Bathurst Invite

Posted on 18/02/2009 by FFFAIF

The FFFAIF is opening the doors of its inaugural Regional Meeting in Bathurst, NSW to RSL Members and the public. Bookings are essential. Please contact Regional meeting co-ordinator Peter Benson pbenson@kooee.com.au

Date:            Sunday 15th March 2009
Where:         Bathurst
Venue:         Bathurst RSL:  114 Rankin St, Bathurst
Time:           10am – 4pm (RSL opens at 9am)
Cost:            A donation per person to offset costs would be greatly appreciated.

 FROMELLES UPDATE 

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Photo: Pheasant Wood Fromelles June 2008 [Warren Baker]

This meeting offers a unique opportunity to hear from several of the key personnel involved in the rediscovery of the missing of Fromelles and the plans to identify them and appropriately commemorate their sacrifice.

Following the archaeological dig undertaken at Fromelles in May and June 2008 that confirmed the presence of  the remains of British and Australian soldiers buried  in previously undisturbed burial pits following the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916, with a minimum number of individuals estimated at 225 to 250 and an upper estimate of 400 to 450 individuals, the Australian and British Governments have announced, with the agreement of the French Government, that a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery will be constructed and that the soldiers’ remains will be exhumed, all practical means used to try to identify them and the soldiers would be give a dignified military funeral with individual headstones. 

The speakers will share their experiences and outline progress that has been achieved and the plans for the new Cemetery and a commemoration service.

  • Hear how Lambis used archived army records to discover the previously unknown burial place of approximately the Australian and British Soldiers at Pheasant Wood near the French village of Fromelles.
  • Listen to the journey that was taken to have an archaeological dig instigated.
  • Find out what was discovered when the excavation took place.
  • Learn how DNA technology will be used in an attempt to try to identify the diggers later this year when they are exhumed.
  • Discover the proposed plans for the new cemetery due to be opened in July 2010.

The speakers will include Lambis Englezos – the man behind the research which led to the location of the ‘missing of Fromelles’; Tim Whitford – whose great uncle Harry Willis is believed to be buried at Fromelles, Major General (Retd) Mike O’Brien, Senior Australian Army Representative on the Australian Fromelles Project Group, responsible for the Australian Army efforts to identify and commemorate the soldiers; Roger Lee, Head of the Army History Unit.

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Photo: Tim Whitford and Lambis Engelzos [Lambis Engelzos]

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Photo: Roger Lee and Major General Mike O’Brien (Rtd) [Dpt Defence] 

Reserve your seat at the meeting by contacting the Bathurst Regional Meeting Co-ordinator Peter Benson pbenson@kooee.com.au 

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

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Memorial Way No.2

Posted on 18/02/2009 by FFFAIF

In Memorial Way this week we look at The Tumblong Memorial and The Cudal Memorial Gates in country NSW.  The information and photos have been provided by FFFAIF Committee member and editor of DIGGER Graeme Hosken.

The Tumblong (NSW) Memorial

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Tumblong (formerly Adelong Crossing) is a village south of Gundagai just off the Hume Highway. This small monument “In Honour Of The Boys Of Tumblong Who Fought In The Great War” is located in front of the Anglican Church and honours the names of forty local WWI enlistments, ten (25%) of whom lost their lives in the Great War.

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Cudal War Memorial Gates, NSW

Cudal is a village west of Orange that in the Great War contributed 58 soldiers to the AIF, 10 of whom did not return (17%). The Memorial takes the form of park gates. At the top of the four columns are the words: Gallipoli, France, Belgium, Palestine.

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The names of two brothers appear on the Memorial Gates they are Holden G. and Holden H.  Private Herbert Holden served with the 2nd Battalion AIF and returned to Australia June 1919. Private George Holden died of Malaria in October 1918. The photo from the Australian War Memorial Collection shows the original grave marker in Egypt covered in flowers.

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*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under–Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Memorial Way, Memorials | Comments Off on Memorial Way No.2

New Patron for FFFAIF

Posted on 15/02/2009 by FFFAIF

The President of FFFAIF, Russell Curley announced, on February 15, that Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia has honoured FFFAIF by accepting the position as Patron-in-Chief of Families and Friends of the First AIF Inc. 

Russell said ‘Vice-Regal Patronage is the highest distinction that our association will ever have bestowed upon it’. At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, the membership voted unanimously to invite the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to become Patron of our association and ‘I’m sure you’ll join with me in thanking Ms Bryce for accepting the invitation and welcome her.’

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The following brief outline of Ms Bryce’s achievements is taken from the Governor-General’s website, www.gg.gov.au , where you will find much more detailed information on this ‘outstanding lady’; her husband, His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE and the Office/Role of the Governor-General.

 Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
BA. LLB (Qld). Hon LLD (Macquarie). Hon DLitt (Charles Sturt). Hon DUniv (Griffith). Hon DU (QUT). Hon LLD (Qld)

Quentin Bryce was born in Brisbane in 1942 and spent her early years in Ilfracombe, a small town in Central Western Queensland. In 1965, she graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from The University of Queensland and, in the same year, was admitted to the Queensland Bar. She has since enjoyed a rich and distinguished career as an academic, lawyer, community and human rights advocate, senior public officer, university college principal, and vice-regal representative in Queensland, and now Australia.

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Ms Bryce recently visited the Western Front and on 9 November visited V.C. Corner Cemetery, The Australian Memorial Park and Pheasant Wood at Fromelles prior to representing Australia with world leaders at the commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice on Remembrance Day. Click here to see more details.

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*Intro Memorial Way

Posted on 11/02/2009 by FFFAIF

Memorial Way will be a regular posting on the FFFAIF website featuring Memorials of the Great War from around Australia.

Soldier Memorials started to appear on the Australian landscape soon after the Boer War (1899-1902), to commemorate those men who had joined the soldiers of the queen to protect the British Empire’s interests in South Africa. These were at first used to honour the soldiers who were serving in the AIF during the Great War.

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Photo: Boer War Memorial at Lismore, NSW, features a copper statue of New South Wales Lancer, made by the Sydney firm Wunderlich Ltd. [Munro Collection]

Ken Inglis in his book Sacred Places War Memorials in the Australian Landscape states that “from mid-1915 ‘patriotic’ ceremonies were organised throughout Australia” and that “memorials were ritually necessary and that honour boards and embellishments to older structures were not enough, moved people in many places to put up monuments giving public honour to men from the locality.”

Possibly the earliest memorial to the men of the First AIF was erected in Balmain, Sydney – a year after the landing of Anzac troops at Gallipoli. Many other localities followed suit. Inglis goes on to say “Memorials would have been still more numerous in Australia had the federal government not controlled their construction. From October 1916 a regulation under the War Precautions Act prohibited appeals unauthorised by state War Councils for any monument or memorial costing more than £25.”

Why not spend some time exploring Australia’s Memorial Way?

Memorial Way No.1 features The Cooks Hill Memorial at Bar Beach Newcastle (NSW)  and is contributed by FFFAIF member Ray Hudson.

Memorial Way No.2 is scheduled for next Web-Wednesday

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

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*Memorial Way No.1

Posted on 11/02/2009 by FFFAIF

The first of our postings on Memorial Way has been contributed by FFFAIF member Ray Hudson and features The Cooks Hill Memorial at Bar Beach Newcastle (NSW).

The Cooks Hill Memorial was erected before the end of 1917 at Bar Beach, Newcastle (NSW) by the local Lifesaving Club.

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As can be seen from the pictures the names of the fallen from 1916 and 1917 are engraved on the front of the monument while the names from 1918 are placed on one side, seemingly as an afterthought.

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In line with the FFFAIF philosophy that there is a human story behind every name on every memorial let us look at just one name – Sergant. E.G. Curley.

Edward Curley enlisted in May 1915, aged 29, married, with one young son. He was twice wounded before ultimately being promoted to Sergeant within the 13th Battalion on 4th August 1918. Only four days later he was killed in action east of Villers Brettoneux on the first day of the continued attacks that led to the defeat of the German army. He is buried in Heath Cemetery near Harbonnieres.

Back home in the immediately following years another tragic little personal story was played out with a tug-of-war in relation to the ownership of Sergt. Curley’s service medals. His marriage had broken up four years prior to his enlistment and both his widow and his obviously grieving parents claimed the right to hold the medals in trust for the now twelve years old son. The military authorities were forced to deal with the bitter correspondence from both parties. The final decision was in favour of the father, being the declared executor of Sgt. Curley’s will and the named next-of-kin at the time of enlistment.

Edward Curley features in the Australian War Memorial collection in a photo taken of the NCOs of the 13th Battalion at Neuve Eglie, Belgium on 12 March 1918.

13-battalion_curley_smlPhoto: 13th Battalion NCOs – Sgt Curley is in third row; 13th from the left [AWM E01727]

Members and ‘visitors’ are invited to contribute to Memorial Way. If you are interested in making a contribution please contact us at: projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au .

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Memorial Way, Memorials | Comments Off on *Memorial Way No.1

*Briefing Room Intro

Posted on 11/02/2009 by FFFAIF

Briefing Room will be a regular posting by FFFAIF members who wish to share their information and experiences related to the Great War. The postings will contain reports and photos contributed by members. If you are a FFFAIF member and would like to contribute to Briefing Room check out the Members Area for details.

The inaugural Briefing Room on the Tyne Cot Railway was contributed by member Stuart Curry.

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Photo: FFFAIF member Stuart Curry, wearing the uniform of an Australian Field Artillery Gunner, with Belgium members Ivan Sinnaeve (‘Shrapnel Charlie’) and Marie-Claire at Menin Gate, Ieper. [Munro Collection]

The next Briefing Room is scheduled for next Web-Wednesday.

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

Posted in Briefing Room | Comments Off on *Briefing Room Intro

*Briefing Room No.1

Posted on 11/02/2009 by FFFAIF

Contributed by FFFAIF member Stuart Curry:

Tyne Cot Railway

As you drive out of Tyne Cot Cemetery, turn left and 100 yards down the road you’ll notice on a footpath a small column with an Australian rising sun on it. Walk further down this path and you’ll come across the only visible part left of the railway that ran N/E from Hellfire Corner to Passchendaele. It is sign posted and definitely worth a quick look.

tyncot_5_sml2Photo: Anzac Walk, Passchendaele [Stuart Curry]

The Australians fought here in the 3rd Battle of Ypres around September/October 1917. After the Battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde Ridge this was the road to Passchendaele.

Every time I went to Tyne Cot cemetery it rained and was very overcast. A reminder of the mud and the weather conditions that can prevail here all year round.

The Tyne Cot Cemetery is a fitting end to what happened here. Many Commonwealth soldiers from different units are buried here around the German pillboxes they fought so hard for.

It gives a magnitude of cost and the futility of war. These were some of the lucky ones because they were found, buried and recorded unlike many others who had just disappeared off the face of the earth. Most of the names of the missing are recorded at the Menin Gate.

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There is a visitor’s centre with an outlook over the battlefields and a small display of interesting artefacts from the war. And if you turn around at Tyne Cot Cemetery and look back at the town of Ypes you can still see the Cathedrals spires which are definitely in artillery range. Not much of a hill to stand on, more like a rise on a paddock, but enough just to see for observation.

[slideshare id=1015827&doc=briefing-room-no1-1234348653841077-2]

[Stuart visited the West Front in April-May 2008.]

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

Posted in Briefing Room, Passchendale, The Western Front, Zonnebeke | Comments Off on *Briefing Room No.1

Over The Front

Posted on 03/02/2009 by FFFAIF

over-the-front

over the front – the Great War in the Air is an exhibition now open at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The exhibition reflects the part Australians played in the air battles over the battlefields of the Western Front.

The exhibition is described by the AWM as bringing history to life with a range of extraordinary and original aircraft and an exciting visual depiction of military flight.

 For more details click here.

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

Posted in Australian Flying Corps, Australian War Memorial, Events | Comments Off on Over The Front

What's new at NAA?

Posted on 03/02/2009 by FFFAIF

The National Archives of Australia is currently hosting an exhibition, in Canberra, entitled Shell Shocked: Australia after the Armistice.

shell-shocked

NAA describes the exhibit as exploring how the community dealt with the lingering effects of the war over the next 20 years.

The National Archives of Australia’s website has recently introduced a new feature called Mapping Our Anzacs.

This feature identifies the number of soldiers who were born in each town and how many enlisted in the town.  It appears to be based on the information in the enlistment Attestation Papers.

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It provides the opportunity to find a service person, add a note or photo to the scrapbook, build a tribute. For more details click here.

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

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*Federal Govt Plans

Posted on 27/01/2009 by FFFAIF

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Photo: Villers-Bretonneux CWGC Cemetery [Ray Hudson]

The Federal Government of Australia recently released information on its proposed plans for the commemoration of the sacrifice and achievements of Australians on the Western Front. The following media release was issued by the Minister for Veteran’s Affair, Alan Griffin, on 21 January 2008.

GOVT COMMITTED TO COMMEMORATING WESTERN FRONT SACRIFICE
The Australian Government is committed to finding the best way to commemorate and highlight the service and sacrifice of Australians on the Western Front, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today.
“The story of the Australians on the Western Front is not as well-known as it should be, but I am pleased to see this is changing,” Mr Griffin said.
“Last year the Prime Minister announced that the one-off Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux would become an annual event.
“I am also currently investigating options to raise awareness of the sacrifice and achievements of Australians on the Western Front.
“The previous Government announced plans to build an Interpretive Centre outside Villers?Bretonneux at an estimated cost of $35 million.  While they funded initial work on this project, they failed to provide funding for the Centre itself.
“I have concerns about the cost and scale of that proposal, particularly when it is compared to the more modest centres established by other countries in the area.
“My focus is on telling the story of Australians across the Western Front, not the construction of a costly building in a single location.
“I am assessing all our options to ensure we most appropriately honour the courage and sacrifice of those Australians who served on the Western Front.
“I want to ensure we spend our money wisely and effectively.
“I expect to be able to announce further details later this year,” Mr Griffin said.

The Australian media reported the media release:
Channel 9 News: WWI digger memorial will go ahead: govt. Click here.
The Herald Sun: Memorial to go ahead, Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin says. Click here.
The Canberra Times: Plans for $35m war memorial ditched. Click here.
ABC News: Govt ditches plans for $35m WWI memorial. Click here.

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

*****

 FFFAIF supports the inscription of “FROMELLES” on National and State Memorials

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