Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
A.R.L. Wiltshire diary, 8-26 July 1916
MLMSS 3058/Box 1/Item 6
[Transcribers note: Wiltshire gives graphic descriptions of the countryside in France as he travels with his Battalion from Strazeele to Albert and on to the Somme. He has an interest in architecture and describes in great detail the interior of Amiens Cathedral. He writes of the friendliness of the French people, especially in those places where they were billeted.]
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Lt. Colonel A.R. Wiltshire, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C.
22nd Battalion, A.I.F.
France
8 July 26 July 1916
V
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Capt. A.R. Wiltshire
22nd Battalion A.I.F.
Left Australia 8 May 1915 Sunday
Colombo
Suez
Arrived Egypt - 10 June 1915
Left Egypt - 28 Aug. 1915 - Sunday
Arrived Anzac Firing Line - 4 Sept. 1915 - Sunday
Evacuated Anzac Firing Line - 19/20 Dec. 1915 - Sunday/Mon.
Arrived Lemnos - 20 Dec. 1915
Arrived Egypt - 7 Jan. 1916
Arrived Tel el Kebir - 9 Jan. 1916 - Sunday
Arrived Desert of Sinai - 25 Jan. 1916
Left Desert of Sinai - 7 Mar. 1916
Arrived Moascar - 8 Mar. 1916
Left Moascar - 18 Mar. 1916 - Sunday
Left Egypt - 20 Mar. 1916
Left Malta - 23 Mar. 1916
Arrived France - 25 Mar. 1916
Left Marseilles - 26 Mar. 1916 - Sunday
Ent. Firing Line France) - 13 Apl. 1916
Armentieres sector)
Reached Amiens sector - 12 July 1916
(via St. Omer, Calais)
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Strazeele
8/7/16
- Paid the men in the morning and then all hands got busy packing up for our move. Fell in in full marching order at 1 p.m. and moved off in Brigade column of route with our transport train in rear. The men all loaded up with packs and blankets but right throughout the march they stuck it very well and only two or three fell out. It was the boast of Nos. 9 & 12 that none of them had to leave the ranks. In the other companies it was very noticeable that the "beerheads" fell out.
The route lay through what was easily the prettiest country we have seen since coming to France. We moved along winding roads bordered by green hedgerows or by crops of waving corn. The roads twisted in a most remarkable fashion almost doubling back on themselves at times. One minute Bailleul and the observation balloons near there were on our right and then would suddenly appear on the left or perhaps behind. The long column wound round all these curves and what was perhaps a 9 mile march became very much longer.
We passed through two or three very neat and trim little villages and then came into sight of a hill upon the top of which seemed to be a convent and a number of tents a very pretty spot. As the march progressed many of the men showed signs of fatigue but plodded on. The hedges are a very beautiful thing in this country and are planted along the ditches which border each field and are deep dug. Thick grass grows rankly down into the water of the ditch. Between paddocks they have no fences, nor are there any along the roads, the cultivation comes right up to the road itself! There is no wandering stock but sometimes one sees a flock of sheep going along following the shepherd and his dog. The crook as a rule has an iron curved head as a good piece of wood shaped naturally in the curve is rarely encountered. The farmhouses looked neat and homely nestling among trees and crops their old thatched roofs often just being visible above some fold in the ground.
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Strazeele
8/7/16
Each farmhouse as a rule is closely circled by its kitchen garden and a few flowers also lend to the ornamentation of the place. On the way today we passed a good many fields of that twining wreath of the Bacchantes hops. Well cared for and trained up their poles, these hops look very well in the sunlight. The Flemish aspect is given to the landscape by real old Dutch windmills not very many but old ones. The farmhouses are close together because a living can be made in this fertile country off a very few acres. This population leads to a frequency of villages all local architecture being dominated by the church. Very clean places these French villages.
We reached Rouge Croix and went into billets at a fine farmhouse. An idea of the size of the barns can be gathered when it is noted that we accomodated 450 men in those here. The haymaking is now in progress and on the march we passed many workers in all sorts of quaint garbs, returning from the fields. There are plenty of estaminets hereabouts so tonight the lads will make merry with great wealth of liquid refreshment. The officers are all in a loft. Looking from the door of it a spreading vista of lovely blowing crops and lovely little farms meets the eye. The elm seems to be the principal tree. Just a little further on down this road is a small village which has a church in the centre.
Heard tonight that Bird has lost his leg, poor chap. My Sergeants are a fine lot and a very happy family, Yeadon, Groves, Watkins, Nicholson, Thurlow, Glasscock, Bodinnar & Trevena. Mounted are Jock Munro & Crane and Stone is away. Went to bed early but very much to my disgust, was called by an orderly to see the C.O. at 11 p.m. Swore roundly and had just turned in again when orders for the march arrived and necessitated keeping awake. Slept in a bare floor in one blanket and got very cold by morning. Itch also very persistent about dawn and does not seem to get any better.
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Borre, Hazebrouck, Wallon Chapel, Ebinghem
9/7/16
The country round about was very pretty just about 3 miles away on the summit of a small hill is a monastery. We left on the march again at 10 a.m. and pushed on in column of route. It was a pleasant sunny morning with a little wind. The road ran across some high ground and about 15 miles away rising above a dark belt of timbered land were two pyramidical objects probably slag heaps of some distant mine. The dark belt of timber was just like that along the banks of the Nile and these heaps rose above it just like the Great Pyramids of Egypt. All the men commented on it. A splendid view of the whole country was obtainable from here and "Belle Vue" seemed a very appropriate name for an adjacent estaminet.
We used to think that landscape targets were no good and presented an artificially regular scenery. Not so, todays trip we have passed through just exact stereotyped landscape target country.
The people hereabouts speak Flemish in much the same way as they speak Gaelic in certain parts of Scotland. French is the standard language but is much punctured with the local Flemish patois. Flemish is much used by the common folk whose conversations we cannot understand. English is also taking its place as a spoken language owing to our occupancy of the land.
We passed a "forest". There are no big trees in their forests as they are all kept thinner but under their splendid system of forestry saplings and young trees of medium height constitute their forests.
Several troop trains have passed us today and we have also seen plenty of goods trains with the familiar "Hommes 36-40 Chevaux 10" painted on the doors of the trucks. We did today stretches of 45 minutes followed by
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Hazebrouck & Renescure
9/7/16
15 minute spells. At each halt the men are turned in their fours and marched right on to the edge of the road close to the ditch and arms are piled. The men then fall out through their rifles clear of the road. No man is allowed to fall out of the ranks for fatigue, illness or other reason without having a "chit" signed by an officer. Towards the end of the march the men were very tired and could hardly stick it out. Sawyer of No. 10 is an elderly man worn almost to a shadow and manages to keep going very well and nearly at the billets in Hazebrouck we halted for lunch for an hour the cooker had a meal of hot meat ready which was served up.
Just alongside where the arms were piled was a big caterers shop. The proprietor sent out girls with big cardboard boxes of cakes which they distributed 2 to nearly every man in the battalion as souvenirs. They also brought out a bucket of a weak wine mixed with water. Went in to thank the owner for his kindness and he seemed a jolly old chap "very pleased to have the honour" as he said. He sat down to a glass of wine and over the bottle we drank each others healths and had a little lunch.
Went through to the back and Mademoiselle came forward most obligingly to solve any difficulties. "Cabinet monsieur? Voila msieur!" There is no false modesty about these good sensible girls. The treatment we received from these people was remarkable seeing the thousands of troops that must be passing through regularly enough to render the sight of a column of soldiers no novelty. They could not do enough for us and the little children made friends with the men and sat on their knees. Perhaps we are the first Australians hereabouts. We passed through Renescure about 5 p.m. and got
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Renescure
9/7/16
good billets for my men except about 50 for whom the accomodation was indifferent. Where the officers are located the beds are lovely and white and the walls of fine large airy rooms are covered with framed educational, agricultural, and military certificates of what evidently is a smart family quite capable of holding its own in examinations in places as far away as Lille & Versailles. The usual souvenirs of missions, certificate of first communion and religious pictures are on the walls but there is a shortage of crucifixes.
Went round the barns after tea and found a good many laid out to it and some very bad feet. All cheerful and joking though. The hardy ones went into the village and others foregathered in the farm kitchen and drank beer what time a French farm hand sang the songs of his country concluding with that song of passion the Marsellaise. A Frenchman becomes quite obsessed when singing this and starting quietly gradually works up to frenzy of patriotism spitting out the stirring words with venom. Awakened after a short doze between the sheets by orders arriving and the giggles of a Mselle and the low amorous pleadings of one of our men kept me awake still longer as a stealthy love encounter took place beneath my window.
10/7/16
Up at 7.15 a.m. Still no signs of my tack so had to shave etc. with my batmans gear. Fell the men in at 10.30 for rifle inspection and general brush up. Went down to the village to Curnows billet and found him quartered in a two storeyed place the owner of which is a Civil Engineer. Two nice mademoiselles and two maids. A very nice place inside with a good collection of china and all the bedrooms were spotlessly clean. Breakfast of raspberries etc. and cream and all served up in snowy napkins. Just opposite to this billet
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Renescure
10/7/16
is the chateau of Bernard de Renescure a fine old place whose owner is at the war. It is surrounded by thick trees. On the right hand side of the entrance door is a sundial with a Latin motto and a projecting iron rod gives the shadow. The seasons are shown as well as the hours. This family are evidently of some local importance as I noticed their tomb in the graveyard of the church. The church is a very old place which was originally built in 1380 but restored at different times since. The usual recent graves surround the church but there are a couple of old family tombs. The door is of carved stone and evidently very old. In a little niche in the portal is a small carved figure of a monk reading a book. Inside the church is very bright and there are some old paintings on the wall. In the floor are flags carved to denote whose grave is beneath. The tower is something like that of the Hotel de Ville Bailleul. Behind the church is another cheateau. The village is a clean prosperous looking one, the schools are still being held. One cannot help noticing that the physique of the youngsters is poor compared with Australian children perhaps owing to so little meat being eaten.
Slept all the afternoon and received orders at 8 p.m. to move off at 3.40 ready to entrain at St. Omer 7 miles away at 6.40 p.m. Issued necessary orders. Thence our route is via Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Abbeville to Amiens where we billet. It will be a 7 hour journey in daylight so should be very enjoyable seeing all the interesting country. We have now been right across France from Marseilles and know portions of the country like a book. We have marched across a good deal of North Eastern France so have an intimate knowledge of a good deal of the country. Unable to get into St. Omer to see all the places of interest there and shall have to be content to see a lot from the train. Every place here is historic and it hurts to pass without lingering for a while to see these places.
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St. Omer
11/7/16
Wakened up about 12.30 p.m. by the squealing of Mademoiselles and sounds of much merriment from the estaminet portion of the premises. Got the sentry to call the Corporal of the guard (OBierne) and gave him orders to take the names of the revellers and to clear the place. Rose at 2.15 a.m. shaved and breakfasted, found the midnight revellers included Sgts. Stone, Bodinnar & Glasscock so got the Sergt. Major to parade them and read them a lecture.
Left at 3.40 a.m., had a short rest at the starting point and then set off on our road again. Very pleasant in the growing dawn swinging along, the air heavy with the fragrance of new mown hay. The heavy packs made the halts welcome although we are now blanketless having returned all ours to store. Through Arques in which is a peculiarly shaped mill tower which reminded me of the Bishop Hatto legend. Turned alongside the canal Neuf Fosse & marched into St. Omer. Quite a lot of military & other barges on the canal many marked with the Red Cross. The railway station is on the north of the town. On the left hand side coming in is a tall church or abbey tower. The body of the place seems to be in ruins.
Coming along the towpath we passed a number of young people of the poorer class carrying hoes going out to work in the fields. Comments: "B--- [indecipherable] going to work. Another: "Crise! Tiveys crowd!"
We entrained with all our transport into a train composed mostly of trucks with a few carriages for the officers. The men were in the familiar trucks taking "40 hommes" each. In Renescure the other night some diversion was caused by one of our chaps knocking at a door of a house where a rather elaborately garbed mademoiselle dwelt. Our friends kept calling out a price in hopes of getting the door opened. Rap, rap, rap, 40 francs mselle. No answer. Rap, rap, rap mselle. No answer. 50 francs mselle. Rap, rap, rap. No answer. F --- yer!!
The French railways are very up to date & their engines splendid. Not much of the town can be seen from the station. The leading section on the march today was very good at whistling and made the distance pass quickly. Left at 8 a.m. and passed through varied country until we came within about 10 miles of Calais. A good deal of marshy land intersected by canals. Some varied.
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Calais, Boulogne, Etaples
11/7/16
The surrounding country is wind swept and a salt tang is in the air. We skirted the town which is a large place. A peculiarly shaped spire caught the eye. It was foursided and appeared to rest on a squat base. The line swings round with just an occasional glimpse of the Channel passing through open farm land. From one spot a very fine view of the whole country including Calais is obtained. The roads are white chalk and later we passed big quarries. The country was open right up to Boulogne which is a fine city with a crowded harbour. Our train skirted the town, soldiers seem to be running everything. Part of the place appears very old. From here to Etaples the country is sandy & there are big camps full of troops training. There are also plenty of hospitals. Some ambulance trains full of wounded were in.
Very poor and uninteresting country from here on to Abbeville, low marshy peaty country until the Somme is met. Here a lovely region commences the trees are thick and line the banks opening now and then to disclose some neat chateau. At Abbeville we only spent a few minutes and then continued along the basin of the Somme to Amiens. The country round here must be some of the pick of France. We passed through the city and went right out to a siding at Longerau where we detrained. Some of the land is very marshy but intensely cultivated like market gardens most of the work being done by women. They get from plot to plot in peculiar gondola shaped boats like sampans propelled with a pole. An old chap looked very comical sitting in one in the waterway between two garden plots patiently fishing. The A.A.G. met us and we found to our dismay that we had to march 12 miles back to a place called Breilly a village we passed in the train. They could easily have dropped us there but advanced as a reason that there were no facilities for unloading the
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Amiens
11/7/16
transports. The battalion could easily have been detrained at the billets in 15 minutes and the transports gone on alone to the further place. But no: the glorious British Army takes the men 12 miles past their billets lets them get out & then marches them 12 miles back over cobblestones. Things like this make one sick. I wouldnt mind being Fritz would not be fool enough to do a similar thing.
We set off and marched right through Amiens which is a fine old large city with wide streets. It seems fairly scattered. We went via subsidiary streets & created quite a sensation even in a place where the tramp of armed men has been heard daily for two years past now. The people were much taken with our hats. The spire of the cathedral is a striking thin sharp one and has a beautiful airy effect. The men marched very well through the streets the people all seemed very prosperous and neat. Plenty of French motor transport about, the blue uniformed drivers appear very smart and brisk. We pushed on right through the town & pulled up for tea near a big cemetery a delightful spot full of lovely green trees. A number of women came round up to all the tricks of Egypt exposing themselves & proposing to g the soldiers.
Leaving the town we passed through a number of villages and past cornfields covered with poppies & blue cornflowers. Turned off at St. Savieurs & thence to Brilay where we billeted the men in a ruined Chateau in the cellers. Wire bunks had been fitted in a most extraordinary place. Lovely avenues of trees approaching the place. Officers billet in a farmhouse with an old virago of a farm wife we had to argue furiously with. We have had a hell of a day today been on duty continuously for 21 hours marched 21 miles & been 8 hours in the train. All finished up cheerful.
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Amiens
12/7/16
Slept in until 9.15 a.m. & at 11 saddled up the horse & left with Major Matthews to ride the 8 miles into Amiens through cobbled streets along a tram track where fine electric cars were being driven by women conductors. Past the Hotel de Ville and stabled horses at an hotel. All the people staring at us & much taken with our hats. Fine shops in all the streets.
Went down to the Cathedral upon which you come suddenly and the delicacy and airiness of the wonderful dream of stonework takes your breath away. The whole of the outside is carved & chiselled into hundreds & hundreds of images and statues. The building was commenced to go white with its 700 years of age. The spire is an extremely slender & tall one which has an air of lightness about it. The lower portions of the building are encased in sandbags & a good many figures are hidden thereby.
In the front of the church is the open paved Place de Notre Dame which sets off the Cathedral. Around about were several beggars, some very persistent. In rear of the church is a statue of Peter the Hermit. The central figure of the front the Bon Dieu dAmiens - was hidden by sandbags but just above the portal a figure is represented as sitting in judgment the curve of the portal above [indecipherable] represents the heavens and is full of a whole heavenly host in stone hundreds of angel figures. Below the figure are row after row of persons awaiting judgement some have plaster heads & there are also on this wall numbers of fabled monsters cut in stone horses with fishes tails &c. Marvellous gargoyles glare open mouthed from among the statues, their purpose is to act as drain spouts & to discharge rainwater out of their mouths. High up are large statues of the apostles and others beautifully done. The round exterior of the rose window appears above these. Flying buttresses are all round. One wants to sit down on the opposite side of the square & let it all sink in. The
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Amiens
12/7/16
longer one looks the more enchanted one becomes as fresh beauties disclose themselves. Inside the loftiness of the ceiling & the boldness of the pillars impress one. The light is splendid. Over the front entrance door is a rose window meant to represent the wheel of fortune. The two rose windows on either side of the church above the side doors are the most beautiful one can imagine. About the glass there appears to be a subtle caressing softness, & the tracery of the framework is a marvel of intricacy. No clear design emerges from these windows, it is the marvel of colour that constitutes their beauty not the art of the scenes represented there. Little figures and little scenes seem to make up the whole window.
Behind the high altar are 8 radiating chapels with huge stained glass windows all exquisitely done. Directly in the centre high up is a big plain glass expanse of windows which looks a little out of place among its coloured brothers but adds much to the churchs lighting. Two bronze tombs (the only two in France) of old dignitaries are on either side of the nave as you enter & on the left is a marvellous piece of shining bronze work in the shape of of a huge figure of a saint apparently crucified.
The choir stalls which are the most beautiful wood carving, were being all encased in girders and sandbags but we managed to get in & see that most marvellous wood work in the world. Sweet and young grained wood it is: oak trained & chosen for such work sound now as 500 years since. Under the carvers hand it seems to cut like clay, to fold like silk, to grow like living branches, to leap like living flame. Canopy crowning canopy pinnacle piercing pinnacle it shoots & breathes itself into an enchanted glade inextricable, imperishable, fuller of leafage than any forest and fuller of story than any book. Each seat and each partition is carved most delicately into lords & ladies, dogs & animals of all kinds & a hundred else.
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Amiens
12/7/16
There is an intermediate altar at the near end of the choir screen, which is elaborate ironwork. The High Altar is designed with a background of sky effect. Huge clouds with the sun in the centre its rays of gold shooting out on each side. There is a golden statue of a mitred dignity above the altar. Behind the altar Canon Lucy is buried & there is a monument to him a tablet surrounded by weeping angel children considered one the finest in the world. We were not allowed to ascend the spire as doing so renders the Cathedral fair game for the enemy. On the outside of the choir stalls is stonework depicting the life of John the BaptiSt. All the people are dressed in 13th century clothes. In a cabinet encased in gold and surrounded by precious stones is a tiny fragment of bone once belonging to the Baptist so they say. Outside the west wall away to other statues are noticeable 2 monks praying both laughing and looking very comical.
After leaving the Cathedral we went round the town & walked through the main streets which in places are quite as busy as Alexandria. Fine shops of all kinds especially military outfitters. French officers and soldiers are everywhere the former looking very smart and alert. Talking to some one says "What pretty ats you ave!". Very nice fellows. Had strawberries & cream & then dinner of Hote d Universe.
We left our horses at a hotel & had a devil of a job harnessing up as the man knew more about motors than about horses & had all the gear most horribly mixed up. Eventually we got away & reached home late after a really most enjoyable day. The glory of Amiens is its wonderful church. With revisiting it and saturating ourselves with its beauties and every minute disclosing something more to charm. The Museum was closed during the war and there is nothing else much to see. Numerous canals intersect the lower portions of the town. It is a lovely old town and its good to see nice people in the streets. Amiens is the Samarobriva of the Ceaserean era.
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Breily
13/7/16
Parade at 6 and again at 9 on the latter occasion all marching down to the Somme for a swim. Houses fringe the wooded banks and girls watched the nude men in the usual matter of fact French way. They think nothing of such things here and yet no one could possibly be more mild & dainty than the French Mademoiselles. A very strong current runs through the stream hereabouts and it was almost impossible to swim against it. This is the country of Picardy.
Returning to the ruined Chateau all admired the avenue of trees their branches entwining in a green arch overhead. When the sun shines one gets the full effect of the colour tones but grey days are so very frequent here that the opportunities of just feasting the eyes is rare indeed. The men are billeted in the cellars and vaults on wire netting bunks. Altogether this is a most peculiar place. At H.Q. they have a fine billet & last night the family joined in a game of auction bridge. We go over the parapet into the land of fire & slaughter in a day or two.
This afternoon went out to a field passing through Breily to get there and ascended over a high portion of the road to a fallow meadow a-blow with poppies & cornflowers among the sere crops. An excellent view over the valley of the Somme was obtained. The river directly below with its thickly wooded banks and its fringe of peat bog. Open country rather fully and chequered with cultivation goes up from here.
Directly opposite is a Roman Camp. All round had evidently been a deep excavation which still is like a great green snaky scar encircling the place. There are chalky outcrops hereabouts & what look some ruins near the back of the camp. The men are billeted in an old ruined Chateau quite roofless and deserted & sleep in the dark cellars on wire netting bunks. There is a splendid avenue of trees up the drive to the residence, the branches interlace and form a green aisle which looks lovely when the sun is on it.
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Breily
14/7/16
Another of the succession of grey days. The men swam in the Somme this morning. They look splendid muscular white skinny strong men. They are rough as nails march their 20 miles without turning a hair, sleep out in the open without blankets or other covering & eat the rough issue rations. English regiments passing through wear their trophies captured in the advance. The push continues fairly satisfactorily.
In the afternoon the parade took the nature of an attack practice in the new formations over high chalky rises on the Northside of the Somme. The ground is nearly pure chalk in places. There are great flowing rivers of green hill and dale & one looks down on the little village nestling in among woods.
15/7/16
Bathing parade in the Somme during the morning. After lunch marched to the chalk heights on the opposite side of the river and there carried out a Brigade practice attack. The soil here when upturned glows white with the pure white hunks of chalk. From here one looks over a great expanse of open downs. Tiny little villages nestling in their woods and radiating out from them are the cultivated fields. In the distance lies Amiens rising in the centre of which is the old Cathedral with its lofty walls and slender spire and dominating the whole city. The "Push" is said to be going well and successfully pierced their past time and set our cavalry & horses. late in the day the ASC had a [indecipherable] that a General, his whole staff, & 6,000 prisoners had been captured.
16/7/16
Being Sunday we looked forward to a sleep in but suddenly at 9.30 orders arrived that at 10.30 the head of our column must swing out en route for the trenches. It needed swift packing and quick orders but punctual to the time we were on the march. Not bad to clear out at an hours notice leaving all clean behind us. Our transport accompanied us. Passing through St. SAVEUR we came
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Bertangles, Coisy, Rainneville
16/7/16
along a white chalky road winding over high downs. Poor country with stunted crops and not very many houses in sight. Reminded me very much of some Australian landscapes. The tower of Amiens Cathedral is a landmark for miles and miles around.
Approaching Coisy the pretty country starts again. In Bertangles we passed several little crucifixes set in the middle of a ring of trees like a Druidical grove. Just the other side of the village there is a fine long avenue of parralel rows of trees with a road running straight up to a chateau at the top. The trees are the chief beauty of this country & the people pay very great attention to their culture.
We came into Rainneville into poor billets the accomodation of the little village being overtaxed by so many regiments. We had great arguments with the very old dame at our billet she pointblank refused to allow the batmen to use her stove so after explaining that by law she is compelled to do so and greasing her palm a little we got on alright.
Good news through from out in front but poor Mackay had bad news as he received a cable telling of his fathers death and the boy broke up completely. Today is Sunday, we always seem to move on the Sabbath. Some drizzling rain tonight. There is some talk of there having been a rape down the street and a roll call being held. The old dame introduced us to strawberry and black currant bushes in her garden and we had a tin of Ideal Milk too.
No mail is being accepted for transmission from us and correspondents at home will wonder. We march on again tomorrow. From here we are back to the familiar sound of guns once more.
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Rainneville
17/7/16
This place has justified its name and we have rested here all day and taken things quietly. I lectured for an hour this afternoon on the different phases of open fighting and trench attacks. All round the back of this little house is the deep green of tree and hedge & a silent wet rain is falling. Much tolling of church bells for some person who died last year. Rumble of distant guns like those at Helles.
18/7/16
Sudden orders stand by to move at 11 am. We moved off correctly at the appointed time and marched for 8 miles over country that is as totally different to Flanders as any you could well imagine. Passed through the pleasant little villages of Pierregot, Rubempre, & Toutencourt. The country is a little hilly & the road undulates. From the higher points it is spread out like a carpet full of different coloured patches, where various cultivation is done. No fences, but merely the division of colour. In some places we passed fields of poppies evidently grown for the morphine. Some woods square and fairly young.
Reached Toutencourt and found through staff messing we had no billets and had to march to Puchevillers. There we succeeded in getting a good billet in the village. These villages very pretty all embowered in green leaves. Lovely winding lanes. Little planted groves of trees with their central shrine a Calvary. A grey day. Always grey.
Rumours of a set back last night to our people. Ambulance wagons busy going up. Sir Douglas Haigh passed us in a car. Men have a furphey that Erquinghem has been plastered and the old 900 yeared church knocked down. Paid the mess after tea. This is a good billet with a nice mselle who sang for us and madame caters for the mess at the rate of "quatre francs per jour". Big casualty clearing stations in this small place. 9,000 Germans put through there wounded since the 1St. They say our gun fire is awful.
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Puchevillers
19/7/16
First parade 9 a.m. was held on a little enclosed piece of ground at the back of the farm. A rather fine sunny morning for a wonder. The church in this village is an old one with a square tower after the style of the Erquinghem one. The roads outside the town immediately commence to rise over the small hills. Picardy is a place of green rolling hills and fields the same as Flanders is level cornfield. The normal population of this village might be 500 but with the soldiers it now runs into thousand. Problems of sanitation arise with so many crowded up together and the local people lose a good deal of their homelife by men running in and out. It coarsens everyone, but our men are very good.
In the afternoon met Bert Curnow and went up to the big casualty clearing station which is full of wounded. The sight of the sisters cheered us up. Went into a tent full of wounded Germans most of them not badly hit but did not look round much as I dont think it the thing for officers to look at them as a sideshow, poor devils. Human leg blood covered thrown into incinerator as we Bert passed. Curnow came to tea and afterwards we played poker assisted by Andrew & Rodda the result being a win of 1 franc 5 centimes for me. Received orders for a move tomorrow morning early.
20/7/16
Head-dress
The women are often crude peasant folk and wear kerchiefs over their heads. Babies often have tiny little close fitting straw hats with a little tassel. The men favour a peaked cap and corduroy breeches. Women wear short skirts & long big boots.
The men all had a great deal of beer last night and argument and disputation was carried far into the night with wealth of verbiage. We left from Puchevillers and made Lealvillers at 12.30 after a tiring march up and down hill. A hot dusty muggy morning. Passed plenty of motor transport, all named after Pickwick characters & others, each with a rather good appropriate little painting on the side of the wagon. Lealvillers is an ordinary village with the conventional brass rooster crowning the tower of the church, & crooked streets radiating from it.
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Picardy
21/7/16
Set out at 9 a.m. on a bicycle for Rubempre and with the wind behind soon covered the intervening 8 miles passing through little villages with twisting streets en route. Most of them we had marched through before. A good many officers had assembled to hear a very good lecture on machine guns delivered by a Staff Officer with a good string of ribbons and a splendid grip of his subject. The place was the village school.
Boys and girls are educated at separate schools and as far as one can judge the educational system is very good. All the little girls (pretty clean little youngsters 7 to 8 years old) sat outside on their forms in the yard with their neat little teacher, a mademoiselle aged about 22. Inside the school were the usual fittings and pictures of places in "Notre Belle France".
After the lecture we returned home, and while having a little lunch orders arrived for a route march and in 25 minutes we were on the warpath with full transport and marched about 7 miles. From a high portion of the road we spotted a very large shell burSt. Observation baloons were up all round the horizon. A great deal of motor transport passed and repassed continuous trains of wagons running along.
At night, we all attended C.Os billet for a conference and the question of discipline came up. No doubt there has been a tremendous amount of drinking lately and it is the curse of the A.I.F. and only noticeable after pay days. With beer at a penny a glass they get too much for their money. They should be cut down to the same rate of pay as the Tommies and then a lot of the trouble would cease, but at present the men work like the deuce all day and do their duty splendidly but after parades in the evenings drink gets going on and one sees fellows drunk in the company who never before touched liquor. We have not had a church-parade for weeks now owing to moving round and although not a religious individual I think the weekly church parade has a good restraining influence on men.
[Page 21]
Picardy
Lealvillers
22/7/16
Early morning parade at 6.30 am followed by the usual morning parades later when triangle of error was done what time boots and gas helmets were also on issue. In the afternoon route marched again over the same ground as yesterday. The roll of guns came ceaselessly from the south as the battle goes on. The village of Harponville is a quaint small place with a "barny" looking church the spire of which is surmounted, like all French churches, with a large gilt tufty tailed rooster who perches on top of the cross. Very open rolling country this like that about Broadmeadows and eminently suited for open fighting. Heard today that the 5th Division were tidy up to some extent at Fleurbaix and poor little Norris killed.
23/7/16
All night long an intense bombardment was kept up and some big stuff kept landing comparatively close with big thuds. The shelling was about 12 miles away and a constant roll of deep booms continued. Towards dawn it increased in ferocity and there was a furphey that our 1st Divn. attacked and were met with the flamenwerfer. Wounded men passing through all day. Being Sunday we slept in until late and then had a Battalion Church Parade.
In the afternoon a kit inspection was held and some Australian tunics arrived. These were most welcome and were used to requip the officers and senior N.C.Os. A grey day today. A Taube came over this afternoon and gave the anti aircraft gunners some practice.
24/7/16
A grey day. Slackening of artillery fire in front. Stood by for a route march but no orders having arrived at 10 a.m. we carried on with bombing and other work. Lyon having reported took charge of No. 9 platoon. Major General Legge, Col. Bridges & an A.D.C. came round and dropped a few platitudes. Heavy bombardment in front all night vivid flashes darting up luridly. Quite a party assembled here in the evening & we merrily gambled at poker till late, our batmen serving supper.
[Page 22]
THE Somme
(Lealvillers)
25/7/16
A grey day with wreaths of smoke forming a haze, due to the heavy gun fire in front. Perhaps the cloudy weather can be traced to the same course cause. In morning parade we marched out and did an open attack and in the afternoon routemarched round the Harponville square back to here. Dropped out at Varennes. It was a most unpleasant march owing to the heat and all finished up dust begrimed and tired. At Varennes a big concourse of officers including 2 Generals, assembled to witness a bomb demonstration by Stokes guns. They created hell with their devasting expolosions. The little bit of countryside selected was ripped and torn to pieces as shells plunged in thick and burst with streaming flame and acrid smoke. Some fine old fruit trees were stripped of their leaves and the selected area was laid waste.
26/7/16
At 3 a.m. an orderly walked in with march orders and at 4 a.m. we marched out in column of route. Rather quick work. No breakfaSt. Marched 8 miles on empty stomachs and reached Albert at 8 a.m. The town lies in a hollow and is dominated by its shell wrecked church atop of which is the Falling Virgin a big brass statue on top of the spire which has been knocked right over by German shells but still has not fallen. What holds it I dont know but the statue is balanced at this angle [see manuscript for diagram] on top of the spire. Local legend has it that when the statue falls the German Empire will fall also. Some shelling and a couple burst near us. We are under orders to advance tonight and shall return either crowned with laurel or wreathed with cypress.
[Page 23]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
724 C.S.M. Yeadon C.F. 26 Mechanic Engineer C/E S (Father) J.L. Yeadon, Pt. Darwin, A. Anzac
555 Sgt. Bodinnar J.L. 21 Saw-Mill Hand C/E S (Father) J. Bodinnar, Perrin St., Daylesford Anzac
1149 Sgt. Stone R.G. 25 Glazier C/E S (Mother) Mrs. M. Stone, Homebush, N.S.W. Anzac
584 Sgt. Craner A.E. 24 Butcher C/E S (Father) W. Craner, Esq., Broad-Lane, Fillongley, Via Coventry, Eng. Anzac
640 Sgt. - Munro J. - 29 Tanner C/E S (Sister) Miss M.A. Munro, Avoch, Rosshire, Scot. Anzac
922 Sgt. Perry V.H. 31 Clerk C/E S (Brother) A.E. Perry, 25 Stanhope Grove, Camberwell Anzac
753 Sgt. Watkins E.F. 25 Mechanic C/E M (Wife) Mrs. H. Watkins, 15 North Road, Newport Anzac
658 Sgt. Nicholson J.D. 23 Wool-Classer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. Nichsolson, Chelsea Anzac
701 Sgt. Trevena T.S. 22 Tailor Meth. S (Father) T. Trevena Esq., Fairfield Anzac
1985 C.Q.M.S. Groves R.W. 30 Accountant C/E S (Mother) Mrs. R. Groves, Russell St., Alberton, Sct. Anzac
606 L/Sgt. Glasscock H.A. 27 Motor-Salesman Meth. M (Wife) Mrs. V.C. Glasscock, 3 Turner St., East Malvern Anzac
[Page 24]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
1606 L/Sgt. Scott J.S. 42 Accountant Unit. M (Wife) Mrs. J.S. Scott, C/o G. McEwen, Solicitor, Adelaide Anzac
699 Cpl. Thurlow P. 26 Blacksmith C/E S (Mother) Mrs. J. Thurlow, 36 Curran St., Nth. Melb. Anzac
1086 Cpl. Spargo H.J. 34 Law-Clerk C/E M (Wife) Mrs. F.M. Spargo C/o Sct. Wasson Lake, Elingamite, Vic. Anzac
2348 Cpl. McLeod J.C. 30 E.T. Line-Foreman Pres. S (Father) J.C. McLeod, 13 Lt. Miller St., E. Bwick
1634 Cpl. Werrett R.C. 24 Warehouseman C/E S (Father) C. Werrett, Whitehorse Rd., Balwyn Anzac
1656 Cpl. Bradley A.W. 20 Clerk Pres. S (Father) E. Bradley, 33 Ormond Rd., Moonee Ponds Anzac
1078 Cpl. Shields J.H. 27 Manager C/E S (Father) J.G. Shields, Wodonga Anzac
1572 Cpl. Lennon J. 26 School-Teacher R/C S (Father) P. Lennon, Landsborough, Vic. Anzac
1569 Cpl. Ledgwidge V. 27 Clerk R/C S (Mother) Mrs. L. Ledwidge, "Paglisham", 27 The Avenue, Windsor Anzac
91 L/Cpl. Duke E.C. 29 Salesman C/E M (Wife) Mrs. L. Duke, 15 Fitzgibbon St., Parkville Anzac
591 L/Cpl. Dove E. 19 Farmer R/C S (Father) J. Dove, 34 Gibdon St., Burnley Anzac
[Page 25]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
734 L/Cpl. Cameron W. 28 Laborer Pres. S (Father) W. Cameron Esq., Pt. Mahomack, Scotland Anzac
663 L/Cpl. OBeirne J.J. 19 Baker R.C. S (Father) J.J. OBeirne, Tallygaroopna, Via Shepparton Anzac
1548 L/Cpl. Griffin J.R. 28 Agent R.C. S (Father) W. Griffin, Hopetoun Vic. Anzac
1544 L/Cpl. Fraser W.D. 21 Farmer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Fraser, Hamilton Anzac
569 L/Cpl. - Blyth S.D. 41 Bk-Keeper Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. E. Blyth, Nelson St., Sandringham Anzac
1082 L/Cpl. Johnson T. 33 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. L. Johnson, 172 Hanna St., Sth. Yarra Anzac
2346 L/Cpl. McCormack W.P. 26 Boiler-Maker R.C. S (Father) E.F. McCormack, 132 Kent St., Nth. Richmond
704 L/Cpl. Urquhart J. 25 Glass-Beveller C/E M (Wife) Mrs. S. Urquhart, Separation St., Alphington Anzac
695 L/Cpl. Smith H. 21 Warehouseman Meth. S (Father) F. Smith Esq., Langridge St., C/wood Anzac
768 L/Cpl. Briginshaw R.C. 29 Traveller C/E S (Father) J.J. Briginshaw, Hazeldell, Bayswater Anzac
610 L/Cpl. Hayes J.V. 18 Laborer Pres. S (Father) O.G. Hayes, Deniliquin N.S.W. Anzac
[Page 26]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
1732 L/Cpl. Harrison A.C. 22 Clerk C/E S (Father) H. Harrison, 24 Ebden St., Elsternwick Anzac
1878 L/Cpl. - Anderson F. 26 Tanner Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Anderson, 61 Tannery Cresc., Abbotsford Anzac
548 Pte. Adams J.A. 34 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. Ruby Adams, Dandenong Rd., Cheltenham Anzac
546 Pte. Aubrey G.V. 29 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. A.J. Aubrey, Gormandale P.O, Gipps. Anzac
764 Pte. Allsopp H. 28 Sleeper-Cutter Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. Allsopp, Rutherglen Anzac
1198 Pte. Avenell W. 30 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. M. Avenell, 45 Ferrier Av., Toronto, Canada Anzac
4005 Pte. Amiet P.A. 34 Farmer Pres. W (Sister) Mrs. Mitchell, Greensborough
3753 Pte. Adair J. 30 Storeman Pres. S (Sister) Miss E. Adair, 25 Dundonald Rd., Kelvinside, Glasgow
3757 Pte. Armstrong S.A. 21 Driver R.C. S (Father) Mr. Armstrong, C/o Mrs. Henry, Wellington Rd., Spring Vale
2018 Pte. Anderson E. 23 Tailors Presser Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Anderson, Tannery Cres., Abbotsford Anzac
[Page 27]
1882 Pte. Beck J. 23 Carpenter C/E S (Father) J. Beck, School-House, Haylake, Chesshire, Eng. Anzac
567 Pte. Butler P.T. 36 Laborer R.C. S (Brother) Joseph Butler, Wilson St., Horsham Anzac
560 Pte. Barnard G.O. 25 Laborer Pres. S (Father) James Barnard, Bundoora P.O. Anzac
557 Pte. Burns C. 27 Laborer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. J. Burns, Eden Carrick-Fergus, Antrim, Ireland Anzac
2572a Pte. Bodinnar W.T. 18 Grocer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. M. Bodinnar, Perrin St., Daylesford
1883 Pte. Bennett H. 25 Painter C/E S (Father) H.P. Bennett, Packington St., Chilwell, Geelong Anzac
1075 Pte. Barrand L. 22 Farmer C/E S (Father) Alf Barrand, 2 Millawyn St., Sth. Yarra Anzac
563 Pte. Blackley J. 22 Farmer Meth S (Father) J. Blackley, Jeparit Anzac
554 Pte. Bell C.S. 23 Laborer R.C. S (Father) G.J. Bell, Esq., Hesse St., Colac Anzac
1881 Pte. Boyd H.J. 21 Driver C/E S (Father) J. Boyd, Raglan St., Daylesford Anzac
[Page 28]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
730 Pvte. Bertwistle I. 22 Journalist Pres. S (Father) J. Bertwistle, 45 Austin St., Subiaco, W.A. Anzac
1992 Pvte. Bowen-Jones G. 26 Planter Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. H.R. Bowen-Jones, Beach Rd., Mordialloc
3774 Pvte. Bell H.W. 29 Laborer C/E S (Father) Mr. Bell, Stawell Rd., Horsham
3779 Pvte. Bardioux F.E. 18 Wire-Worker R/C S (Father) J. Bardioux, 68 Pelham St., Carlton
3765 Pvte. Brook A. 20 Glass-Blower Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. Brook, 625 Drummond St., Carlton
574 Pvte. Colhoun W.H. 40 Laborer C/E S (Sister) Miss Colhoun, C/o Mrs. Forbes, Sydney Rd., Coburg Anzac
89 Pvte. Crozier F.R. 32 Artist C/E S (Sister) Mrs. L. Bottomley, C/o St. Kilda Rd., & High St., Melbourne Anzac
1892 Pvte. Claridge T. 21 Driver C/E S (Sister) Miss L. Claridge, Penshurst Anzac
1691 Pvte. Campbell W. 19 Gasfitter Pres. S (Father) J. Campbell, 225 Humphrey St., Ballarat E. Anzac
769 Pvte. Cameron A.E. 26 Farmer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. D. Cameron, Clayton, Vic.
[Page 29]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
90 Pte. Chapman A.W.I. 22 Warehouseman Pres. S (Father) M.F. Chapman, 21 Charles St., Kew Anzac
41 Pte. Cook F.E. 40 Farmer C/E S (Father) T. Cook, C/o A. Marks, Napier St., Cottosloe, W.A. Anzac
733 Pte. Chenall E. 28 Laborer C/E S (Father) E. Chenall, Quarry Hill, Bendigo Anzac
1154 Pte. Cunningham J. 43 Contractor Pres. M (Wife) Mrs. M. Cunningham, Balcomb Rd., Cheltenham Anzac
88 Pte. Curline W. 22 Warehouseman C/E S (Sister) Mrs. E. Emerson, Harper St., Alphington Anzac
349 Pte. Coltman P.E. 43 Engineer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. P. Coltman, Ballarat Anzac
2351 Pte. Cook D.A. 35 Farmer Pres. M (Wife) Mrs. D.A. Cook, Traralgon, Gippsland
3799 Pte Chappell C.C. 19 Carpenter Pres. S (Father) M. Chappell, Yarrawonga
3800 Pte. Cassidy C.T. 21 Sawyer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. E.A. Cassidy, Koordrook, Vic.
3798 Pte. Chatley N.C. 27 Bushman C/E S (Father) A. Chatley, Balbarrup, W.A.
1690 Pte. Cameron A.C. 35 Water-Bailiff Meth. S (Brother) H. Cameron, Merbein Via Mildura. Anzac
[Page 30]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
3990 Pte. Cochran G.A. 18 Motor-Mechanic Pres. S (Mother) Mrs Cochran "Hervey" 83 Baker St., Richmond
583 Pte. Cameron W.D. 18 Laborer R.C. S (Father) A. Cameron, Haverton, Vic. Anzac
3791 Pte. Coates F.H. 22 Bootmaker Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. Coates, 120 Charles St., Northcote
592 Pte. Dixon W.E. 39 Timber-Merchant C/E M (Wife) Mrs. B. Dixon, 47 Bridport St., Albert Park
588 Pte. Dyett S.G. 29 Miller C/E S (Sister) Mrs. L. Haffendon, 21 David St;, Footscray Anzac
589 Pte. Dunne J.F. 20 Sailor R/C S (Father) M. Dunne, Boundary Rd., Surrey Hills Anzac
1668 Pte. Dyson W.R. 19 Carpenter C/E S (Father) J.C. Dyson, Dromana P.O. Anzac
595 Pte. Davey M. 23 Laborer Pres. S (Father) M. Davey, 473 High St., Preston Anzac Wounded S.O.S. 13.6.16
2033 Pte. Dennett C.H. 20 Clerk C/E S (Father) A. Dennett, Irymple, Vic. Anzac
3820 Pte. Dale A. 21 Iron-Worker Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Dale, 38 Rivers St., Newport
[Page 31]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
3815 Pte. Daley F.W. 19 Blacksmith C/E S (Mother) Mrs. Daley, 128 Clarke St., Northcote
3819 Pte. Dwyer J. 30 Slaughterman R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. Dwyer, 59 Gower St., Kensington
3823 Pte. Davis A. 26 Bootmaker Jew S (Mother) Mrs. Davis, 70 Westgarth St., Northcote
1163 Pte. Eddy A.W. 21 Laborer C/E S (Father) J.N. Eddy, Freeburgh via Bright Anzac
2381 Pte Fenwick G.J. 23 Laborer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Fenwick 37 Princes St., Wtown
3830 Pte. Fraser F.A. 19 Blacksmith R.C. S (Father) Mr. Fraser, Beavers Rd., Northcote
3829 Pte. Fouracre R.S. 20 Sawyer C/E S (Brother) A.J. Fouracre, Morrison, Vic.
1899 Pte. Flowers W.F. 33 Laborer C/E S (Father) W. Flowers, Branxholme, Vic. Anzac
2331 Pte. Gardiner J. 18 Laborer Pres. S (Father) John Gardiner, Woolsthorpe, Vic
604 Pte. Griffin M.J. 35 Laborer R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. M. Griffin, Chiltern Anzac
[Page 32]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
598 Pte. Galliene G. 26 Laborer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. M. Galliene, 72 Wemberg Rd., Glenferrie Anzac
2480 Pte. Gall L.G. 28 Laborer C/E S (Father) R. Gall, 50 Oakbank St., Newport
1997 Pte. Glide F. 22 Clerk Pres. S (Father) F. Glide, Margaret St., Moonee Ponds Anzac
1547 Pte. Grieve J.A.- 32 Farrier C/E M (Wife) Mrs. J.A. Grieve, 2 York St., Geelong West Anzac
1995 Pte. Gemmill N. 19 Farmer Pres. S (Father) D. Gemmill, Pt. Albert, Vic.
1903 Pte. Hart H.E. 20 Hair-dresser C/E S (Brother) A.H. Hart, C/o Mrs. Rankin, Moore St., Fitzroy Anzac
1081 Pte. Holman G.B. 33 Driver C/E M (Son) A.G. Holman, 23 McKenzie St., Bwick
1197 Pte. Hardwick F. 21 Farm-Laborer Meth. S (Father) W. Hardwick, Fryerstown via Castlemaine Anzac
1683 Pte. Hardy W.J. 32 Farmer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. G. Hardy, C/o Mrs. Taylor, 70 Brighton St., Richmond Anzac
[Page 33]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
739 Pte. Hatcher W.L. 19 Farmer C/E S (Father) T. Hatcher, Goyura Anzac
1976 Pte. Hayes J.H. 25 Laborer R.C. S (Sister) Mrs. Mack, 3 Scotts Place off Borwerie St., Carlton Anzac
2335 Pte. Hunt O.P. 22 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. M. Hunt, 277 Punt Rd., Richmond
3849 Pte. Hawkins R. 19 Storeman Pres. S (Father) A. Hawkins, 42 Moore St., Footscray
3845 Pte. Higgins F. 19 Laborer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. Higgins, 1 White St., Sth. Melb.
611 Pte. Hawkes A.V. 23 Commercial Traveller C/E S (Sister) Mrs. S.M. Anderson, Strahan St., Hobart
616 Pte. Kings W.A. 21 House-Painter Pres. S (Father) Mr. W. Kings, Alphington Anzac
615 Pte. Kavanagh F. 44 Stone-Mason R.C. S (Brother) W. Kavanagh, 106 Forrest St., Boulder City, W.A. Anzac
27 Pte. Kennedy W. 21 Driver R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. Kennedy, 14 Emerald St., Cwood Anzac
3861 Pte. Kendall J.R. 27 Plumber Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. M. Kendall, 22 Tivoli Rd., Sth. Yarra
[Page 34]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
741 Pte. Lavender W.F. 23 Law-Clerk Meth. S (Father) F.W. Lavender, c/o J. Davidson, Ivanhoe Parade, Ivanhoe Anzac
1923 Pte. Liston W. 24 Clerk C/E S (Sister) Mrs. Hay Charles, Lincoln Cres., Essendon Anzac
625 Pte. Lucas G.R. 44 Engine-Driver C/E M (Wife) Mrs. E. Lucas, St. Lothian St., Nth. Melb Anzac
28 Pte. Levett C.R. 22 Bakers- Importer Improver Bapt. S (Father) J. F. Levett, Kersbrook, Sth. AuSt. Anzac
622 Pte. Lockwood F.H. 29 Grocer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. E. Lockwood, 349 Gloucester St., Christchurch, N.Z.
638 Pte. MontgOmery C 24 Carpet Planner C/E S (Uncle) G.D. Lockwood, Esq., 67 Wright St., Adelaide Anzac
649 Pte. Murphy R. 28 Clerk R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. M. Murphy, 36 Cameron St., Coburg Anzac
1928 Pte. Malcolm G. 24 Coach-Painter C/E S (Mother) Mrs. G. Malcolm, 9 Ascot St., Nth. Ballarat Anzac
756 Pte. Macdonald A.D. 19 Sleeper-Cutter Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Macdonald, Kinglake, Vic. Anzac
1932 Pte. Moore K.E. 20 Laborer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. P. Moore, Bellbank, Lara P.O. Anzac
646 Pte. Moodie W.S.R. 23 Farm Laborer Pres. S (Sister) Mrs. P. Leyden, Skipton, Vic. Anzac
[Page 35]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
2037 Pte. Morgan H.J. 21 Engine-Drivers AsSt. Pres. S (Aunt) Mrs. M. Cowell, Euroa Anzac
197 Pte. McDermott J. 29 Bootmaker R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. N. McDermott, 6 St. Georges Rd., Nth. Fitzroy Anzac
742 Pte. Morris B. 18 Laborer Jewish S (Father) A. Morris, 29 Sercombe Grove, Glenferrie Anzac
96 Pte. Miles M.J. 23 Laborer R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. E. Miles, Macarthur St., Ballarat Anzac
1917a Pte. Moodie H. 20 Laborer Pres. S (Sister) Mrs. P. Leyden, Skipton, Vic. Anzac
3880 Pte. Middlemas R. 22 Laborer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. Middlemas, Roxburgh, 7 Trevalyn Terrace, Harwich, Scotland
3999 Pte. Monar A.F. 33 Driver C/E S (Mother) Mrs. Monar, 19 Bowen St., Moonee Ponds
2345 Pte. McDonagh P. 43 Bottler R.C. S (Brother) Jas. McDonagh, 27 Oxford St., Cwood
2349 Pte. McCarthy J. 30 Railway Employee R.C. S (Father) C. McCarthy, 2 Bay View Terrace, Kensington
633 Pte. McKay J.H. 23 Laborer Pres. S (Father) James McKay, Gravesend St., Colac Anzac
[Page 36]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
634 Pte. McLean W.R. 20 Motor-Driver C/E S (Father) Wm. McLean, 89 Hellar St., Bwick Anzac
98 Pte. McClusky T.B. 34 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. C. McClusky, Chiltern Anzac
1702 Pte. McCormick W.E. 20 Bank Clerk C/E S (Father) Mr. R. McCormick, Rae St., Colac Anzac
626 Pte. McCallum W.T. 21 Farm-Laborer R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. E. McCallum, 414 Cardigan St., Carlton Anzac
3889 Pte. McKenzie J.J. 21 Farmer Pres. S (Father) Mr. McKenzie, Farmers Rd., Meeniyan
3883 Pte. McGrath A.C. 20 Boot-blicker C/E S (Sister) V. McGrath, 192 Queens Parade Nth. Fitzroy
655 Pte. Northcott C.L. 19 Farm-Laborer C/E S (Father) T. Culverhole Northcott, Culverhole, Branscombe, Devon, Eng. Anzac
659 Pte. Newman R. 43 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. N. Newman, 93 Tope St., Sth. Melb. Anzac
1711 Pte. Norman H. 19 Clerk C/E S (Mother) Mrs. L. Norman, Sims St., Sandringham Anzac
100 Pte. Newton I. 34 Lithographer Ind. S (Brother) J. Newton, 241 Coatsworth Rd., Gatesend, Eng. Anzac
4004 Pte. Nicholson L.H. 21 Carpenter Pres. S (Father) Thos. Nicholson, Arawata P.O., Vic.
[Page 37]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
664 Pte. ONeill A. 23 Laborer R.C. S (Brother) Peter ONeill, Stockport, Manchester, Eng. Anzac
666 Pte. Oxley B.A. 24 Boundary Rider Pres. S (Friend) W.S. Brown Travellers Rest Hotel, Goulds Country, Tas. Anzac
2352 Pte. Ponton S.R. 23 Fitters Assistant C/E M (Wife) Mrs. G. Ponton, 9 Herbert St., Albert Park
747 Pte. Price D.R. 19 Clerk Pres. S (Father) D. Price, Tuaggra St., Maryborough Anzac
674 Pte. Purkis J.H.B. 20 Laborer Meth. S (Mother) Mrs. Purkis, 66 Holloway Rd., Highbury, London Anzac
2354 Pte. Pierce G.H. 25 Carter C/E S (Father) R. Pierce, 5 Kelvin Grove, Hawthorn
2487 Pte. Payne J.G. 18 Carpenter C/E S (Father) T. Payne, Warburton Rd., Cant.
673 Pte. Pople H. 23 Miner Ang. S (Sister) Mrs. J.D. Cumming, Bright Anzac
3900 Pte. Phelan C.N. 22 Dental Mechanic C/E S (Mother) Mrs. Phelan, 27 The Avenue, Moreland
2356 Pte. Quinn A.A. 18 Laborer R.C. S (Father) Mr. James Quinn, 35 White St., Richmond
2355 Pte. Quinn J.F. 45 Laborer R.C. M (Wife) Mrs. C. Quinn, 40 Hawkes St., Nth. Fitzroy
[Page 38]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
2364 Pte. Roberts W.H. 32 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. A. Roberts, Macquarie Street, Williamstown
2365 Pte. Richardson W.C. 31 Clerk-Typist C/E S (Father) Mr. G. Richardson, 64 Electra St., Wtoron
2505 Pte. Rout T. 28 Slaughterman R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. A. Rout, 5 Footscray Rd., Kensington
2361 Pte. Ramsay A.V. 41 Laborer Pres. Wid. (Sister) Mrs. M. Hopkins, 38 Illawarra St., Wtown
2359 Reynolds D.T. 24 Storeman Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. C. Reynolds, 30 Carroll St., Hotham Hill
888 Pte. Ralston R. 34 Iron-Moulder C/E M (Wife) Mrs. Lily Ralston, Barkley St., Bwick Anzac
683 Pte. Rands A. 20 Laborer C/E S (Father) J.A. Rands, Timboon, Vic. Anzac
1083 Pte. Ryan J.D. 19 Bank-Clerk R.C. S (Father) T. Ryan, Warrion P.O., Vic. Anzac
2360 Pte. Ross J. 22 Laborer R.C. S (Aunt) Mrs. M. Henry, 55 Stanley St., E. Melb.
2357 Pte. Robins L.A. 22 Carpenter C/E S (Father) J.A. Robbins, Young St., Mooroopna
1083 Pte. Robinson E.C. 26 Compositor C/E S (Mother) Mrs. S.A. Robinson, All Saints Church House, Dorchester, Eng. Anzac
[Page 39]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
3915 Pte. Rutter A.E. 18 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. Rutter, 40 Creswick St., Footscray
3911 Pte. Reid A.L. 22 Electrical Engineer R.C. S (Father) Mr. Reid, Gt. Southern, Rutherglen
2387 Pte. Sutherland A.E. 20 Farmer C/E S (Father) E.A. Sutherland, Mernda, Victoria
3245 Pte. Schulze H. 28 Farmer C/E S (Father) F.A. Schulze, Jeparit
1646 Pte. Scanlon M. 19 Brass Moulder R.C. S (Brother) Mr. M. Scanlon, 28 Eades Place, W. Melb.
3255 Pte. Smith W.J. 21 Horse Trainer R.C. S (Father) Wm. Smith, Denny St., Nth. Wbool
687 Pte. Simmonds W. 26 Kitchenman R.C. S (Friend) Miss M. Finlayson, 89 Masons Av., St. Kilda, Anzac
2404 Pte. Smith W.H. 23 Butcher R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. B. Smith, Byron St., Nth. Melb.
2393 Pte. Seccull E.H. 19 Bricklayer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. M. Seccull, High & Berry Sts., Northcote
2383 Pte. Smith W. 38 Seaman C/E S (Sister) Miss F. Smith, 16 Park View, Berchanger, Herts. England
2378 Pte. Scott J.D. 24 Salesman C/E S (Father) Mr. J. Scott, 41 Flower St., Essendon
2368 Pte. Simkin J.L. 25 Driver C/E S (Mother) Mrs. E. Simkin, Earl St., Kew
[Page 40]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
2402 Pte. Smyth G.McD. 38 Salesman R.C. M (Wife) Mrs. G.McB. Smyth, 6 James St., Glenferrie
1012 Pte. Spendlove W.H. 41 Hairdresser C/E M (Wife) Mrs. Spendlove, 62 Harris St., Nth. Melb. Anzac
2409 Pte. Sparks H.T. 25 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. R. Sparks, 121 Eastwood St., Kensington
2372 Pte. Silver L.G. 30 Baker C/E S (Father) Mr. J. Silver, 100 Melbourne Rd., Wtown
2400 Pte. Sawyer C.H. 35 Cigar-Maker C/E S (Father) A. Sawyer, 5 Hampden Rd., Kensington
2385 Pte. Simons A.H. 19 Laborer Pres. S (Mother) Mrs. L. Simons, 3 Bourke St., Sth. Kensington
2387 Pte. Scriven J. 31 Fireman Meth. S (Father) A. Scriven, 15 Horne St., Newport
2386 Pte. Stuckey E.N. 37 Miner C/E M (Wife) Mrs. E.V. Stuckey, 232 Hall St., Newport
2411 Pte. Sellwood L.J. 21 Laborer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. M. Davies, 25 Macquarie St., Prahran
2413 Pte. Sullivan A.W. 18 Laborer C/E S (Father) W.H. Sullivan, Sharp St., Northcote
690 Pte. Speechley W.G. 23 Laborer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. E. Speechley, Holdsworth Rd., Bendigo Anzac
2388 Pte. Schwab C.H. 18 Laborer Cong. S (Father) Mr. G. Schwab, 24 Bellet St., Camberwell
[Page 41]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
1950 Pte. Schofield F.T. 24 Clerk C/E S (Father) R. Schofield, 239 Inkerman St., St. Kilda Anzac
2412 Pte. Smith H.G. 19 Hairdresser C/E S (Mother) Mrs. N. Smith, 205 Nicholson St., Carlton
2394 Pte. Stephens G. 18 Laborer C/E S (Father) F. Stephens, 285 Esplanade St., Pt. Melb.
1789 Pte. Surrey G. 44 Farmer C/E M (Wife) Mrs. A.E. Surrey, Koyuga, Vic. Anzac
2419 Pte. Skeggs F. 20 Laborer R.C. S (Father) G. Skeggs, 55 Graham St., Albert Pk.
2399 Pte. Sutherland G.A. 18 Laborer Pres. S (Father) R. Sutherland, Kyneton R.S.
2405 Pte. Snowden T. 21 Jockey C/E S (Aunt) Mrs. R. Shaw, 137 Ruby St., Cwood.
2407 Pte. Stevens E. 22 Salesman R.C. S (Mother) Mrs. E. Stevens, 9 Bundbury St., Footscray
2415 Pte. Shaw A.M. 25 Conductor Pres. S (Father) J.M. Shaw, 216 Berlin St., Burnley
1958 Pte. Smart R.J. 20 Carpenter Pres. S (Father) G. Smart, Pembroke St., Surrey Hills Anzac
3930 Pte. Seuling A. 19 Coach-builder C/E S (Father) J. Seuling, Keilor
[Page 42]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
3946 Pte. Sellens W.E. 31 Groom C/E M (Wife) Mrs. Sellens, 6 Conders St., Auburn
1965 Pte. Titford G.G. 25 Farmer C/E S (Father) G. Titford, Pyramid, Vic. Anzac
698 Pte. Taylor W. 36 Laborer C/E S (Sister) Mrs. M.J. Marshall, 13 Randolph St., Hawthorn Anzac
2435 Pte. Turner G. 18 Laborer C/E S (Aunt) Mrs. E. Burden, 9 Thistlewaite St., Sth. Melb.
1966 Pte. Taylor H. 25 Grocer Meth. S (Father) C. Taylor, 14 Gotch St., Sth. Northcote Anzac
1066 Pte. Thomas A.L. 22 Farm-hand Pres. S (Father) Joseph Thomas Esq., Barmouth, Nth. Wales Anzac
2439 Pte. Trompf V. 22 Laborer Meth. M (Wife) Mrs. J.E. Trompf, Casey St., Maryborough
706 Pte. Vousden V.R. 43 Ventriloquist R.C. M (Wife) Mrs. Alice Vousden, 266 Amago St., Nth. Carlton Anzac
2451 Pte. Walton A. 36 Brewery Employee C/E M (Wife) Mrs. I. Walton, 56 Harmsworth St., Cwood
708 Pte. Warman F.J. 25 Laborer Bapt. M (Wife) Mrs. R. Warman, Leongatha Anzac
1973 Pte. Williams C.E. 32 Laborer C/E S (Sister) Miss A. Williams, 9 Macquarie St., Prahran Anzac
[Page 43]
No. Rank Name Age Occupation Rel. M or S Next of Kin
752 Pte. Willis A.H. 21 Sleeper-Cutter C/E S (Mother) Mrs. G. Willis, Boisdale, Gippsland Anzac
713 Pte. Wilson A.M. 40 Commercial Traveller Pres. S (Brother) John Wilson Esq., Kingsley St., E. Camberwell Anzac
1628 Pte. Walker G.H. 24 Grocer C/E S (Mother) Mrs. L. Walker, 18 Lonsdale St., Sth. Geelong Anzac
1614 Pte. White J. 30 Miner C/E S (Cousin) Miss M. White, C/o R.J. Bennett, Bendigo P.O. Anzac
1091 Pte. Wright R.J. 18 Clerk C/E S (Father) A.C. Wright, Esq., Otter St., Cwood Anzac
2094 Pte. Ward C.E. 19 Carrier Meth. S (Father) W.F. Ward, Queenscliff
3963 Pte. Wittner M. 22 Farm-Laborer Jew S (Father) M. Wittner, Templestowe
765 Pte. White S.R. 33 Draper Pres. S (Brother) Hamilton White, Newry, Scotland
[Page 44]
The Boys
Heard on the march. Tune: "The Churchs One Foundation"
We are the ragtime army
The A.N.Z.A.C.
We cannot shoot, we dont salute
No bloody good are we,
And when we get to Berlin
The Kaiser he will say,
"Hoch Hock & bock & boch
What a b--- rotten lot
Are the A.N.Z.A.C."!
Amen
The Brigadier issued some orders stressing the importance of pushing onwards in assault and never giving ground. He used these words and they were read out to the men on parade:- "If we go forward, we die. If we go backward we die. Better go forward and die!"
"Tucker" Vienna chips in, "Better be like b--- crabs and go sideways!"
Coming from away back to take part in the Battle of the Somme. As we approached the ominous roll of guns sounded, "Whats that noise"? said a new chum. "Dont know", replied Gallipoli veteran, "think its someone "playing marbles!"
[Transcriber's notes:
Breilly has been misspelt as Brilay, Breily
Ebblinghem as Ebinghem
Longueau as Longerau
Puchevillers as Purchevilliers
St. Sauveur as St. Savieurs
Moascar was a camp in Ismailia on the Suez Canal
Samarobriva the Roman name for Amiens
Flamenwerfer (sometimes spelt Flammenwerfer) a flame thrower
A.A.G. Assistant Adjutant-General
A.D.C. Aide-de-Camp]
[Transcribed by Judy Gimbert and Grahame Bickford for the State Library of New South Wales]