ANZAC Sons

by Allison Marlow Paterson

  Newly elected British Prime Minister David Lloyd George was at loggerheads with General Haig who was eager to push through the German defences in the Flanders region to wrest the Belgian ports from enemy hands. The Prime Minister preferred the battle plans of the new Commander-in-Chief of the French forces, General Nivelle, who had replaced the hapless General Joffre, and was celebrated as the hero of recent successes at Verdun, won in the tough fighting that marked the last months of 1916. Nivelle believed he could end the stalemate using French troops to break through in the southern sector of the French front on the River Aisne, with English troops attacking to the north at Arras. Haig was overruled and British forces were placed under the overall command of Nivelle. An attack on the German ‘bulge’ between Arras and Soissons was to commence on 1 April.3

  The 3rd Division remained in the north of France at Armentieres. At 1.00 am on the first day of 1917, simultaneous raids were launched on enemy lines. Raiding parties were charged with the task of collecting intelligence, destroying enemy morale and seeking to exert sufficient pressure to avoid the redirection of German troops to the Somme. Allan and 25-year-old farmer Jack Lockett were members of one of the four parties of between 12 and18 soldiers from the 38th Battalion who crept quietly towards the enemy under cover of darkness. Having reached the enemy defences, they began to cut through the barbed-wire entanglements. Allan’s group was soon caught in the glare of German searchlights. A barrage of concentrated rifle and machine-gun fire, bombs and grenades pounded the sodden earth around them inflicting heavy losses. The surviving men lay in shell holes, pinned down by enemy fire. At 4.00 am five men, including Allan, crawled their way back towards the safety of the trenches. As the sun began to rise and hope of any further survivors faded, Jack Lockett dropped into the Allied trenches. The following night another wounded soldier was brought in by a relief party led by Lieutenant Peters. Peters was later awarded the Military Cross for the rescue of this man and for his courageous actions during the previous night’s raid. 4

  Just six of the 17 men from Allan’s raiding party had survived. At his home in Bendigo in 1984, Jack Lockett recalled his mate ‘Ackers’, a nickname derived from Allan’s initials, and talked briefly of New Year’s Day 1917. It was a moment he would rather have forgotten, rated as one of his worst memories of the Western Front. In December 1917 Private Lockett had sailed with Allan and Percy on the Runic and had later been promoted to platoon sergeant when Allan was commissioned to second lieutenant.5 Having left school at the age of 12, Jack recalled that his lack of education had prevented further promotion: ‘… it was the big words …’ Jack passed away in 2002 with the distinction of being Australia’s oldest man at 111 years of age. He had been awarded the Order of Australia in 2001 and France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honour, in 2002.

  In October 1917, Jack was sent to a rest camp at Senlecques with Charlie. Both men sent a photo home to their families, Jack jotting on the back:

  … As you will see I have put the names down. We are all doing the same. If anything happens to any of us it might come in handy to ones who receive them …

  Few of Charlie and Jack’s mates would emerge unscathed. John Lewis, a 25-year-old horse-driver from Melbourne had sailed on the Runic with Allan and Percy. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 7 April 1917, wounded on 28 August 1918 and later awarded the Military Medal. He was invalided to Australia in January 1919.6 Earnie Butler, a labourer from Melbourne, was 23 when he enlisted and sailed on the Shropshire with Charlie. He was shot in the face on 27 February 1917 and wounded again on 17 July 1918, this wound sufficiently serious to prevent him seeing further action on the front. Butler also returned to Australia in January 1919.7 William Jones, a 21-year-old labourer from Mildura, was another who had sailed on the Runic. William was frequently hospitalised with illness but survived the war without serious wounds.8 Edmond Jones was 18 when he enlisted from Melbourne where he had been working as a baker. He was wounded on 28 May 1917 and rejoined the battalion a few weeks later, eventually returning to Australia in August 1919.9 Wren Teale was 24 years old when he sailed on the Runic. He had worked as a clerk in Melbourne prior to enlisting and, as noted by Jack on the back of the photo he sent home, Wren was an Australian champion cyclist. He was killed on 19 November 1917 in the vicinity of Ploegsteert Wood, north of Armentieres in Belgium.10

  Left to right standing, John Charles Lewis, Charlie Marlow, Earnie Butler, William Lloyd Jones; seated, John Henry Lockett, Edmond Michael Jones, Wren Teale (image courtesy of the Bendigo RSL Museum).

  Jack also sent a photo home which was taken in France on 3 November 1917. To the list of names Jack added the comment: ‘This is the remains of 13 Platoon that left Aussie.’ In World War I a platoon usually consisted of around 40 men. There are seven soldiers in this photo. These men had sailed together on the Runic on 20 June 1916 and miraculously survived the war. Sidney Maslen enlisted at the age of 22, having recently emigrated from England. He was wounded on three occasions and returned to Australia early in 1919.11 Stanley Rumble was a 19-year-old labourer from near Bendigo. He was gassed on two occasions, but recovered and married in England in February 1919, returning to Australia in November.12 William Wormald was born in New Zealand but had been working as a furnace-man in Melbourne when he enlisted at the age of 30. He was wounded twice and returned to Melbourne in April 1919.13 Twenty-year-old John Fiven had worked as a cabinet-maker in Melbourne and married in England in February 1918. He was shot in the arm on 29 August 1918, eventually returning to Australia in December.14 Like the remarkable Jack Lockett, John Adams and Goodsir Fowler managed to survive the war without serious wounds. Adams had enlisted as a 28-year-old farmer from near Ouyen, while Fowler had been a farm labourer working near Kerang when he enlisted at the age of 22. 15

  Original members of 13 Platoon, D Company, 38 Battalion, 3 November 1917. Standing, left to right: 1236 Private Sidney Maslen, 1322 Private William Wormald, 1639 Private Goodsir Fowler, Private Stanley Rumble; sitting, left to right: Sergeant John Fiven, Corporal John Adams, Sergeant Jack Lockett (names courtesy of the Bendigo RSL Museum).

  Allan continued to reassure his mother, telling her again and again not to worry about him. Despite what must have been a narrow escape during the raid, he wrote home soon after, simply describing the perilous mission as a ‘big turnout’. He wrote also of the other concerns he considered a mother might harbour: his state of health, his food, his clothing, did he have enough money? He intimates that he is enjoying the business of soldiering, comparing his early days of trepidation to his hardened approach just a few weeks later. Yet Allan had also lost a mate. In relating news of the death of his friend, we see a glimpse of the tough reality of life at the front as he expresses his grief.

  France

  New Years Day

  3 oclock

  My Dear Mum & Dad & Jim

  Well dear mum I am writing this letter to you in my dugout. This is the first time I have been in my dugout for some number of hours as we have been that busy. We have had nothing but rain and cold winds but am used to muck and all this by now. We had been getting very little tucker but we got plenty at the start. We go out to our billets in a day or so thank God a man will be able to buy some tucker. I received your most welcome letters & was pleased to hear all are well and that the crops are good. I hope they yield well. I suppose you had a good time last night at the turnout. We had a big turnout too. I cant say anymore about it mum just think for yourselves. Mum you don’t know how I have been looking out for my parcel but it hasn’t turned up yet. I do hope it comes while I am out of the trenches. I have got 35 letters for Percy, 1 parcel from you and one from L Sharp I cant make it out why my one aint here. Percy has not come along yet and will not be along for a while yet. He is doing well and having a cosy time. He is very lucky. Charlie is over here but have not met him yet. He is not in action. Mum just after we came here our section was split up amongst the companies. I am still in D Company so have no bother with mail. I had 2
bonnie mates from Lake Boga. They have been getting parcels a treat so was rather lucky Mum but sorry to say one poor fellow got killed the other night. A sniper caught him while he was firing the gun. They are brothers. For all the world he was the dead image of Jim a bit bald in front too. Mum I used to look down upon him as a brother. I do feel sorry for the brother, but I cheer him up. I am writing to his mother when we go to the billet. I have not got any papers since being here, but if I keep getting the letters as I have been doing I am well pleased. Yes mum you would have a quiet Christmas, but we will all be home for the next. Tell Jim to set the duck eggs. Wont they get a doing ah. Mum you don’t seem to believe me when I tell you that I am splendid. Really mum I never felt better in my life and am enjoying this. It is a bit solid at times but stand up to it well. We often laugh over the first day we came in. Oh dear mum if you had of seen us you would of too but have settled to it and brave as anything. Yes mum between Charlie & I we will look after Albert. Mum I have tons of money. I have over ₤5 and as soon as hear from Albert and can send him some I will do so. Well dear mum I hope this letter gets through alright. We are only supposed to write a little and be very careful what we do write. Our censor is very strict. Mum every time we go out of the trenches we get a hot bath and clean under clothing. Mum don’t bother sending any socks as we get plenty. My relations & Charlie sent me parcels but never got them. It is a wonder they didnt want to send Jim to the war. Mum you must feel proud of having 5 of us here. You will want to get a store of tucker in when you hear of us coming home. I was sorry to hear about poor Mr Williams. Well dear mum dad & Jim I will say goodbye for the present. I wish you all a Happy & prosperous New Year. I also trust that you all are well as I am at present, but I may get sick when I get this parcel. Well dear mum don’t worry over me I [will] always be safe & sound. It is now 4 oclock and I have to go on duty.

  So goodbye

  I remain

  Your loving son

  Allan

  Allan’s mate had been like a brother to him and he clearly felt the loss. His reassurance to his mother that he will look after Albert was offering her a guarantee he knew he simply could not keep. Allan could caution and advise, but keeping family safe from the reach of fate on the Western Front was beyond the love and care of a brother.

  On 13 January, with the 38th back in the line, a heavy bombardment of minenwerfer (German trench mortar) hit the troops killing four men and wounding seven. A communication trench which connected rear areas to the front lines was destroyed. The following day the men of the 38th returned to their billets. As night fell, some 200 men were charged with the task of building another communication trench to connect the front line, a task they achieved in freezing conditions with searchlights exposing the working parties to deadly machine-gun fire, the bullets ripping the mud around them. From mid-January, the conditions turned colder, mud became ice and for four weeks snow covered the Western Front. The change brought some relief from the sticky morass of autumn and early winter. While the freezing conditions brought the added curse of frostbite, the men found it easier to remain dry, stamping their feet to promote circulation without creating a quagmire, rubbing whale oil without needing to balance on one foot planted in knee-deep mud. With their dugouts frozen and no longer collapsing about them, their health improved and their spirits lifted.16

  The 38th was withdrawn from the line. Allan wrote a letter home from the comfort of his billet:

  Jan 17-1-17

  France

  My Dear Mum & Dad

  Well dear mum & dad I was pleased to get some more letters from you last mail I am getting the letter splendid. I was also pleased to hear that you are all well I am splendid and going strong. We are out in our billets now and all are supposed to go away for a spell. We have had some very funny weather here but one thing I never feel the cold as I did at Lark Hill. One soon gets seasoned to it. We had a pretty lively time of it but enjoy it. Well dear mum Percy and Will Street has not come along yet, they are very lucky to keep back where they are. Charlie is in France but not with us yet. I got my first letter from Auntie yesterday. She says Albert is in England, landed on the 30th. Well dear mum I got your parcel it was a beaut. That cake was the nicest ever I tasted. I cant tell you [how much] it was acceptable. I also got a parcel from L Sharp and M Gamble. Very decent ones too. I am writing to Mollie again you thank her too. Tell Jim just to shove a word or two in, and to give her that old hat of mine so that I will be able to go up and get it when I come back. Anyway tell him to leave something there. I got a bonnie parcel from Auntie in Eng. I have got 7 altogether. I have 5 parcels and 40 letters from Percy. Mum I have had some fun over here in the trenches since being here. We don’t take any notice of the muck and water & cold. Young Mossop was killed the other night and A Brooks slightly wounded. We are getting treated well again now. I don’t think we will ever get peace. I think Germany is about done for. Well dear mum you will be pretty near finished the harvest. I hope it yielded well. With good luck we all ought to be home for next Xmas. Mum tell dad to write a letter. I have only got one from him since leaving home. He will find a piece of pencil in this letter and the alphabet below. I was thinking that he must have forgot how to spell and had no pencil. Well dear mum & dad I have such a lot of letters to write so I will close hoping all are well.

  I remain

  Your Loving Son

  Allan

  Albert Brookes (image courtesy Pyramid Hill Historical Society).

  Albert Brookes was a 23-year-old farm labourer who had sailed on the Runic with Allan and Percy and, like them, became a Lewis gunner. He was hit in the shoulder by a bullet on 3 January 1917, but recovered to return to the 38th Battalion on 2 September 1917. At Passchendaele, on 13 October, he was again hit in the arm and thigh. He was discharged from hospital in time to see the armistice declared on the front.17 ‘Young Mossop’ as Allan refers to George Mossop, a farm labourer from Janiember East (Bears Lagoon), had also sailed on the Runic. He was 20 years old and arrived for duty near Armentieres on 4 January 1917. He was killed just nine days later. 18

  Throughout January, the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th divisions held a section of front line close to Bapaume, north-east of Pozieres, tasked with maintaining pressure on the German front. There had now been significant changes in the divisional commanders of the Australian forces. General Legge, in command of the 2nd Division during the disaster of Pozieres, had been replaced by Victoria Cross recipient Nevill Smyth. General McCay of the 5th Division, commander at Fromelles, was relieved of his duties and replaced by Australian General William Holmes. Yet another Australian, Joseph Talbot Hobbs, assumed command of the 4th Division, replacing General Cox.19

  In the front-line trenches, little could be achieved by the infantry given the prevailing weather conditions. Instead, pressure was maintained by sporadic artillery attacks. George moved with his brigade into the Albert area on the Somme, enjoying the break from the front line, participating in training activities, carefully noting details of his training in his notebook, but always aware of the relentless boom of artillery fire on the front line.

  France

  Jan 1st, 1917

  Dear Jim

  … I haven’t met any of the boys yet, Charlie said in his last letter that he thought he would be sent over here before Xmas, I havent had any word from Albert yet he ought to be over by now. Both Ewin and Amos are well I often see them, Amos is Lance Corporal too, I was told that Archie Bailey is on his way back to his Battalion he has had a good spell in England. I suppose you went to the tea meeting and concert. I had my xmas in the firing line, not in the front line trenches but not far from it, we got our xmas boxes, they were N.S.W. ones, it must have been a quiet one at home only 3 of you. There is a chap in our unit who knows Dave Fyffe well, he came from where he was working. They seem to be going to a lot of trouble for nothing over this conscription business. I would like to see more of the shirkers sent over here, would do them the world of good. You will be up to your neck
in work now. I hope the crop turns out successful …

  France

  Jan 5 1917

  Dear Father

  I am just writing a few lines to tell you I received a parcel yesterday I think it must be the one you thought had gone down on that boat it had a xmas cake, scarfe, tinned pudding and few other things in it so you know if it was the first one you sent, the tin was a little knocked about but the contents were as good as gold, the cake was splendid, we heard here about that boat and that all the mail was saved but was not certain about all the parcels. I don’t think I have missed any of your letters for a long while now but don’t get all the papers you send. I just wrote to Jim a few days ago so haven’t any news, we cant say anything about war as the censor is very strict now. I got a letter from Allan yesterday he had just come out of the trenches he said that Percy and Bill Street were in isolation for mumps there is nothing serious about mumps, I had a letter from Johnny Price a little while ago, he was in the hospital with the same thing. I havent any of those mates with me that you saw one was in the 7 Batt. but I haven’t seen him for a long while, some of the others are in the casualty list, there are two with me now that came over on the same boat but I didn’t know them at the time. I often see Amos, Ewin and Harry Burrows they are all well. The weather for this month is very promising so far not as cold as I thought it would be. Well I ought to be in England on leave when you get this letter that is if it continues the way it is going now. I think Charlie is over here now I received a field card from him two days ago saying he was well. I have received the money you cabled over, it will come in very handy while on leave. Well I will now close hoping all are well.

  I remain

  Your loving son