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Lieutenant Earl Haddon Simpson Chapman

August 19, 2015, 5:56 am
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Portrait of Haddon Chapman in his Essendon Rifles uniform before the war.
Earl Haddon Simpson Chapman, known as Haddon by his family, was a young man showing a lot of promise.  Educated at the local State School, he was a sufficiently good scholar to win white collar job as a clerk and obtain a Commission with the pre-war militia unit, the Essendon Rifles. In the All Australian Memorial Victoria - Australia's Fighting Families,  he was described thus:  "Lieut. Chapman was a keen student, a good cricketer, and was among the first to volunteer."  In his role in the Essendon Rifles he sufficiently impressed his officer, Colonel "Pompey" Elliott, to be offered a Commission as a 2nd Lieut with the new 7th Battalion.   Rod Martin takes up his story, which you can read here.
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Victorian unit war histories

August 20, 2015, 4:36 am
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The original link I gave some while ago to the Victorian Veteran's Virtual Museum which included a link to digitised unit war histories has become such a convoluted affair with various changes at the State Library of Victoria, I thought I would repost a more direct link to them.

Not all of the infantry history books have been digitised, some are more recent histories, still subject to copyright, which have had only the covers and list of contents digitised, but still useful for discovering what books are available.
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Wally Essay, posted Missing at The Nek

August 29, 2015, 7:41 am
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38th Battalion on the spot

September 2, 2015, 3:25 am
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A machine-gun post on the Somme Canal - deceptively quiet in 1918. 

 Private William James Bale enlisted on Anzac Day 1917.  Once in England for training he became ill and spent some time in hospital and convalescing.  He did not arrive in France until February 1918.  Intended for the 59th Battalion, he was transferred as soon as he arrived in France to the 38th Battalion.  

Rod Martin outlines the Australians' campaign of 1918 that contributed to the end of the war, and William's part in it.  
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'WW1 - Love and Sorrow' Exhibition at Museum Victoria

September 16, 2015, 5:49 am
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The honour board at Museum Victoria, originally from the Newmarket Saleyards.
 Last week I visited Museum Victoria to see the two WW1 Exhibitions showing there - 'WW1 -Love and Sorrow', which is the Museum's own exhibition, and the one from the Imperial War Museum, the 'WW1 Centenary Exhibition'.  The latter will close on 4 October.

The Love and Sorrow exhibition is the story of eight individuals, told most poignantly with photographs, documents and relics. 
The honour board at the Pakenham Saleyards.
On the way out of the exhibition I was quite surprised to see the memorial board for the Stock and Station Agents of Melbourne, which I had thought to be located at the Pakenham Saleyards.  But on further enquiry it turns out that there were two honour boards.  The board that used to be at Newmarket Saleyards is the one now held at Museum Victoria. 

Deborah Tout-Smith, a senior curator at Museum Victoria, has pointed out that the ram's head at the top of each board appears to have been carved by a different artist.

The Museum is seeking further information on this board, and is also collaborating with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) to seek out further information about honour boards commemorating the Public Sector.  See the Museum website for a more detailed request for help from the public.

The men named on the Associated Stock & Station Agents of Melbourne board who lived in Essendon and Flemington are detailed on the Empire Called and I Answered wepage.

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Percy Fallshaw of the 39th Battalion

September 28, 2015, 3:56 am
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Crozier, Frank: The sinking of the Ballarat, 25 April 1917  (AWM ART 13329)
Joiner Percy Fallshaw was 24 and married when he joined up in January 1917.   He and his comrades in the 39th Infantry Battalion might not have made it to the charnel-house of Europe when their troopship, the Ballarat, took a German torpedo in the English Channel. The men were all successfully taken off the ship, and the 39th continued on its way.  Rod Martin takes up the story of the 39th Battalion's engagement at Broodseinde Ridge in September 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres towards the end of 1917, and then the hard slog of 1918 leading to the end of the war.  The Battalion was pitilessly worn down to a meagre 368 men, but Percy Fallshaw was one of those who came home.
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The Rossi brothers do their bit

October 7, 2015, 11:42 pm
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Gunner Les Rossi, back row, far left, trained in Swanage, England with reinforcements of 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column.  They embarked for France on 10 Feb 1917,  where Les was subsequently transferred to the 4th Divisional Ammunition Column.  Please get in touch if you recognise any of the men in the above photo.

Standing on the left is Les Rossi's brother, who enlisted as Francis Ross.  Frank embarked with the 18th Reinforcements of the 23 Infantry Battalion.  This photo was taken in Melbourne prior to embarkation, but his comrade is unknown. Photos courtesy of Bron Rossi.

Les and Frank both returned to Australia. 
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Unidentified soldier at Moonee Ponds

October 14, 2015, 2:33 am
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From the State Library of Victoria collection, H99.166/52.
This fellow was photographed at Leighton Studios, 14 Margaret St, Moonee Ponds.  He may well not have been a local, but on the other hand, it is worth considering that he was a local. One of the older fellows in his late 30s.  If anyone should recognise him, please get in touch.
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A teacher joins the machine gunners

October 30, 2015, 3:03 am
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Frederick Almonde Coe was teaching at St Thomas' Grammar School, Essendon, when he enlisted in February 1916.  The image above shows the Vickers medium machine gun on which Coe trained, and later operated in France. Rod Martin describes how the machine gun crews operated, and the outcome of Frederick's part in the war.
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Missing in 1916, found in 1924

November 6, 2015, 12:09 am
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4th Division Memorial at Ballenglise, France.
There was special suffering for those families whose lost sons, brothers and husbands had no known grave.    The family of Lionel Rupert Fox Walker, a hairdresser from Essendon, was one of those families.  The Red Cross had been unable to determine what had become of Lionel and his body could not be found - until 1924.  Rod Martin describes the carnage that characterised the battle for Mouquet Farm, in which Lionel was lost.   Lionel's last posting was with the 52 Battalion, which was part of 4 Division.
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Trooper Harry Griffiths acknowledged as war dead

November 10, 2015, 1:41 pm
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Harry David Griffiths died in 1919 after his return to Australia and was buried at the Heidelberg Cemetery.  His family have worked to have his service in the AIF acknowledged as contributing to his death by the Office of Australian War Graves. This new plaque also recognises his earlier period of military service with Cameron's Scouts in the South African War.  A dedication will take place at the Heidelberg Cemetery tomorrow.  Photo courtesy of Wendy Moline. 
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Gunner Tatterson says farewell

November 18, 2015, 12:35 am
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HMAT Orsova leaving Port Melbourne, 16 December 1916.
If  Nellie Tatterson took her three children down to Port Melbourne to farewell Gunner John Forrest Tatterson eight days before Christmas 1916, it was the last time they were to see their husband and father.

Rod Martin outlines the service of Gunner Tatterson, who despite embarking with the 13 Light Horse Regiment, saw most his time overseas with the Field Artillery Brigade.  Transferred to work with howitzers, dangerous work owing to the proximity to the German lines.  Read the full story by clicking on the link above.

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Three mates out rabbiting, 1920s

December 9, 2015, 2:51 am
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Three mates out rabbiting, 1920s.  Courtesy of Louise Hill-Coleman.
Louise Hill-Coleman had this photo in her family collection, but knew little about it other than recognising her grandfather Thomas Hill in the centre, out rabbiting with mates. 

Louise had contacted me some while back about her grandfather Thomas Hill and his son Arthur, who had been killed in France, an underage soldier.  She kindly provided photographs and papers relating to Thomas and Arthur for the website. A previous post about Arthur can be seen here.

Earlier this year I was likewise contacted by Matt Freckleton, whose grandfather Eric Herman had also served in the Great War.   Previous blog postings about Eric can be seen here and here.


Both Thomas Hill  and Eric Herman, and Eric's brother Joseph, had ended up in 4th Division Headquarters in France.  Matt had unearthed the AWM photo of the 4th Div HQ, which he sent me to illustrate his story of his grandfather's war service.  The soldiers in this photo had been named, and when I had a look at it (just in case I knew any other local men in the photo), I recognised the name of Thomas Hill.  I also noted that both Thomas Hill and Joseph Herman (also in the 4th Div HQ photo) had been employed as tobacco workers before the war, which suggested they might have known each other before the war.  They were the same age and had enlisted on the same day.  It was possible.  I put Louise and Matt in touch with one another, and they have since enjoyed corresponding about their respective grandfathers, and doing further research.

Louise, painstakingly working through their B2455s, went on to discover that Joseph Herman and Thomas Hill had been charged on the same day with the same offence - and Matt had a possible explanation!  You can read about that in the story he wrote about his grandfather Eric Herman.

Louise, having seen the photo of Eric, had a sudden brainstorm and burrowed into her grandfather's photos to find the one above - which shows three mates out enjoying a rabbiting expedition in the 1920s.  She now knows them as probably Joseph Herman on the left, Thomas Hill in the middle, and Eric Herman on the right.  Matt's mother thought the man on the left looked like Joseph.

This story illustrates the value of sharing family stories and photos, as the piecing together of the story of Thomas Hill and the Herman brothers, and the understanding of who was in the photo  to which Louise had not attached a particular meaning, could only have happened  with a willingness to share.  More than just unknown mates, the three men had a shared history in the Great War. 
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Year 9 History Study Resources from the RHSV

December 16, 2015, 1:01 am
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Detail of a portrait from the RHSV collection GS-WG-0258
A series of resources held by the RHSV linked to the new Australian History Curriculum, and designed to aid in the interpretation and analysis of images and help develop an understanding of the past.

The first in this series relates to Australian Involvement in World War I – the places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare (Year 9 topic). Resources are provided for each of five themes:  Gallipoli; Sinai and Palestine; Western Front; Women in War; Representing War.

Students may use the visual material and the associated questions on their own. Alternatively, these may be used as a resource by teachers. It is hoped that both teachers and students will become aware of the valuable resources held by the RHSV and be encouraged to use their catalogue further.

Go to the RHSV website to see the new WW1 study resources.
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Remembering Bill Scurry

December 19, 2015, 3:13 am
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 Bill Scurry as a Captain, in France, 1917,  seated on the left, with officers of the 15th Light Trench Mortar Battery.  Standing behind on the left is Lieutenant Leonard Frederick Morris, a school-fellow of Scurry's, attending Ascot Vale State School.  Courtesy of the AWM  http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P01786.001

Today an article in The Age reminds us that at this time 100 years ago, the last of the Anzacs were being evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula.  Lance-Corporal William Scurry from Ascot Vale  invented a clever device to encourage the Turks to think that the Anzacs were still in their trenches, though it was only one element of a much more extensive plan, prepared by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Brudenell-White, to get the men off Gallipoli without casualties.

Tomorrow, Sunday 20 December, a plaque will be unveiled at the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery to remember Bill Scurry.

The Families and Friends of the First AIF website has further information about the evacuation.

An account of the evacuation was written by an unidentified Australian officer, but most likely Major Alfred Jackson.

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Not forgotten at Christmas time, Egypt 1915

December 24, 2015, 1:36 am
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Christmas billies, provided by the Australian Comforts Fund, being distributed to 1st Light Horse Regiment at the Brigade camp at the aerodrome, Heliopolis, Egypt, Christmas 1915.  Australian War Memorial Collection, JO2506.

Three local volunteers embarked with the 1 LHR: 
 Neither Thomas Wheatley nor Robert Robertson ever had Christmas with their families again.
 
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3rd Pioneer Bandsman identified

January 21, 2016, 4:02 am
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 Going through her grandfather Ern Crouch's photos, Judy Williams located the above photo, about which she said, "Grandpa had written on the back of this photo "One of the bandboys of the 3rd Australian Pioneer Batt".  The photo is signed "Yours Truly Moule 8 Aug 16"." 

Judy's first thought was that the signature said "Monte", but compared with the other letters in the writing veered towards the thought that the name was Moule. Unfortunately there was no Moule listed in the 3rd Pioneers.

I thought there might be a first initial in the signature - perhaps it said J Coute or Coule?  Wanting to get a better look at the signature, I did a little photoshopping, after which the signature looked like this.    
The first letter of the name did seem to be M, but I thought it would be unusual for someone to sign a card just with their surname - a first initial with a surname, or just a first name would be more usual  The other possibility was Judy's suggestion of a nickname, so taking Monte as being a nickname for Montgomery, I searched in the Embarkation Rolls for someone with the name Montgomery in the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, and found Montgomery Goodall Elrington.  Although born in Echuca,  he was living in Moonee Ponds when he enlisted, which was a bonus for me. 

The B2455 confirmed that Elrington was a bandsman with the 3rd Pioneers, but could I confirm his nickname was Monte?  It eventually occurred to me that Trove might help out here, so I did a simple search on "Monte Elrington" - and up came an immediate result:

"LIKE YOUNG LIONS." 
"I am still alive, and doing tip top,"Private Monte Elrington writes to his sister, Mrs. M'Cartney, Moama, from France on June 11. "We are just out on a few days' rest after a push our boys were in, and did well. I was stretcher bearing, and was up with them. Our casualties were light. Old Fritz had a rough time. A lot wore blown up with mines. I had a look at the, crater of one of the biggest, and it was surprising. There were Huns lying everywhere. It demoralised them. Our division took a lot of prisoners. Some of them are very weedy. Our infantry were like young lions, and would stop at nothing. I saw one small Australian taking five prisoners home across No Man's Land, and he did seem proud."

"LIKE YOUNG LIONS.". (1917, September 15). Echuca and Moama Advertiser and Farmers' Gazette (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4. Retrieved January 21, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154416742

 Judy's grandfather and great-uncle, Ern and Bill Crouch of Murtoa had been in the Depot Band based at Victoria Barracks since December 1915, as had Monte Elrington.  It wasn't until February 1916 that all three had joined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion.   Ern had a photo of the Depot Bandbut it is difficult to identify Monte in that photo. 

Ern also had a long portrait of the 3rd Pioneer Battalion Headquarters Company, including the band, and I have made a provisional identification of someone I think is Monte Elrington, which you can seemarked here. 

If anyone can help with this identification, or any of the others in the 3rd Pioneer Headquarters Battalion or the Depot Band, please get in touch.
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A litte trench art

January 21, 2016, 8:50 pm
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Identity disc of George MacFarlane, courtesy of Vicki Moore.
This interesting piece of trench art, a hand-made identity disc belonging to George MacFarlane of Essendon, has lately been added to his webpage.  George was a British Army veteran when he joined up in 1915, having served for 16 years with the Black Watch.
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From the Suburbs to the Trenches

January 24, 2016, 1:02 am
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I was  recently pleased to discover this book which describes the war service of two young fellows, one of them, Cecil Seccombe of Ascot Vale who served with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, and the other Ralph Berryman of Hawthorn who served with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade.  The author, Ralph Seccombe, is a relative of both young men, and relates his own thoughts and impressions as he traces their movements in Gallipoli and France.  The book is available through Amazon.  See also this webpage.
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Gunner Lundmark of Kensington

January 28, 2016, 3:35 pm
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A crew of the 3st Battery, Australian Field Artillery at Seymour in 1914.
Gunner John Patrick Lundmark of Kensington had been part of the compulsory Universal Training Scheme since its inception in 1912, his service record showing one and a half years in Senior Cadets and three years in the Royal Australian Field Artillery.
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