The debate on the fate of the remains of the Missing of Fromelles continues.
While awaiting further news updates on Pheasant Wood the Families and Friends of the First AIF will proudly introduce you to some of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Fromelles on July 19 1916.
Brothers Jack and Tim Carey from Macleay River, New South Wales, Australia were two of the recorded 5333 casualties of the Battle of Fromelles. Private John Stephen (Jack) Carey is buried in Rue-Du-Bois Cemetery and Private Timothy Joseph Carey is lisited amongst the missing diggers from the 53rd Battalion AIF.
Photo: Private J.S. Carey & Private T.J. Carey
The following is an extract from an article published in DIGGER issue 21which includes a letter from Private John (Jack) Purcell to his mother following the death of his cousins Jack & Tim Carey.
Brothers together in life and death
The letter supplied by FFFAIF member Helen Carey, great niece of the Carey brothers. The letter was written four days after the battle. (Some minor changes have been made to punctuation.)
France July 24th 1916
Dearest Mother,
I sent Maud a cable to break the news to you of poor Jack & Tim’s sad end. I don’t know if I have done right or wrong in sending it to Maud but I thought she would break it better to you than anyone else. It was a task that I dreaded, as in your weak state of health I feared for the result, as I know your affection for them was the same as if they were your own sons. It is awful, but it is the will of God. On the 19th, just on six o’clock, the attack took place. Poor old Jack got hit in the face with a piece of shrapnel & never moved again; killed right out just before our boys jumped over the trenches to charge. Tim… had joined the bomb throwers (they are the first to jump out to the attack). Gillagan was first over, Tim went next. They only went a few yards when Tim got hit in the stomach with four machine gun bullets, both close together. Gillagan bandaged him & Tim lived a few minutes, bleeding inwardly. He spoke to Gillagan, telling him to sit down as he would get it & he also asked him not to leave him. He stayed with him to the last. He pulled him into a bit of a hole & then went on to the fight & on his way back, to make sure beyond doubt, he felt Tim’s pulse & heart, but he had passed away. He took his watch, which he will send home as soon as he can. Gillagan & Tim were very close pals, as they were always together all the time in Egypt & they agreed to help one another should either get hit & the three of them went to their duty before they went down to the trenches. I heard the news late of the evening of the 20th as we were pumping shells into the Fritz for over 24 hours just behind where the fight was going on, so we were right in it very much.
On the morning of the 21st I got permission from my officers to go & make inquiry & doubly sure, as mistakes are often made. I saw all the fellows who were with them & also Gillagan. There were an awful lot of our boys killed in this stunt & a great many of my old mates of the battalion that I used to belong to. I wanted Jack & Tim to come over to the artillery, no, and the morning before we left Egypt (that is the day I came out of the hospital), Jack & Tim’s lot just arrived at our camp. [Jack] came down for a few minutes to see me – he told me he was offered a job as a cook for the officers the day before, but he would not have it on. He seemed to like soldiering at the finish better than [I] & was offered a promotion, which he also refused. Both he & Tim were never better in health in their lives & both were game to the last & not a bit nervy. This has upset me awful; I am broken hearted & [they] were more like brothers than cousins. They were a pair of white men & the most popular pair that ever came away. Jack’s yarns are known everywhere. I can’t put everything I would like in this letter as they are censored & we can’t write what we would like.
Old Gillagan acted the part of a hero as he stayed with Tim all the time & done what he could under very heavy fire. I heard this from many. Tell Joe to have Mass said for them for me out of my money & may their souls rest in peace; they were fully prepared. Dan & Bill are both safe & I myself [am] in good health & pray you are the same.
I remain, Your son in sorrow
Jack
P.S. Excuse the scribble as I am writing this on the floor of my dugout & the light is very bad. Poor aunt Biddy, how awful. I can’t get it out of my head day & night & it will kill her, and what an awful blow to all the family.
Endnotes: (1) Maud is believed to have been Jack Purcell’s fiancée. However, he did not marry after the war. (2) ‘Gillagan’ was Private 3068 Alfred Charles Gilligan. (3) Dan and Bill Purcell were brothers of Jack, and were also at the Battle of Fromelles. Dan passed away in 1927. (4) ‘Aunt Biddy’ was Bridget Carey, Jack and Tim’s mother.
The complete article on the Carey Brothers and including profiles on their Digger mates Private Alfred Gilligan and Private John Purcell is available to members of the Families and Friends of the First AIF in DIGGER issue 21. Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area (click on tab at the top of the page) or fill out a Membership Application Form .
Each edition of DIGGER contains many articles and photos, the majority of which are published for the first time and are provided by members. Details of the contents of past DIGGER magazines can be viewed by clicking on the DIGGER tab at the top of this page.
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FROMELLES IS NOT HONOURED ON THE NATIONAL OR ANY STATE MEMORIAL IN AUSTRALIA.
FFFAIF SUPPORTS ALL EFFORTS TO RECOGNISE FROMELLES ON OR AT THE NATIONAL AND ALL STATE MEMORIALS THAT PRESENTLY LIST BATTLES BY NAME.