|
| |
|
|
Title:
Bowman shows courage under fire |
 |
Story
Extract
Having shown courage and bravery in the line of fire, Sergeant James Bowman was awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) after World War l.
Sergeant Bowman, one of three uncles to Mortlake’s Noella Costello to have served in World War l, was presented with the medal after going “above and beyond” the call of duty by saving two wounded soldiers while under heavy gunfire.
“Sgt Bowman was in c ... |
| Author:
Western District Newspapers |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Chest unlocks wartime memories |
 |
Story
Extract
A rusty old Bushells tea chest with its faded monogram held a long-kept secret.
The chest lay undisturbed for many years, at the back of an old tin shed at the bottom of the garden
at the Fleming family home.
Speaking from her Camperdown home earlier this week, Shirley Russell told the tale of the lucky black cat (and the wallet) that perhaps saved the life of her father, James Murrie Fleming, ... |
| Author:
Western District Newspapers |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Dead Man's Penny |
 |
Story
Extract
William Stanley Allars Private 39th Bn, Australian Infantry, A.I.F who died on Wednesday 2nd May 1917.
Aged 21
“Bill” Allars is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord France.This beautiful cemetery is maintained by the Australian Commonwealth Graves Commission.This young man had been working as an agricultural labourer on his father’s farm.When WW1 broke out he enlisted, at ninetee ... |
| Author:
The Coastal Rag |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Dead Man's Penny Part 2 |
 |
Story
Extract
As the next of kin, a grateful British Government sent his parents a Memorial Death Plaque, commonly called the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ by the troops.The history of the Dead Man’s Penny began in 1916 with the realisation by the British Government that some form of an official token of gratitude should be given to the fallen service men and women’s bereaved next of kin. The enormous casualty figures not ... |
| Author:
The Coastal Rag |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Family heirloom has seen the trenches |
 |
Story
Extract
A crib board that travelled through the trenches of Gallipoli and France is now a much treasured Anderson family heirloom.
Cobden’s Bob Anderson was taught to play the wartime game by his father, Joseph Laurence Anderson (Laurie), and has since taught his own two children to play.
“I guess playing crib was a good way for World War 1 soldiers to pass the time while they were stuck in trenches,” B ... |
| Author:
Western District Newspapers |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Grand introduction to medals |
 |
Story
Extract
Gary O’Neil’s passion for coin collecting as a young child has developed into a deep curiosity with war medals and the stories behind them.
As a young boy, Gary’s grandmother (who lived with his family at the time) would often share stories of life during World War ll and of the servicemen she had met during those times.
One day – after already introducing him to the world of coin collecting – ... |
| Author:
Western District Newspapers |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Journey starts at RSL |
 |
Story
Extract
Many years after his grandfather’s passing, Michael Absalom began an interesting search for details of his beloved grandfather’s involvement in World War ll.
“Having known for several years that my grandfather had served his country in World War ll, I was amazed at how little my family knew about our grandad’s service,” Michael said.
“Grandad, like many who went to war, refused to speak of it or ... |
| Author:
Western District Newspapers |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
My father's medals |
 |
Story
Extract
A FORMER Navy chaplain’s engaging story about his father’s war medals has won him a limited edition set of Sands of Gallipoli 2009 medallions.
Ian MacPherson of Baldivis sent the Sound Telegraph a short story about his father’s General Service Medal for World War I in response to a Sands of Gallipoli competition.
‘‘It is the only medal that my Dad (Cecil Gordon MacPherson) was awarded,’’ Mr Macp ... |
| Author:
Sound Telegraph |
Date
Posted:
|
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Harry Keid |
 |
Story
Extract
A war that happened 90 years ago. What does that have to do with me? Nothing, accept for a day off. Or so I thought until about eight years ago when a chance discovery led me to uncover a family, my family, that had been decimated by that war.
My great grandfather, Harry Keid, was the one of 7 children, second to his sister Ettie, the only girl. When England sent out the call for war in 1914, ... |
| Author:
Tracey O'Hara |
Date
Posted:
Apr 15 2005 5:32PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Within Sight Of Home - Private Richard Warne MM (31 Battalion AIF) |
 |
Story
Extract
Soldiers accept the risk of battle. The death, pain of wounds and the hidden fear of illness are common place. But fate can be a cruel and vicious player in the game and can deal you the worst of hands. This is one such story
Richard Warne was born to simple country folk, in Maryborough, Queensland, in 1898. A boy of the land, he worked hard on the family far ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:22PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
The ANZAC Bushido - 764 Sergeant Wykeham Henry Freame (1st Battalion AIF) |
 |
Story
Extract
In August 1914 a man of some what unusual features presented himself for enlistment to the AIF in the New South Wales town of Glen Innes. Allocated to the 1st Battalion being formed at Kensington, he gave his birthplace as Kitscoty, Alberta, Canada. Many thought him to be of Eskimo extraction, some thought American Indian, others maybe Mexican. In fact the soldier Wykeham Henry Freame was none of ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:07PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Meeting with Last ANZAC |
 |
Story
Extract
I was fortunate enough to meet Australia's last surviving Gallipoli Digger, Alec Campbell, just a few months before he passed away on 16 May 2002.
Meeting Alec Campbell was a great honour and for me it as an inspirational encounter with a very interesting and humble Australian.
Alec recounted many memories as he slowly sipped on his malt whiskey. He had enlisted in the Army at the age of 16 ... |
| Author:
Stephen Davie |
Date
Posted:
Apr 19 2005 6:05PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Mary the Munitionette |
 |
Story
Extract
My Aunt Mary was always a strong role model for succeeding generations in our family. Before passing away in her 90s, Mary held court in the parlour of her home in inner Sydney for almost 70 years.
As she passed the lamingtons during afternoon tea, it was hard to imagine that Mary had probably contributed as much to the ANZAC legend as her brothers who joined the First AIF at the start of the ... |
| Author:
Bob Crawshaw |
Date
Posted:
Apr 23 2005 7:53AM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
A Son's Memory Of His Father |
|
Story
Extract
These are the recorded memories my father Norman Cooper made of his last recollection of his father, before he went to the First World War in England.
"It would be about 1916 and I was 3 years old. I remember my father then, and only then. He was cleaning his buttons on his uniform with a contraption which was like a piece of metal, with a saw cut in it. He would put it under the button and it ... |
| Author:
Bronwyn Calman |
Date
Posted:
Apr 25 2005 12:44PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Letter from Gallipoli 1915 |
|
Story
Extract
I had two geat uncles at Galliploi: John and Martin.
Below is a letter John wrote to his sister,Mary,from Gallipoli before he was killed.
Sept. 10th 1915
To Miss M. Brennan
Commercial Club Hotel Mt. Magnet
West Australia
My Dear Sister
Your letters to July 10th have reached me safely, very pleased to hear all were doing well. I sent you a F S. Card [ last week, we will get a ... |
| Author:
Bob Crawshaw |
Date
Posted:
Apr 23 2005 8:54AM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Australian Humour at Gallipoli. |
|
Story
Extract
This is a story told to me by my next door neighbour who was a gallipoli veteran. Mr Cecil HemphillI of Chatswood NSW told me the story about 43 years ago.
A group of Aussies had been observing Turkish troop movements from their hidden positions for a couple of days. They noticed that every so often some Turkish soldiers would hide behind some large bushes and make a small fire to boil the "bi ... |
| Author:
Phillip Greethead |
Date
Posted:
Apr 22 2005 10:00PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
The Innocence of Youth |
|
Story
Extract
As a young cadet at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1968 I was very pleased with myself to be selected in a group of four cadets to be part of the catafalque party on ANZAC Day at the site of the Grave of Sir William Throsby Bridges, overlooking the college and located on the lower reaches of Mount Pleasant. We practiced hard for the weeks leading up to the day under the stern eye of the ... |
| Author:
Jim Longworth |
Date
Posted:
Apr 22 2005 12:57PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Anzac Day |
|
Story
Extract
Anzac Day was for a long time an abstract concept for me, one that I only indulged out of respect for a veteran grandfather. Oddly enough, the thing that sparked my realisation of the true importance of this day was watching the reality TV series BIG BROTHER at the beginning of last day. The contestants were seated around the dinner table, and somebody suggested a minute's silence out of respect f ... |
| Author:
Bek Warnock |
Date
Posted:
Apr 21 2005 2:06PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Stand Alone - Sergeant Lawrence Walter Barber MM (36 Battalion AIF) |
|
Story
Extract
Orders are orders and soldiers will carry out those orders, even when faced with certain death. This is one of those stories.
Lawrence Walter Barber was born in February 1894, but what's more, he was born to be a soldier. Raised in the outer Sydney suburb of Granville, he joined the compulsory military cadet scheme at the age of 12. Young Barber relished the discipline and mateship ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:24PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
The Insubordinate Padre - Chaplain Alfred Ernest Goller (37th Battalion AIF) |
|
Story
Extract
Soldiers fight war's in many different ways, whether with a rifle, a machine gun, as an artilleryman or armed with medicine as a nurse. For a Padre his faith is his weapon. A faith in his cause and a faith for the soldiers he supports. This is one just story.
Alfred Goller was born in Bannockburn, Victoria in July 1883. His parents were a simple people, with strong religious convictions and t ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:19PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
Private Charles Williamson MM, C de G, Medal Mititaire |
|
Story
Extract
Charles Williamson had enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers as a Militia soldier. In April 1898, he decided to try his hand at full time soldiering, by joining the crack Coldstream Guards.
He relished the soldiering but not the harsh discipline of the Guards, and deserted in October that year. He returned to face his punishment in December and was court-martialled. He was sente ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:15PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
The Mascot - Henri Heememe |
|
Story
Extract
As the clouds of war burst with a fury across Europe in the autumn of 1914. The German forces rolled in a relentless wave towards Paris. The British Expeditionary Forces, held a thin line at Mons, but under the weight of the mighty German Armies, the line crumpled and the BEF was in full retreat.
On the outskirts of Lille, a battery of the Royal Artillery was deployed awaiting to try and stop ... |
| Author:
Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 12:11PM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Title:
The Luckiest Man Alive - Lance Corporal Vernon Warner (4th Battalion) |
|
Story
Extract
As the sound of military music echoed between the buildings, the troops filed down Sydney's George Street, ramrod straight but with a relaxed swagger which was characteristic of the Australian soldier. As the 4th Battalion came into view, Enid Warner struggled to look through the crowd, to catch a last glimpse of her husband, Vernon. As she clutched her tiny flag, she spied her soldier. "Vern, Ver ... |
| Author:
Darryl Kelly |
Date
Posted:
Apr 18 2005 10:48AM |
|
|
|
View Story
|
|
|
|
|