over to the Lord Mayor of London by Lieutenant J V Scudmore and 2^nd Lieutenant H Cooper. The rest of the month was spent marching, having medicals and inoculations and building up to War Establishment. In February they had more routine marches and companies were changed to X, Y and Z instead of A, B, C, and D. Having received rifles, they commenced to practice on Kingsbury Rifle Range. They also had weekend passes and continued with marches and attack practice. In March they did a route march to Coventry, where they took up new billets. On 12 March, the King inspected them. Half the Battalion left by train on 15 March and the other half on 16 March, reaching Avonmouth and embarking. Some went on SS Alaunia (a requisitioned Cunard liner) and the rest went on SS Mercian, with both ships leaving late in the afternoon. While at sea they did physical drill and ordinary routine. The ships passed Gibraltar at about midday on 20 March and reached Malta at 10.30am on 23 March.

The next entry in the diary says they were at MEX Camp on 30 March. In early April they were practicing embarking and disembarking from boats at a beach near Adami Fort. On 6 April, they were inspected by General Sir Ian Hamilton. On 8 April they struck camp after breakfast and went by rail to the wharf at Alexandria docks. At 3pm they embarked on SS Alaunia, with the transport section boarding SS Marquette. They left the dock the next morning at 10am and ‘steamed straight out to sea. Destination unknown.’ Arriving at Lemnos on 11 April, they noted a ‘good number of troopships including Australians and a number of battleships were already in the harbour’. Over the next few days, they practiced boat and ladder drill, physical drill and rowing. They had issues with the ship crew not lowering the boats some of the time as they were ‘neither under Military nor Naval Law it was difficult to deal with them.’ Training and practice continued through the month. On the morning of 21 April officers had a conference.

The Battalion landed at X Beach

They arrived off Gallipoli at 3am on 25 April. While disembarking into cutters from HMS Implacable at 4am, a general bombardment of the shore by the battleships took place. ‘The Implacable covered our landing with every available gun & except for distant rifle fire there was no opposition to our landing & we suffered no casualties’. The 2^nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) landed at Gallipoli as part of the 86^th Brigade in the 29^th Division. They scaled the cliff and took the top with no opposition. Two companies were sent out to attack Hill 114 and trenches on the left and met with heavy fire and suffered many casualties. After initial heavy contact positions were taken and consolidated. During the night the Turks attacked the positions in considerable force but they withdrew before dawn. Large attacks by the Turks on 26 April were repulsed by artillery and machine gun fire. The next day was quiet and they went into reserve. During the day of the 28^th, they were involved in battle that took them to within a mile south of Krithia. (This was the First Battle of Krithia, which due to an overly-complex plan, poorly communicated and the terrain, by 6pm the attack was called off.) They rested on the 30^th and on the 1^st the Turks attacked at 10.30pm, penetrating the line, so they were used to counter-attack and hold the trenches. They took 250 Turk prisoners and killed 2000. Finally, on 3 May the whole battalion was in the reserve trenches and rested all day and night, their first ‘real nights rest since they landed.’ Due to the whole Brigade having heavy losses, battalions were linked to other battalions. On 7 May an attack took 700 feet ahead of the old trenches but they had to entrench as they could advance no further. Attacks early in May advanced the line but at a heavy cost. (This was the Second Battle of Krithia which was swiftly halted by strong Turkish resistance and about one third of the allies in the attack were casualties. Australians and New Zealanders were also used in the attacks.) They were relieved back to X Beach on 10 and 11 May, where their total strength was 5 officers and 384 men.

Half the battalion landed in boats provided by HMS Implacable; half from boats from other ships. HMS Implacable provided a very efficient shore bombardment with its 12-inch guns, getting close inshore. Depicted in a painting (RFM.926 on display at The Fusilier Museum London) by the renowned British marine painter Montague Dawson. (Also in the book With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A Chaplain’s Experiences)

Lt Herbert Cooper MC on left with Lt Mundy

From 6 June 1915 2^nd Lieutenant Herbert Cooper took over writing the War Diary. The first line he wrote was ‘Battalion still occupying trenches they captured 4^th.’ He then described the trench and what was going on around it and noted their effective strength was 2 officers and 278 other ranks. (This was during the Third Battle of Krithia, which although planned better than the first two, still led to large losses for not much ground captured). In the book ‘The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War’ by H C O’Neill it mentions the three attacks on page 96, and after the first attack there ‘were now only six officers left’, but it only lists five including Herbert. After the 3^rd Battle, ‘Very soon the Battalion was taken from the left rear. Many men were shot in the back. Only one officer 2/Lt Cooper, remained.’ Again, it disagrees with the war diary. Herbert is also mentioned in the book ‘With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A Chaplain’s Experiences’ by Reverend Oswin Creighton. The author uses a lot of letters for officers’ names and Herbert was ‘G’. On page 68 (dated 3/5/1915) ‘They had just come out of the firing line for the first time since landing. But the were wonderfully cheerful. It was quite a joy to be with them again. They had just lost four officers, Shafto and Anstice killed, M and B wounded, and this left J in command, and Mundy as adjutant, Huggett was machine gun officer and with Z, T and G they made a very happy little family.’ Later in page 128 (dated 8/6/1915) ‘I went to Gully Beach where I found what was left of the RF’s and stayed with them till Friday. It was so tragic. I came out with such a magnificent regiment, with such regimental pride, and such a delightful band of officers. Only one left, G, the former Sgt. Major, besides the Quartermaster. He was asleep when I arrived.’ Later he added ‘G was quite played out’ and ‘I slept with G in his dug-out, and tried to cheer him up.’ After being relieved they made their way to Y Beach on 7 June. While there they were refitted and reinforced with 6 officers including a temporary commanding officer. On 9 June they received more officers and other ranks bringing the strength to 11 officers and 409 other ranks. At 3.45am on 12 June they moved into reserve trench and spent the next few days in trenches before being relieved on 17 June. At 3am on 23 June they moved back into the trenches. Herbert finished his stint of writing the diary on 24 June with a report of some enemy moving close but being observed. On 25 June an acting adjutant took over writing with a bombing party being sent out at night. On 27 June they were relieved and attack orders were issued for an attack on Turkish trenches ‘J12 & J13 and a hill just in front of J13 & to consolidate position gained’. The next day a heavy bombardment commenced the attack with the attack being successful and the position was consolidated. They were relieved the next day. On the 29^th the war diary stated ‘The men were for the most part in a terribly exhausted condition having had 24 hours fighting under the most trying conditions with very little water. The heat was very trying.’ Their effective strength was then 3 officers and 412 other ranks.

In early July they were on the beach north of Gully Beach, ‘resting, refitting & reorganising,’ On 4 July they moved into the trenches. The next day the Turks bombarded the area but was way behind the trenches. They also had men moving in front of their lines in the afternoon and ‘afforded great amusement to our snipers who claim to have knocked over twenty or thirty during the afternoon.’ They only had three machine guns in the line. The next days were quiet. On 12 July another battalion near them was involved in an attack which failed due to heavy machine gun fire. Mid July they marched to the beach and embarked on mine sweepers and a destroyer to Lemnos. Arriving there the next day they went into bivouacs and it was the first days they had not been under fire so they all had a good night’s rest. They built up their strength and had classes of instruction. On 21 July they were ordered back to Gallipoli and went to bivouacs near Gully Beach. A general attack by ‘the enemy was expected any time after 4am on the 23^rd ‘. During the next few days, they worked on terraces along the beach. Late in the month they moved back into the trenches. As the trenches had been run down, a great deal of work was put into them. On 30 July they heard a great victory had been made against the Turks and the road to Baghdad was now open.

In early August an attack by the 88^th Brigade caused them to suffer heavy casualties for not much ground gained. The Royal Fusiliers occupied the trenches they left but it was bombarded heavily and they suffered considerable casualties. On 10 August a demonstration was made all along the line as a deterrent to prevent the Turks withdrawing troops to send to the new landings at ANZAC. They took over a stretch of trenches near the sea on 16 August and as the Turks seemed to have the upper hand there, they took steps ‘to deal with them & to make the Turks understand that we will not allow it to continue.’ On 20 August they embarked on a sweeper for Suvla Bay. A general attack was ordered for the next day. Again, troops ahead of them came under heavy fire and suffered very heavily for little ground gained. The rest of the month was spent digging and expanding new trenches.

In early September they mainly worked on the trenches. A message from General de Lisle reached them on 7 September and ‘expressed his appreciation of the good work done by the brigade (86^th) and their landing at SUVLA BAY. He was particularly pleased with the 2^nd Bn Royal Fusiliers’. On 8 September they marched down to the beach and embarked on the Osmania for Imbros. They arrived there the next day and pitched camp near where they landed. This was their first rest in six weeks during which time they had spent mainly in the trenches under fire. On 11 September, General Sir Ian Hamilton visited them. They did some training and noted in the diary that they had a lot of diarrhoea cases over the week. A calculation of killed, missing, wounded and sick from the period of their landing until 17 September showed they had a total of 1736 men. Of all those who landed on 25 April, no officers survived and only 66 other ranks who had been present ever since and 2 officers and ‘about 100 men returned recovered from wounds’. On 21 September they boarded SS Princess Aless and ‘arrived off West Beach Suvla Bay at midnight & disembarked’. They moved up to the firing line the next day. For the rest of the month they improved the trenches.

In early October they continued the same with the weather continuing ‘to be perfect, warm sunny days & cool nights’. On 6 October the navy and artillery fired over 100 shells at the Turkish trenches, an ‘excellent view of this was obtained from our fire line’. They had two large catapults which sent ‘a cricket ball bomb for distances for up to 150’ yards. Turkish snipers were active during the month. In the middle of the month a couple of attacks pushed their front line ahead. The diary recorded on 20 October ‘We now have two rifles fitted with telescopic rifles. The two snipers in charge of them claim to have shot several Turks with them during the last few days.’ On 24 October they received a message of congratulations for minor operations they had done. A comment in the diary seems to lament that they only knew of drafts arriving when they turned up. They worked on shelter trenches and a diagram of what they looked like was included in the diary.

Sketch of trench positions at end of October 1915

There is a gap in the diary between the end of October and 26 November 1915. A heavy downpour on that day filled the trenches with 2 feet of water. Then a cascade of water from the Turkish positions converted some of their area into a river, drowning some men. Eventually they communicated with the battalion headquarters who told them to hold their position. A cold wind came up the next day which caused the death of some men due to exposure and exhaustion. Snipers also killed a few, including officers. The next day the wind got colder and it snowed. It was decided to pull the battalion back to a drier area and one more sheltered, which they did with some losses and difficulty. The weather for the rest of the month was not better.

On 1 December 1915 an inspection showed the strength of the battalion was 84 men but only 42 were effective. In early December they worked with engineers in improving and draining trenches. Drafts of officers and men began arriving and for the first two weeks of the month they held the position called ‘Dublin Castle’ and continued working with the engineers. The weather was improving. On 14 December at 8pm they embarked on SS Barry arriving at Mudros the next morning and then boarding SS Southland. They were then ordered to Helles, boarding SS Brighton at noon and arriving there at 11pm. They took over positions and started doing work with engineers, including drainage and trenches, which they continued doing until the end of the month.

On 31 December 1915 they were ‘First told of evacuation’. The next couple of days they worked on defences. On 2 January 1916 they were ordered to the beach at 6pm, which was being shelled. They embarked with 2 companies on each trawler which took them to the Caledonian. On 3 January they arrived at Mudros. On 5 January they sailed for Alexandria, arriving on 8 January and disembarking at 9am where they entrained for Suez. Arriving at Suez at 6am, they camped in the desert about 2 miles from town. On 10 January they ‘Found that the Implacable was in the harbour. This ship had covered our landing at Helles on the 25th April 1915.’ The next couple of days they settled into camp life and started training. It was hot during the days and cold at nights. January was spent with work as usual and inspections, including one on the 17^th by C-in-C Sir Archibald Murray.

February was much of the same and included a boxing tournament. On 14 February they moved across the Suez Canal to El Kubri and pitched their camp there. Marches and training continued. The diary finished on 24 February with ‘No difference in programme. Very hot day.’ After that the War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers continues from France. They landed in Marseilles in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.

Herbert is not mentioned in the war diaries again. The battalion was involved in the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. ‘Very few of our men reached as far as the enemy barbed wire’. The Germans resisted all on their front line and at midday ‘the few remaining men in “no mans land” were forced to retire.”

A cover sheet of the Battalions’ War Diary

Major engagements involving the battalion including the Battle of the Somme in autumn 1916 and the Battle of Arras in spring 1917.

A full list of actions the Division was engaged in various actions on the Western Front include;

During 1916 – The Battle of Albert and The Battle of the Transloy Ridges. During 1917 – The First, Second and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle, The Battle of Cambrai. During 1918 – The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Messines, The Battle of Hazebrouck, the defence on Nieppe Forest, The Battle of Bailleul, The Action of Outtersteene Ridge, The capture of Ploegsteert and Hill 63, The Battle of Ypres, The Battle of Courtrai. By the end of the war, they were in Belgium, at St. Genois south east of Courtrai.

Group of 6, Lt Herbert Cooper third from left

In the Supplement to the London Gazette of 1 April 1916 on page 3521, under Infantry, The Royal Fusiliers, it reads the ‘promotion to the rank of Lieutenant of the undermentioned Second Lieutenants is antedated as follows: – H. Cooper to the 21^st June, 1915.’ Also in the Gazette of 2 May 1916 on page 4428 was an entry from the War Office on that date stating ‘His Majesty The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards for Distinguished Service in the Field, with effect from the 1^st January, 1916’ and included under ‘Awarded the Military Cross’, ‘Lt. Herbert Cooper, R. Fus.’

The Birmingham Daily Post of 3 May 1916 had on page 4 under the headings ‘DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE FIELD’, Officers honoured by The King and The Military Cross an entry for ‘Lieut. Herbert Cooper. R. Fus.’

The London Gazette of Friday 5 May 1916 had a list of names ‘added to the list of officers and men mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch of 11^th December, 1915’ and included 2^nd Lieutenant H Cooper of the Royal Fusiliers.

In the Graduation List of Officers of the British Army, under Lieutenants on page 1326 is a listing for ‘Cooper, Herbert, MC … 9 Jan 74 In Ranks – 15 yrs. 198 days, Wt. Off.- 6 yrs. 227 dys. 2^nd Lt. R. Fus. 7 Nov 14’ and Lieutenant ’21 Jun 15’. War Service of Officers of the Army etc. listed ‘Cooper, H. (Lt. R. Fus.)- The War of 1914-7. – Despatches. Lond. Gaz., 5 May16, MC.’

An arrival report filled out by Herbert on 26 February 1917 stated he was a Lieutenant in the 2^nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers attached as Adjutant Cyclist Base Depot BEF, his address in the UK was c/o Mr Luff, 25 Upper Station Road Rainham Kent, he left his unit abroad on 30 January 1917, embarked for England on 15 February 1917 from Rouen to Southampton, arriving on the next day on St George and his cause of return was ‘Debility- Neurasthenia’.

The admission and discharge book for 10 Palace Green Hospital in Kensington shows that Lieutenant H Cooper was patient number 12333 and was with 2^nd Royal Fusiliers attached to Base Depot on sick leave. He was 44 years, had 25 years in the service and had completed 2 years ‘Service in the Command’. He was admitted there with neurasthenia on 16 February 1917 and was discharged from there on 9 March 1917 after 21 days of treatment. His religion was listed as Church of England. His case sheet was sent to 11 Palace Green. His pay was stopped for 12 days in February and 9 days in March. Herbert seems to have been in and out of hospitals from February 1917 to January 1918. He was unfit for general duties, then fit for light duties and he applied for leave.

In the Supplement to the London Gazette of 5 April 1917 in page 3307 is an entry ‘The undermentioned to be temp. Lts.’ For another officer who was employed ‘as Adjt., Cyclist Corps, vice Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., R. Fus. 15^th Feb. 1917.’

Herbert wrote a letter on 29 April 1917 asking, ‘Dear Sirs – Pardon my writing direct to you if its wrong- I have returned the enclosed for correction if incorrect my leave by board from 11 Palace Green Hosp was for three weeks counting from 8^th March 17 to 29^th March 17 – I am only claiming 3 weeks allowance and have attached to duplicate to allowance form – I wonder if it would be asking too much to ask you ?? (hard to read) this authority for 3 weeks sick leave which I was granted from No 2 Red Cross Rouen B.E.F. (from 3^rd Dec to 23 Dec 16 for which I should like to claim the allowance for fuel and light etc – as without authority I cannot do so – Thanking you in anticipation’. Their reply on 4 May 1917 stated ‘ In reply to your letter of the 29^th April, 1917, I am directed to return the annexed Leave Certificate, and to inform you that the same is correct, as your sick leave recons from the date of your Embarkation to England, to the date on which you were found fit for duty by a Medical Board. With reference to your request for Certificate covering period of sick leave granted you at Rouen in December last, you should apply for this to the Authorities at that Station.’ The address they sent it to was ‘Lieutenant H. Cooper, 5^th Reserve Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, North Fall Meadow, Dover.’ There are a few pages in his service record that seem to relate to a Medical Board on 28 April 1917 but they are faded and unable to be read. A letter from the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel T F Legge of 5^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers to the War Secretary stated that Herbert appeared before a Medical Board on 21 May and was found fit for ‘Temporary Home Service’. Another letter on 23 August 1917 stated the same finding from a Medical Board on 17 August. A letter to his commanding officer on 8 November 1917 stated that Herbert ‘should have been re-examined by a Medical Board on the 19^th October 1917’. The letter from the War Secretary was forwarded to No 1 (Southern) Aircraft Repair Depot RFC at South Farnborough, who advised him that ‘Lieut.H.Cooper is now serving in the Unit under my command’ and a request was sent to have a Medical Board examine him. A letter to his commanding officer from the War Office directed him that a Medical Board would be assembled ‘on or before 3.2.18.’ It was held at Aldershot on 4 February.

The Supplement to the London Gazette of 24 November 1917 on page 12278 listed under the undermentioned to be Acting Captains, ‘Temp. Lt. H. Cooper. 20^th Aug. 1917.’

His RFC record shows he was posted to 71 Wing on 7 November 1917, SARDS at Farnboro’ on 10 November 1917, to SARD on 20 November and 1 ARD on 15 December. His address was stated as 25 Station Road Rainham Kent. Under Special Qualifications it listed his military experience as ‘(a) 5 yrs 5 mths Commissioned regular officer (1) Adjutant to Batt at Front (11) Adjutant to Batt Depot (b) 7 yrs (Formerly) Regular Serg Major. Total Service 26 yrs nearly all abroad. Since joining R.F.C. – Assistant Adjutant for nearly 5 months to A.R.S. Farnborough.’

He was posted to No 1 (South) Aircraft Repair Depot at South Farnborough on appointment as EO3 (Equipment Officer aero repairs) on 15 December 1917. A records query sheet from the Air Ministry on 24 June (year not stated) asked three questions: 1. Where posted please – No. 3 (W.) A.R.D. (Aircraft Repair Depot), 2. Date of posting – 22.4.18 and 3. In what capacity – Acting Adjutant. In January 1918 the War Office requested the proceedings of a Medical Board held on 13^th November 1917 ‘for Second Lieutenant H. C. Cooper, 2^nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers’. It was sent to them on 26 January from RAMCT. It showed he had been examined at Eaton Hall, Chester.

A medical board on 4 February 1918 stated he was permanently unfit for general service but was fit for home service with ground duties only. A letter from the War Office to officer commanding 5^th Reserve Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Dover referred to a Medical Board he had in November 1917 and how he was presently situated and that he should have been re-examined on 18^th December 1917. The reply stated that ‘I have no trace of the Officer referred to on the strength of this battalion.’

An entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 11 January 1918 under Equipment Officers 3^rd Class on 15 December 1917 was an entry for ‘Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., R. Fus., and to be secd.’ In the Gazette of 26 April 1919 in page 5274, under Infantry and Royal Fusiliers was an entry for’ Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., to be temp Capt. 1^st Oct. 1918.’

On 16 January 1919 he was sent to a military hospital at Hyde Park Plymouth, transferred to a military hospital at Devonport on 11 February 1919 and discharged for duty on 17 February 1919.

In the London Gazette of 29 July 1919 on page 9593 is a list of ‘undermentioned 2^nd Lts. to be Lts’ and the list included, from 21^st May 1919, Herbert Cooper MC. A document from the Air Ministry, dated 25 July 1919, informed the Army Council that Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) H Cooper MC Reg. Bn. Royal Fusiliers attached to RAF is available to return to his unit and was to be informed of where he should report for duty.

A minute sheet noted that as Herbert was 45 ‘years of age we do not wish to further employ.’ It also listed his total service and showed he was employed under Air Ministry from 1 April 1918 and as ‘T. Capt. R.A.F. 1 Oct. 18.’ He exceeded the aged fixed for compulsory retirement and was to be placed on retired pay at £110 a year or a gratuity of £1000. The next page changed the values to £210 and £1500 respectively on 30 September 1919. It also showed he was ‘serving with 3^rd Bn. at Borden’ and to ‘Write Aldershot Command as drafted’.

‘The undermentioned relinquish their commns. on ceasing to be empld.: – … 2^nd Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt., Royal Fus.) 20^th Oct. 1919.’ was an entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 4 November 1919 on page 13423. Another entry on 19 December 1919 corrected that previous entry with ‘2^nd Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt. (temp Capt.), R. Fus.). 20^th Oct. 1919 (Substituted for notification in the Gazette of 4^th Nov. 1919.)’ An entry on 12 November 1919 on page 13766 records under ‘Infantry’ the entry ‘R. Fus. – Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., is restd. To the estabt. 20^th Oct. 1919.’ He was restored to the establishment of the Royal Fusiliers. The last entry in his RAF service file showed he returned to 3^rd Royal Fusiliers on 20 October 1919.

The Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 January 1920 on page 687 has an entry under Infantry for ‘R. Fus. – The undermentioned Lts., having reached the age fixed for compulsory retirement, are placed on ret. pay:- H Cooper, M.C. 15^th Jan. 1920.’ In February 1920 a letter asking him to commute some of his retired pay shows his address was ‘The Thicket, Haslemere, Surrey.’ He was trying to raise £700 to get a home and start his civilian life. He had been unable to get any employment. Herbert stated he was ‘of thrifty and economic habits’ and did not smoke or drink much. His savings had been used up for living costs during the war. He noted his ‘last Commanding Officer before being commissioned was now Brigadier-General H.E.B. Newenham, C.B., now commanding Hounslow District, who would no doubt speak of my steadiness.’ In May 1920 his address was recorded as ‘C.O. R Luff Esq. 25 Upper Station Road, Rainham, Kent.’ A note recording ‘Officer Retired 15/1/20 can you obtain Gazette date please’ was answered ‘2/Lt. H. C. Cooper 2^nd att 5^th Royal Fus. L.G. 15-1-20’.

Herbert applied for his medals on 3 February 1922. The EF9 form was returned to the Medal Office dated 28 April 1923. His Medal Index Card shows that Herbert Cooper MC of the Royal Fusiliers held the rank of RSM with regimental number 4391, then 2^nd Lieutenant and finally Lieutenant. The 1915 Star was recorded in the medal roll ‘Off 38’ on page 26D and the British War and Victory medals in the same roll on page 55. His medals and emblems were issued under Issue Voucher X6716 on 18 June 1923. The card shows the theatre of war he first served in was Alexandria (2B), disembarking on 29 March 1915. Two addresses are listed on the back of the card, firstly 5 Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, then Cozy Nook Bungalow Century Road Rainham, Kent.

Herbert wrote to the War Office on 10 December 1923 asking for an interview ‘on a matter relating to my retirement’. A minute sheet records Lieutenant H Cooper MC RARO Class 2 Royal Fusiliers was born on 9.1.74 and his age now was 49 11/12 years. He ‘will attain the age limit of liability to recall on 9.1.24, in accordance with Article 519 R.W. for Pay & Promotion 1922. Remove from R.A.R.O. from 9.1.24, and inform officer.’

A memorandum was filled out ‘on the case of:- Lieutenant Herbert COOPER, M.C., Retired Pay, late Royal Fusiliers.’ It showed: – ‘Date of Birth 9.1.1874. Enlisted 9.9.1892, Age 18 years 8 months. In ranks 9.9.92 to 24.3.08 – 15 yrs 198 dys. (recons half) Warrant Officer (Sgt.Maj.) 25.3.08 to 6.11.14 – 6 yrs 227 dys. Commissioned – 2^nd Lt. Royal Fusiliers 7.11.14 Lieut. .. .. 21.6.15 empld with R.F.C. 15.12.17 to 31.3.18. empld with R.A.F. 1.4.18 to – Temp. Capt. R.A.F. 1.10.18 – Compulsorily retired (Age) 15.1.20. Total Service. Yrs. days. Ranks (half time) 7. 281 W.O. 6. 227 Commissioned 5. 79

19 222

Was compulsorily retired for age 15^th January 1920. He was then over the age of 45. He was eligible for a gratuity of £1500 or for retired pay at £210 a year. He elected retired pay and commuted £50 for which he was awarded the sum of £642.3.0. On mobilisation in 1921 he joined at Hounslow on 9.4.21 but as he was not required, he was released 11.4.21 and sent home. He is due to leave the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 9.1.24 on attaining the age of 50. There are no medical documents in the War Office papers and if he has been awarded any disability grant or if he is receiving medical treatment on account of a War disability the matter would be in the hands of the Ministry of Pensions. The War Office papers do not disclose any case and it is not clear what matter he wishes to speak about at the interview he seeks.’ Lieutenant Herbert Cooper Royal Fusiliers was awarded retired pay for disability on 29 April 1920. A Duty Certificate shows H Cooper ‘served continuously in the emergency from 9-4-21 to 11-4-21 with unit Depot Royal Fusiliers in the rank of’ Lieutenant and was sent home on 11.4.21. His home address was 173 Folkestone Rd Dover.

Another sheet stated he called in at the War Office for an interview on 19 December 1923 and asked if he could be granted the rank of Captain but was informed he could not as he never held the rank and there was no promotion in Class II RARO. They went on to state it was ‘noted that he held the rank of Captain in the RAF from 1.10.18 – Oct-19 so might have been granted that rank by RAF when he retired on 15.1.20. He states that when he was retired he was unfit – neurasthenia contracted in Gallipoli.’ The army sent a letter to Air Ministry on 22 December 1923 asking about Herbert being granted the rank of Captain on retirement as he held ‘the Temporary rank of Captain’ while serving with the RAF. They gave his address and asked to notify him of what Gazette it would appear in. Their reply stated he only held the rank of Lieutenant in the RAF and the temporary rank was that of Captain in The Royal Fusiliers and it would be for the army to deal with. The London Gazette of 15 January 1924 on page 470 has an entry under Regular Army Reserve of Officers for ‘R. Fus. – Capt. H. Cooper, M.C., ret. pay, having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Off. 9^th Jan. 1924.’ A letter was sent to Herbert saying he was granted the rank of Captain on retirement and was sent to his Cozy Nook address.

On 27 July 1924 Herbert wrote to the War Office from ‘Cozy Nook’ Century Road Rainham Kent asking ‘I am respectfully writing to ask assistance in obtaining some kind of light employment to assist my pension. Through ill health contracted in military service I have been unable to follow any employment since January 1920 (4½ years). My disablement has now been assessed at 40%. I was commissioned Roy Fus 7-11-14 before which I was No 4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper 2 R Fus, Calcutta. Perhaps an interview may be granted me as to suitability.’ An internal note asked if there was any suitable employment for him, to which a reply said ‘We much regret that we have nothing to offer.’ A reply sent to him on 13 August 1924 advised him that there was no employment available for him and no useful purpose to have an interview. A copy of ‘Army Council Instruction 406 of 1922’ was enclosed for his reference.

In the 1939 register, Herbert and Rose H Cooper were living at 182 Marina (Basement) in Hastings. Rose was listed as a female, born 14 February 1879, married and was doing unpaid domestic duties. Herbert was recorded as a male, born 9 June 1874, married and ‘Soldier Capt MC retired’. On the part of the other page that is showing it also recorded ‘Royal Fusiliers regular Captain – retired’.

Captain Herbert Cooper MC (Retd) wrote a letter to the Secretary of State of War in London on 10 January 1957 stating ‘I have the honour to enclose paper just received from ‘Minister of Pensions’ asking me to fill up a form of many questions which I put of my age 83 and condition I find it impossible to do. So am asking The ‘War Office’ to answer them to prove I am genuine and honest. I spent nearly 30 years in the regular army from the age of 18, and before being commissioned had nearly 7 years Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2^nd Batn Roy Fus, my number was 4391. At the time of commission I was recommended for QWMR which The War Office holds. This I gave up when asked by my CO to take commission in Calcutta owing to shortage of officers. My disability was not due to my 2 separate wounds at Gallipoli but due to long and very active work as a soldier interested in his work. I never had employment since yet!’ His address was ‘Mudros’ 8 Marshall Road Rainham Gillingham Kent. Their reply on 25 January 1957 stated his date of birth as on his service documents and they told him to take the form to the manager of the local office for assistance. On 26 February 1957, Herbert signed a form which stated he had never been employed in a Government occupation and was not receiving any pension through that employment. A form from Ministry of Pensions at Tunbridge Wells shows that Herbert was given a pension rise to £248/12/10 on 1 August 1959 as his whole award.

Herbert passed away on 24 March 1961. It was also recorded in his service record. Probate for ‘COOPER Herbert M.C. of Mudros 8 Marshall Road, Rainham Mark, Gilligham Kent’ at ‘London 4 May to Rose Hannah Cooper widow. Effects £726 17s.’ In his service records his cause of death is listed as (a) acute cardiac failure, (b) myocardial degeneration and (c) chronic bronchitis.

Mrs Rose Cooper of 8 Marshall Road Rainham, Kent wrote a letter on 14 July 1962 asking ‘if you could give me any information of my late husband’s place of birth and home address, when he joined the Army, he was Capt. Herbert Cooper M.C. 2 Royal Fusiliers City of London Reg: he died March 24, 1961. I am trying to find his relations, and I do not know where to make enquiries’. She enclosed a stamped addressed envelope and thanked them. A reply in August stated they had no details but had forwarded the letter on to the Army Pensions Office. An internal note shows they had ‘no objections to this information being furnished.’ A letter dated 30 August 1962 was sent to Rose stated ‘that according to records held in this Office your late husband’s place of birth is shown as Norwood, Surrey, and his home address on enlistment was given as 86, Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, London.’

Rose passed away in mid-1968 in Dover, Kent. This death has to be confirmed. A record shows she was cremated on 4 July 1968 at Medway Crematorium, Chatham and her ashes were strewn near tree 34. She was described as retired, age 89 and lived in Dover. An entry in the Probate Register of 1968 shows a Rose Hannah Cooper ‘of Kearnsey Manor Nursing Home Temple Elwell with River Kent died 29 June 1968 Probate London 11 October. £4423.’

His medals are Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. H. Cooper. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, MiD Oak Leaf (Lieut. H. Cooper); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army LS & GCM, E.VII.R. (4391 S. Mjr: H. Cooper. R. Fus.)

Medal group is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD

5^th Light Horse Regiment,

54^th Battalion AIF

By Stephen Midgley¹

Major Stephen Midgley CMG DSO MiD** 5^th Light Horse Regiment, AIF.

Photo taken 1916 at Elliott & Fry, 55 Baker Street, London

1. Stephen Midgley, 35 Steinwedel Street, Farrer, ACT 2607, Australia. Stephen.midgley@salwood.com

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Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD ** (1871-1954) was a gallant and distinguished soldier, a dedicated father and grandfather, the grandson and great-grandson of soldiers, and the grandson of a convict. He played an active role in several of the key events in Australia’s military history, both pre- and post-Federation.

Stephen Midgley was with the Queensland militia during the Shearers’ Strike in Central Queensland in 1891 and subsequently at the garrisons on Thursday Island and Fort Lytton with the Queensland Permanent Artillery. During the Boer War, he served with the 2^nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, followed by periods with the Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. He remained in South Africa and served again during the Bambatha (Natal) Rebellion in 1906.

During the Great War, he fought at Gallipoli with the Australian 5^th Light Horse Regiment before becoming commanding officer of the 54^th Battalion AIF on the Western Front. He completed his association with military activities in the Second World War at the age of 70 as CO of the 6^th Battalion, VDC, with a component of almost 1,000 men, based on the Sunshine Coast.

Stephen Midgley (misspelled in some records as Midgelly, Midgeley, and Midgely) was born at Darkwater Creek, Macleay River, New South Wales, on 29 May 1871, the seventh of 13 siblings: six boys and seven girls. His father was the son of a permanent soldier whose occupation was variously recorded as clerk, teacher, farmer, mechanic, and gentleman. His mother was the daughter of Ann Brown (née Sheppard aka Shepherd) who, at the age of 17 in 1832, had been convicted in London of stealing a pair of shoes worth two shillings and sixpence. Ann was sentenced to seven years and transported to Australia on HMS Buffalo.

In 1874 and 1875, the Midgley family had been granted two selection blocks, each of 40 acres, at Macleay River in northern New South Wales, but moved steadily northwards to where, in 1883, Stephen’s elder brother Frank had been granted a number of selections near Tallebudgera, Queensland. As a portent of a later adventurous life, Stephen had an early brush with danger at the age of three. On 24 October 1874, he had a narrow escape when a cart carrying all the family overturned near Grafton, New South Wales, killing his 59-year-old maternal grandmother Mrs Brown, the former convict.

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Physically, Stephen was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 134 pounds when he was fit. It seems that small stature was inherent in the family as his maternal grandmother was only 4 feet, 11½ inches tall. He was educated privately by a tutor named McFarlane as the family moved, and later he attended the Brisbane Normal School as a mature-age student.

Five of the brothers, Frank, Richard and Edward, Stephen and his younger brother Harry were all members of the part-time Queensland Defence Force (QDF) and were regular participants in public parades and rifle competitions. Stephen shared this family interest enthusiastically and was a member of the QDF 1889-1899.

A group of Queensland Field Artillery Sergeants. Back Row: Richard Midgley (left), Edward Midgley (second from right) (twins). Centre front row: Sergeant-Major Catchpole. In the group are two sets of twins and one set of triplets (info from Clyde Love’s family history). Undated. Probably 1897. Original without caption with Victoria Barracks Historical Society. Provided by Mrs M Burton, Corinda Queensland 4075

Stephen moved around while serving in the QDF. He joined D Company, Queensland Volunteer Rifles (QVR) in 1889, serving as No 78 and was a corporal in the military contingent sent to Barcaldine to help control the Shearers’ Strike in 1891. The contingent left Brisbane by train on 26 March, then had to disembark and march between Eumundi and Cooroy because the

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railway had yet to be completed. The contingent met with a hostile reception at the Gympie railway station where miners were unsympathetic to the military being used as a tool against the shearers. The soldiers fixed bayonets to disperse a menacing crowd. After travelling by ship from Bundaberg to Rockhampton, the unit travelled again by train, to Barcaldine.

In 1892, at the age of 21, Stephen was promoted to sergeant regimental number 13, and later that year he signed up for a three-year term as a gunner with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, resigning at the end of 1895. His service with the Permanent Artillery included stints on Thursday Island and Fort Lytton and community relief during the great Brisbane floods of 1893 when he rowed a boat up George Street. Following his resignation from the Permanent Artillery, he immediately joined No 2 Battery of the Queensland Field Artillery. His 5 years with the Field Artillery gave him invaluable experience with horses – a skill that was to stand him in good stead through several wars. In General Order 6, of 29 December 1899, immediately prior to his departure for South Africa, his long service was recognised as “Number 13, Sergeant S Midgley, No. 2 Battery, Field Artillery, Non-commissioned Officer, having completed five years’ service as an efficient

[soldier]

, awarded the Long-service Gold Badge (Reg. 141)”.

Following his service with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, Stephen had aspirations to become a solicitor and worked as a clerk with the law firm WB Shand in Queen Street, Brisbane, until late 1899, combining this with his part-time interests with the No 2 Battery Field Artillery.

As a response to the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in 1899, the Queensland Government quickly made commitments to assist Britain. Historians observed “To Queensland belongs the credit of being the first colony to make an offer of assistance to the mother country in connection with the South African War”. Already a sergeant in the Queensland Field Artillery, Stephen volunteered to join the Queensland contingents to be dispatched to the Boer War. Unsuccessful with the oversubscribed 1^st Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry, Stephen and his elder brother Frank enlisted with “C” Company, 2^nd Contingent QMI. Those enlisting were encouraged to bring their own horses and were reimbursed for doing so.

After preparatory camps at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds and a public parade through Brisbane, the 2^nd QMI embarked on SS Maori King at Pinkenba on 13 January 1900 for service in South Africa; Stephen as a sergeant (regimental number 22) and his elder brother Frank as a private (regimental number 5). Page 4

Only 50% of the 2^nd QMI had previous military experience. Stephen, as a senior, 29-year-old sergeant with 11 years’ military experience, was a valuable member of the unit. A month earlier, their sister Ann had painted “The departure of the first Queensland contingent for South Africa, [on] the SS Cornwall”, (ART50111), which now hangs in the South African War Gallery of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

This early South African experience would begin his long association with Harry Chauvel, Hubert Harris (who would later command the 5^th LHR), William Glasgow, Robert Stodart, Lachlan Wilson (who would later command the 3^rd LH Brigade) and several other distinguished soldiers.

Maori King stopped in Sydney briefly before sailing to Cape Town where she arrived on 22 February 1900. The contingent disembarked with equipment and horses on 24 February. After a few days in camp under canvas at Maitland, close to Cape Town, the 2^nd QMI, comprising 10 officers, 142 other ranks and 175 horses (4 had died on the trip), left by train on 28 February and travelled 900 km north to the Modder River where the British had just won a very hard-fought battle in late November, 1899.

They arrived on 3 March and camped amid blood-stained trenches on the battlefield of Magersfontein, before joining Lord Robert’s Field Force of about 2,500 men on 4 March for their march towards Osfontein and the Battle at Driefontein on 10 March. The 1^st QMI and 2^nd QMI were combined from April to November 1900 bringing Stephen together with Major Chauvel, Captain Harris and Lieutenant Glasgow, distinguished soldiers who would remain part of Stephen’s story

Following the occupation of Bloemfontein by British forces in early April 1900 and the retreat of the Boer forces to the Transvaal, the 2^nd QMI, along with other Australian units, was absorbed into the 1^st Mounted Infantry Brigade, part of the 3^rd Mounted Infantry Corps.

The advance on Pretoria followed with action seen at the Vet and Zand Rivers near Johannesburg (5-6 May, 1900), Diamond Hill (11–13 June), Riet Vlei and Zilikat’s Nek (April–September). During the occupation of Pretoria on 5 June, the Australians noted the broad streets and the attractive Australian eucalypt, silky oak and wattle trees.

Following further action in Transvaal, Stephen, along with privates Thomas Stibbards and Thomas Laffan, was invalided to England and embarked on SS Lake Erie in Cape Town on 19 July 1900 arriving in England on 13 August at Royal Albert Docks.

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The reason for being invalided remains unclear; there are no records of his being sick or wounded, however both malaria and enteric fever were common afflictions (and frequently fatal) in the lowland areas of eastern Transvaal and illness was the major cause of soldier casualties.

There is no record of how Stephen spent his six weeks’ sojourn in England. Undoubtedly he would have received medical attention and used his furlough to see some of the sights of London. He visited the Queensland Government’s Agent in London to receive his allowances.

On 18 October 1900, he departed Southampton to return to Cape Town, arriving about 5 November, eager to rejoin his comrades after an absence of two months.

By this time, the war had entered its third and longest phase, from September 1900 to May 1902, when it was mainly a guerrilla conflict between British mounted troops and Boer irregulars. The Boer forces were not numerous but the Boer General Beyers adopted guerrilla tactics and their mobility and operations as ‘commando’ units more than made up for their lack of numbers.

The areas and distances to be controlled by the Imperial forces were vast and anti-guerrilla methods were devised through the creation and the deployment of counter-insurgency units in strategic localities as the roving arms of larger garrisons.

By March 1901, the time had arrived for the 2^nd QMI to return to Australia. Members were offered the opportunity to remain in South Africa and enlist with the irregular Imperial forces. Acting on Lord Kitchener’s instructions, a younger Birdwood met and interviewed returning colonial soldiers to persuade them to stay in South Africa and join Imperial units. Stephen was among these men and this began an association with Birdwood that was to last for many years. On 31 March 1901, the 2^nd QMI including Stephen’s elder brother Frank, departed Cape Town on Tongariro for Australia.

On 1 April 1901, Stephen joined the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) in Pretoria as a lieutenant (the same day as Lieutenant Harry “Breaker” Morant) in time to participate in the march north with General Plumer to claim the temporary Boer headquarters at Pietersburg.

The BVC was a diverse lot and contained men of many nationalities: English, German, Swedish, English South African, Boer South African, Australian, Scottish, Irish, Canadian, US American, New Zealander and one Britisher born in India (Oudh).

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There was a wide array of skills and occupations recorded in the enlistments, a selection of which includes: publican, confectioner, barman, auctioneer, electrician, cook, butcher, cigar-maker, baker, hairdresser, artist, seaman and many others; one soldier even listed his trade or occupation as “a gentleman” – The Honourable Aubrey Bruce Cooper-Cecil, formerly of Queensland Bushmen’s Contingent.

Surprisingly, yet consistent with Stephen’s earlier experience with 2^nd QMI, only 35% of the BVC had any military experience prior to enlistment. Stephen’s proven leadership and 12 years of military experience would prove invaluable.

Stephen served with his squadron primarily around Chuniespoort, southeast of Pietersburg. In September 1901, Stephen unarmed, along with his sergeant and a guide, undertook an epic 250 km, three-week journey on horseback, through rugged bushland from Pietersburg to Chuniespoort to Balmoral, to deliver Lord Kitchener’s despatches to General Viljoen and Colonel Trichardt. This journey was described vividly in the “The Queensland Digger” in 1937 (a publication of RSSILA).

During the saga of Morant’s arrest and subsequent execution, Stephen was at some stage in charge of the security detail in Pietersburg responsible for Morant and his colleagues during the court martial and was one of several from the BVC to offer Morant a horse to escape – offers which Morant foolishly declined.

Following Morant’s arrest, the Bushveldt Carbineers was renamed the Pietersburg Light Horse (PLH) from 1 December 1901. In March, 1902, Stephen was promoted in the field, to Captain. He was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s Despatches of 18 July, 1902 (LG 27455) and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for “For good service in operations east of Pietersburg, 25th March, 1902, to 21st April, 1902”; the only DSO to the PLH for the Boer War.

At the end of the war he was in command of Fort Edward, north of Pietersburg, Transvaal and resigned his commission on 6 July 1902 after the PLH was struck off strength on 30 June 1902.

After the cessation of hostilities, Stephen joined the Repatriation Department of the Transvaal Colony. It was a department which had responsibility to deliver agricultural equipment, seed, building materials and other essentials to assist the rural economy of Transvaal to rebuild after years of war. His record with the Repatriation Department in 1903 includes an annotation:

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“S. Midgley, DSO has been in the Pretoria Depot since the end of July 1902. His work has been confined entirely to sales and he has done a great deal of very good work. He has a thorough knowledge of all sorts of book-keeping accounts, having at one time trained as a solicitor. He came out with the 1^st Australian Contingent [sic; it should be 2^nd Australian Contingent] in Jan 1900, and for the last 8 months of the War was a Captain in the PLH. He is a very hardworking and most capable man. He is a good horse master and having been for some years in the Australian Artillery, has a very fair knowledge of vehicles. He is desirous of obtaining permanent employment.”

The endorsement includes the following annotation:

“A very excellent officer. He has the reputation of having been exceptionally gallant in the field. He should not be lost sight of.” Signed A. St. J. Hooks, Capt. D. of T., T. R. D.

Following the disbandment of the Repatriation Department in 1905, Stephen made a failed attempt at establishing a transport business around the Zoutpansberg in northern Transvaal where his horses and mules died of various fevers.

Subsequently, he tried farming near Nylstroom (north of Pretoria) which also failed due to unseasonal drought and then spent an unhappy period working with de Beers at the Kimberley mines.

In 1906, the imposition of new taxes in the Colony of Natal provoked a clan of Zulus to protest violently through the Bambatha Rebellion (also known as the Natal Rebellion or the Zulu Rebellion). The military was called in and Stephen was commissioned as lieutenant with a unit, Royston’s Horse on 26 April 1906.

His bravery was once again acknowledged in action at Momo Gorge where he became one of a small group of officers nicknamed the “Four Musketeers”. However, he suffered the ignominy of being shot in the buttocks with a stick fired from a musket as the Zulus had run out of ammunition. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was part of a small field party to advise Captain Stuart who compiled the official history of the rebellion.

Stephen’s time in Royston’s Horse cemented one of his longest friendships, that with Ivor Thord-Gray who went on to become a Lieutenant General in the White Russian Army in 1919. During Stephen’s lifetime, Ivor’s photograph remained always on his desk.

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Lieutenant Stephen Midgley with Royston’s Horse at Bambatha Rebellion, 1906. Photo taken by Ivor Thord-Gray and annotated “The Old Bird”

Civilian life again beckoned and in 1907, Stephen moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he was based at the small town of Eiffel Flats in the Gatooma – Umsweswe – Battlefields gold mining area. He was a shareholder in a number of gold-mining claims including the Big Blow Mine on the Umsweswe River.

He operated as a cordwood and labour contractor to the mines and had to travel great distances to find labour to support both the cordwood and labour business.

At one stage in 1912, he travelled across Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) to recruit people from Nyasaland (now Malawi) to work in the Rhodesian mines – an adventure described in an entertaining article written under his nom de plume “Birdlime” published in the Gatooma Mail, August 10, 1912.

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Stephen Midgley and his friend Hastings at their camp near Umsweswe River, Southern Rhodesia 1910. Photo by BW. (B. Winter)

After 14 years in southern Africa, the debilitating effects of lingering illnesses including black water fever (an unpleasant variant of malaria) persuaded Stephen to return to Australia for a well-earned break. On 19 March 1914, as one of 162 passengers, he embarked on SS Afric in Cape Town for return to Brisbane where he arrived on 6 May 1914.

Africa had left its mark on Stephen. Percy FitzPatrick’s classic South African book Jock of the Bushveld was to become a favourite for his children and grandchildren in later life. Apart from memories and friendships, Zulu and Afrikaans vernacular punctuated his everyday speech; “Dingus fontein” for a town with a forgotten name; pass the “Dingus” (colloquial “thingo” in English); “Toola” (quiet). Toola wena (quiet you or shut-up, if spoken forcefully when the dogs barked at night); Sakabone wena (Good day), and Brother Kuwaina (brothers together).

Stephen settled into Brisbane’s social life with his sister Ann who owned and ran a girls’ school, “St Clair”, at 135 James Street, New Farm. The school buildings stand to this day. His relaxed recovery to full health was not to last for long. By mid-1914, Australians were aware through their newspapers of the rising tensions and dangers of war in Europe. Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914 and thus Australia was committed to the British cause. Once again military life beckoned.

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On 26 September 1914, Stephen applied for a commission in the Expeditionary Force and on 30 September, as a Captain, joined the 5^th Light Horse Regiment, a mounted infantry regiment which had been raised in August 1914. This appointment suited his experience and skills with horses and brought him back into the company of many old comrades from South African days.

Captain Stephen Midgley, 1914. Portrait taken by Thos. Matheson Co. Opposite Opera House, Brisbane. Prior to embarkation in 1914. Note the Artillery buttons on the tunic – possible borrowed his elder brother Richard’s tunic while waiting for his own uniform from Ryders’ Employees in Adelaide Street, Brisbane (they made Stephen’s uniforms for WWI and his son Hamar’s for WWII)

Following training and preparation at Enoggera and the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds, 550 officers and men of the regiment travelled by train to Liverpool, New South Wales on 12 December 1914. On 21 December the 5^th LHR departed Sydney on HMAT A34 Persic. Stephen travelled separately, having been detached from the regiment for transport service as Officer in Charge of HMAT A43 Barunga, a horse transport. Whilst en route to Egypt, Stephen was promoted to Major. The regiment disembarked at Alexandria on 2 February to spend three months training before the decision was made to leave the horses behind and the Light Horse units to join the infantry for the Gallipoli campaign. On 16 May the regiment left Alexandria on the ship A25 Lutzow with the rest of the Brigade and the 10^th LHR, arriving off Cape Helles on 18 May and landing at Anzac Cove on 20 May from the trawler Clackton.

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Stephen’s experience and reputation led him to be nick-named “The Bird” or “The Old Bird” a nickname which had followed him from South Africa.

His soldierly gallantry was noted formally several times during the ANZAC campaign through a Corps Complimentary citation, Mentions in Despatches and a CMG. After five short weeks on Gallipoli, his services were recognised in an extract from the supplement to Army Corps Routine Orders MO 570 dated 2 July 1915, which noted:

“158: Complimentary – The Army Corps Commander has much pleasure in publishing the names in the attached supplement of Officers, N.C.O’s and men, which have been brought to his notice for good service performed during the operations on our Right Flank on 28^th June 1915. He wishes to thank them for the good services they rendered, and to congratulate all ranks on the successful carrying out of the task allotted to them by the G.O.C.- in-Chief, which prevented the enemy reinforcing the Krithia position from troops opposite our front.

5^th Light Horse Regiment: Major Midgley, S., D.S.O. Led his squadron throughout the action under heavy shell and rifle fire”

His first MiD on Gallipoli appeared in General Hamilton’s Despatches of 28 January, 1916 published in London Gazette 29455:

“Mentioned in Despatches. I have the honour to forward the names of officers and men whose services I wish to bring to your Lordship’s notice in connection with the operations described in my despatch of 11^th December 1915.”

The full recommendation for the MiD states:

“From 21 May to 21 September, 1915. This officer led the advanced squadron of the 5th LH when that Regt made a demonstration to the right on 28 June last and did so gallantly & well, & even in the unexpected situation created by the sudden attack made on him by his own HE shells from the rear, he controlled his men well. He has been in charge of Chatham’s Post since 8 July. On the 20 August last he personally took out his Sqn which was detailed to raid the BIRD TRENCHES. He did this so well that his Sqn had only one casualty (wounds) although the raid was completely successful. He has shown particular enterprise in dealing with snipers on the right flank & in preparing his post for any attack that may be made upon it. Period ending 25th September. 1915. ANZAC.

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Commands an important point on the right flank of the Division. Full of go and dash. He has organised and carried out several minor operations with success. He has shown particular enterprise in dealing with snipers. Watchful and alert he has from time to time supplied much valuable information.”MiD certificate signed by Winston Churchill.

Another MiD followed and appeared in General Munro’s Despatches of LG29664 published on 7 November, 1916:

“Mentioned in Despatches. With reference to the despatch published on the 10^th April (London Gazette No. 29541), the following is mentioned for distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of General Sir Charles Monro’s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.”

The full citation for this MiD (his third) states:

“3/9th November, 1915. ANZAC. On the night 3/4th Novr, a forward movement in a pre-arranged plan was made from Chatham’s Post towards the Bird Trenches. The arrangements involved the reconnaissance by night of the enemy’s front and the construction of a tunnel towards a knoll 100 yds distant. The forward movement, the unopposed occupation of the knoll and the construction of a fire trench were completed on 3/4th Novr. On the night 4/5thNovr., the enemy made 4 unsuccessful attempts on the new position, which was improved and consolidated during the 5th under heavy rifle and shell fire. On the night of the 7/8th Novr, a further advance of 30 yards was made under enemy bombing and rifle fire and the position finally secured. Major Midgley displayed his usual initiative and energy. With great coolness and gallantry he remained the whole time at the head of the advanced traverse, which was 4 times attacked. He was frequently under heavy bomb fire.” MiD Certificate signed by Winston Churchill.

His CMG was announced in the London Gazette Issue 29608 of 2 June, 1916 and announced publicly the next day in the King’s Birthday Honours List, reading:

“C.M.G. The King has been graciously pleased to give directions for the appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field.”

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Several other Australian officers were similarly honoured with the CMG in that Honours List, including his friends and colleagues, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Chisholm Wilson, 5^th Light Horse Regiment and Major Thomas William Glasgow DSO, 2^nd Light Horse Regiment.

His full recommendation for the CMG states:

“3-8th November, 1915. 20 December, 1915. Upon the occupation of Wilson’s Lookout on Harris Ridge between these two dates, this officer was in charge of the operations at the advanced traverses and again conspicuously displayed his usual initiative and energy. At the evacuation of ANZAC on the night of 19-20 December upon the commanding officer taking charge of the Brigade “C” parties, this officer was placed in charge of the Regimental “C ” parties and came off with “C3” party. This officer was present on the Peninsular without a break from 31st May to 20th December – slightly wounded 8th November 1915.”

Recommended for the CMG and initialled by General Sir William Birdwood, Commander of the ANZAC Forces.

Major Stephen Midgley, 5th LHR . Chatham’s Post, Bolton’s Ridge, Gallipoli, 1915. Photo taken at the same time as negative P1541/07 at the Australian War Memorial.

His brave and inspirational role was also noted by his peers in their writings. In an early letter home dated 5 July 1915 to the Hon. A. J. Thynne (former Lieutenant Colonel with the Queensland Volunteer Defence Force, Queensland Attorney General and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland), Lieutenant Colonel Harris, the CO of the 5^th LHR, wrote shortly before he was killed in action on 31 July 1915:

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“Major Midgley (you will remember him, no doubt, an old Q.V.R. man) distinguished himself at a time when many brave deeds were being done, and your field glasses (you will remember you presented him with a pair) were in the thickest of the fight. He has been specially mentioned in Orders; and is the same old Midgley that I knew in South Africa.”

Lieutenant Oliver Hogue of the 6^th Light Horse Regiment, writing as “Trooper Bluegum” made reference to Stephen as a “gallant major who the troops would follow anywhere” and refers to him in his books Love Letters of an ANZAC and Trooper Bluegum at the Dardenelles. In Love Letters of an Anzac, he observed:

“Did I tell you about Major Midgley? He is one of the very best officers in our Brigade, got the DSO in the Zulu War, went through the South African War, and is a regular little fire-eater. He is in charge of Chatham’s Post and is always pulling the Turks’ leg. He conceives the most wonderful ruses to worry the Turks and draw their fire. He sends out fiery arrows and rockets and flares, and by simulating preparations for attack at all times, he has the Turks in the Gaba Tebe zone worried to death.”

Ion Idriess wrote in 1932, in his book The Desert Column, of his experiences as a sniper with the 5^th Australian Light Horse.

According to Harry Chauvel in the foreword, it is the only book of the campaign that to his knowledge was “viewed entirely from the private soldier’s point of view”. Idriess recalled when reflecting upon the penchant for ‘stunts’ or tricks played on the enemy that:

“The “Old Bird” is a holy terror in these raids. He’s only an exceptionally small chap and no youth either, but he is about the most murderous old devil in the regiment. He leads these raids with a hell of a yell as he jumps down into the trench, blazing to the right and left with a sawn-off shotgun. An ordinary service revolver is no good for him.”

Australia’s official historian for the First World War, CEW Bean mentions the shotgun incident during one of the raids on the Turkish trenches. Family oral history relates that Stephen’s 5^th LHR friend and colleague Lieutenant Bolingbroke (who had served with 3^rd QMI in South Africa (later promoted as Major Archdale George Bolingbroke, DSO) borrowed Stephen’s sawn-off shotgun during a ‘stunt’ and reported that he was able to “clear the trenches with a blast from the left (barrel) followed by a blast from the right (barrel)”.

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One of the original members of the 5^th LHR, Lieutenant Henry Armstrong Hammond, who served as adjutant to the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Wilson, (and later was appointed aide-de-camp to the Australian Governor-General, wrote about Major Midgeley [sic] in his unpublished reminiscences:

“Anzac had its share of great characters and we had two most extraordinary officers in the Fifth – one was Major Midgeley. He commanded our A Squadron and he was a skinny little fellow who was afraid of nothing. He did not weigh more than eight stone and looked like a monkey on a stick. Even for his build, Major Midgeley was very narrow across the shoulders and his chest was completely covered with battle ribbons through all the wars he had been engaged in. He had been in everything, all over the world from the age of fourteen. Wherever Britain had been involved in some sort of brawl, there had been Midgeley. He was a born leader and he used to call the squadron his “birds”.

“He was all for battle and he used to call it “lead-chewing” and that is just how he regarded it. He said that he could just as soon make an attack in broad daylight as at midnight because there was just as much chance of being hit and during the day you had the advantage of at least seeing where you were going.”

“There was a very strong position facing from all around the right at Anzac called Gun Ridge (the Turks had it) and it was the dominating feature looking down over the top of Lone Pine, right down almost to Gaba Tepe. One day General Walker, who commanded the Anzac Division, asked him, “Well, how are you Midgeley? What do you think of things around here?” Old Midgeley said, “Tell you what I think of it, you give me 6,000 men and I will have bloody breakfast on Gun Ridge”. He would have too, but he did not get his men and nobody got as far as Gun Ridge. He eventually left Anzac after getting sick or wounded. How anyone could wound him, I do not know. They would have to have been a very good shot. Eventually he was given command of one of the infantry battalions in France and he got all sorts of decorations and, finally, came back to Australia.”

On Gallipoli, Stephen’s A Squadron was responsible for the right flank at Chatham’s Post where the exploits of the “Gallipoli Sniper”, Billy Sing, contributed to the unit’s reputation along with the 5^th LHR penchant for ‘stunts’, some of the best known of which were raids on the Bird Trenches and the Balkan Pits Operations.

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In Bean (Volume II), these actions are described in detail, including:

“Accordingly the 5^th Light Horse regiment undertook what would later been have called a “trench raid” against the Bird Trenches on the seaward ridge south of Chatham’s. Occasionally between midnight and 3 a.m. the destroyer “Colne” which was maintaining the usual watch on that flank, bombarded the Bird Trenches & keeping them under her searchlight. At 3.30 just after the set of the moon, Maj. Midgley with one squadron went south from Chatham’s along the ridge towards the Turkish post. To cover Midgley, Maj. H. H. Johnston (of Casino N.S.W.) with another squadron worked along the coast-line and lay down opposite the Bird Trenches, facing inland. Midgley’s squadron was within a hundred yards of the same trenches when a Turkish sentry fired at it. The squadron kept low and crept forward to within fifteen yards, when the sentry fired again. At this stage-about 4.15 – the destroyer, by arrangement, bombarded the trench for five minutes. Midgely’s(sic) squadron then hurled a volley of some forty bombs and rushed the position. The enemy garrison, about 100 strong, had left the trench in order to shelter from the destroyer’s fire. The trench was seized, and about thirty of the enemy were shot. Before daylight the enemy’s reserves began to approach, and the light horse, after firing upon them withdrew without any serious casualty.”

Stephen was wounded in the actions on 9 November but remained on duty before being taken to hospital for treatment and being included on the Casualty List. Fortunately he recovered quickly and rejoined his Squadron 11 days later on 20 November. At some stage during the Gallipoli campaign, it is likely that Stephen would have met with his younger brother Harry who served in the campaign with a Howitzer Battery².

At the evacuation, Major Midgley commanded the Regiment’s ‘C’ parties, the last to leave, who boarded the boats at about 3:30am, 20 December 1915. The “C” party transferred to a trawler which took them to Lemnos where they joined the “A” Parties on the HMTS A72 Beltana which arrived in Alexandria on Christmas Day, 1915. The regiment then travelled by train to Cairo, arriving on 26 December.

Stephen’s role in Anzac is recognised in the painting Farewell to Anzac 20th December 1915 (ART09582). It was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial and composed by WB McInnes in 1927.

2 In one of the many quirks which characterise Gallipoli, Mary Margaret Williamson, the daughter of Lieutenant George McKay Williamson, who served as Quartermaster with the 14^th Battalion (Jacka’s Mob( on Gallipoli, married Stephen’s son, Stephen Hamar in 1942.

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This painting shows a scene in the saloon of the transport ship Arran where leaders of the Australian Imperial Force are depicted, including Major General J Paton, Captain CA Littler, General Sir John Monash, Major General W Holmes, Brigadier General Duncan Glasfurd, Major General J Antill, Lieutenant Colonel WEH Cass, Lieutenant Colonel S Midgley, Major WJM Locke, Major FL Biddle, and Lieutenant Colonel EJH Nicholson. The reason for Stephen’s inclusion in this historic painting, which was to show those who had influential roles in the evacuation of Anzac, remains unclear.

In his official biographical records, when responding to the question “Period during service in the AIF considered most important”, Stephen answered:

“The seven months I was on Gallipoli Peninsular I consider the most important. For close on 6 months I was holding a section on the extreme right. I feel certain that the Turks had great respect for the 5th Light Horse. One of my snipers, Private Sing, DCM, accounted for close on three hundred of them. His sniper’s post was at last located and soon became a pulverised heap. I don’t think I spent an idle moment from the time I landed until the evacuation. My men were always in good spirits and very keen. Raids were our specialty which were always successfully carried out with very small losses. This I put down to the fact of the men being thoroughly acquainted with the lie of the land and knowing exactly what to do. Another thing that the men deserve a lot of credit for was the sapping. Few of my sappers are now alive I am sorry to say. This work was hard and done under difficulties. During the last two months we had no place of safety owing to what was called by the men, the broomstick bomb. This particular weapon was a field gun cartridge filled with gelignite, a long stick was fixed into the base. It was fired from a gun of sorts. The range was 800 yards. We had at times five hundred of these arrangements fired into us during the day and sometimes with disastrous effect.”

The safety of being in Egypt saw a decline in Stephen’s health and he spent time recovering, both in and out of hospitals, in Cairo and Heliopolis. He rejoined the regiment in February 1916 with Idriess recording that “The Old Bird is back; all of the old hands are glad to see him”. The strategy had been adopted of transferring cadres of experienced personnel to the newly formed battalions and combining them with recently recruited personnel who had been dispatched as reinforcements from Australia and so, Stephen moved on from the 5^th LHR.

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His recovery to good health was slow. On 12 April 1916, he was posted to the Supernumerary List and on 24 June embarked from Alexandria for England, first class, on HMNZHS 1 Maheno for 3-4 months of further treatment for dyspepsia and a duodenal ulcer. Upon reaching England, he was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth on 3 July, suffering from dyspepsia and neurasthenia. As his health improved, he was assigned as 2iC of the 54^th Battalion, 5^th Australian Division.

While recovering in London, the Mackay family (friends from Melbourne), provided an introduction to Katherine Emily May Evans (née Hamar) from Eardisley, Herefordshire who was a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel. Katherine and Stephen married on 26 August 1916 and had a brief 8-day honeymoon in their cottage “Hurstway” before Stephen travelled to France to join the 54^th Battalion as 2iC on 5 September. The battalion was in bad shape, recovering after the disaster at Fromelles, 19-20 July, “the worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history“. ³

Katherine Emily May Midgley (née Hamar, formerly Evans) in about 1914. With the Voluntary Aid Detachment when Stephen Midgley was in hospital in London. Introduced by Dr John Mackay, formerly of Melbourne. Stephen and Katherine (“Boo”) were married 26 August 1916.

Given temporary command of the 54^th in October and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given full command in December, Stephen remained the longest-serving CO of that Battalion. His service with the Battalion can be traced in Ross St Claire’s excellent book Our Gift to the Empire. On 12 October 1916, the 54^th was engaged in a notable action when 60 men attacked enemy trenches between Clapham Junction and Corner Post – an attack bearing all the hallmarks of the ‘stunts’ on Gallipoli.

The record bitter winter of 1916 was felt acutely by everyone on the Western Front and especially by Stephen who had not fully recovered from his various illnesses. At Birdwood’s insistence, he was evacuated sick on 19 January 1917 and hospitalised for two weeks.

3

www.awm.gov.au › wartime › article Ross McMullin.

“… the worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history. The Australians suffered 5,533 casualties in one night.”

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Stephen was dogged by ill-health. He was in hospital several times during 1917 and it is likely that he never recovered fully from the various African fevers and the rigours of an active Gallipoli campaign.

Stephen’s CMG investiture by the King at Buckingham Palace on 2 May 1917 took place during 10 days’ leave from the front.

On 10 May 1917, Stephen returned to the Battalion in time to join the Second Battle of Bullecourt – arguably the most significant engagement of his military career as the 54^th defended a part of the Front against a major sustained gas barrage and several intense artillery bombardments on 14-15 May followed by a major infantry attack by two battalions of the crack 91^st Lehr Infantry Regiment and Sturmtruppen which was successfully repulsed with the help of the 55^th Battalion and two companies from the 2/3^rd Battalion, London Regiment.

Stephen’s codename in this battle was “Bucket” and his original order book from those busy days is in the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum. His medical records suggest that he had been buried alive several times during the barrages. The battalion’s casualties were heavy, losing four officers and 181 other ranks, but the tenacity and bravery of the 54^th in successfully holding the line was acknowledged in the first instance by a personal handwritten letter (reproduced here), received from headquarters of the 14^th Australian Infantry Brigade, dated 17 May, 1917:

“My dear Midgley

Will you please let your officers and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work they did in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy so effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant battalion on your success.

Yours very sincerely, C. J. Hobkirk, Brig Gen”

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Formal congratulatory messages followed, from Lieutenant General Birdwood (ANZAC Corps Commander), Major General Hobbs (Commanding 5^th Division) and again, from Brigadier General Hobkirk (commanding 14th Australian Infantry Brigade, which comprised the 53^rd, 54^th, 55^th and 56^th Battalions).

1. From Lieutenant General Birdwood. “Please convey to Major Lecky and all ranks of the 54^th Battalion and others of the Brigade my congratulations on the excellent work they did in repelling with such heavy loss to the enemy the counter attack on our position”.
2. From Major General JT Hobbs. “The Divisional Commander wishes to express his high appreciation the splendid work and gallant conduct of all ranks of the 54^th Battalion and the personnel of the 24^th MG Coy and 14^th L.T.M.B., who assisted in smashing the Bosche in his determined attacks on May 15^th. Please convey to Major Lecky how much his prompt and gallant action on this occasion was recognised and our united hopes of his speedy recovery and return to duty.”
3. From Brigadier General CJ Hobkirk. ‘Will you please let the officers and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work they did in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy so effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant Battalion on their success.’

The action brought a recommendation for another MiD, made by Brigadier General Hobkirk and endorsed by Major General Hobbs:

“For the successful manner in which he commanded his battalion in the operations prior to and during the general advance by Bapaume in March 17 and also during the fighting in the Hindenburg Line by Bullecourt where, on the 14/15 May ’17, his battln, after severe fighting repulsed an attack by more than twice its numbers of a Prussian Guard Divn and retained its position in the Hindenburg Line. For this good conduct in the field I recommend him for Mentioned in Despatches.”

The men who served with Stephen in the 54^th held him in high esteem; Lieutenant Lawrence writing home observed:

“Our Col. Midgley of whom I cannot speak too highly, he was a good soldier and a good leader….” and “Col. Midgley too deserves praise for his splendid leadership & total disregard for danger”.

In another of the war’s quirks, Stephen’s nephew, Richard Midgley joined the 54^th briefly as a Lance Corporal on 20 May 1917 and soon departed for officer training. He was granted a commission in October 1917.

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As brave and capable as Stephen was, the stresses of battle began to show and ill health continued to dog him. In today’s language, he was suffering severe PTSD and he was relieved of his position. His subsequent history of illness after his return to Australia reinforces the wisdom of this seemingly harsh decision. Following Bullecourt, the 54^th was transferred to Belgium with the 5^th Division. The physical demands of the action in the Ypres salient, including a supporting role around the Menin Road, and a major attack in September during the Battle of Polygon Wood, could well have been fatal for a CO in poor health.

Stephen Midgley did not go lightly and his Service Record includes several pages of correspondence with General Hobkirk and his superiors on the subject of this decision, including a request from General Birdwood to General Chauvel to absorb Stephen into the AIF forces in Palestine.

The reality was that ill-health brought Stephen’s active service to an end. Following the decision of 25 October 1917 that Stephen was to be invalided to Australia on medical grounds, arrangements were made for him to depart England on HMAHS 2 Kanowna on 16 December 1917. On board he struck up a strong friendship with Lieutenant Colonel Brockway, the doctor in charge of the contingent who had a home and a cottage at Redcliffe, which was later used by Stephen and his wife Katherine (always nicknamed “Boo”).

Kanowna arrived in Melbourne on 13 February 1918 and in Sydney three days later. Interviews with Stephen were published in the newspapers in both cities. The troops then travelled in two trains to Brisbane, arriving in the late evening of 17 February 1918. They were taken to the Kangaroo Point Military Hospital where, the following day, they were offered a warm welcome home by the mayor and mayoress and by the minister for mines.

After an absence of almost three-and-a-half years, Stephen was reunited with his family and able to introduce his wife. Boo had left the cold of an English autumn and departed on her two-month voyage from Portsmouth on HMAT Osterley along with 26 other first-class “Military Passengers”, mostly dependants. The ship reached Fremantle on 28 November.

On 8 December 1917, the passengers disembarked at Sydney. Boo appears to have stayed there until 12 February when she boarded AUSN Wyreema for Brisbane, arriving at the Mary Street Wharf on 14 February 1918.

The social pages of the Brisbane Courier reported on the movements of Colonel and Mrs Midgley.

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1918 Thursday 21 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Midgley have arrived from England, and are staying at Selby House,⁴ Wickham Terrace, after which they will spend some time at Redcliffe.”

1918 Tuesday 26 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel Midgley, D.S.O.,C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley are staying at Colonel Brockway’s cottage, Redcliffe, for the next two or three weeks.”

1918 Friday 8 March: The Week (Brisbane, Queensland) Ladies’ Page “Lieutenant-Colonel Midgley, D.S.O., C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley, are spending some weeks at Redcliffe.”

Recovery was a slow process. Acting on advice to find a quiet place with few stresses, Stephen and Boo spent time in a fisherman’s hut at Boreen Point. Peaceful and remote, Boo would light a kerosene hurricane lamp of an evening at the hut window to guide Stephen as he rowed back from a day’s fishing on Lake Cootharaba.

Later in 1918 they temporarily settled at Runcorn, near Wynnum, where their first child Stephen Hamar was born. Stephen’s old friend and compatriot Brigadier General Lachlan Wilson accepted responsibility as godfather. In 1920, they moved onto 20 acres of “pineapple plantation” at National Park Road, Nambour, which had been established and then sold by the Brockhurst family. An old and trusted friend from 2^nd QMI and 5^th LHR days, Major Archie Bolingbroke⁵, lived in a cottage⁶ on the property after his return from the war.

The visit to Australia by General Birdwood in 1920 offered the opportunity for several reunions, during which Birdwood agreed to become godfather of Stephen’s second child, Stephanie May.

There was considerable excitement in Nambour with the visit from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on Monday 2 August 1920.

Lieutenant Colonel Midgley, CMG, DSO, whose tunic flashed several medals, was among the first Diggers to meet the Prince. He was presented on the platform by Mr Groom. The Prince remarked, (glancing at Stephen’s medals), “I see that you were also in South Africa.”⁷

Family history relates that His Royal Highness gave Hamar, Stephen’s twenty-month old son a kiss on this occasion. Later that year Stephen was appointed to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.

4 Selby House was a private hotel at 135 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane’s ‘dress circle’ for visitors’ accommodation. 5 Major Archdale Bolingbroke DSO who later became postmaster at Woombye. 6 The cottage became the temporary clubhouse for the first Nambour Gold Club which rented the land in 1927. 7 The Telegraph (Brisbane), 4 August 1920, page 4.

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Despite the calm of civilian life, Stephen suffered ongoing ‘turns’ as a result of his service – blank periods during which he might faint or become extremely weak. His medical records make interesting reading and describe frequent trips to the Rosemount Repatriation Hospital in Brisbane. He no longer had the strength or fitness to maintain regular employment. Fortunately his wife had independent means and Stephen’s pension was sufficient to maintain a comfortable life.

Untitled family photo, early 1920. Stephen, Boo and Hamar. Taken at National Park Road, Nambour. Note eyeglass, military jacket, patched trousers and work boots.

Stephen Midgley receiving his Service medals from the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan at the Nambour Show, 1925. Midgley Collection

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The year 1924 saw Boo’s purchase of a block of land at Coolum where they built a small cottage. Fishing was Stephen’s passion and he possessed infinite patience, a skill that had served him well in active service. He always collected his own bait, was clever at catching sand worms and kept the bait in the lid of his hat while he fished.

Stephen enjoyed shooting duck and snipe (12-gauge shotgun with #10 shot) in the swamps near Coolum and ground quail along the track north from the current lifesavers’ clubhouse. In 1929 he took his son Hamar to witness the blasting of the exit for Stumers’ Creek which effectively drained the swamps where the current camping ground is located.

Coolum remained a favourite getaway for Stephen, his family and friends. The most convenient way to travel down was by the cane tram from Nambour and the terminal was on the ridge just above Coolum. The family would order meat, bread and supplies from Nambour and have them sent down by tram. In later years the bus driver who went to Yandina would bring down orders from the store and the butcher in town.

It was at Coolum that Stephen became re-acquainted with Trooper Perry-Keene, a former 2^nd QMI trooper who was one of the leading citizens.

Stephen, Hamar and Stephanie. At the base of Point Perry, Coolum. December 1924.

Although limited by his poor health, Stephen and Boo played an active role in Nambour society. Newspaper clippings of the era record him presiding at a meeting of the Nambour branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League Australia on 24 October 1924.

In May 1927, the couple played an integral role in the formation of the Nambour Golf Club on Stephen’s farm. The official opening, which their friends the Bolingbrokes attended, occurred on 6 June 1929.

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Searches using Trove reveal several instances of Stephen’s ongoing leadership and contribution to community life:

• 1927, July 27: His Excellency the Governor. (Sir John Goodwin) and Lady Goodwin arrived at Nambour this morning to open the annual show. The vice-regal party was received by Mr. E. B. C. Corser, M.H.R., Councillor J. T. Lowe. (Chairman of the Maroochy Shire Council), Mr. W. Whalley (president of the Chamber of Commerce and Show Society), and Mr. N. N. March, and Colonel Midgley, C.M.G., for the R.S.S.I. L.A.
• 1928 Friday 27 April: Lectures to Nambour Rural School on Loyalty, Patriotism, and Anzac Day and attended the unveiling of the Nambour War Memorial and the burial of a memorial tablet.
• 1929 Monday 9 December: Golf Carnival at Nambour – mentions the Bolingbrokes
• 1929 Tuesday 17 December: Won a golf trophy at the Nambour Golf Club
• 1929: Senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.
• 1929 Friday 8 February: Auditor for the Nambour Soldiers’ League
• 1930 Friday 25 July: Pall bearer at Thomas Gorman’s funeral

Their children were sent to boarding school; Stephen Hamar to The Southport School as a boarder in 1930 at the age of 11, and Stephanie May to The Glennie School in Toowoomba.

Circumstances changed for Stephen and his family in 1930. His father-in-law, Thomas Hamar Esq. died in Herefordshire in late 1930; his wife was bedridden and had to be attended by two live-in nurses. This, plus the emerging impacts of the Great Depression encouraged Stephen and Boo to move to England, and in February 1931 the family left Australia. They were farewelled from Nambour, embarked in Brisbane on Mongolia for Sydney, where they sailed under the partly completed Harbour Bridge. During a trip ashore, they were welcomed respectfully at the fledgling Australian War Memorial. At another stop in Melbourne, Stephen took his children ashore to see the museum and Phar Lap’s heart.

Mongolia arrived at London docks on 3 April 1931 and the family made their way to Boo’s large and comfortable family home on the outskirts of Eardisley, Herefordshire. The children were sent to boarding schools; Hamar to The Warwick School and Stephanie to The Warwick Girls School. Stephen enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as hunting otters with the hounds, shooting and fishing for red fin and rainbow trout at the nearby Upcott Pool outside Eardisley.

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Perhaps it was the call of Australia’s open spaces or the demands of a complex English hierarchy, but the family grew restless after two years in England and returned to Australia on the Orient Line’s Ormonde in late 1932 having been farewelled by the Queensland Government Agent in London. The family visited Gibraltar on the way, where they were given a personal and deferential escort around the colony in an official car with Stephen’s military friends. A visit to Pompeii preceded Christmas in Aden. They disembarked in Adelaide at the time of the Bodyline cricket series and stayed with Doctor Penny, formerly of Nambour, who had assisted greatly with Stephen’s recovery.

Again, the Brisbane Courier reported their movements and on 3 January 1933 announced their expected arrival in Brisbane on 23 January 1933. They travelled directly to Coolum and their beach-side retreat, as the house in National Park Road Nambour was being rebuilt.

Once again, Stephen and Boo settled into a quiet but satisfying life in and around Nambour. His occasional encounters with royalty continued when on 8 December 1934, both Stephen and his old friend Major Bolingbroke DSO shook hands with His Royal Highness, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, (third son of King George V), who visited Nambour. Prince Henry was later to serve as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947.

Stephen was actively involved with occasions such as Anzac Day and frequently offered speeches at schools and public gatherings. There were Military Balls in Yandina and Debutante Balls at Eumundi where Colonel and Mrs Midgley were guests of honour and they opened their house for charitable events for the Red Cross. In 1938, Stephen was senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.; patron of the Coolum Beach lifesaving club and in 1946, vice-president of the Nambour Branch of the St George Society.

The outbreak of World War ll was no surprise to Stephen and other students of international politics. Stephen and Boo’s son Hamar was among the first to enlist. In July 1940, the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), a part-time volunteer military force modelled on the British Home Guard, was established by the Returned and Services League of Australia (name changed in 1940).

The VDC was initially composed of ex-servicemen who had served in World War I. Queenslanders with South African and WW1 experience figured largely: General Sir Harry Chauvel was appointed national Inspector General; General Lachlan Wilson was OiC for Queensland and Stephen was the initial CO of the 6^th Battalion, VDC, a unit with a strength of almost 1,000 men with its headquarters and Stephen’s office in Nambour.

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The Palmwoods unit of the VDC was led by Frank Nicklin MM who was Stephen’s successor as CO and who went on to become Premier of Queensland. Stephen’s retirement from the VDC at the age of 70 marked the formal end of his full and impressive military career.

Stephen Midgley and his daughter Stephanie, at the wedding of his son Hamar, 29 April 1942, to Mary Margaret (née Williamson), with Mary’s father, George Williamson.

During wartime, there were some brief dramas for the family. Stephen remained close with his younger brother Harry and his elder brothers until their deaths. There was embarrassment in 1944 over the public argument within the family, played out in the courts, regarding his sister Ann’s estate and the closure of Ann’s school, St Clair. Ann had died intestate and some of the siblings argued over the division of the estate, leading Stephen to observe that “God gave you your family, but thank God you can choose your friends.”

The home in National Park Road was too small for a family with growing grandchildren and in 1947 a new house was built on Image Flat Road in Nambour. Unfortunately, in 1949 Stephen suffered a mild heart attack which prompted the decision to move to Redland Bay which would suit his ongoing interests in fishing. Another heart attack followed in 1951 at a time when he was host to his two granddaughters. Stephen was an excellent writer and maintained a good correspondence with his friends.

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This biographical project is a direct result of a letter written by Stephen to me, his seven month-old grandson, in early 1951. His networks enabled him to reach out to his lifelong friend General Thord-Gray, then in the USA, to obtain passage back to Australia for his daughter Stephanie after she became stranded in London at the outbreak of the Korean War.

In October 1954 Stephen suffered his final heart attack and died in Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital on 25 October 1954.

One of the most disappointing stories in this journey through a full and fascinating life was the burning of his typed memoirs by Boo after his death because “they mentioned names”.

Reflections on my grandfather.

Stephen Midgley DSO CMG was a product of his times. He valued his family and loved his children and ensured that they were well educated. He had a deep sense of social responsibility and duty. His wife Boo took enormous care with his health and general well-being, particularly his diet. Family history recalls an anecdote that on one occasion, after a delicious meal of roast pork and roast vegetables at the home of a friend, he complimented the hostess by announcing that “….if one ate as well as this each day, he would be a well man in no time!” His convict antecedent was never mentioned as this was an embarrassment in those times. He smoked (Manahan’s ready-rubbed tobacco) but did not drink (other than a very occasional brandy when he was having one of his ‘turns’. Quinine was always kept in the house and Stephen would dose himself when not feeling well, when he suffered from “the old complaint” (his own expression). Family and friends remembered him as an amusing companion with a mischievous sense of humour.

Stephen never drove a car. Boo and Stephanie were the family drivers. Their first car was a red Morris 8 purchased in 1938 (named Mehitabel – taken from Kipling’s Departmental Ballads). This soon became too small and following a display at the Nambour Show, Boo purchased a Morris 14 which they named Dollinger. The family had the habit, as with horses, of conferring names on their cars. This led to an amusing anecdote from World War II when Stephen and Boo wanted to tell their son Hamar (serving in Papua New Guinea) where they had hidden family documents and valuables at the Nambour house in case of a Japanese landing. They wrote “they are buried under Dollinger’s right eye”;

[family code for]

‘buried under the floor of the garage below the right hand headlight!’

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Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD**

Boer War, Natal Rebellion, 5^th Light Horse Regiment, 54^th Battalion AIF

Centre top:  CMG (Companion of St Michael and St George.   L to R;  DSO (Distinguished Service Order QV);  QSA (Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and unofficial Mention in Despatches emblem;  KSA (King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps); Natal Medal (with clasp 1906);  1914/15 Star;  BWM (British War Medal);  Victory Medal (with two MiD clasps for Gallipoli)

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Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum Display cabinet

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD**

Boer War, Natal Rebellion,5^th LHR, 54^th Battalion AIF

From L to R:

Gavin Leggett;  Darrell Blackley; John MacIsaac;

Stephen Midgley (grandson); Margaret MacIsaac (granddaughter); Lyn Larsen; Alan Larsen; Allan Woodward and John Meyers.

Photo taken at display unveiling 11 June, 2017

References and Selected Reading

Africa.

Bjovord, S. (2008). Ivor Thord-Gray: Soldat Under 13 Fanor. (Swedish language)

Likeman, R. (2004). From Law to War: the life of Brigadier General Lachlan Wilson of the 5^th Light Horse: with biographical roll of the 5^th Light Horse Regiment, AIF.

Stuart, J. (1913). A History of the Zulu Rebellion 1906 and of Dinizulu’s Arrest, Trial and Expatriation. London: Macmillan & Co.

Woolmore, W. (2002). The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. Slouch Hat Publications. 320 pages.

World War I.

Hamilton, J. (2008). Gallipoli Sniper: The Life of Billy Sing. 340 pages.

Hammond, R. (2005). Unpublished reminiscences.

Hogue, O. (1916). Love Letters of an Anzac

Idriess, I. D. (1932). The Desert Column.

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St Clair, R. (2006). Our Gift to the Empire – 54^th Australian Infantry Battalion 1916 – 1919. ISBN-10: 0646458973 ISBN-13: 978-0646458977

Wilson, L. C. & H. Wetherell, (1926). History of the Fifth Light Horse Regiment (Australian Imperial Force) from 1914 to October 1918, (Sydney: The Motor Press of Australia, 1926).

Acknowledgements.

This summary is an extract from a larger biography in progress of Stephen’s full and adventurous life and represents a small cross-section of the large volume of biographical material now assembled. I have received a great deal of help from many generous people on this journey over 30 years. My late parents shared long, intimate and mostly entertaining recollections of Stephen, as have my sister Margaret, my brother Rob and my cousin Annie. Family friends offered anecdotes and hints for further research. Many others have freely given their time and patiently shared their materials and knowledge of grandfather’s times. They include:

• John Burridge MG from Western Australia (who started it all off with a chance remark after re-hanging grandfather’s medals);
• John Meyers FMHSA for his gentle persistence in having grandfather’s career acknowledged and his medals and memorabilia curated and displayed in the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum;
• Leo Walsh OAM of the Victoria Barracks Historical Society and the Queensland Military Memorial Museum who showed me just how much material was available and gave loads of encouragement;
• Jane Meadows, Heritage Collections, State Library of Queensland, who is the granddaughter of General Lachlan Wilson;
• Brian Rough, Colonial Forces Study Group (Queensland) who generously offered information and leads on Stephen’s time with the QDF;
• Ross St Clair, a man of rare enthusiasm, who wrote the excellent book on the 54^th Battalion;
• Robert Likeman CSM, whose thorough biographies of grandfather’s friends and colleagues, Lachlan Wilson and Espie Dods, remain an inspiration;

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• The late Peter Breen of Parramatta: my scholarly friend who edited a newspaper and had a great historical fascination for the life of Stephen’s close friend, General Ivor Thord-Gray;
• John Hamilton, with whom I trudged up and down the hills above Anzac Cove and stood in the trenches of Chatham’s Post as he researched his book on Billy Sing;
• Rupert Hammond, son of Lieutenant Hammond, 5^th LHR, who generously shared his father’s unpublished reminiscences; and
• Captain Adele Catts, formerly curator of the 2/14^th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) Museum at Enoggera. Currently Manager, Army Museum, South Queensland.

In South Africa.

Helen Hall, granddaughter of Stephen’s close friend Ivor Thord-Gray.

Audrey Portman, a historical researcher from Pretoria whose efficient research helped me to understand the period 1902 – 1905.

Najwa Hendrickse, Principal Librarian, Reference and Information Services, National Library of South Africa, for her efforts through library research.

In Zimbabwe

Nicholas Vumbunu, whose knowledge of the archival system in Harare has been invaluable to me.

Completed by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.04.08.2242hrs

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Captain Herbert Humphreys (Herb) HUNTER

7^th Battalion AIF

By Russell Paten

“Well, what could a chap do? A chap could not stop out”.

(Response from Hunter when asked why he enlisted when he could have so easily have sat out the Great War)¹

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Herbert Humphreys Hunter was born on 18 November 1881 in Bendigo, Victoria. The birthplace stated on his birth record is Sandhurst, because Bendigo went by that name in 1881² He was the youngest of ten children (five daughters and five sons) born to George Frederick Hunter and local resident, Elizabeth (née Humphreys), who were married on 11 September 1862.

Herbert’s father was born about 1831 in Ramsgate, Kent, England and was employed as a civil engineer. He subsequently immigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1854. He travelled to Bendigo where he purchased and ran the established Kent Brewery in McRae Street. An interesting entry in the 1898 Victorian Police Gazette advised that George Hunter reported the theft of a gold watch valued at five pounds, from his residence. There is no reference to indicate whether it was recovered, or not.

Herbert received his schooling at Caulfield Grammar School, Church of England Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School. His outstanding sporting career started while at Melbourne Grammar School. While still there as a student, he played three AFL* senior matches for Essendon in 1900. These were the only first grade games he played and he resumed playing school football as a member of Melbourne Grammar’s First XVIII.

Another area of excellence was athletics. On 4 January, 1901, at a special Commonwealth Celebration Championship competition, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground to mark the proclamation of the Federation of Australia on 1 January, 1901, Herbert Hunter, competing for the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA), registered some outstanding performances:

• First place: (AAGPS)³ running broad jump: 21 feet 11 inches (a world schoolboy record)
• First place: (AAGPS) 100 yards: 11 seconds
• First place: (AAGPS) 120 yards hurdles: 17.6 seconds
• Second Place: (open age) 100 yards (winner’s time 10.6 seconds)
• Second Place: (open age) broad jump: 21 feet 4½ inches

* Australian Football League

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On 2 January 1901, at the 33rd gathering of the Highland Society of New South Wales, again representing the VAAA at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he had taken the significant open age amateur sprinter’s handicap double.

• First place (running off 5½ yards): “Hopetoun Sprint” 100 yards amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final: 9.8 seconds
• First place (running off 11½ yards): “Federation Plate” 200 yards amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final: 22.2 seconds

Following his school years, Herbert enrolled to study dentistry while a resident of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. There, he continued to excel at sport, and was awarded a double blue in football and athletics. In December 1904, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with a diploma for Licentiate of Dentistry.

In 1905, Herbert travelled to England and then to America. He continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania⁴ where, in 1906, he gained the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.

He became a member of the Australian College of Dentistry in 1906 and on 20 December 1907, was registered to practise in Victoria. He then moved back to Bendigo where he established his own dental surgery in Williamson Street. He kept his practice until the outbreak of war in 1914. Herbert’s keen participation in sport had continued following his years of study and he was still president of the Bendigo Football League. He was also a keen amateur boxer and refereed many local contests.

His military career started in the 67^th (Bendigo) Infantry Battalion in the Citizens’ Military Forces (CMF). As a member of this battalion, he was granted the following commissions.

• 2^nd Lieutenant – 9 April 1908
• 1^st Lieutenant – 20 March 1911
• Captain – 1 November 1913

Britain declared war with Germany on 4 August 1914 and Hunter wasted no time in applying, on 29 August, for a commission in the 7^th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, which had been formed on 15 August 1914. His application was accepted.

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The battalion commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Harold (‘Pompey’) Elliott recommended that Herbert Hunter be appointed as captain of G Company. His application form states: height 5ft 9¾ ins, weight 11st 10lbs. His eyesight was rated at 6/9; his chest measurement was an extraordinary 39 ins, the mark of an athlete. Although his hair colour is not listed, his school nickname was ‘Rusty’ and, while a captain in the 7^th Battalion, his troops referred to him as ‘Captain Ginger’, which suggests a specific hair colour.

Prior to leaving for the front, Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter was presented with a beautiful sword, suitably inscribed by the Bendigo Football League. The following report of the speech made by him in returning thanks for the gift, serves to indicate the unhesitating manner in which he offered his services to his country.

“I appreciate very much the gift that has been handed to me and hope I will be able to do some good work with it. My action in volunteering my services to the Empire is, I consider the culminating point of my athletic career. I loved my athletics and when my training was finished and my character formed, I tried to show the younger generation the benefits to be derived from amateur sport. In my opinion, one of the objects of athletics is to fit the mind and body to defend one’s country. Had I not held a commission in the Citizen Forces, I think I would have volunteered my services anyway but as I was an officer in the military, it was not, I considered, a matter of option but of duty, and I consider it a pleasant duty. I am pleased to know I have done my duty so far and, if I can lead the Bendigo boys alright, I will be satisfied. They will no doubt have to bog in and, if they do, I feel confident they will come off best. I am going out to do my duty and not to look for VCs. I trust that with the sword that has been presented to me, I will be able to uphold the honour and dignity of Australia and the British Empire”.

The 7^th Battalion was one of the first units raised, formed less than a fortnight after the declaration of war and, with the 5^th, 6^th and 8^th Battalions, comprised the 2^nd Brigade of the 1^st Division AIF. The battalion initially comprised eight companies designated A to H. Initial training was undertaken at Broadmeadows, 20 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. On 25 September, the battalion marched through the city of Melbourne.

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It was reported as “A Stirring Spectacle”, the greatest parade that had ever been seen in the city, with huge crowds lining the streets.⁵ The Governor-General was most favourably impressed with the steadiness of the Light Horse, the swinging step of the Infantry and the physique of the entire force.⁶

On 18 October, after reveille at 5am, the 7^th Battalion marched to Broadmeadows station, travelled by train to Port Melbourne and was aboard the troopship HMAT A20 Hororata which it was to share with the 6^th Battalion, by midday.

On 28 November, while the ship was moving along the Red Sea towards Suez, a significant decision affecting the Australian Imperial Force was announced. Instead of continuing on to England as many expected, their destination would be Egypt, for further training. Since the AIF troops had departed Australian waters, Turkey had entered the war as an ally of Germany.

Hororata arrived in Egypt on 2 December 1914. The troops began additional training and acclimatisation activities, including desert route marches and mock attacks.

Captain HH Hunter, centre, on horseback, Cairo 1914.

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On 1 January 1915, the men of the 2^nd Brigade were addressed by the commander, Colonel James McCay and told of the new battalion organisation. The Australian battalions were reorganised from eight-company battalions to come in line with recent changes adopted in the British Army.

This amalgamation meant that each battalion now had four companies consisting of six officers and 221 men, at full strength.

The new organisation resulted in Captain Hunter being 2iC of D Company with Captain Blezard being appointed OC.

Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter, Mena Camp, 1914.

The Turkish Government now took steps to attack the Suez Canal. If successful, shipping from Australia would be forced to take the long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. In early January, the Turks began their advance across the barren and almost trackless Sinai Peninsula. On 3 February, the Turkish army began their attack on the canal near Serapeum. This led to the 7^th and 8^th Battalions being sent from Cairo on that same day to bolster the defence.

The 7^th Battalion left Mena at 10.30am and marched the 16 kilometres to the Cairo railway station for transport to Ismailia. They arrived at Ismailia the next morning, but took no part in direct combat during the Turkish assault.

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It had already been repulsed by Indian troops and the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, which caused a heavy loss of Turkish soldiers. The 7th Battalion was subsequently sent back to the base camp, to continue training in preparation for their forthcoming active service.

The 7^th Battalion training, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Elliott was brutal. Elliott had a reputation for being outspoken, impulsive, excitable and straight as a ruled line. Intensely headstrong, he worked his men harder than any commander in the force.

Bean states in his official history that if a heavy or dangerous task had to be undertaken for the common good, Elliott’s troops would be offered to do it. Regardless of this, he was a very popular commanding officer. The tough attitude Pompey showed towards his men had strengthened them and would soon be proved worthwhile when the battalion was tested on the hills and the rugged terrain of Gallipoli.

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Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter Egypt 4 April 1915. Page 8

The 7^th Battalion, as part of the 2^nd Brigade, landed with the second wave on the morning of 25 April. Unlike the first wave which was landed from battleships and destroyers via their ship’s boats, the second wave disembarked from transports into small boats for the journey ashore. The 7^th Battalion disembarked from the transport ship Galeka to the small boats.

Upon landing, the battalion was fragmented and Elliott was initially able to muster only a portion for an advance up to 400 Plateau where they were urgently needed to support the scattered units of the 3^rd Brigade (which had comprised the first wave).

As D Company landed and Hunter leapt from the boat to the beach, he sprained his ankle but would not give in and though his foot was badly swollen, he limped along at the head of his men up the slope to support the 3^rd Brigade.

The first troops of the 7^th Battalion to reach 400 Plateau were two platoons of D company but, at this point, the company commander Major Blezard was shot in the chest.

The command of the company therefore passed to Hunter. Elliott continued working to collect the remainder of the 7^th Battalion and send them to support the line on 400 Plateau. Elliott recorded that from his position in White’s Valley, he could make out the distinctive figure of Captain Hunter on the high ground ahead, with D Company.

The 7^th continued to maintain a position in the line on 400 Plateau although their positions were completely intermingled with men of the 5^th and 6^th Battalions. To their left, the units of the 3^rd Brigade were judged to be reaching the end of their endurance and were relieved by men of the British Royal Marine Naval Brigade.

On Thursday night, it was finally time for the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th Battalions to be relieved. Their position in the line was taken over by the Deal Battalion of Marines. The losses to the 7^th Battalion were found to be:

• Killed – 2 officers and 68 others
• Wounded – 15 officers and 229 others
• Missing – 0 officers and 227 others

The total number of casualties for the 7^th Battalion from the initial landing (on Sunday 25 April) until Friday morning was 541 officers and men. Page 9

Of the missing, some were found to have been wounded and sent to the rear without record taken, and the remainder had been killed.

Following the stabilisation of the line around Gaba Tepe, it was decided to move the 2^nd Brigade as well as the New Zealand Brigade further down the peninsula to Cape Helles to participate in an attack on Krithia.

Early on 6 May, the battalion embarked on the Folkestone, a deep sea trawler for a two-hour journey to ‘V’ Beach where, under the shattered stone bastions and battered village of Sedd el Bahr, they disembarked to the shore via moored lighters, forming a makeshift jetty.

The attack on Krithia was to follow the line of a series of spurs. The New Zealand Brigade was to advance via the left spur (Krithia Spur), the 2^nd Brigade on the central Spur and the 2^nd Naval Brigade, along with French troops, on Kereves Spur on the right. The order of advance for 2^nd Brigade for the attack was to be 7^th on the right, 6^th on the left, with 5^th and 8^th in reserve.

On the morning of 8 May, the brigades moved forward toward their respective objectives. They passed through the reserve trenches manned by the 14^th Sikhs toward Tommies Trench, 300 yards forward. As soon as they emerged from sheltering olive trees they were heavily shelled by Turkish guns and then came under intense rifle fire.

They had a short breather at Tommies Trench and then went forward once more. They moved in hundred-yard rushes with men falling fast and eventually were brought to a halt approximately 500 yards in front of Tommies Trench and about 500 yards short of the Turkish trenches.

Hunter, still in command of D Company, was wounded in the foot as they were advancing over open ground, making him unable to continue forward. He was quickly picked up and carried to the rear by the battalion stretcher bearers. Finding a spot behind the battle area that they considered safe, they put the stretcher down and commenced to dress his wounded foot.

At that moment, in what can only be described as a freak accident, an almost spent bullet passed between the stretcher bearers and struck Hunter in the head, killing him instantly. Thus died a brave, energetic and soldierly man who had earned and commanded the respect of all.⁸ He was 33 years of age.

Page 10

The attack on Krithia continued but was a costly failure and the Australian and New Zealand forces were withdrawn by boat back to Anzac.

There is no record of Hunter’s body being retrieved and buried. The location remains unknown. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial which stands atop the Gallipoli Peninsula. Herbert Hunter’s name is listed on Panel 201 to 204.

At left: Helles Memorial Gallipoli Peninsula

Hunter had survived his father, who passed away in 1907 and his mother who died in 1911. His personal effects were forwarded to his older brother Fred Hunter, sent by Thomas Cook & Son over an extended period of time (1915 to 1920), as recorded on his dossier.

One paper parcel contained “note book, Standing Orders”. Receipts were signed by one or other of Herbert’s brothers for a kitbag, a cabin trunk and valise. The kitbag and cabin trunk were despatched in November 1915.

In Herbert’s dossier, there is one page with a long list of effects. Some of the items in the kitbag indicate that Herbert had prepared for deployment to the Western Front. He had brought from home gumboots, puttees, muffler, and French books. In a separate parcel containing personal grooming items, there was one photo. An item not listed (evidently because it was in the sealed cabin trunk) is a flask (white metal) engraved Capt. H. H. HUNTER 7^TH Bn.

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On 20 December 1917, Hunter’s sister Esther Elizabeth began receiving pension payments due to his death of 40 shillings per fortnight.

Herbert Hunter’s Form of Commission was sent to his next of kin in August 1916, his 1914–15 Star was sent in October 1920 and his Victory Medal in July 1922. The Memorial Scroll and King’s Message were received in September 1921 and Memorial Plaque in December 1922.

Interestingly, in November 1921, a letter (which is part of Hunter’s dossier) was received by the Army from Lieutenant J U Leask, 11^th Light Horse Regimentadvising that he was in possession of a belt owned by Hunter and requesting information on his next of kin so he could return it.

Herbert Humphreys Hunter was not the only member of the family to serve in the Great War. Cedric Evan Hunter, the third son of his brother Frederick Evan Hunter enlisted in the 4^th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) (2^nd Reinforcements) 1^st AIF on 9 November 1915 at the age of 22. He was sent to Egypt and taken on strength in the brigade on 14 February 1916 at Zeitoun. He was then posted to 19^th Battery and stationed at Tel el Kebir, not far from the Suez Canal.

Cedric proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force and embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles on 14 March 1916. He arrived in Marseilles on 19 March and was transferred to 22^nd FAB on 13 May but, on 28 August was evacuated to England with synovitis (right knee) and a sprained right ankle. He returned to France on 19 December and was transferred to 5^th FAB (13^th Battery). He then spent four months in 4^th FAB (10^th Battery) before being transferred to 5^th FAB (10^th Battery). He was with this unit when he received a mortal shrapnel wound to the head on 27 August 1917. His grave can be found in the Voormezele Cemetery, four kilometres south of Ypres.

Herbert Hunter was mourned, not only by citizens of Bendigo, but also in the wider world of sport. In July 1920, a beautifully designed shield, now generally known as The HH Hunter Memorial Shield, carved in Australian blackwood by the prominent South Yarra artist Mr Robert Prenzel, was presented to the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association (now known as Athletics Victoria) by Marmion Percy Adams, on behalf of a group of subscribers, to be a perpetual challenge trophy for the Association’s annual track championship competition.

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The shield’s carving depicts Herbert Hunter beating the (later) Olympian athlete Nigel Barker by six inches in the 1901 national championship 100 yards race. Beneath the carving is a representation in copper, of an open book, upon which the names of the annual winners are inscribed.

At the 1904 National championships, Hunter was involved in a dramatic run-off for the 100 yards title, which he won against a great New South Wales athlete Nigel Barker. Two years earlier Hunter had run 9.8 seconds to equal the Australian record, a time which stood until 1930. ⁷

Since 2001, when the Victorian Athletic League was discontinued, the Hunter Shield represented the best performing male club in Victoria and since 2009, the winner is based on female and male performances at the Victorian open championships. In 2008, Athletics Bendigo renamed its Athlete of the Year trophy “the HH Hunter Athlete of the Year” in Herbert Hunter’s memory.⁸

IN MEMORIAM

How oft we marked him as he led the race, with flying leap, quick blow or bounding stride

But never did he set so true a pace, as when he led the battle charge – and died.

Extract from poem ⁸ by G H Freeman to commemorate Herbert Humphreys Hunter

Detail of the HH HUNTER MEMORIAL SHIELD

Herbert Humphreys Hunter’s name is located at panel 50 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial and his name is listed on the memorial in Bendigo, the city of his birth.

Page 13

Medals for Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter

1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.

7^th Battalion AIF Colour Patch

Horizontally aligned, rectangular wool flannel colour patch, divided brown over red.

Motto: Cede Nullis = Submit to None.

Bibliography

AustinRon, Our Dear Old Battalion: A History of the 7^th Battalion AIF, 1914–1919 Slouch Hat, 2004.

Bean CEW, Official History of Australia in the War 1914 – 1918, Volume I and Volume II, The Story of Anzac

Dean Arthur and Gutteridge Eric W, The Seventh Battalion AIF, 1933.

Kiddle JB (ed), War Services of Old Melburnians 1914-1918, 1923, p.90.

Page 14

References

Australian Military Forces – Staff and Regimental Lists

Australian Marriage Index 1788 – 1949

National Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1, Cedric Evan Hunter

National Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1 – Herbert Humphreys Hunter

AIF Burials, Gallipoli 1915

England Census 1841

The Age (Melbourne),Saturday 10 July 1920 p19, Hunter Memorial Shield

Bendigo Advertiser, Wednesday 24 September 2008, Chook caps Great Season

Bendigo Advertiser, 24 May 1915 p5, Bendigo officer killed – Captain HH Hunter. Wikipedia – Herb Hunter (footballer), Footnote 15: War Services of Old Melbournians 1914-18, 1923, p.90.

Notes

1Our Dear old Battalion p.12.

2 Bendigo was originally named after Bendigo Creek. The name of Sandhurst (after a military college in England) was adopted in 1854, but changed back to Bendigo in 1891 when residents voted (1,515 in favour and only 267 against).

3 AAGPS is the acronym for Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales; the association was formed on 30 March 1892.

4 The military service of Captain HH Hunter is noted in America at the University of Pennsylvania. The record states incorrectly that he was killed by shellfire. University of Pennsylvania, United States College Student Lists 1763–1924, Herbert Humphreys Hunter.

5 The Argus (Melbourne) Saturday 26 September 1914, page 13.

6  Message of appreciation from His Excellency the Governor-General, after the parade.

7 War Service of Old Melburnians, p. 90.

8 website: athletics.com.au/news/anzac_day_captain_hhhunter_

9 Extract from sports report “Chook caps Great Season” in Bendigo Advertiser: Athletics Bendigo has renamed its Athlete of the Year award the H.H. Hunter Athlete of the Year. The award honours Dr Herbert Humphreys Hunter, a brilliant all-rounder in many sports, who was killed at Gallipoli. Hunter was long jump and 100 yards champion of Australasia, and the H.H. Hunter Memorial Shield is awarded each year to the premier division one, men’s team in Athletics Victoria action.

10 Poem published in Bendigonian (Bendigo, Victoria 1914-1918), 27 May 1915, p.4. This poem is also published on website of Athletics Victoria

Page 15

Hunter Clan Motto: Cursum Perficio = I accomplish my course.

Completed by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.03.29.0900hrs

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

 

Lieutenant-Colonel Hannibal SLOAN MSM

30^th Battalion AIF

By Robert Simpson

672 Warrant Officer (Class I) John James SLOAN MSM

4^th Battalion AIF

John James Sloan pre-1897

By Robert Simpson

March 2020

Hannibal Sloan was the first born of John Hannibal Sloan and Isabel Whyte, born on 11^th May 1871 in Kilmore, Victoria. Kilmore has a claim as Victoria’s oldest inland settled town. John had been born in Greenock Scotland in 1841 and Isabel had been born in 1850. John had come to Australia with his family in 1859. They had married in Albury, New South Wales on 28^th March 1870. Hannibal was the first of eight children to them. Next born was Katie in 1873, then Emily in 1876, John James in 1878 in Molesworth Victoria, Agnes in 1881 in Yea, Isabel in 1883, Georgina was born and died in 1885 and James Sloan in 1888 in Alexandra, Victoria. John Hannibal Sloan was a son of Hannibal Sloan, who had been born in Scotland. His death was recorded in Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (a Victorian newspaper) on Friday 3^rd July 1885 in page 2 under Deaths: “SLOAN.-On the 30th June, at Molesworth, Hannibal Sloan, aged 76, formerly Trinity pilot, Scotland.” The same newspaper on Saturday 23 February 1878 in page 3 under GAZETTE NOTICES, had an entry in “Issue of new licenses under the 49th section; -“for “Hannibal Sloan, 20s, Molesworth John H. Sloan, 20s, Molesworth”. The Argus (Melbourne) of Friday 2^nd April 1886 on page 10 under the heading “LAW REPORT. SUPREME COURT. THURSDAY, APRIL 1. EQUITY COURT. (Before His Honour Mr. Justice Molesworth, Acting Chief Justice.) PROBATES AND LETI’ERS OF ADMINISTRATION The registrar granted probates to the wills of Hannibal Sloan, £75.” The Kilmore Free Press (Victoria), of Thursday 19^th August 1886 on page 2 had “The following applications for leases under sec. 2 are gazetted approved :- John H. Sloan (administrator to estate of Hannibal Sloan, deceased), Molesworth, 20s.”

Isabel (nee Whyte) Sloan with her first-born child Hannibal

John (aka Jack) Sloan aged approx. 14 with his sister Emily

The Sydney Morning Herald of Wednesday 16^th July 1919, on page 11 under Funerals was “SLOAN.-The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN and FAMILY are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved HUSBAND and FATHER; to leave the residence, Whanregarwan, Centennial-avenue, Randwick, THIS DAY, WEDNESDAY, at 3.15, for Randwick General Cemetery; W. CARTER, Undertaker, Waverley.”

In the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 3^rd November 1930, on page 7 under the title Funerals “SLOAN -The Relatives and Friends of the late Mrs ISABEL SLOAN widow of the late John Hannibal Sloan of Randwick are kindly invited to attend her funeral to leave her son’s residence 10 Centennial avenue Randwick THIS DAY (Monday) at 2 pm for Randwick General Cemetery. Motor Funeral. W CARTER Undertaker Waverley.” Also, under deaths on page 8 were two entries “SLOAN.-November 1, 1930, at the residence of her daughter. Mrs. A. Horne, of Asquith, Isabel, widow of the late John Hannibal Sloan, of Randwick, and dearly loved mother of Hannibal, Katie (Mrs. A. McLennan), Emily (Mrs. A. Horne). John, Agnes (Mrs. G. Rudd, Isabel (Mrs. J. Martin), and James, aged 80 years.” and “SLOAN.-November 1, at Asquith, Isabel Sloan, the dearly loved grandmother of Isabel, Jessie. Sandy, Sheila, Donald, Jean, Norman, and Maizie McLennan, Edith Sloan, Jack, Charlie, Douglas, and Wilson Sloan, Annie, Dorothy, and Elsie Martin, John Horne and Judith Rudd, and the great-grand-mother of Donald. Doreen, and John Donaldson, aged 80 years.”

A picture of Hannibal Sloan, age 17

Hannibal married Martha Jane O’Donnell in Newtown, New South Wales in 1900. Martha had been born in 1871 in Yass. They had a girl, Edith Isabel Sloan in 1902 in Sydney. The Evening News (Sydney) of Friday 30^th March 1900, on page 8 under “MILITARY MATTERS. General French has approved the appointment of Mr. Hannibal Sloan to the Permanent Staff, as third-class color-sergeant instructor, on probation, with pay at the rate of 6s 8d per diem, and the usual lodging allowance of his rank. C.S. Sloan will be attached from this date to the Seventh Regiment (St. George’s Rifles).” Hannibal was involved in a court case in 1910 involving a person named Piggott, to do with a shooting competition in New Zealand. The newspaper stated “Hannibal Sloan, sergeant-major and instructor to St. George’s Rifles, stated that on the day following the last stage of the King’s match Piggott received £100 in notes at the pay window. Afterwards the £100 was returned and he was led to believe it came from Piggott.” More evidence was given, but the case was extended for a week and the verdict was not noted. In the 1913 electoral roll, they were living at Hampden Road and he was an instructor. Military Order 566 of 1913 is a seniority roll of Instructional Staff (Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers) and shows that Staff Regimental Sergeant-Major H Sloan in the 2^nd Military District had Corps Seniority which was to date from 1^st May 1913.

Martha Jane (Fan) and Edith Sloan in 1910

Hannibal as a Sergeant Major

The Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal was awarded to Warrant Officer H Sloan, Staff RSM, Instructional Staff 2MD and recorded on Commonwealth Gazette (CG) Number 99, dated 28^th August 1915.

On 12^th August 1915, Hannibal enlisted as a Lieutenant in the 30^th Battalion (as part of the 8^th Infantry Brigade). It was raised in Liverpool on 5^th August 1915. His term of service was for the war and 4 months. Hannibal reported for duty as Adjutant on 19^th August 1915 with the rank of Lieutenant, being promoted to Captain on 18^th October 1915. He embarked on HMAT Beltana A72 with the 30^th Battalion as Captain Adjutant at Sydney on 9^th November 1915, after being promoted on 18^th October. While being Adjutant, he was responsible for writing the War Diary of the Battalion. Before going overseas, the diary was typed up and it was signed H W Sloan, for some reason. No middle name is documented for him. He was listed as a 44-year-old solider who was married. His next of kin was his wife, Jane Sloan, and their address was “Archray”, Hampton Road Artarmon, NSW. His religion was Presbyterian and his rate of pay per day was 22 shillings and 6 pence. In his records, his Attestation Paper was missing, and a file was put in stating that. It also had on the page Major Hannibal Sloan 30^th Battalion, with next of kin as Jane Sloan “Archray” “Handen” Road Artarmon NSW. His Application for a Commission in the AIEF form showed his educational qualifications were Superior Public School, and his military qualifications were 3 years in the Victoria Mounted Rifles, 3 years 3 months in Permanent Artillery (R.A.G.A.) and 15 years 3 months in Instructional Staff. His present civil employment was S.R.S.M. (Warrant Officer) Instructional Staff, C.M. Forces. He was a British Subject and was married. He dated it 24^th July 1915. The medical certificate stated he was 6-foot-tall, had a chest measurement of 35½ to 40 inches, weighed 13 stone 2 pounds and had good eyes. He was initially recommended to be a Lieutenant, but that was crossed out with Captain and Adjutant written. They arrived at Suez, where they disembarked on 11^th December 1915. On 16^th June 1916, he embarked at Alexandria to join the B.E.F., disembarking at Marseilles on 23^rd June from HMAT Hororata. The 30^th Battalion headed for the Western Front, where their first major battle was at Fromelles on 19^th July 1916. Initially tasked with carrying parties for supplies and ammunition, the Battalion was soon drawn into the battle and was involved in vicious fighting. After that battle, the Battalion was rotated in and out of the front line, but was not involved in any major offensives for the rest of the year.

His signature on a page of the 30^th Battalion War Diary in April 1916.

On 4^th October 1916, he was promoted to Major and relinquished his appointment of Adjutant. Hannibal was admitted to hospital with bronchitis on 23^rd December 1916, re-joining the 30^th Battalion on 10^th January 1917 from the NZ Stationary Hospital at Amiens. He was seconded for duty with 8^th Infantry Training Battalion in England on 1^st February 1917. On 25^th February 1917, he was admitted to Fovant Hospital at Hurdcott, being sick. He was marched in to the 8^th Training Battalion at Hurdcott on 17^th March 1917.

A note about allotments was sent by District Paymaster in Sydney on 29^th November 1916 from Staff Paymaster, which said “Herewith I forward for necessary action allotments as follows: – Major, H. SLOAN, 30 th Btn, 20/- p.d. from 4/10/16 in favor of (Wife) Mrs. J Sloan, “Achray”, Hampden Road, Artarmon N.S.W. This cancels previous allotment of 17/- p.d. in favour of the same allottee.”

On 9^th January 1917, Base Records sent Mrs M J Sloan at Archray, Hampden Road Artarmon NSW a letter stating that “Major H.Sloan, was admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital 25/12/16 suffering from Bronchitis Mild.” A postal address was given as “SICK … Major H.Sloan 30^th Australian Infantry in New Zealand Stationary Hospital. C/o A. I. F. Headquarters, 130 Horseferry Road, Westminster, LONDON. S.W.” Also a note saying that “SICK” should be written in red to “ensure speedy delivery”.

A Medical Board at Tidworth on 15^th October 1917 found him permanently unfit for general service and unfit for home service for 6 months. He was to be invalided to Australia.

The District Paymaster at Victoria Barracks in Sydney on 23^rd August 1917 sent Base Records a note confirming their telegram previously which said “AdminAust cables telegraph dates rates allotment paid after embarkation Major S Sloan no trace here please advise”. The reply from Base Records on 24^th August, stated “With reference to your telegram, E.47778, of the 23^rd instant, the nearest on records is Major Hannibal Sloan, (late 30^th Battalion), who joined the Australian Imperial Force at Sydney on 12/8/15, and embarked from the same District on 9/11/15, attached to Head Quarters, 30^th Battalion.”

On 8^th December 1917, Jane signed for his Commission Form on a form from base Records which noted Captain H Sloan 8^th Infantry Training Battalion (30^th Battalion).

He returned to Australia on HT Ormonde on 25^th November 1917 “for Asthma Term of Appointment Struck off strength”. At Durban, he re-embarked on Medic. In the Sydney Morning Herald NSW of Saturday 29^th December 1917 on page 12, had under the heading: “RETURNING SOLDIERS. The following invalided New South Wales soldiers have been listed for return to Australia, and are actually on route from abroad – Col. Reginald Spencer Browne, Lieut. Hy. Jas. Cox, Major Hannibal Sloan, Pte John Alfred Hy. Annetts, Cpl Geo Fredk. Bidgood, Ptes Phillip Brown….” On 22^nd January 1918, he disembarked at Melbourne, bound for Sydney. On 16^th April 1918, he was found unfit for further service at Sydney. His appointment was terminated on 20^th April 1918.

He wrote a series of letters to family members while overseas. A transcript of them is available on the AWM here – https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/PR05385/document/7431387.PDF

An application for war service leave gratuity was processed on 14^th March 1919.

A short list of his appointments and promotions was produced by Base Records on 10^th May 1921, which was issued to I.G.’s Department. His particulars to his AIF service were recorded by Base Records on 10^th March 1924 and again on 23^rd August 1924. The second one was a shorter description of his service.

Hannibal was awarded the Meritorious Service medal as Quarter Master & Honourable Major H Sloan, Australian Instructional Corps (AIC) 2MD on CG Number 38, dated 4^th May 1922.

After the war, he published a book, “The Purple and Gold: a history of the 30th Battalion, compiled by H. Sloan”.

In 1925, they must have visited England, as Major H Sloan, Mrs F Sloan and Miss E Sloan boarded the Orient steamship Ormonde at London on 17^th October 1925, bound for Australia. He was a soldier aged 53, his wife aged 52 and daughter 23 (both home duties). They were heading for Sydney. Their address in England was listed as Australia House, Strand.

He wrote an article in Reveille in September 1935, an obituary for Sergeant Robert Barnes, who had served with the Lancers in the Zulu War and was with the First Field Ambulance on Lemnos during WW1. At some stage after the war, he was the President of the 30^th Battalion Association.

In the 1928 New South Wales directory and 1933, 1936 and 1937 electoral rolls, they were living at 192 Hampton Road Artarmon, North Sydney and he was a drill instructor. His service records were listed in 1928. Edith was still living with them and was a stenographer. No other records are known for Edith. Martha passed away in 1941 in Chatswood, New South Wales. They were still living there and he had the same occupations in the 1943 roll.

“Reveille” of 1^st June 1933 had an article on ““YOUNG” ROWLEY: 30^th BN MOUNT. On the march of the 30^th Bn. from Morbecque to Estaires in 1916 a halt was not called for many weary miles owing to the column being longer than the distance between estaminets. “Young” Rowley having dipped his feet in the ditch to ease swollen feet, was unable to get his boots back on again and continued on the march with these strung around his neck. In compassion, Major Sloan lent his horse to “Young” Rowley, and so the battalion was let into Estaires by two horsemen – Colonel Clark, most immaculate; and “Young” Rowley, in bare feet with boots around his neck. Colonel H. Sloan, ex-major-adjutant, affectionately known as “Ted”, and Mr. R. E. Lording, Baksheesh sig. corporal, then 16 years old and known as “Young” Rowley recently met again (after seventeen years).” 81 Private Rowland Lording embarked with the 30^th Battalion on 9^th November 1915 on HMAT Beltana A72 as well. He was an 18-year-old bookkeeper from Burwood. In 1917, he was wounded and dangerously ill. He returned to Australia, leaving England on 22^nd February 1917. The wounds were so grave, that he endured 53 operations, as a newspaper article in his medical file recorded. He died in October 1944 of pneumonia, after suffering with hysteria and delusions for a period of time. Alcohol and morphine played a role in his demise. He left a wife and three children.

Hannibal passed away on 10^th August 1945 in Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards. The Sydney Morning Herald of 13^th August 1945 had “SLOAN. – August 10 1945, at Royal North Shore Hospital, Hannibal, of 194 Hampden Road, Artarmon, dearly loved father of Edith, aged 74 (late 1^st 30^th Battalion, A.I.F.). Privately cremated.”

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals, the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

His medals are named:

1914/15 Star. CAPTAIN H. SLOAN. 30 BN. A.I.F.

British War Medal. MAJOR H. SLOAN A.I.F.

Victory Medal. MAJOR H. SLOAN A.I.F.

Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas. WAR.OFF. H. SLOAN INST STAFF.

Meritorious Service Medal. Q. M. & HON MAJ. H. SLOAN

John James Sloan was awarded the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal for being part of the NSW Contingent to England in 1897, to be part of the Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria.

This photo taken in 1908 shows three generations of the Sloan Family.

Isabella Sloan (1850-1930) aged 58, Mother of Jack Sloan.

Jack Sloan (1878-1961) aged 30.

John Hannibal Sloan (1907-1972) aged 1 year, son of Jack Sloan.

He married Alice Ridd in 1906 in Victoria. Alice had been born in 1873 in Molesworth too. Her father had come from England. They had 4 sons; John Hannibal born 29^th July 1907 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Charles Lindsay born on 21^st March 1910 in Tamworth, Douglas Sloan born in 1912 and Wilson Sloan born in 1914.

He was also listed in the same Seniority Roll as his brother, as Staff Sergeant-Major J Sloan in the 2^nd District, with Corps Seniority to date from 16^th August 1910.

John enlisted on 27^th September 1914 at Holsworthy Sydney as 672 Staff Sargent Major in the 4^th Battalion at Kensington. The 4^th Battalion was one of the first battalions raised for the AIF, recruiting in NSW. It formed the 1^st Brigade with the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalions. (A copy has the date the 27^th crossed out and 28^th written and ticked for his enlistment). He was a 35-year old military instructor who was married to Olive Sloan. She lived at Douglas Street Armidale NSW. He had just stated his name as John Sloan. He was a Natural Born British Subject of 36 years old, as recorded on another copy of his Attestation Form. John served for 8 years in the RAA before transferring to Instructional Staff for 10 years and was then still serving. On the embarkation roll for the 4^th Battalion, he was a 35-year old soldier, who was married and living at Douglas Street Armidale. His wife, Alice Sloan of the same address was his next of kin and his religion was Presbyterian. The embarkation roll stated he joined on 28^th August 1914. Before embarking, he was entitled to a pay of 12 shillings a day. They embarked on 20^th October 1914 on HMAT Euripides A14 from Sydney. There was a brief stop in Albany before proceeding to Egypt.

A rather poor newspaper picture of him during the war.

They arrived at Suez and disembarked on 6^th December 1914. He embarked on Lake Michigan on 5^th April 1915 at Alexandria to join the MEF for the Gallipoli Campaign. The Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 25^th April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. Their Commander was killed the next day. The battalion then took part in the defence of the beachhead.

On 15^th June 1915, John was admitted to 1^st Clearing Station on Gallipoli and transferred to the fleet sweeper. After being sent to HMS Clacton on 16^th June 1915, he was sent to No 1 Stationary Hospital on the 17^th. From SS Minewaska, John was admitted to No 15 General Hospital in Alexandria on 21^st June 1915 with a nervous breakdown. He was listed as a 37-year old with 19 years’ service and 9 months service in the Field Force. John was admitted with neurasthenia and was transferred on 20^th July 1915 on HMT Wandilla to England. John was admitted to 3^rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth on 1^st August 1915 with neurasthenia. Another record has him entering the hospital on 31^st July 1915 with debility and being discharged on 5^th August 1915 to Depot. 672 Sergeant Major J. Sloan of the 4^th Battalion was admitted to 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park from MEF at Dardanelles on 20^th August 1915, with shell shock. A medical report done at Harefield on 23^rd August 1915 showed that 672 Staff Sergeant Major John Sloan of the 4^th Battalion, whose former trade was regular army, had a disability of nerve shock. It started on 15^th June 1915 at Gallipoli, while on active service, where he was badly shocked by an explosive shell and since then was weak, nervous, had bad headaches etc. The repost said currently he was “nervous, sleeping badly- tremor hands- unable to do anything the least arduous”. It was recommended he be discharged as he was permanently unfit for war service. John was rated at half capacity to earn a full livelihood. He was discharged from hospital on 21^st September 1915 after 33 days of treatment for furlough as he was unfit.

His wife was sent a letter from Base Records on 13^th August 1915 advising her that John was sick and had been admitted to a hospital in London, and with no other reports it was assumed that things were progressing favourably.

On 20^th November 1915, he returned to Australia on A29 Suevic with nerve shock, after leaving Plymouth on 8^th October 1915. On 5^th January 1916 at Sydney, a medical history continuation form stated his capacity to earn a livelihood in the general labour market was lessened to one half. The Board recommended that at present he did not need to be discharged as permanently unfit and recommended one-month further treatment. Another review on 2^nd February 1916 stated he was at ½ to ¾, was not to be discharged at present and the general recommendations recorded “He is still below par, some muscle tremor, and tachycardia, pulse 108. He might be discharged to take up his usual work on the instruction al staff. some occupation may be good for him, but he is not fit to take up arduous duty. We would advise that he be kept under medical observation for another month as an out patient.” On 1^st March 1916, his capacity was lessened to ¼ and he was to be discharged as permanently unfit. The general recommendations stated “Fit for home service though not for the more arduous forms. Some employ ment will be beneficial ,to his health.” It was signed by a Colonel PMO in the 2^nd Military District. He was discharged at Sydney as medically unfit on 2^nd March 1916. His disability was listed as shell shock and neurasthenia. A letter from District Headquarters in Sydney to the Secretary, Department of Defence in Melbourne containing information from his Medical Board proceedings, which were finalised and were to be sent to Base Records for filing. Base Records received them on the 14^th.

John applied for an incapacity pension, but it was rejected. The form stated 672 Warrant Officer J Sloan 4^th Battalion of Roscrae Avenue Randwick had the claim rejected as “Claimant is not incapacitated in view of employment on Home service.” The forms also listed John H Sloan as a child, Charles L Sloan as a child, Douglas L Sloan as a child and Alice Sloan as his wife. The form was dated 27^th July 1916 in Sydney.

He was awarded the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal as Warrant Officer J Sloan, Staff RSM, Instructional Staff 2MD on CG Number 82, dated 7^th June 1917. His application for war service leave gratuity was passed on 4^th April 1919. He also has a collection of letters at the AWM – https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C261941 .

On 11^th June 1919 at Holsworthy, John enlisted in the Special AIF as 86045 Warrant Officer (Class I). His pay book number was 518148. He was a natural born British Subject of 41 3/12 years (born 3/4/78) current occupation was listed as a solider, had not been an apprentice, was married, with his wife Alice Sloan being next of kin. Their address was Arabian 13 Avoca Street Randwick NSW. His will, number 35476, was held by Base Records. John had 9 years in RAGA, 12 5/12 years with Instructional Staff and 1 7/12 years with the AIF as his previous service. His height was 6-foot, weight 168 pounds, chest measurement 35 inches and he had a dark complexion with hazel eyes and black hair. His religion was Church of England. He was involved with special transport and embarked at Sydney on Ypiringa on 13^th August 1919, with deportees for Europe. He disembarked at London on 12^th October 1919 and reported to AIF Headquarters in London and was granted leave to report to AIF HQ, for transfer to No 2 Group Sutton Veny. He was granted a couple of extensions, to 10^th November 1919, when he marched into the Depot at Berwick. On 6^th December 1919, he left on the Shropshire, disembarking at Sydney on 30^th January 1920. While at sea on the ship, he was admitted to the ship’s hospital on 5^th January 1920 and discharged on the 13^th. John was discharged in the 2^nd Military District on 14^th February 1920. Another service record has his service number as 85876, crossed out with 86045 written above and also below N97357 and N97171, both crossed out. His unit was listed as Escort German Repatriation. A military conduct sheet for him for that time had no entries on it.

On 16^th July 1920, Base Records replied to Finance Member about No. 86045 WO Class 1 J Sloan, Special Services, and stated that “Certified Copy of Attestation Sheet for abovenamed soldier herewith. Nominal roll at embarkation shows ranks as W.O. (Class 1.) with rate of pay 14/- per diem.”

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as Warrant Office Cl 1 J Sloan, Australian Instructional Corps 2MD on CG Number 46, dated 25^th May 1922.

There are two records at National Archives under the name John Sloan, one dated 1926 for an “Application for Letters Patent for an invention by John Sloan” titled, “Improvements in or relating to rock packs, pillars or like supports for use in mine workings” in Canberra, and the other in 1942 for “Department of Supply and Development- Staff – Sloan, John” in the Darwin records. Neither are online, so it is not known if either are the same John Sloan.

On 9^th July 1925, Base Records sent the Department of Repatriation in Sydney documents relating to the service of John Sloan in the AIF. There were records from his period of service as 672 SSM in the 4^th Battalion and also included a list of what he did as 86045 WOI in Special Service.

Between the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls, they were living at 10 Centennial Avenue, Randwick North, and John was a drill instructor. Alice wrote to Base Records on 20^th January 1942, asking “I have been unfortunate to lose the Badge that was issued to me (and all wives & mothers) of men who served in the Great War 1914-1918. I feel the loss of it keenly & would be very grateful if you would let me know if there is any chance of me getting a duplicate of same.” A letter from Base Records to Mrs A Sloan of 9a Avoca Street Randwick Sydney on 28^th January 1942 read “In reply to your letter of the 20^th January, 1942, relative to the replacement of a Next of Kin Badge issued in respect of the service in the A.I.F. of No.672, W.O. Sloan, J., 4^th Battalion, I have to advise that the cost of replacement of this badge is 6/4d., and on receipt of your remittance for this amount together with the enclosed form of Statutory Declaration duly completed, a new badge will be forwarded to you.” She sent the postal note and declaration back with the original letter. In the statutory declaration she stated that she lost the next of kin badge during alterations to their home about two years before. She was wearing the badge at the time and thought it must have fallen from her dress and been lost in the builder’s debris. She had searched since, not being able to find it. It was also signed by a JP. By the 1943 roll, they had moved to 9A Avoca Street, still in Randwick North and he was still a drill instructor. On 8^th March 1944, Alice passed away at Randwick. For subsequent rolls, he was still there and had the same occupation, up to and including the 1958 roll. He passed away on 4^th January 1961 in Wentworth Hospital in Randwick and his funeral was held at, and he was cremated at Eastern Suburbs Crematorium on 6^th January. His ashes were taken from the Crematorium.

His medals are 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

His medals are named:

1914/15 Star. 672 W.O. (CL 2) J. SLOAN 4/BN. A.I.F.

British War Medal. 672 W.O/2. J. SLOAN. 4/BN. A.I.F.

Victory Medal. W.O.2. J. SLOAN. 4 BN. A.I.F.

1897 Diamond Jubilee Medal. Unnamed

Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas. W O J SLOAN S R.S.M. IS 2^ND MD

Meritorious Service Medal (GV). W.O. (1) J. SLOAN A.I.C.

Their brother James Sloan also enlisted. James had been born on 25th March 1888 in Molesworth Victoria. He enlisted as 1679 Private James Sloan in the Reinforcements of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. He was a single 36-year old, and Area Officer in the 2^nd Military District, living at Randwick and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs I Sloan of Centennial Avenue Randwick. He joined on 29^th October 1918 in Bathurst with a daily rate of 6 shillings. He embarked on 18th December 1918 aboard SS Melusia from Sydney and went to Rabaul. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He was 5 foot, 9½ inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, had a chest measurement from 34 to 37 inches, and was of dark complexion, with brown eyes and dark hair. He signed for two years’ service. James was promoted to Sergeant on 20^th February 1919 and CQMS on 5^th June 1919. On 27^th May 1919, he was taken on strength of Rabaul Garrison from Kokopo. While at Kokopo, he was Police master. After being of furlough, he embarked on SS Marsina at Sydney on 22^nd May 1920. He was discharged in New South Wales on 24^th December 1920. Afterwards, he complained of being debilitated, the result of malaria. He married Thelma Phairess Barnes in 1933 and they had one child, Emily (that is known of). In 1941, he applied for war medals, only to be told he embarked for New Guinea after the signing of the Armistice, and so was not entitled to any. At that time, he was living at “Eurangai” 251 Oxford Street Bondi Junction. James died on 30^th March 1948, as a result of an accident when he fell off a scaffold at the construction site for the Hay War Memorial High School. He was privately cremated.

James Sloan

With the rest of their family: –

Agnes Sloan, born on 20^th August 1880 in Yea, married on 14^th September 1921, as noted in Sydney Morning Herald, of Wednesday 2^nd November 1921 on page 10 “RUDD-SLOAN.-September 14, at the Methodist Church, Randwick, by the Rev. F. E. Fletcher. George Wilson, son of the late Henry Watson and of Mrs. Rudd, of Cherry Tree Hill, Inverell to Agnes (Nancy), daughter of the late John Hannibal and of Mrs Sloan, of Randwick.” She died in 1966 in Inverell. Her husband was a farmer and they lived in Cherry Tree Hill at Warialda in the 1949 electoral roll. He predeceased her on 1^st September 1949 in Lewisham Private Hospital and was buried in Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.

Katie married Alex McLennan (1868-1945) and passed away in 1945 in New South Wales.

Emily married Arthur Horne (1876-) and died in 1958.

Isabel died in 1961 in Chatswood. Nothing else is known about her.

With John James Sloan’s sons: –

John Hannibal Sloan, born on 29^th July 1907, had a court case in 1927, where he was accused of assaulting a female and committing an act of indecency to a Moya Olsen. He was tried in court on 5^th August 1927 and was acquitted. It was recorded in the New South Wales Police Gazette of 21^st September 1927. The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 6^th August 1927 on page 12, also recorded the result under the heading “QUARTER SESSIONS. (Before Judge Scholes.) Crown Prosecutor, Mr L J. McKean

ACQUITTED.

John Hannibal Sloan, 19, clerk, was charged with Indecently assaulting a little girl, 12 years and three months of age, at a picture show in Sydney on July 12. Mr. J. W. Abigail appeared for the accused. At the close of the Crown case, the jury acquitted the accused without leaving the box, and he was discharged.”

In the 1930 electoral roll, he was living at 10 Centennial Avenue and was a clerk.

In 1932 in Randwick, he married Elizabeth Linn. Elizabeth had been born in about 1896 and had migrated to Sydney with her daughter Muriel, leaving London on 22^nd December 1927 and arriving at Sydney on 30^th January 1928. She was stated as being Mrs. on the passenger list, but there was no Mister. She was about 9 years older than him. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about her or if they had a family. In the 1935 electoral roll, they were living at 1 Calmray, Thorpe Street Clovelly in New South Wales and he was a clerk.

John enlisted on 19^th July 1940 as Private NX59848 in Paddington New South Wales. His nominal roll says he was born in Waratah and was living in Randwick when he enlisted. Elizabeth was listed as his next of kin. Unfortunately, his service records are not yet examined and are not open for viewing, so not much else of his war service is known. He was discharged as a Private in the 2/4 Australian Pioneer Battalion on 5^th January 1946. He received no gallantry awards and was entitled to the medals below.

He wrote a copy of the family genealogy, which had been handed down to him from his Grandfather and showed the family heritage back to James Lusk, an officer born in London in 1610. It showed where the name Hannibal came from and how it carried through the family. Stories of various family members were also written.

Between the 1949 and 1963 electoral rolls, they were living at 9 Avoca Street in Randwick North and he was a clerk. John died on 9^th January 1972 in Newtown, New South Wales. The Sydney Morning Herald published his death notice twice, on the 10^th and 11^th of January, noting he was late of Randwick.

His medals are 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

Charles Lindsay Sloan, born 1910, lived at 10 Centennial Avenue, Randwick North between the 1933 and 1937 electoral rolls and gave his occupation as printer. He married Muriel Dorothy Linn in 1938 in Randwick. She could be the daughter of Muriel Linn, who married his brother John.

Charles enlisted in the Australian Army on 27^th June 1940 at Paddington as Private NX55188, and was living in Randwick at the time. Muriel was listed as his next of kin. His service records also have not been examined yet and are not online to view. He was discharged on 23^rd October 1945 from the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion. The outline of what the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion did is listed here from the AWM – https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56187 .

In 1946, he was living in Randwick as a painter. Charles passed away on 15^th May 1947 at Prince Henry Hospital in Randwick. He was buried in Randwick General Cemetery, South Coogee in the Methodist Section Vault 72. The plaque has Private NX55188 Australian Infantry A.I.F. 2/3 Pnr. Bn. on it and his grave is looked after by CWGC. His will reads “329050 SLOAN CHARLES LINDSAY LATE OF Randwick near Sydney in the State of New South Wales- Printer. THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN of 9 Avoca Street, Randwick near Sydney in the State of New South Wales Member of the Australian Imperial Forces I REVOKE all former Wills heretofore made by me I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the whole of my estate both real and personal of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situate to my Father JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN AND I APPOINT my Father the said JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN Sole Executer and Trustee of this my will IF HOWEVER my father the said John Hannibal Sloan should predecease me THEN I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the whole of my estate to my brother JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN Junior and in that event I APPOINT my brother the said JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN Junior sole Executor and Trustee of this my will. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand to this my will at Sydney this twenty eight day of April one thousand nine hundred and forty-four. CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN. SIGNED AND ACKNOWLEDGED by the Testator the said CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses; – ALFRED J. MORGAN, Solr. & Notary, Sydney. J. Brown, Clerk, Sydney. 7^th August 1947. On this date Probate of the last will of the above-named deceased was granted to JOHN JAMES SLOAN (in the will called John Hannibal Sloan) the sole Executor in the said will. TESTATOR died on the 15^th May, 1947. ESTATE SWORN at the sum of £1,276;17;5 nett.” The Sydney Morning Herald published his death notice on 17^th May 1946. He is on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial on panel 74 in the Commemorative Area. The memorial states he died of unspecified causes. He is buried in Randwick General Cemetery, NSW, Australia, in the Methodist Section, Vault 72.

There were two entries in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 17^th May 1947 in page 38 under the section headed “DEATHS SLOAN, Charles Lindsay.-May 15, 1947, at Prince Henry Hospital (suddenly), Charles Lindsay Sloan (late 2,3 Pioneer Battalion), dearly loved son of J. J. and the late Alice Sloan, of 9 Avoca Street, Randwick, aged 37 years. SLOAN, Charles Lindsay.-May 15, 1947. Charles Lindsay Sloan (late of 2/3 Pioneer Battalion), dearly loved brother of Jack. Douglas, and Wilson, loving brother-in-law of Betty and Monica, and dear uncle of Betty. John. Alice, and Lorraine.”

The next newspaper entry for him is in the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday 22 May 1947 in page 19, under “LEGAL NOTICES

IN the Will of CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN late of Randwick near Sidney in the State of New South Wales Printer deceased. Application will be made after 14 days from the publication hereof that Probate of the last Will and Testament dated 28th April 1944 of the abovenamed deceased may be granted to John James Sloan (in the Will called John Hannibal Sloan) the solo Executor in the said Will named and all notices may be served at the undermentioned address All creditors in the Estate of the deceased are hereby required to send in particulars of their claims to the undersigned Alfred J Morgan & Son. Proctors for the Executor, Federal Mutual Chambers 129 Pitt Street, Sidney.” Probate was granted on 7^th August 1947 and is recorded at the Western Sydney Records Centre in Kingswood.

His medals are 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8^th Army clasp, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

There was also Douglas Luton Sloan born about 1912 and died in 1977, and Sidney Wilson Sloan born about 1918 and died in 1956. No other records can be found for them apart for them being mentioned in the death notice record in the newspaper as above for Charles.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Array

The story of an ANZAC

John (aka Jack) James Sloan

April 3rd 1878 – January 4th 1961

By Bruce Donaldson

Medals presented to John (aka Jack) Sloan during his years of Service

Preface

Historically, the Sloan family has been well documented over many years. The initial records and writings of both Isabella Sloan (nee Whyte) and Catherine McLennan (nee Sloan) have been handed down through three generations. Their writings, record their recollections of life on the gold field of “Lambing Flat”, now Young, and the family’s early life in Molesworth, Victoria. Ongoing attention by family members, have ensured the preservation of original documents. The fact that original records, related to the Sloan Family, dating back 150 years still exist, is a credit to both our forebears and in particular to Jean and Keith Jordan, the custodians of these archives. Additionally, Ross McLennan’s extensive work digitizing and researching additional family history is acknowledged. Without such individual commitment, historical stories about family members could not be developed.

Jack Sloan was my great uncle. He was an uncle of my mother Isabel (nee McLennan) Donaldson and in turn an uncle of her brothers and sisters. When I was about ten in 1953, I actually met Jack Sloan at a small family gathering held at the home of our Aunty, Jessie McLennan, in Blaxland. Jack would have been approximately 75 years of age. My brother Douglas happened to ask Jack about his time at Gallipoli, however the conversation was brief and redirected by others. None of the words, briefly exchanged, can be recalled. In recent times I discovered typed transcripts of “Jack Sloan’s Letters”, which had been typed approximately 50 years ago by a family member.

Australia rightly recognizes significant events of war, and the impact these conflicts have had on individuals. This occurs by acknowledging the sacrifices they made and as such we have a deep respect for the individuals who fought in these conflicts. It is therefore appropriate that the three brothers of the Sloan family, Hannibal, Jack and James, our great uncles, be acknowledged as men of courage who joined with thousands upon thousands of others to fight in wars overseas.

Additionally, the importance of the Sloan Brothers has been recognised and acknowledged by the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum in Qld, which purchased the medals of the Sloan family at auction in 1997. There are a number of reasons why this museum regards the Sloan brothers Hannibal, Jack and James, as well as two sons of Jack Sloan, as significant. Jack was a member of the 1897 Queen Victoria Jubilee contingent from NSW to England.  Both Hannibal and Jack Sloan were awarded the scarce Permanent Forces Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal, and both were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Hannibal Sloan, Jack’s brother, was the author of “The Purple and Gold”, a history of the 30th Battalion and the battalion’s engagement during the First World War. It is rare to find medal groups of permanent soldiers, from the same family, covering long periods of military service and equally rare to have a collection of such medals in the one location.

This story may assist future generations of our families to increase their understanding and knowledge related to “The ANZAC Story”, which many of them will study in school or visit a war memorial or participate in ceremonies of commemoration. This brief outline of the background and the writings of a relative, Jack Sloan, who landed at Gallipoli on Sunday, 25th April, 1915, may become a point of reference.

Bruce Donaldson March 2020 A digital copy of this booklet is available upon request.

Acknowledgments

# Jean and Keith Jordan # Angela Bright

# Ross McLennan # Jack Couch

# Family Ancestors and Descendants # Australian War Memorial

# The Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum Qld # Wikipedia

# John Meyers & Robert Simpson of the Maryborough Military Museum.

Introduction

John (Jack) James Sloan

April 3rd 1878 – January 4th 1961

This is the story and record of John James Sloan, commonly called Jack Sloan, who was an uncle of Isabel (nee McLennan) Donaldson and her brothers and sisters. He was a soldier in The New South Wales Military Forces who became a Warrant Officer and a Staff Sergeant Major in the Australian Imperial Force. He, along with the 4th Battalion, landed at Gallipoli on Sunday, 25th April, 1915. Jack was an ANZAC.

On the morning of Sunday, 25th April, 1915, the Allied Forces, consisting of Australian, New Zealand, Indian, French and British soldiers, set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles for the allied navies. On the 19th and 20th December 1915, after 8 months of fighting, the allied forces were evacuated with both sides suffering heavy casualties and enduring great hardships. The number of Australian soldiers killed at Gallipoli, totalled 8,709, with many more suffering injuries. Similarly, New Zealand lost 2,780 soldiers killed and many more wounded.

Jack Sloan in dress uniform of “The NSW Military Force”, which was formed prior to the establishment of the Australian Defence Force. Jack Sloan was approximately 24 in this picture. The 2 stripes on his sleeve granted him the rank of a Corporal.

An ANZAC

John (Jack) Sloan.

John James Sloan, commonly known as Jack was born in Molesworth, Victoria, on Wednesday 3rd April 1878. He was the fourth child of John Hannibal Sloan (1841-1919) and Isabella (nee Whyte) Sloan (1850 -1930). John and Isabella Sloan had eight children. The Sloan family had moved to the Molesworth area in 1859 to take up land and finally establish life as farmers. The children were well educated at the local Molesworth School and left school to begin work locally where possible. Some of the girls became domestic servants on large farming properties and the boys spent some time working on farms. In the early 1890s Australia had a major depression and a prolonged drought. Between 1890 and 1893 there was a shipping strike and the great shearers strike of 1891. Additionally, 11 banks collapsed requiring government intervention. To get work, some of the older members of the Sloan family travelled to New Zealand to work on farms and as shearers. The eldest sons of the family, Hab (Hannibal) and Jack obtained work in New Zealand. At one time their father, John Hannibal Sloan, moved to New Zealand and worked as a shearer. By 1893 the Australian economy was improving and eventually the men of the Sloan family all returned to Australia. They, along with other members of their family settled in Sydney.

Jack Sloan joined the New South Wales Military Force in 1896 at the age of 18. In 1897 as a corporal, he went to England as part of the NSW Contingent for The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This ceremony, to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign, was held in London on 22nd June 1897. The Australian Contingent members joined representatives from other countries to form what was known as “The Colonial Contingent”. For this ceremony he received The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal. By 1904 he had been serving in the army for 8 years and transferred to the Instructional staff in the Australian Defence Force with the duties of a drill instructor. He continued in this role for the next 10 years until 1914. The duties of drill instructor resulted in him being posted to various parts of NSW.

In 1906 at the age of 26, Jack Sloan married Alice Ridd (1878 -1944) who was the daughter of a well-known local Molesworth family. The Ridd family had been friends of the Sloan family for some time. Alice’s father, Charles Ridd (1830 -1903) owned the local shop. Alice was a dressmaker by trade and conducted her business from her father’s shop. After they were married in Molesworth Jack and Alice moved around NSW which is indicated by the locations at which their children were born. They had four children. John Hannibal Sloan (1907-1972) was born at Waratah, Newcastle, Charles Lindsay (1910-1947) was born at Tamworth, Douglas Lutton (1912-1977) was born at Armidale and Sidney Wilson (1918-1956) was born at Randwick. By 1918, Jack and Alice finally settled at 13 Avoca St, Randwick.

At the age of 36, Jack enlisted for service abroad on 27th September, 1914, at Holsworthy Military Base, with the service number of 672. He then moved, as a Staff Sergeant Major, to the base at Kensington. The Unit to which he was assigned become part of the 4th Battalion. His unit embarked on 19th Oct, 1914 and went via Suez to Alexandria, in Egypt, arriving at Alexandria 6th December, 1914. The Fourth Battalion of The Australian Forces became part of the first wave of Australians to land at Gallipoli on Sunday, 25th April, 1915. At Gallipoli Jack Sloan served as a Staff Warrant Officer Class 1 and a Staff Sergeant Major. From the 1^st May until his departure from Anzac, he was the Regimental Sergeant Major of the unit. During this time, he encountered and survived a significant number of enemy attacks including an attack on the beach as he was departing. This explosion of shells left one of his companions critically injured.

Eventually this attack and other events resulted in him suffering shellshock and on 15th June, after serving at Gallipoli for 2 months, he was transferred to a ship to be transported to a hospital in Alexandria to recover. After 5 weeks in Alexandria he was deemed unsuitable to return to Gallipoli and was transferred by ship to England for further hospitalization. Recovery was slow and he was not considered to be suitable for further duties and was returned to Australia on 8th October, 1915 reaching Sydney on 10th November, 1915. On 2nd March, 1916 he was officially discharged from the AIF as being medically unfit. However, on applying for a pension his application was rejected as he was not considered to be incapacitated, and was approved to be suitable for light duties on 28th July, 1916.

In June 1919, at the age of 41 Jack joined “The NSW Contingent of the Special Infantry Forces” which became responsible for the repatriation of “German Personnel”. This unit was allocated the role of escorting the repatriated Germans to England. Jack departed on this escort mission in August, 1919 and returned to Sydney in January, 1920. Jack remained in the army as a soldier and spent the next 20 years again as a “Drill Instructor” at Victoria Barracks, in Sydney. His final year of army service was 1938. Jack Sloan had a total of 40 years-service in the Army. He lived most of his life in Avoca St, Randwick and died in the “Wentworth Private Hospital”, Randwick, on 4th January, 1961 aged 83.

During his many years of service, he was awarded a range of medals which when placed together, form a “Medal Group”.

* 1897.. Bronze 1897 Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal.

* 1915.. 1914/15 Star

* 1918.. British War Medal.

* 1918.. Victory Medal.

* 1918.. Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal George V.

* 1922.. Meritorious Service Medal George V.

A Generational Photo

This photo taken in 1908 shows three generations of the Sloan Family.

Isabella Sloan (1850-1930) aged 58, Mother of Jack Sloan.

Jack Sloan (1878-1961) aged 30.

John Hannibal Sloan (1907-1972) aged 1 year, son of Jack Sloan.

Douglas, Charles & John Sloan approx. 1940.

Three sons of Jack and Alice Sloan

Description of the medals awarded to Jack Sloan from left to right.

1914/15 Star awarded for service in a war zone before the 31^st December 1915 to all British Commonwealth navy and army personnel for WWI

British War Medal is a campaign medal awarded to all British Commonwealth navy and army personnel for WWI

Victory Medal was awarded to all navy and army personnel to commemorate victory at the end of the war.

Bronze 1897 Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to all ranks below an officer that attended the jubilee in London.  All officers received a silver medal

Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal (GV) awarded for 18 years long service and good conduct in the permanent forces army of the British Dominions and Colonies

Meritorious Service Medal (GV) awarded for 24 years exemplary service in the permanent forces army within the British Commonwealth

———–00000———-

The Letters.

The following letters where written by Jack Sloan to his family from Gallipoli and from various hospitals and locations he had been sent to for recovery and recuperation. They have been typed from the original letters by a family member. The letters are interesting from many perspectives as they give a first hand and observational account of the Gallipoli landing and an individual’s perception of the conflict. The rehabilitation process is also covered along with reflective comments on the nature of the war. Maybe younger family members could find the story and letters useful as part of a project, or a presentation to others, related to the ANZAC’s. As a note of caution, the letters contain some graphic descriptions of injuries suffered by some soldiers.

———–00000———-

A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family.

Letter Number 1.

Gaba Tepe – Firing Line *

22 / 5 / 1915.

Dear Jim

Received your two welcome letters, one from Canberra & the other from Randwick and as things in the lead line are a bit quiet this morning will endeavour to give you an account of our doings since leaving Egypt. We received a few hours’ notice to pack up & entrain at Cairo & soon were being rushed towards Alexandria where we arrived at daylight & soon found ourselves snugly aboard S.S. Lake Michigan, an up-to-date trooper.

The following morning, we found ourselves a nice harbour (& were told it was Lemnos) with a pretty shore clustered with villages. Here we stayed for ten days & practised landing in the ship’s boats. Every day brought fresh boats till one could count over 100 in the bay; it was estimated that the harbour ships contained over 100,000 men.

On the evening of 24^th, we received our orders; The Australian Division were to land at *Gaba Tepe. The plan of landing was to be a surprise. The fleet of transports were to move to a position near the shore, four abreast, 300 yards interval & all lights out; at 8pm every light was switched off on deck & every porthole screwed below.

The 3^rd Brigade were ahead of us, their boats were to be in position at 3am & were to land & endeavour to take & hold the hills that rise from a sandy shore. Slowly & silently into the gloom, this great fleet moved each ship in its allotted place; every man in his section ready for an accident or mine.

As morning broke, we heard the rifle fire of the 3^rd Brigade who were carrying out their great purpose. Later, we saw plainly the hills of Gallipoli & a fleet of transports in their proper position, each guarded by a man-of-war.

Our regiment was selected to be the first to land in daylight. As day broke, the fleet bombarded a small headland, half a mile away. It was grand to see the Queen Elizabeth firing a broadside. This was Gaba Tepe Fort. They did not reply & everyone thought it was blown to atoms. We moved with confidence into our boats.

I was with the Regimental and Brigade Head Quarters, when about 300 yards from the shore, the fort opened fire, much to our surprise & shrapnel fell in all directions. One shell landed 10 yards from our boat, but best of luck – did not burst. We landed & moved up a gully, where we rested as reserves. I will now finish with the 3^rd brigade.

When they landed, the Turks opened a terrific fire. The men in the first boats fixed bayonets & charged up the thickly wooded hill. Several boats stuck on a sand bank, the men jumped overboard & fell into deep water. A number lost their rifles, but that did not stop them. They simply drew their bayonets & charged with the rest; the Navy say this was the grandest feat of all & has earned for Australia a name that will last for centuries. On they went & did not stop till the top was reached & firmly held. The Turks simply went for their lives.

Page 1 of 3

Continued

A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 1.

The position is like landing at **Chowder & securing George’s Heights, only higher & steeper. As we rested in the gully, hundreds were being brought down from the Heights, some of them terribly wounded. The beach was soon covered with a mangled heap of men who had to patiently wait till they could be taken to the Hospital Ship. The German gunners had by this time, got the range of the beach & began shelling with deadly effect.

We were ordered to reinforce the right of the line. We moved through a valley & were met by shrapnel & spent bullets. The line was reached & our men entrenched without much resistance. I was with Head-Quarters at the top of the gully. The following day, the memorable 26^th, we received orders to advance. The whole division moved forward in one great line to a certain extent, we moved into a trap. We thought the Turks were on the run because their rifle fire was weak, but they had machine guns everywhere & plenty of artillery & they knew we had none.

On went the line in a mighty charge till we were brought to a standstill by machine guns & shrapnel. It was simply an inferno. Our men rushed into it with wonderful pluck & determination & must have impressed the Turks as they have the world. I was with the Colonel & Lieut Smith (Sig Officer). Everyone was ordered into the firing line. I went forward with him & soon machine gun played on us. Smith was soon wounded.

I collected a platoon and moved forward under a hail of shrapnel. We just reached the line when the retire was ordered. We got back to our trenches. I did not feel any fear. The desire was to go forward & shoot a Turk if possible. In the meantime, our Colonel had been shot dead by a stray bullet in the valley behind the hill. Lieut Smith bound up his knee, collected a few men & hoppled forward. He was soon spotted & shot. How I escaped, I will never know. Men fell all along the hillside. It was luck, pure luck. The night was fairly quiet & our men started digging & have used the pick & shovel ever since. We were a bit surprised to hear the Brigadier & Brigade Major had been wiped out.

There are two elements in the show that have caused a lot of casualties – Turkish Snipers & good German Gunnery. These snipers are good shots. They move up under cover of darkness, quite close to our lines & watch & wait for Officers. The Germans have spies everywhere & the ranging of their guns was grand. They open on a ridge & sweep it right along. How they get their information, we do not know; but they get it.

Nothing very startling happened till the 19^th. The Turks attacked about 3am, but were beaten back. They made a great effort at 8.30am. Our men waited for them, cool and eager. On they came, with fixed bayonets. Rapid fire soon told & hundreds fell, never to move again. Our machine guns did great execution & piled them up in heaps. At 10.30, it was all over. The beaten Turk moving back to his trenches. General Bridges was wounded in the knee & has since died.

I have a good job as a Regimental Sargent Major and dish out the ammunition & hand grenades. Our men are dying, night & day, as also are the Turks. You must get underground. Modern artillery is so deadly. The Goeben has been sending a few “Jack Johnson’s”***lately & several have fallen fairly close to our headquarters. It is pretty to watch them burst. The earth is torn up for about 50 yards around. One caught three of the 3^rd Brigade in a dugout & covered them in six feet of earth. Of course they were killed.

Page 2 of 3

Continued

A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 1.

Our men have played the game in a wonderful manner & have surprised everybody; they have made good. The praise we are getting from the heads of the land is enough to turn our heads. The business of landing was a bit out of the ordinary. You have to go a long way back in British history to find a parallel.

The Navy has done great work. They were very cool in managing the boats & would have liked to land with us. One of their number, a Jack Tar**** made for a machine gun when the 3^rd Brigade landed & which was playing havoc. He rushed up, knocked over the gun & detachment & was returning when he met his death. His next of kin will receive his V.C.

This little show has cemented the Army & Navy as never before. I am pleased to say, the brightest elements of Australia’s manhood has been brought out during the last few days. We have seen self-sacrifice displayed by men we never thought there was anything in. I witnessed a hard case being taken down in a stretcher with both his arms shattered & half his face shot away by a shell. He insisted that his stretcher be given up to a stranger & walked to the dressing station. Both died two hours later.

Trust Jim, you are all well & hope to see you, say, about Xmas. The risks here are heavy, but I have a feeling I will get through.

Jack

NOTE:

* Gaba Tepe which is a Turkish fort.

**Chowder Bay near Mosman NSW. Similarly, Georges Heights is close by.

*** “Jack Johnson’s” A ‘Jack Johnson’ was the British nickname used to describe a heavy, black German 15-cm artillery shell.

**** Jack Tar; an English term referring to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire.

Jim Sloan

Jim Sloan (1888 -1948) was the youngest of the Sloan siblings. This is a photo of Lieutenant Jim Sloan in 1915. Jim Sloan was 27 and recently appointed an Area Officer based in regional NSW. This position is usually filled by a lieutenant, and appears to be a studio photo. Perhaps it was taken at the time of his commissioning in 1915. Jim died in 1948, as a result of an accident, when he fell off a scaffold, at the construction site for the Hay War Memorial High School.

Page 3 of 3

A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 2.

Firing Line 28 / 5 / 1915.

Dear Nancy

Your nice letter received in the firing line & read in deafening rattle of about 100,000 rifles. We are still holding onto the now historic heights & we expect to be here for about a month. I am still sound & well & hope to escape the bullets & fragments of shell that scatter around the area in which we exist as we are not living as we generally know it. Since last writing, there has happened two items of interest. 1^st – Six hours armistice. 2^nd – The sinking of the Triumph. The enemy asked for armistice to bury their dead that fell on the 19^th inst. We ceased fire at 7.30am & a party moved out & exchanged the dead at a point midway between both lines. We found the enemies casualties were much more than our own & heavier than we anticipated. Our chaps had some fun with the Turks – exchanged cigarettes & badges & they said they were surprised as their German Masters had told them we were black fellows who would give no quarter. They say they don’t like the war & will surrender if opportunity offers. I had a good look at the battle field & it was a terrible sight. In some places, the dead lay thick & were sickening to look upon. It was 6pm before the Turks finished their work. We finished ours in about two hours. The other day, just as we were about to have our dinner, some of the reserve shouted out the Triumph is torpedoed & we ran to the bank & saw a number of small craft racing to her assistance. We watched her slowly go down & as her deck touched the water, there was a plunge forward & she disappeared in a calm sea 20 minutes after being hit. Several destroyers raced away to try & ram the submarine, but the wily German or Austrian was not seen. This submarine was seen in the morning & every lookout was kept, but without avail. 167 Lives were lost – mostly stokers. We were very sorry as the crew were a fine lot & did good work in our landing. We have just received a file of the London Press & they boom us up to the skies. I suppose the dailies of Sydney have some big type about our wonderful doings. We certainly have done some work & of course paid for it too.

How is your class getting on? We do not care much about the light fantastic in the trenches, but hope to make the Turks & Germans dance the next time we meet them. The weather is very bracing. This is a terrible place in wet weather – sticky soil. You must excuse this scribble, as I have to go for my life in the few minutes at my disposal.

Trust you are all well. Tell Mother not to worry as I will be OK. I feel I will return to you all again. I can’t get killed after living through the great charge on the 26^th. Trust to hear from you soon. Please send this copy to Alice as hers may not get through.

I remain. Your loving Bro. Jack.

Agnes (aka Nancy) Sloan (1880-1966) was the 4th sibling in the family and lived with her Mother and Father John and Isabel Sloan until approx. 1920. She ran Dancing Classes in the large “Parlour” of the Sloan’s home in Centennial Ave Randwick. At these Dancing Classes the McLennan Girls became partners for “teaching” local boys dancing. It was at these classes that Isabel McLennan and Mervyn Donaldson met. Aunty Nancy, as she was known, married a farmer George Rudd from Inverell in 1921. Unfortunately, Nancy had no children; however, she adopted a girl whom she named Judy. This picture of Nancy and Judy was taken in approx. 1930.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 3.

Firing Line 31 / 5 / 1915.

My Dear Mother

Your ever looked for letter to hand, also one from Alice, Emily & Jim. We are still holding on & very little has happened since last writing. There has been a few small attacks on our left flank, resulting in casualties. We have lost a few each day. Last night, two of our Brigade were killed & buried at 8am this morning. The enemy got the range to a point in the valley & men going to the beach have to run the gauntlet for about 20 yards. I had to proceed to the beach on duty & as you rushed past, the ping ping of bullets caused us a little excitement. They wounded about 15 men at this spot one day this week & are now making a trench. Time I think; I met Ashley McCann yesterday. He has been here a week & looks well. They are in reserve.

Alice* wrote to say Charley** had had the misfortune to cut his lip. She seemed much concerned, but I feel will only leave a scar which is nothing in a boy. The weather still keeps warm & bright. We are all watching an aeroplane gliding gracefully along about 300ft up. It is looking for a submarine; those subs play havoc if they get the chance. Yesterday, we watched one of the planes dropping bombs on the Turkish trenches. They got one & as they climbed out, our machine guns felled few, never to rise again. Several of our officers who were slightly wounded returned to us today. Also reinforcements (officers) who will fill vacancies & prevent those who have stood the test & burden of the day well-earned promotion. I was expecting to receive a commission but what social influence, returned officers & reinforcements, there is very little hope. There may be a chance after the next great advance for some of the Non Commissioned Officers. Yesterday Divisional Orders showed nearly all the NCOs of the 2^nd (Victoria) promoted to Commissioned rank; they lost very heavily nearly all their officers being killed. There is a great account of our landing in the London Daily Mail of May 7^th. It would be nice if you could secure a copy. I can just imagine the multitude that look in the morning papers, now that there is something doing. Every state will have its roll of honour. Some a bit heavier than others. If we advance from here you will receive another shock. I think we will hold on here till the Turks surrender. It is only a matter of a few weeks till they are hemmed in. I am kept very busy. There are lots of fatigue parties to look after, bringing stores from the beach & guards to be furnished. Everyone stands to arms from 3am to 5am & I never get to bed till 11pm, so am beginning to feel a bit weary. The men in the trenches really have the best times. Now my dear Mother, I will draw to a close. Trusting this finds you all well and don’t worry as I will be alright. Your Loving Son, Jack.

Jack Sloan aged approx. 14 with his sister Emily Sloan aged approx. 18

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 4.

Firing Line 11/6/1915.

My Dear Mother,

There is very little change since my last writing. We are still waiting patiently for the Turks to make another advance, but they are also playing a waiting game & in consequence, there is very little doing. The Germans fire a series of shells during the day, but very little damage is done. Our artillery returns the salute with varied success & so the game goes on. We lost one man this week – shot dead through a loophole of the trench. The men are getting quite used to living in the trenches. They take their turn observing, while their comrades sleep in a dugout, quite safe from shot & shell. The reserves in rear do all the fatigue & are kept busy carrying water & stores from the beach which is no easy task. The beach at times is like Manly on a holiday – only with the absence of women. Besides the busy army of carriers, there are about 10,000 men always bathing. I managed to get a swim twice a week, which is very refreshing. We hear very little war news. Rumours about peace come along every day or two, but we take very little notice of them. According to English files to hand, we don’t seem to be doing too well, just holding our own. That is all. The health of the troops is good & I am feeling splendid. I suppose there is great excitement in Sydney about our doings & you will be all wondering what will happen when we make our next advance. If we do, there will be plenty of copy for the papers & many saddened homes. Three of our Officers who were wounded on the 26^th returned in this Battalion. It is a case of the fortune of war. The majority of ours were only slightly wounded while the Officers of other Battalions were killed. The weather is till nice & warm. I am dreading the cold, but I think the show will be over before the winter. A mail is expected tomorrow & we are anxious to receive it. Don’t worry about me Mother. I will be alright. Tell Emily & Jim I will write as opportunity offers later. Envelopes are very scarce. Trust this finds you all well & trusting to receive a good mail tomorrow.

Jack.

Jack Sloan has written this letter to his mother Isabella Sloan (1850-1930). She was born in Inverness, Scotland and came to Australia as a baby in arms. She married at age 19 to John Hannibal Sloan, in Albury, in 1870. She had 8 children and the mother of the brothers and sisters Jack mentions in these letters. This Photo was taken in 1923.

John Hannibal Sloan (1841-1919) was Jack’s father. In 1859 his family arrived in Melbourne to seek a fortune on the gold fields. This failed and they settled in Molesworth as farmers. At various times John Sloan was a miner, a farmer, a shearer and a builder. He was the father of Isabella’s 8 children.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 5.

Firing Line 14 / 6 / 1915.

My Dear Mother,

Mail arrived yesterday & pleased to receive letters from you. Alice* & Jim & to learn all are well. It is nice to know Charlie’s** lip healed up & that Nancy’s dancing class has commenced the season under favourable conditions. If you continue to send more of your youths away, Nancy will have to announce Ladies twostep & teach the ladies to take the gents’ part***. I also received some papers. Everyone rushed for the papers, but were disappointed at the meagre details published. The authorities mean to break the news to you gently. They publish about 20 names when they should have published 3000. You all must know sooner or later. We are still in the same place. Hardly firing a shot – both parties playing a waiting game. A few men are killed every day. We lost 3 yesterday, shot dead through the loopholes as they took their turn observing. The artillery exchange shots three or four times a day with varying success. I am a bit run down & will likely be sent to Lemnos, a small island handy for a few days’ rest. Don’t worry, I have done my duty & worked hard with good results to this Battalion, but have had to battle for my life like a lot of other members of the staff in regard to promotion. We have all been turned down. It is impossible to believe that political wires are being pulled in Melbourne & every male C.O. are worried with communications to find commissions for some social gun serving in the ranks who has no experience in leading men. Australia is paying the price in good red blood of those that left her shores. It trickles down the trenches & the sacrifice is laid to rest covered in four feet of Gallipoli soil. Mounds of earth are seen in the terraces made along the hillside. The deep, blue historic sea looks cool & beautiful in the distance. We stand & watch the ships steaming over its surface, calm. Destroyers darting here & there to sight the deadly submarines that are continually watching for our battleships or troopers. The gully is a busy scene as thousands of men carry up supplies of food, water & the great variety of war munitions. The whole scene forms a pretty picture. During the day when all is calm & peaceful, a sharp crackling sound is heard. The first of a series of about 12 shells that the Germans fire at regular intervals. The regular British soldier takes cover till the series ceases, but our boys laugh & move forward quite unconcerned. We soon know if anyone is hit by the familiar cry “stretcher bearers wanted” & so the days pass by & it is here that under a sunny sky, Australia’s youths are laid to rest in many cases, the result of a political & social system we thought was dead. If I get to Lemnos for a spell, I will have a new Censor to deal with, so may not get letters through as in the past. Now my dear Mother, I will draw this letter of my feelings to a close. I have never met the young chap who wrote to Mrs Young about poor May. I feel very sorry for them, as I always had a great regard for the Young family. Ashley McCann is here & well. Tell Jim I will write to him later. I am very pleased to receive his humorous notes. I cannot write to you all, so this will have to do for the family this time.

Jack.

Note: *Alice Sloan: Alice is Jack Sloan’s wife who was living at this time in Centennial Ave Randwick, with her three sons, John aged 8 years, Charles aged 5 years and Douglas aged 3 years. Other members of the Sloan family lived close by.

** Charlie: This is Jack Sloan’s son Charles Lindsay Sloan (1910-1947)

*** Dancing Class: Jack Sloan’s sister Nancy ran Dancing Classes in the large “Parlour” of the Sloan’s home in Centennial Ave Randwick.

At these Classes the McLennan Girls, including Isabel, Jessie and Sheila, became partners for “teaching” local boys how to dance.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 6.

S.S————- Mediterranean Ocean 18 / 6 / 1915.

My Dear Mother,

I have been feeling a bit run down lately & the Medical Officer ordered me to Lemnos for a change, but as there was a boat leaving for Alexandria. I pulled the strings & managed to get aboard the above beautiful Trans-Atlantic Liner, 14000 tons & am now enjoying every comfort, as we glide along this sunny sea. It is simply lovely, so bright & bracing. What a transformation to the Firing Line I left yesterday. They are very kind to me. I have a lovely cabin. We expect to reach Alexandria tomorrow & I will go to one of the many hospitals lately established there. I mean to have a good rest. There are hundreds of single men at the base who have never seen the Firing Line & it is up to some of them to take a turn. Don’t worry about me, as I am only run down & well cared for & safe from shot & shell for a while. I must have nine lives. I had the most narrow escape yesterday; I was waiting at Clearing Station on the beach for the tug to take us off, when a shell burst just above me & caught an Army Medical Corp Man full in the chest. He fell & never moved again. We made for cover & just as we got behind a sand bag, another came & wounded an Officer. We crouched till the series of ten were fired without further mishap. The Firing Line with its streaks of blood & deafening artillery is like a dream to me now that I am reposing on a comfortable deck chair. I am feeling better already. Our boys are up against a big proposition in Gallipoli & the Roll of Honour will be considerably increased before the end comes. (We have aboard 300 French Cavalrymen). They look very picturesque in their red pants & blue jackets. (They are returning to Egypt as there is no use for horses in Gallipoli yet.) The Captain is a jolly old man & keeps us laughing, telling funny yarns. The Crew are a happy family, very different from the “Euripides”. It is nice to sit here & watch the seagulls as they flit hither & thither & to think of the great history that surrounds this portion of the world. I wish you were in this boat taking a Mediterranean cruise with its long promenade decks & easy chairs. She brought Army Corps Headquarters 2000 men & now she is going to Alexandria with over 300 men to load stores. So you can see there is plenty of room. I suppose the papers are full of our doings & everyone will be scanning the Casualties each morning. Trust this finds you all well & hope to come out OK.

Jack

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 7.

General Hospital, Alexandria

7 / 7/ 1915

My Dear Nance

I have been feeling a bit run down lately & the Medical Officer ordered me away for a change & I managed to get to the above fine institution where I am well looked after. I have been booked for Cyprus, that little island where St Paul spent several years of his life. Dada will be able to tell you all about it if you do not know. Yesterday, the Cyprus trip was cancelled & I am now to proceed to England for convalescence – not too bad is it?

The boat sails this week. The authorities are sending as many away from here as possible to make room for more wounded coming from Gallipoli. There has been an advance of a few yards with ordinary results. How is your dancing class getting on? I trust you have had a successful year. I hope Mother received all my letters about our landing on the 25^th April, also the terrific bombardment on the 18^th May & our advance on the 26^th April & attack on our trenches on 19^th, which was so easily repulsed with such great loss to the Turks (6000) killed, the sinking of the Triumph & the Armistice for burying the dead. In case you did not get it, Ashmed Bartlett’s* account as published in the papers is as accurate as you can get it. We have just received word that our Adjutant Lieut Massie,** the cricketer is wounded. I notice there has been a bit of a stir in Melbourne about scandals in New Guinea. One dare not mention the scandals carried on here, as they would be too terrible for the censor to pass. This is a fine hospital & is run well & efficiently. It was the Abassiah Schools planned by Kitchener & he evidently had in mind it being used for a hospital someday. It is said to be built on the site of the ancient world famous library where all the great professors of Greece used to come to read & study. From the roof of this building, you can see Cleopatra’s Garden, where Anthony used to come & court this queen of history. It is interesting to watch the people of this great city, perhaps the most cosmopolitan in the world. It is a long time since I received any letters from anyone & it may be sometime before I receive any now that I am booked for England.

Jack.

NOTE:

*Ashmed Bartlett:Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (1881-1931) was a British war correspondent during WW1. His reporting from Gallipoli was instrumental in the birth of the Anzac legend which dominates Australian & New Zealand history. His criticism of the conduct of the campaign by the British was instrumental in the dismissal of the British Commander, which eventually resulted in the evacuation of forces from Gallipoli by December 1915.

** Adjutant Lieut Massie: Robert (Jack) Massie NSW Cricketer 1912-13 season and prominent all-round sportsman. His Father was Cricketer Hugh Massie who played 9 Test Cricket Matches for Australia in the 1880s.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 8.

General Hospital, Alexandria

14 / 7 / 1915.

My Dear Mother

Very pleased to tell you that I am getting along well & hope to get away to England this week. It will be much nicer than going back to Gaba Tepa. I hope to join some British Regiment where Labors Military influence is not seen. There is nothing startling here; a few hundred wounded came in the other day, who keeps the nurses & doctors busy. I have been reading some Sydney mail to hand with their pictorial Honour Lists & accounts of our doings in Gallipoli. They are fairly accurate. Beans* are more accurate, if not so graphic as Ashmead Bartlett’s. It seems a long time since I received any letters from anyone, but cannot expect to have any till I get to England now. Life in hospital is dull. An occasional concert is arranged. A few French & Italian girls come along & sing in their native tongue. Several of the nurses have good voices & help things along. The weather is still delightful – warm days & cool nights. There is very little war news. The Australian press seem to publish more than the British. The end of the war is a long way off. The German Army is officered by men of mature ages & the honour of the nation is placed before political patronage. Many Australians will be sacrificed before the end comes. Under the present system, the toll must be heavy.

The only hope I can see, is when the blood stream runs so high, that the people of Australia will wake up to the fact that something besides German & Turkish bullets are the cause. Then will they decide to sweep away those who placed boy officers in command. Fancy majors under 21 years of age. I would willingly sacrifice my life, if by so doing, the boy officer would be removed from modern warfare. The Labor Party stand condemned by every law of God & man. Australia does not know the truth. The papers have not published one half of the killed. Perhaps they have been published in later issues. Don’t worry about me. I will be alright.

Trust all are well and hope to receive a letter C/o High Commissioner, London.

Jack.

NOTE:

* Charles Bean was an Australian World War I war correspondent and historian. Bean is remembered as the editor of the 12-volume Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 and was instrumental in the establishment of the Australian War Memorial, and the popularisation of the ANZAC legend.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 9.

Mediterranean Sea – S.S.Wendella

24 / 7 / 1915.

My Dear Mother

After a few false starts, we find ourselves aboard the South Australian Steamship Co. Wendella, one day’s sail from Gibraltar. We have had a lovely voyage. So far, calm & cool & nearly everyone is in good spirits & feeling well. I am splendid & wish you were here to enjoy the experience of a trip towards the Homeland. I hope to have a good time & leave Gallipoli to the tender mercies of the politicians. We have about 1,100 aboard. Men who have been slightly wounded & slightly sick like myself. There are representatives from nearly every country in Great Britain, besides every state of the Commonwealth & New Zealand. It is very interesting to talk to them as they relate their adventures in land, in the charging & in the trenches. Scotchmen from the highlands, Welshmen from the mountains & Englishmen from all parts – London, Lancashire, Manchester & Irishmen from away down. Each speak a different language, it seems, but all are loyal to the cause. We will be striking England in a good time, about bank holiday & should have a month of good weather. The men on board tell some good stories about these country men. Many collect badges & buttons of various units. One man was going round quite seriously asking if you had a two shilling piece, as he was collecting them. Needless to say, he was a Lancashire man.

Now my dear Mother, I will draw to a close. Trusting you are all well & hope to write about London in my next letter.

Address: C/o High Commissioner, London.

Jack.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 10.

General Hospital, Harefield Park, Harefield, Middlesex.

2 / 9 / 1915.

Dear Mother

I am settled down nicely at Harefield Park & have an easy time supervising the orderlies & showing visitors round the huts. A concert party comes from London nearly every day & we hear some of the best artists. Madam Amy Sherwin brought some fine talent out yesterday & gave the boys a treat. Mrs Churnside entertained the Victorians to afternoon tea on the lawn & Sir George Reid made the men laugh with a few jokes. They are gathering all the Australians from the various hospitals & bringing them here for treatment. As the men recover, they are sent to the convalescent home at Epsom, where they are kept for six weeks & then forwarded to the Base at Weymouth, where they are drafted at intervals to the front. The weather is getting cold, but I do not feel it as much as I expected. It will be very hard for the men in Gallipoli during the winter months. Yesterday’s papers brought the sad news that Major Davidson has been killed in action. He was one of the finest men on our staff & never altered a bit from W.O to Major. He proved himself one of the most capable officers at *Gaba Tepe, and if anyone should have received the D.S.O, it was he. The war goes on & casualties’ lists after lists come along, but the people here don’t seem to care what goes on. Thousands of people are making fortunes out of the War & hope it may continue for years, as long as the other fellow does the fighting. There is great agitation for compulsory training all over the country. The people are getting tired of looking at other hundreds of thousands of able bodied men walking about the Strand & other parts of London who talk that we are going to fight to a finish & see the business through. The people want waking up. You hear yarns about the great rush of recruits coming forward. I say they are not coming forward. I have visited several of the large recruiting depots at Whitehall & other parts of London & all I saw was a few deadbeats. Very poor material for soldiers indeed. I think compulsory training must come before long unless Germany gets a setback which looks very unlikely at present. I hope to run into Windsor occasionally & see the Jamisons. They are very homely people & make me very welcome. They are very anxious about their son, who is somewhere in France. It seems a long time since I received a letter from anybody. Last received on 5^th June at Gaba Tepe, but expect to get some soon. I trust all are well & that you have not allowed this war business to worry you. Through the war, I have seen the wonders of Egypt, England & Scotland & seven weeks of real fighting & reckon that is worth something in one’s lifetime. War is the finest thing in the world & people here were never better off in their lives. Everybody getting good wages, when peace comes, there will be a slump & lots of people will be out of work. So let us hope peace will not come too soon.

Jack.

NOTE:

* Gaba Tepe: Part of the area where the Australian Army landed. (See Map)

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 11.

91A Waterloo Rd, London, S.E.

29 / 9 / 1915

Dear Mother

I am waiting for a boat & hope to get away by one leaving about the 4^th of next month. I think it just as well to come home when I have the chance. Hundreds of poor fellows are returning who should be pitied. They are trying to make the best of things with one leg or arm. I received a note from Hab* this morning. He says he expects to get a Commission & will try his luck. He is taking a risk, but I suppose he feels like I felt – that a soldier must take a hand in this war. I will always feel proud that I was through the thick of it even if I hate with a German hate the rotters that I was unfortunately associated with. The other day, I was shown all over the Times**. It is a great place & they have a fine lot of machinery for turning out London’s greatest paper. It was very interesting indeed. Yesterday, I took a bus ride to the Crystal Palace*. It is not open to the public now, being used as a naval depot. It is a huge glass & the gardens around it are very fine.

The weather has been beautiful, but today it is raining & cold. London is a nice place when the sun is shining, but I should not like to spend a long winter here.

Next Saturday, there is to be a great recruiting rally in London & if the slackers do not turn up; the people are going to ask the Government to bring in compulsory service. I would like to round up some of the Piccadilly urgers. They talk about Haw Haw**, what we are doing at the front.

London is dumb with joy at the recent victory in France. They grasp at a straw. People are wondering here what Australia is going to do losing so many men. The women here are filling the places in the post offices, banks, railways – in fact, they are doing men’s work except navying. The women are very enthusiastic about the war & have no time for a man not in khaki. There was great excitement over the recent Zeppelins raid* on London. The papers made light of it, but the damage was not far short of a million pounds. Trust you are all well & hope to see you all soon. Your Loving Son Jack

*Hab: Hannibal (Hab) Sloan (1871 -1945) was the brother of Jack Sloan. Hab Sloan served during WW1 in Europe. He was appointed to the rank of Major during WW1 and served with the 30th Battalion. He was also in charge of the training Battalion in Salisbury. After the war, he published a book, “The Purple and Gold”, a history of the 30th Battalion and the Battalion’s engagement on “The Western Front”.

NOTES:

**haw-haw:Alternative form of ha ha (“laughter”) (sometimes suggesting an upper-class British accent)

** The Times:The Times of London” was a leading English newspaper.

*** Crystal Palace: Variously a Building, a suburb and a Football area.

****The Zeppelin Raid:On the night of 31 May, 1915, a single German zeppelin airship appeared over North London and began dropping its deadly cargo on the darkened streets below. This was the first time that London had been bombed from the air.

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A collection of letters from Jack Sloan to his family

Letter Number 12.

91A Waterloo Rd, London S.E

5 / 10 / 1915.

My Dear Mother

I was so pleased to receive your letter dated 16^th August today. Also, one from Alice & Jim & to learn that you were all well. So Jim is an Area Officer at last. He is in a good area & should get along alright. I am very pleased that Hab is getting a Commission. He has worked hard for it for years & now in a time when a little military experience means the saving of thousands of lives. The Labor Party could climb down from their aristocratic pedestal & give the labourers a show. Perhaps the roll of murder is beginning to prick their conscience. I expect to leave by the “Suevic” on Thursday. She is sailing via the Cape and if all goes well should be in Sydney before Xmas. I got a surprise the other day. A telegram from Mrs Asquith* to come to lunch 1.30 today. The Treasury have accepted the invitation & expect to have the honour to dine with England’s great Prime Minister. I called about a week ago & the Secretary told me to write, which I did. Will tell you how I go this afternoon. Jim told me to have a look around several places in London. I have seen a great deal of this great city & have had a twelve month experience that many people do not get in a lifetime. I feel it a bit hard to have to return without promotion, which I have worked hard & ran risks for, but will always feel the satisfaction that the wasters can do no more harm. I could stay here loafing about the base with no chance of advancing, whereas I may get a chance to return after the winter. The new Lighting Law for London came into force yesterday. The great city is pitch dark at night. All lights out & blinds drawn to every window. People feel their way along the streets & many that venture out after dark will have to be careful not to get lost. Now my dear Mother, I trust this finds you well as I am splendid at present.

Your Loving Son, Jack.

PS. Just returned from lunching with Mr & Mrs Asquith. I was placed next to Mr Asquith & talked to him for about 2 hours. He is a nice old gentleman & yarned about Australia & the war & other things. Mrs Asquith is a homely Dame & made me very welcome. Also, Miss Asquith, who is just recovering from a severe illness. The State Rooms are very fine. Mr Asquith asked me to drop in at any time for lunch, but of course, I will not have the opportunity again. I feel proud to have had the honour of dining with England’s great Prime Minister & will long remember the occasion.*** Mrs Asquith introduced me as a relation, but did not ask for any particulars or details. I was made very welcome & had a good time.

Jack.

*Mrs Asquith: The Wife of the British Prime Minister.

** Prime Minister Asquith: Generally known as H. H. Asquith, was a British statesman and Liberal politician who served as the UK Prime Minister 1908 to 1916. Asquith took Great Britain and the British Empire into the First World War .In 1915. His government was vigorously attacked for shortage of munitions and the failure of the Gallipoli Campaign. Lady Asquith was his wife.

***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tennant

Lady Asquith (Born Emma Margaret Tennant) was the daughter of Sir Charles Glow Tennant (1823- 1906). Sir Charles Tennant was the grandson of Charles Tennant (1768-1838) a Scottish industrialist who discovered bleaching powder and founded an industrial dynasty. Charles Tennant had the original idea that a combination of chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results. He and some partners worked on this idea which proved to be effective, inexpensive and harmless. He was granted a patent in 1798 and then developed bleaching powder in 1799.He built a factory outside Glasgow which became the Rollox Works. Charles continued to expand his horizons and bought out his partners. During the 1830s and 1840s he had the largest chemical plant in the world. He also worked on the idea of using rails to transport goods and was mainly responsible for getting a railway into Glasgow despite opposition from canal proprietors. Never one to overlook a sideline, Charles Tennant decided he must not forget the waterways. In 1830 he started the son of his younger sister Sarah Sloan (nee Tennant), William Sloan, with some small schooners. He saw this as a way to control the transportation of chemical products to nearby markets. At the time of Sloan’s death in 1848 they had the largest fleet in Glasgow, running nineteen vessels. By consanguinity: Lady Asquith (Emma Margaret Tennant) and Jack Sloan were third generation cousins.

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The Descendants

of

John Hannibal Sloan and Isabella Whyte

John Hannibal Sloan (1841-1919) Married Isabella Whyte (1850-1930) and had 8 children

1.Hannibal (Hab) Sloan(1871-1945) m.Martha(Fan)O’Donnel (1873-1941)

1.Edith Sloan (1902 – 1990s)

2.Catherine ( Kate )(Sloan) McLennan (1872-1945)m Alex McLennan (1868-1945)

1. Alexander John McLennan (1899 – 1899)
2. Isabel Sloan (McLennan) Donaldson (1900 -1970)
3. Jessie Ann Finlayson McLennan (1902 -1987)
4. Alexander McLennan (1904 – 1991)
5. Sheila Agnes Rose (McLennan) Cleary ( 1906-1991)
6. Donald Ian McLennan (1909 – 1991)
7. Jean Amy (McLennan) Jacups (1911 – 1997)
8. Norman Eric McLennan (1913 – 1958)
9. Joan Ivy May (McLennan) Davidson (1916 – 1972)

3. Emily (Sloan) Horne (1876 – 1958) m. Arthur Horne (born 1876).

1.John Horne ( 1914 – 1960 )

4. John (Jack) James Sloan (1878-1961) m. Alice Ridd (1878-1944).

John Hannibal Sloan (1907 – 1972)

Charles Lindsay Sloan (1910 – 1947)

Douglas Luton Sloan (1912 – 1977)

Sidney Wilson Sloan (1918 – 1956)

5. Agnes (Nancy) (Sloan) Rudd (1880-1966) m. George Rudd (1880-1949)

1. Judy Rudd (1929 – 1980)

6. Isabella (Sloan) Martin (1883 – 1963) m. John Martin (1882 – 1958)

1.Annie (Martin) Townsend (1913 -1972)

2.Dorothy (Martin) Diamond (1915 -1975)

3.Elsie (Martin) Burgess (1918 -1962)

7. Georgina Sloan (1885 – 1885) Died in infancy.

8. James (aka Jim) Sloan (1888 -1948)

Documents from The War Records

Of

John (Jack) Sloan

An ANZAC Poem

by a young relative of Jack Sloan

Rory Kinsella.

When Rory Kinsella, (for whom Jack was a great great-great-uncle) was a year 6 student at Arncliffe Public School she wrote a poem as part of a class project on World War 1. This was in 2017, a year before the centenary of the end of that war. In 2018 the government provided funds for recognition of that commemoration. Arncliffe School had the poem printed on a plaque and put up in the school grounds where it was unveiled at a Remembrance Day service in November 2018, together with another plaque listing past pupils who served in the war.

My Gallipoli

By Rory Kinsella (Year 6, 2017)

I am Private Frankie,

No.3456, Auckland Mounted Rifles,

I joined up with my mate Andy a few months ago.

Yesterday the Auckland Mounted Rifles were ordered to capture the Turkish position, at Chunuk Bair

Our Father who art in heaven,

Andy and I were determined to succeed and escape without injury,

Or at least fatality.

Hallowed be thy name,

We were running faster, faster, faster,

Then they were gone, and I fell.

Thy kingdom come,

I was on the ground, not asleep, not awake, but almost unconscious because of the pain,

I tried to move but the dizziness in my head was too great and I had to stop.

Thy will be done,

My uniform was wet, with water I first thought, but no, of course not.

Shot in the stomach, unable to move, sun blazing down overhead.

on Earth,

I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a blood-stained photograph.

As it is in Heaven.

She was smiling, her eyes were shining, and ‘Come home-‘ she had said. ‘Please just come home.’

I put the photograph over my heart and closed my eyes.

This is and always will be my Gallipoli.

Some Maps of The Gallipoli Peninsula

Some Maps of The Gallipoli Peninsula

John (Jack) Sloan

(1878-1961)

The Story of an ANZAC

The medals awarded to Jack Sloan.