*1st Aussie Casualty on Western Front.

Posted on 14/10/2008 by FFFAIF

Yesterday, 14th October 2008, was the 94th anniversary of the death of the first Australian to be killed in action, on the Western Front, in the Great War. William Thomas Leggett, an Australian serving with the 1st British Life Guards was killed in a brief skirmish with German troops occupying Gheluwe in West Flanders, Belgium, on 14th October 1914.

Photo: William Leggett, Corporal Of Horse, C Squadron, 1st Life Guards. [Leggett Family]

To read the story around the events leading to the death of William Leggett, click here.

William Leggett was born in Lithgow, New South Wales, in 1891 and later moved to Goulburn. In 1912 Leggett sailed from Sydney to Britain where he joined the British Cavalry, serving with the 1st Life Guards.

In October 2001 the William Leggett Memorial was unveiled near the church at Gheluwe, thanks to the work of a dedicated band of supporters including FFFAIF members Johan Durnez, Anny De Decker and Ivan ‘Shrapnel Charlie’ Sinnaeve. For more details click here.
The memorial represents Corporal William Leggett falling from his horse after being shot by German soldiers.

Photo: The Leggett Memorial, Gheluwe, Belgium [Johan Durnez]

On Remembrance Day 2005 a second memorial to William Leggett was unveiled at Rocky Hill, Goulburn, NSW. This memorial was constructed from the sheet of steel remaining after the silhouette had been cut for the Gheluwe memorial – thus linking William Leggett’s home town in Australia to place of death in Belgium. Descendents of William Leggett were present at the unveiling of both memorials.

Photo: The Leggett Memorial, Goulburn, New South Wales. [Alan Kitchen]

On the same day across the other side of the world, in Belgium, a special Remembrance Day Service was held at the grave of William Leggett, Harelbeke Belgium.

Photo: The Mayor of Harelbeke laying a wreath on behalf of the Town of Harelbeke. [Johan Durnez]

A detailed photographic report on the ceremony at Harelbeke appeared in DIGGER Issues 14 & 15. DIGGER is the quarterly magazine of the FFFAIF. The magazine contains a unique collection of articles and photos, the majority of which are published for the first time and are provided by members. Take some time to have a look at past DIGGER magazines by clicking here.

Membership of the Families and Friends of the First AIF Inc is $A40 p.a. and includes anual subscription to DIGGER magazine. To discover more about the FFFAIF click here. Membership application forms are available by clicking here .

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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 urge those responsible to ensure all necessary scientific and other means are employed to properly identify each soldier.

Posted in Commemorations, Memorials, The Western Front | Comments Off on *1st Aussie Casualty on Western Front.

Poelcappelle

Posted on 07/10/2008 by FFFAIF

All five divisions of the AIF were involved in the Third Battle of Ypres – commonly referred to as the Battle of Passchendale – from July to November 1917, which included the Battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. In this time the AIF incurred 38,000 casualties.

C.E.W. Bean’s map showing the frontline: Third Battle of Ypres, 26th September 1917.

The Battle of Poelcappelle was fought 91 years ago, on 9th October 1917, just north of the town of Ypres. The attack was launched in heavy rain and accounted for 1,250 AIF casualties without gaining ground.

The Australian War Memorial notes that the AIF Battalions which took part in the battle were awarded the following honours: Awarded for participation in the broad-front assault, in the most difficult of waterlogged conditions, on the Passchendaele Ridge, centring on Poelcappelle village. An exhausting and only partly successful operation for British and Dominion forces.

The Battle of Poelcappelle was followed by the First Battle of Passchendaele on the 12 October and the Second Battle of Passchendaele which lasted from 26th October to 10 November. The Australian War Memorial notes that: In eight weeks of fighting Australian forces incurred 38,000 casualties. The combined total of British and Dominion casualties has been estimated at 310,000 (estimated German losses were slightly lower) and no breakthrough was achieved. The costly offensives, ending with the capture of Passchendaele village, merely widened the Ypres salient by a few kilometres.

The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 is compiling a database of those who fought and died in the battles for Passchendaele. For more information on the museum click here  and their database click here.

One of the 1,250 casualties suffered by the AIF in the Battle of Poelcapplle was twenty year old Private Allan Marmaduke Crawley (No5319). Private Crawley, known as ‘Duke’ was killed in action on 9th October 1917.

Photo: Pte A.M. ‘Duke’ Crawley [Wellington’s Finest]

Private Crawley had previously been wounded on 27 February when his battalion seized Malt Trench near Le Barque. Details about Private Crawley, his cousin Trooper Francis Crawley and others who volunteered from the Wellington District of NSW can be found in Wellington’s Finest  – researched and written by FFFAIF members Trevor Munro and Graeme Hosken.

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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 urge those responsible to ensure all necessary scientific and other means are employed to properly identify each soldier.

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Passchendale, Poelcappelle | Comments Off on Poelcappelle

FFFAIF Statement

Posted on 06/10/2008 by FFFAIF

The Families and Friends of the First AIF applauds the announcement by Ministers Warren Snowdon (Australia) and Derek Twigg (United Kingdom) that the Australian Diggers and their British mates, buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood near Fromelles, will be given the honour, respect and dignity of individual reburials in a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery to be built on land donated by the French Government and Fromelles Village Council. The present burial ground at Pheasant Wood, so generously donated by Madame Demassiet, proved unsuitable for the new cemetery but will be the site of a perpetual memorial.

Photo: Fromelles Church Spire from the site new CWGC’s cemetery at Fromelles. [Dept. Defence]

FFFAIF believes that the decision taken, and the site selection (diagonally opposite the village church) overlooking the former battlefield and VC Corner Cemetery, are appropriate and we offer our thanks to the governments of Australia, United Kingdom and France, and the people of Fromelles –  especially Minister Snowden, Minister Twigg, Secretary Bockel, Mayor Huchette and Madame Demassiet.

We also believe that the Australian Government through the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs should commit to routinely extracting and recording DNA samples from each set of remains recovered and ensure all possible efforts are made to return their identities to these brave young men. Each lost his life for his country; he shouldn’t lose his identity as well, if there is a possibility of restoring it.

The Australian soldiers are known by name and a database of their relatives who are willing to provide DNA samples for comparison has been established.

Emeritus professor and forensic archaeologist, Professor Richard Wright, says a relatively inexpensive test is available to determine those who lived in Australia and those who did not, using Strontium isotope composition analysis of tooth enamel or bone from each set of remains.

FFFAIF urges the Australian and UK Governments to decide in favour of ordering Strontium and DNA testing of the soldiers’ remains so each is given the chance of proper identification, and the opportunity to be at eternal rest under a headstone bearing his own name.

Lest We Forget.

Posted in Members' Announcements, Top Posts | Comments Off on FFFAIF Statement

Satellite View.

Posted on 06/10/2008 by FFFAIF

The site of the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery at Fromelles in northern France can easily be viewed using Google Earth.

Photo: Fromelles Church Spire from the site new CWGC’s cemetery at Fromelles. [Dept. Defence]

The co-ordinates for the site are: Latitude 50°36’27.97″N and Longitude 2°51’3.47″E

If you don’t have Google Earth already downloaded onto your computer click here for instructions.

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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 urge those responsible to ensure all necessary scientific and other means are employed to properly identify each soldier.

Posted in Top Posts | Comments Off on Satellite View.

Site CONFIRMED.

Posted on 04/10/2008 by FFFAIF

The first Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery to be built in France in 62 years will be located opposite the church in the French Village of Fromelles.

Photo: The site of the new CWGC’s cemetery at Fromelles. [Dept. Defence]

THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Saturday, 4 October 2008
141/2008

CEMETERY SITE CHOSEN FOR WWI SOLDIERS’ REBURIAL

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, and his British counterpart, Minister for Veterans and Under-Secretary for Defence, the Hon Derek Twigg, today announced that up to 400 First World War soldiers buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, would be recovered and re-interred in a new cemetery.
Mr Snowdon said that in consultation with the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, the recommendation made by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that the current burial site at Pheasant Wood is unsuitable for a cemetery due to water-logging was accepted.
The decision is the culmination of discussions since June this year when a preliminary excavation at Pheasant Wood confirmed the presence of WWI Australian and British soldiers.
Mr Snowdon met this week with the Mayor of Fromelles, Mr Hubert Huchette and with the French Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans Affairs, Jean-Marie Bockel in Paris.
“The preferred site chosen and agreed to for the new cemetery is diagonally opposite the village church at Fromelles, overlooking the battlefield to the west and within line of sight of the original burial ground at Pheasant Wood,” said Mr Snowdon.
“The new cemetery will be a place of remembrance, of commemoration and of pilgrimage for all Australians and was chosen with the approval of the French Government and the local community at Fromelles.”
Responsibility for the planning, design and construction lies with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The tender for the exhumation of the remains at Pheasant Wood will also be the responsibility of the Commission acting on behalf of the Australian and British Governments.
“We anticipate that the work on the new cemetery will commence by mid-year 2009,” said Mr Twigg.
“It is also planned that the original burial ground, generously donated by Madame Demassiet earlier this year, will bear a memorial in perpetuity.”

An image of the burial ground is available on the Defence website here:
www.defence.gov.au/fromelles/images/gallery/20081004/20081002adf00000_001.jpg

The Australian Army will continue to keep the public updated through its dedicated website www.defence.gov.au/fromelles and will alert users to the release of tender documents via this channel.

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More details are reported in The Age newspaper: WWI diggers to get new French cemetery. Click here.

Photo: Fromelles Church Spire from Pheasant Wood [Carole Laignel]

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*Private Storey Photos

Posted on 01/10/2008 by FFFAIF

Here is an update on the re-dedication of Private George Storey’s final resting place in ButtesNew British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Belgium from the Department of Defence.

Photo: Mr Warren Snowdon at re-dedication service, 30 September 2008 [Dept. Defence]

Wednesday 1 October 2008
137/2008

91 YEARS ON: RE-DEDICATION OF PRIVATE STOREY’S HEADSTONE IN BELGIUM

On September 30 1917, 21-year-old Australian soldier Private George Richard Storey fell in the Battle of Polygon Wood, and now his family has been able to pay their respects at his gravesite on the anniversary of his death.

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, attended the Buttes New British Cemetery, Belgium, where the headstone ‘Known unto God’ was today re-dedicated to Private Storey.

“This has been a long journey for Private Storey’s family, particularly his two nephews who are here today, and I am pleased they now have the opportunity to lay this brave soldier to rest under a named headstone,” Minister Snowdon said.

“The commemoration of our war dead is a significant responsibility that the Government takes very seriously, and moments like this confirm the importance of honouring our fallen soldiers.”

During the intimate ceremony, the celebrant officially dedicated Private Storey’s headstone, and the Australian Army’s Major General Mike O’Brien recited the Ode following a moving rendition of the Last Post.  The service complemented the full-military funeral which took place when Private Storey’s remains were re-interred, along with four of his comrades’, last October.

“The ceremony to re-dedicate Private Storey’s headstone was a dignified event which recognised his sacrifice on behalf of the Australian nation,” Minister Snowdon said.

“The memory of this brave young man, and the loss borne by his family, will live on for future generations, and it was my great honour to join his relatives here today.”

Minister Snowdon is in Belgium to attend Private Storey’s re-dedication ceremony, and will also take the opportunity to lay a wreath at Menin Gate during the daily commemorative service.

Photo: David and Geoffrey Storey laying a wreath on their uncle’s grave. [Dept. Defence]

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The Department of Defence website hosts an Image Gallery which contains hundreds of ‘download-able’ photos, in ‘hi & lo’ resolution: including  re-dedication of Private Storey’s grave; the 2007 archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles; The Minister’s recent visit to Fromelles. 

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Whilst in France the Minister also met with his French counterpart to discuss the reburial of the fallen soldiers from the Battle of Fromelles. From the Department of Defence:

01 October 2008
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP meets with French counterpart Monsieur Jean- Marie Bockel
On Tuesday 30 September 2008, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, met with his French counterpart, Secretary of State attached to Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, Monsieur Jean- Marie Bockel, to discuss the recovery and re-interment of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers at Fromelles, France.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Minister Snowdon to thank the French Government for their crucial support of the limited excavation at the site earlier this year, which determined beyond doubt that the soldiers’ remains had laid in-situ for over 90 years.
It was also a chance for the two Ministers to discuss the joint agreement required between Australia, Britain and France for the exhumation of remains to commence. The three countries are currently negotiating a suitable timeframe and process for the recovery and re-interment of these First World War soldiers at Fromelles.

To view photos of the meeting click here.

 

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Zonnebeke | Comments Off on *Private Storey Photos

*Remembered In ….

Posted on 30/09/2008 by FFFAIF

Remembered in France

Families and Friends of First AIF member, in France, Yves Fohlen sent this message on the anniversary of the death of Lt. Percy Ralph MM.

Photo: Percy Ralph shortly after enlistment [Yves Fohlen]

 

Today, [30 September] 90 years ago was killed in action 2/Lieut Percy EDGAR RALPH  MM 53rd Battalion Australian Infantry and too many others Diggers of the 3rd and 5th Australian Division were also KIA… they broke the Hindenburg Line north of Saint Quentin city.
Some years ago to tell PERCY’s story I wrote a book called “He came from Australia”. Roland “Brig” Ralph, the nephew of Percy, kindly gave me the letters of Percy to write that book.
John Laffin gave me the fortitude to start writing in English language that book… John and Roland were both WWII Pacific War veterans ………John Laffin passed away in 2000;Roland Ralph passed away in  2001.
And I am the only one left. So Today I shall be ALONE to visit Percy’s grave and tomorrow with Mike Goodwin and the teachers, the students of Mackay North High School.
ALONE is of course not the right word because I know that from their Heaven ..Percy, John and Roland will be there with many others…and the rain falling today will hide my tears.

LEST WE FORGET

Photo: Sgt Percy Ralph [Yves Fohlen]

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Yves’ book He came from Australia is primarily the story of Percy Ralph who fought with the AIF on the Western Front from 1917 and was killed in 1918. He left Australia as a Private soldier in late 1916 and within a year was promoted to Sergeant and then Second Lieutenant. The book also includes a brief outline of the history of the 53rd Battalion in the last years of the war.

He came from Australia is available from The War Bookshop. Click here to order. Yves second book, With Guts and Bayonets – Diggers and Doughboys on the Hindenburg Line 1918, is also available from The War Bookshop.

Posted in Commemorations, Diggers of First AIF, The Western Front | Comments Off on *Remembered In ….

*Re-dedication

Posted on 30/09/2008 by FFFAIF

The final resting place of the recently identified member of the ‘Zonnebeke Five’, Private Storey, was re-dedicated yesterday with the unveiling of a new headstone.

The discovery of the identity of Private Storey was featured in August RECENT NEWS item, 3 out of 5 @ Zonnebeke .

Photo: ‘Zonnebeke 5′ graves, Buttes New British Cemetery, Belgium – May 2008

The Australian Government’s Department of Defence Media release gives these details of the service:

RE-DEDICATION OF HEADSTONE FOR AUSTRALIAN WWI SOLDIER BURIED IN BELGIUM: PRIVATE STOREY IDENTITY CONFIRMED 

WHO:             Relatives of the late Private George Storey, including his two nephews Geoffrey and David Storey; Australian Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP; Senior Army Representative, Major General Mike O’Brien.
WHAT:          Re-dedication of Private Storey’s headstone, which currently reads ‘Known unto God’.
WHERE:        Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Belgium
WHEN:          2.45pm for 3pm start, Tuesday 30 September 2008 

In October 2007, the remains of five Australian soldiers who fell during the Battle of Polygon Wood in 1917 were re-interred in a moving ceremony with full-military honours at the Buttes New British Cemetery, Belgium.  The remains of these soldiers were discovered in 2006 during excavation works near the village of Westhoek.
Prior to burial, DNA matching was able to confirm the identity of two of those soldiers; Private John Hunter and Sergeant George Calder.  The remaining three soldiers were interred under individual headstones marked ‘Known unto God’.  However, their DNA profiles were retained in the hope that a future match may provide the necessary evidence to confirm their identities.
Advances in DNA technology resulted last month in the confirmation of the identity of Private George Richard Storey.  He was killed in action on 30 September 1917, and 91 years later members of Private Storey’s family, along with the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, will witness the re-dedication of his headstone in a short graveside ceremony.

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Zonnebeke | Comments Off on *Re-dedication

*Member's Discount

Posted on 30/09/2008 by FFFAIF

Families and Friends of the AIF members are being offered a special discount at Alexander Fax Bookshop, Canberra, to coincide with the Annual General Meeting of the FFFAIF. If you are a Member of the FFFAIF details are available in Trench News in the Member’s Area. Click here.

Are you interested in becoming a member – why not fill out a Membership Application Form today and enjoy the benefits of our DIGGER magazines, as well? Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area by clicking here.

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 here. Check out the contents of the latest bumper edition of DIGGER – Number 24. Click here.

Posted in Annual General Meeting, Books | Comments Off on *Member's Discount

*Recovery of Soldiers

Posted on 30/09/2008 by FFFAIF

More information about the new cemetery planned for Fromelles has been made available by Warren Snowdon,The Minister for Minister for Defence Science and Personnel through the Department of Defence’s latest media release:

Tuesday, 30 September 2008
137/2008

MINISTERS DISCUSS FROMELLES: RECOVERY OF SOLDIERS

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, today met with his French counterpart, Secretary of State attached to Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, Monsieur Jean- Marie Bockel, to discuss the recovery and re-interment of up to 400 Australian and British soldiers at Fromelles, France.
The work at Pheasant Wood requires joint agreement between Australia, Britain and France for the exhumation.
“Currently, all three countries are negotiating a suitable agreement on the timeframe and process for the recovery and re-interment of these Commonwealth soldiers,” Minister Snowdon said.
“Monsieur Bockel and I discussed a number of aspects today, including the exhumation of the remains and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the selection of land for the new Commonwealth War Cemetery.”
French Government support was crucial for the limited excavation at the site earlier this year, which determined beyond doubt that the soldiers’ remains had laid in-situ for over 90 years.
“We are grateful for the support already provided by the French authorities and welcome their involvement in the next phase of this sensitive project,” Minister Snowdon said.
“This is a large project with a number of complicating factors, including the high water table in the Fromelles region.
“The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is considering the implication of this, along with other concerns, in their selection of a site to construct the first War Cemetery of its kind in more than 50 years.”

Posted in Diggers of First AIF, Top Posts | Comments Off on *Recovery of Soldiers