Families and Friends of the First AIF

The Battle of Fromelles took place on 19^th July 1916. The 8^th, 14^th & 15^th Brigades of the 5th Division, AIF took part in this disastrous attack. The work undertaken by Lambis Englezos to identify the Missing Diggers of Fromelles has inspired Families and Friends of the First AIF member Stephen Brooks to have a closer look at the families involved in the ill-fated battle. Stephen’s research, so far, has verified 24 sets of brothers and one father and son took part in the Battle of Fromelles. Over the coming days we will introduce you to some of these families.

Today we proudly introduce you to the first of our brothers at Fromelles: Private Eric Robert Wilson (N^o.4887), Private Samuel Charles Wilson (N^o.3534) and Private James Arthur Ernest Wilson (N^o.3533). Brothers Private S.J. Wilson and Private E.R. Wilson are amongst the 14 members of the 53^rd Battalion of the 14^th Brigade listed as “missing” at Fromelles and buried by the Germans. 

Photo: Private Samuel Wilson (AWM P05445.001)

Photo: Private Eric Wilson (AWM P05445.002)

Photo: Private James Wilson (AWM P05445.003)

These photos have been reproduced with the permission of the Australian War Memorial.

Samuel, Eric and James Wilson were the sons of George Wilson, ‘Hibbard’, Port Macquarie, NSW and Isabella Wilson, ‘Myall’, Mosman, NSW. Samuel was a 29 year old labourer from Port Macquarie when he enlisted in the AIF on 25 July 1915. Private Samuel Wilson embarked for overseas service on 2 November 1915 as a member of the 3^rd Battalion and on 16^th January 1916 became a member of the 53^rd Battalion in Egypt. His younger brother Eric aged 20, also a labourer from Port Macquarie, enlisted three days later.  Private Eric Wilson embarked for Egypt on 8 March 1916 as a member of the 15^th Reinforcements for 1^st Battalion. The youngest member of the Wilson family, James enlisted with his father’s consent on 3^rd August 1915 and sailed with Samuel aboard HMAT Euripedes. James was also allocated to the 53^rd Battalion in January 1916. Eric’s arrival in Egypt coincided with the restructuring of the AIF to accommodate its doubling in size. The members of the 1^st Battalion were split to become the 1^st & the 53^rd Battalion. Did Samuel and James ‘claim’ their brother as a member of the 53^rd Battalion as they were already allocated to the 53^rd Battalion?

Private Samuel Wilson and Private Eric Wilson made the supreme sacrifice on the 19^th July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles and had served in the AIF for a little over a year. Their families received their identity tags in 1920 when they were returned to Australia by the Australian army. Both of their service records, which can be viewed on line at the National Archives of Australia website state that ‘Name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-1916. The name tags were returned to the British through the Red Cross. The Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files give an insight into the death of Private Samuel Wilson. It is stated in his file by two witnesses that he was last seen holding a sap by himself, throwing bombs at a large party of attacking Germans whilst a number of Australians were able to get away. 

Private James Wilson suffered a gun shot wound to the neck. He was evacuated to England and later rejoined his battalion and served once again on the Western Front. Private James Wilson returned to Australia and was discharged in May 1919. 

George and Isabella Wilson and their 7 remaining children in Australia would have mourned the death of their two sons and brothers and fretted over their wounded remaining soldier. The Wilson brothers were three of the 5,533 casualties of the Battle of Fromelles.

Stephen Brook’s research into the families who had multiple members involved in the Battle of Fromelles is an ongoing project and Stephen is interested in hearing from any one with further information or photos. Stephen can be contacted by emailing projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au

This is one of many ongoing research projects being undertaken by FFFAIF members. For information on other research projects underway take a look at our Research page by clicking on the tab at the top of the page.

 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.

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The Battle of Fromelles took place on the evening of 19^th July 1916. The battle is described in an article by Ross McMullin in The Australian War Memorial magazine Wartime (issue 36) as the worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history. The Australians suffered 5,533 casualties in one night. The Australian toll at Fromelles was equivalent to the total Australian casualties in the Boer War, Korean War and Vietnam War put together. It was a staggering disaster.  

The last RECENT NEWS item A Lucky Survivor featured Sergeant Bill Mair who was one of the 5,533 casualties of the ill fated attack. The Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) was responsible for treating the Australian soldiers wounded in the battle. 

The following article from DIGGER issue 15 gives a glimpse of the duties of one of the AAMC doctors treating the wounded from the Battle of Fromelles.

 Same Digger by Graeme Hosken, Dubbo

Above: Bill Mair (54th Btn) in a photograph taken at Epsom Hospital whilst he was recovering from wounds to his back and legs received at Fromelles.

Captain Hugh Rayson was the Medical Officer for the 57th Battalion during the Battle of Fromelles (19^th /20^th July 1916). Twenty five years after Fromelles, Rayson was interviewed by AG Butler when Butler was researching his three volume, Official History of Australian Army Medical Services in the War 1914-1918. Rayson stated: “I found one man in the front line about two days after the battle who had the lower part of his face shot away; the lower and upper jaws, nose and I think one eye destroyed. By signs he made me understand that he wanted a drink. It was literally impossible to decide where to put the water bottle. And yet he was on his feet attempting to seek help.” [Source: Don’t forget me, cobber, Robin S Corfield] Could this have been the same man mentioned by Sergeant Bill Mair (54th Battalion) in his letter written from the London County War Hospital on 9th August 1916? Bill wrote: “That was when I was bowled over, and … the man that carried me back to the rear was Dan Ryan from Cootamundra, and he had half the side of his face shot away. I will always say that Dan Ryan saved my life, because you know I would have laid there all through the night, and would surely have been blown to pieces.” [Source: Four Australians at War, M Campbell & G Hosken.] Dan Ryan died of his wounds at the 13^th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, on 25^th July 1916.

While the descriptions of the wound match quite well, there is still some doubt that Dan Ryan was the soldier Rayson found. Dan Ryan’s service records show that he was admitted to a CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) on 20th July, the day after the battle was launched, whereas Rayson says the soldier was found by him ‘about two days after the battle’. Ryan was in the 54th Battalion of the 14th Brigade, whilst Rayson was the MO for the 57th Battalion of the 15th Brigade. Would Rayson have come into contact with a wounded soldier from a different part of the battlefield? The answer is ‘quite possibly’, as the 14th and 15th Brigades attacked side by side, and in fact, the two brigades shared the same Regimental Aid Post and Main Dressing Station. Given the chaotic nature of the trenches after the failed attack, it is certainly possible that the wounded of the two brigades were intermingled. The high casualty rate of Fromelles also makes it likely that the facial wound (as described by Rayson and Mair) could have occurred to more than one soldier. According to A G Butler, 16.67% of the wounds at Fromelles were to the head and neck. Nevertheless, there is a chance that the plucky soldier encountered by Rayson was the same man who rescued Bill Mair at Fromelles.

 If you found this article of interest and would like to read more on other soldiers of the First AIF, why not fill out a Membership Application Form today and enjoy the benefits of our DIGGER magazines? Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area (click on tab at the top of the page).

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.

Copyright © DIGGER Magazine. All material in DIGGER is copyright. Subject to the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, reproduction in any form is not permitted without written permission of the Editor or Author/s.

All website information (i.e. the images, graphics, text etc) on our website are copyright © Families and Friends of the First AIF Incorporated (FFFAIF Inc.) or its individual Members.

Call back later to see if there is MORE NEWS

 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.

Four Australian at War edited by FFFAIF members Maurice Campbell and Graeme Hosken tells the story of four young men fighting on the distant battlefields of WW1 through the letters they sent home to country New South Wales. 

One of the men in the story is William (Bill) Mair a veteran of the Boer War and volunteer who served with the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force in New Guinea at the outbreak of war. Bill then enlisted in the AIF in April 1915 leaving his eleven year old son, Willy, in the care of his aunt. Sergeant Mair was a Gallipoli veteran when he was allocated to the 54^th Battalion in February 1916. Sergeant Mair was one of the fourteen survivors his Platoon of 64 men during the Battle of Fromelles

Photo: Sergeant William Mair wearing his blue ‘hospital’ uniform issued to hospitalised soldiers 

The following letter is an extract from Four Australians At War written by William Mair to home while in hospital in England recovering from wounds he received at the Battle of Fromelles 

It was 9 August before Bill Mair wrote his detailed letter to Ellen Campbell, giving a graphic description of the fighting at Fromelles, his wounding, and subsequent rescue by Dan Ryan of Cootamundra.

LONDON COUNTY WAR HOSPITAL
WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST 1916

Dear Ellen,
Just a few lines to let you know I have been wounded and getting on splendid and I hope to be able to get about in a few weeks more. I suppose you all have heard of the big advance in France and how all the Anzacs took part in it. They have done very well over in France by keeping their name up and fighting as well as they did at Gallipoli.

This is a nice hospital where I am. It is about a half hours run from London and near the town of Epsom. We are well looked after and get everything we ask for. I have not met Harold yet but I saw one of the men that belongs to the same battalion as Harold, and he told me that Harold was quite well when he last saw him, and that was the latter end of last month, so you need not worry about him.

I had bad luck myself to run against a bursting shell and still I think I am the luckiest man to be alive today, for out of the 64 men that were in 14 Platoon, there is only 14 men left. So you can see by the letter that was sent to me by one of the men that belongs to the Platoon what a living hell it was.

I’ll never forget it, for when we leapt over the parapet at the order to charge we were met by such a deluge of shells and machine gun fire it seemed almost impossible for human beings to have the nerve to face such a fearful blast, but we did, and got over right in amongst the ‘Boches’.

How I reached there I hardly remember, but there are two things I distinctly recollect: a hare jumping up and running across our front; and someone singing out, ‘At ’em, boys! At ’em! Stick ’em! Stick ’em! Down ’em!’ and then I know I jumped-or rather, fell-head over heels, down amongst the Germans. I think they were too thunderstruck to bayonet me, but they were glad to be taken.

They were mere boys and some of them were sitting in the dugouts crying, but it was in their 2nd line of trenches where we had the trouble. They were all big Prussians and Brandenburgers. Their officers were singing out ‘Vorwarts! Vorwarts!’ (which means ‘forwards’) but the boys gave them ‘Vorwarts’!!

Then the Germans turned their guns on the whole lot of us, and it will give you an idea what inhuman brutes they are. They will kill their own men if they thought by doing so they were killing their enemies.

That was when I was bowled over, and Ellen, the man that carried me back to the rear was Dan Ryan from Cootamundra, and he had half the side of his face shot away. I will always say that Dan Ryan saved my life, because you know I would have laid there all through the night, and would surely have been blown to pieces. The stretcher bearers were all killed or wounded so you can see I am a lucky man.

But Ellen, I had a premonition that I was going to meet with disaster, because I told Griffin the day before the charge I had a premonition something was going to happen to me, and I was worrying what would become of little Willy, but I took the bit in my mouth and said to myself, ‘You will go through, Bill old man’. So you see I am lucky, for taking my platoon as an average, there must be only about 300 men left out of the Batt. of 1,000 men.

Dear Ellen, I can’t tell you much news about England. Of course, you know I am in bed, but what I can see out the window, everything looks nice and green plenty of grass. It is the middle of summer and the farmers (or rather women) are very busy out in the fields hay making. They all have hoods on and seem quite happy.

I can see one old fellow from where I am lying. He is mowing with the old scythe, and every few strokes he stops and sharpens his scythe, but he seems to do his work clean and well.

You have often heard of a great race called the English Derby. Well it is run here and I can see the course quite well and a part of the grandstand about a mile over on Epsom Downs. But I will tell you all about England when I am able to get about. I intend to see all the principal places, also Scotland, so some day I will send you a long letter and will also tell you what lovely France is like. A heaven on Earth is what I call it.

We landed at Marseilles and travelled right through to Paris where they let us go for 3 hours and it took a day and a half to yard them all up! I wish it would have taken a month.

So, goodbye Ellen. God bless all at home and tons of love to every one of them. From your loving nephew,
Bill Mair

If you would like to read more about Bill, and the remarkable story of Harold and Wally Campbell and Arthur Thynne through their letters and photographs they sent home to the sheep property, Argyle on the western slopes of New South Wales Four Australians At War Letters to Argle 1914-1919 is published by Kangaroo Press – ISBN 0-86417-789-5.

Postscript on yesterday’s story of Rev. Spencer Maxted, formerly the Minister at St. Oswald’s, Haberfield, provided in an email from FFFAIF membership Secretary Alan Kitchen: St Oswald’s at Haberfield was the Garrison Church for the 36Bn. I think commencing after WW1 when they reformed the Militia. Then later the RNSWR. When the colours were laid up in the 1960’s as that Battalion was disbanded, they were laid up in St Oswald’s Church but have since been moved to St James Church in King St Sydney.

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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.

All website information (i.e. the images, graphics, text etc) on our website are copyright © Families and Friends of the First AIF Incorporated (FFFAIF Inc.) or its individual Members.

The 54^th Battalion was formed in Egypt February 1916 from men of New South Wales including reinforcements from Australia and experienced soldiers from the 2^nd Battalion. The Battalion first went into action on the Western Front at the Battle of Fromelles. There are 30 soldiers from the 54^th Battalion listed amongst the missing buried by the German army at Pheasant Wood Fromelles.

One of the soldiers who died at the Battle of Fromelles was the 54^th Battalions Chaplain Reverend Maxted. The Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files available on line at the Australian War Memorial help piece together the story of how he died.

 Photo: Reverend Spencer Maxted

Reverend Spencer Edward Maxted was the Anglican Minister at St Oswald’s Church Haberfield, Sydney, before enlisting in the AIF. He lived at the ‘The Rectory‘, Deakin Ave Haberfield with his wife Gertrude. Private Maxted embarked from Sydney in December 1914 aboard the HMAT Berrima and served as a stretcher bearer on Gallipoli. It was not until January 1916, during the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt, that he was appointed a Chaplain and joined the 14^th Brigade. On the 25^th April 1916 – the first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli – he was attached to the 54^th Battalion. Reverend Maxted was with the battalion when it went ‘over the top’ at the Battle of Fromelles.

During the Great War, in the Sydney suburb where Reverend Maxted had lived prior to his enlistment a local newspaper, The Haberfield Harbinger reported details of his death in the October 24^th 1916 edition.

A CHAPLAIN’S  DEATH

A war correspondent writing of the great battle which lasted from 6 am 19^th July to 2 pm on the 20^th says: During the fight we unfortunately lost one of our chaplains – Captain Rev. S.E. Maxted, M.A., B.D. Dog-tired with running for stretcher bearers during a fierce cannonade, he turned aside for refuge and rest into a trench, and sitting down in the corner he immediately fell asleep. It was a front-line trench, and by and by a high explosive landed on the parapet, a fragment killing him instantly. The loss is much mourned throughout the brigade. Originally he was an A.M.C. corporal, but after Gallipoli he was appointed a chaplain.

The Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files reveal a different story. The following is a transcript of one of eight entries in Reverend Maxted’s Red Cross File. This report was given by Private Ellis (No. 3041) 54^th Battalion from Harefield Hospital in England:

Reverend (Captain) Maxted was blown to bits helping to bandage some of the wounded at Fleurbaix. He might not have been so good in the pulpit but my word, he was the gamest man in the 54^th. He just hopped over the trenches with the rest when the charge was on and said “there is going to be a lot of casualties, and I’ll help you all I can.” I told him to look out and be careful, but he said “We will all be wanted today.” “My word”, he said “our boys are brave”. He was very clever bandaging and while he was busy was blown to bits. He was plucky.

Reverend Maxted was survived by his wife Gertrude and twin daughters who he never had the opportunity to meet.

Reverend Maxted is buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetery.

Photo: Rev Spencer Maxted’s grave marked by Australian flag at Rue Petillon Military Cemetery

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.

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The 14^th Brigade of the 5^th Division of the AIF took part in the Battle of Fromelles. Sixty three members of the Brigade are numbered amongst the ‘missing’ of Fromelles. This includes 14 from the 53^rd Battalion, 30 from 54^th Battalion, 15 from 55^th Battalion, one from 56^th Battalion and 3 from the Machine Gun Company.

Today we proudly introduce you to Private F.A. Finch of the 56^th Battalion.  Private Finch was killed in action on 20^th July 1916, the day following the Battle of Fromelles, as a result of being hit in the head by shrapnel. Just prior to his death Private Finch had been responsible for bringing a wounded Digger safely back into the Australian lines after the Battle of Fromelles. 

Photo: Private Frederick Arthur Finch

In the following extract from an article in the latest DIGGER you can read about how dangerous it was for a soldier to be in a reserve battalion not directly involved in the action.

Private 3086A Frederick Arthur Finch, 56th Battalion

Compiled by Graeme Hosken, using material supplied by Frank Finch, Kyogle, and Russell Curley, Blakehurst. Frank is the nephew of Frederick Finch.

Frederick Finch was aged 21 years and 5 months when he enlisted in the AIF on 1st September 1915 at Holdsworthy, NSW. Frederick was working as a ship’s fireman and gave his mother, Mrs Susan Finch, of ‘Aloha’, Tennyson Road, Tennyson, Ryde [Sydney], as his next-of-kin………

Frederick was allocated to the 7th Reinforcements of the 20^th Battalion (5th Brigade, NSW) on 14th October 1915. He embarked on HMAT Suevic on 23rd December 1915 for training in Egypt and was transferred to the 56th Battalion (14th Brigade, NSW) on 16th February 1916, when the 5th Division was formed…………

The 56th Battalion began its move to France on 9th May 1916…….. His transfer to the 5th Division and to France led Frederick to a rendezvous with death within two months.

Frederick Finch was killed at Fromelles on 20th July 1916 when the 14th Brigade, flanked by the 8th and 15th Brigades, attacked the German line. The 56th Battalion was the reserve battalion and so did not take direct part in the attack (carried out by the 53rd and 54th Battalions), nor were they allotted the support role of carrying supplies through to the captured ground (the job of the 55th Battalion). The 56th was tasked with occupying the portion of the Australian front line occupied by the 14th Brigade once their sister battalions had ‘hopped the bags’. B Company (to which Frederick belonged) of the 56th was later sent forward to hurry the work on the digging of a communications trench across no-man’s-land to the captured position.

The Germans continued to bombard the Australian line and death by shell fragment, shrapnel or machine gun bullet was a possibility wherever you were on the battlefield. Private Falconer, when interviewed by the Red Cross, stated that Frederick was killed on 19th July “by shrapnel, in trenches, hit right in the head. He was just going into the first line, was in Machine Gun Section and was buried in Fleurbaix Cemetery.” Lance Corporal C F Lynch stated that Finch “had brought in a wounded man and was in the bay of the trench when he was instantly killed by shell. The burial took place in the support trenches to the right of Fleurbaix, near Laventie.” This statement was supported by Private J Hamilton, who recalled that Finch was “killed by my side in a support trench at Fleurbaix on July 19th. We were halting for a few seconds on our way to the front line, when we heard a wounded man calling out. He went over and fetched the man in. He came back and sat down by my side, about a couple of feet away. A shrapnel shell came over and a piece from it blew his brains out. We had to leave the body there when we went on. I arranged for a Padre to write to his people.” Sergeant 3308 Armstrong informed the Red Cross that he had helped bury the remains.

Interestingly, none of the eye-witnesses stated that Frederick was killed on 20th July – the official date of death. The letter below, however, written by Fred Finley on 21st July 1916, informs Susan Finch that her son Frederick died on the 20th.

My dear Mrs Finch,

I cannot express the grief I bear, when it has become my duty, my most painfully sad duty, to acquaint you of the noble death of your Son Fred. Killed in action, serving his King, his Country and his God, his has been the grandest and noblest of deaths. God knows it’s hard for you to bear even as it is to me, his dearest friend, to have to tell you. Yesterday the 20th of July he was killed and was buried in the little quiet cemetery at the back of our lines, where already his grave is marked by the little wooden cross of the army. Ah, it has been a hard blow to us, his chums, we who have lived with him, worked with him, and toiled along beside him when, facing the greatest hardships, he never once complained. Thus we are able to realise just a little of what it must be to you, his Mother, who has reared him and cared for him for all of these years. You may justly be proud of him, the truest man God ever made and the whitest. I cannot express my sympathy for you and Mr Finch, Gracie and Pearlie and the boys. I would have liked also to have written to Linda, but it is too hard, I cannot face the task. When you tell her, tell her that she was always his first thought after you. Well, my dear friend, I trust that my words have not been too blunt, but at such times as these it is hardly possible for one to write half what one feels, but you will understand I know. I will remain for ever,

Yours very sincerely, Fred Finley

Like so many Australian families Mrs Susan Finch received an urgent telegram delivered with the message that her son had been killed in action and ‘….deep regret and sympathy of their Majesties the King and Queen and Commonwealth Government in loss that she and Army have sustained by death of soldier.’ One thousand nine hundred and seventeen similar telegrams carrying the sad news to families across Australia would have been delivered as a result of the Battle Of Fromelles.

If you found this article of interest and would like to read more on Private Finch’s life or other soldiers of the First AIF, why not fill out a Membership Application Form today and enjoy the benefits of our DIGGER magazines? Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area (click on tab at the top of the page).

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.

Copyright © DIGGER Magazine. All material in DIGGER is copyright. Subject to the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, reproduction in any form is not permitted without written permission of the Editor or Author/s.

All website information (i.e. the images, graphics, text etc) on our website are copyright © Families and Friends of the First AIF Incorporated (FFFAIF Inc.) or its individual Members.

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.

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The 8^th Brigade of the 5^th Division of the AIF, consisting of the 29^th, 30^th, 31^st and 32^nd Battalions, fought at the Battle of Fromelles. 103 members of the brigade are listed among the Missing Diggers of Fromelles; 45 of these diggers belonged to the 32^nd Battalion. 

Today we are proud to introduce Second Lieutenant A.E. Craker, 32^nd Battalion, from Roslyn Park, South Australia.

Photo: 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Craker 

Arthur Earnest Craker was 22 years old when he enlisted in the AIF on 1^st July 1915 and was allotted to A Company of the 32nd Battalion with a service number of 11. Arthur was promoted to sergeant on 16^th August 1915 prior to embarkation for overseas service aboard SS Geelong from South Australia.  The latest DIGGER, issue 23, carries the details of Arthur’s military service written by his grandson Michael English. This extract of Arthur’s story begins on the eve of the Battle of Fromelles.

Second Lieutenant Arthur Earnest Craker, 32nd Battalion

Michael English, Onkaparinga Hills, SA

On Wednesday, 19th July 1916, Sergeant Craker wrote in his diary: “I do not know whether this is the last entry or not, but I say goodbye, Mother Darling, Goodbye Annie my sweetheart, Father and Gertie, Nesta, Thelma and the little ones.”

This entry was written prior to the 32nd Battalion (8th Brigade, 5th Division) going ‘over the top’ into what later became known as the Battle of Fromelles ……………………………

……….On 14th July the 32nd Battalion moved into the trenches and were engaged in trench repair and refurbishment (here the trenches were breastworks built above the ground). The next day in the trenches Arthur experienced enemy fire for the first time, and Private Clayer was killed by a sniper – the first A Company man killed in the war. News was received that day of an attack to be launched by the Division within the next few days.

Arthur, in the company of another sergeant and a lieutenant, went to view the trenches from where they would be launching the attack. It took them eight hours to cover the three miles, and they found the trenches congested with men carrying ammunition and stores.

Back in camp, Arthur managed to snatch four hours sleep while the Allied guns bombarded the German lines in preparation for the attack. On 18th July at 9am, A Company moved into the fire trenches in readiness for the attack. They found themselves engaged in clearing the trenches of debris and the body parts of men from the 58th Battalion, previous occupants of the front line.

On Wednesday, 19th July 1916, A and C Companies prepared to charge at 5.50pm. After taking a sip of rum they climbed the breastworks and moved into No-man’s-land. Trench mortars and rifle grenades were fired on the German trenches while the enemy responded with machine guns, high explosive and shrapnel. Numbers 1 and 2 Platoons were in the first wave, and Sergeant Craker later recorded:

“We pushed through the wire entanglements and over to trenches to see Fritz on the run. We pushed along the trench … throwing bombs as we went and finishing off anyone who was left. One or two of us barricaded the German trench and continued the fight … the word was passed down for ammunition so I volunteered to run across with a message for ammunition. As I ran machine gun bullets played all around me. A shell burst near me, knocking me out for awhile – but I woke up and continued on with my task. I gave the message to a Captain of the 30th Battalion. An ammunition dump was set alight by the enemy and blew up, making a tremendous bonfire. A man from the 30th Battalion had his right hand cut off clean by high explosive so I bandaged it up and helped him to the dressing station.” It was then that Sergeant Craker realised that he had sustained an injury to his knee from the shell that had knocked him out.

[The Battle of Fromelles resulted in 5 533 casualties (killed, wounded, missing and taken prisoner) and the greatest loss of life in one day in Australian history. The 32nd Battalion lost 17 officers and 701 men killed, wounded or missing.]

Arthur Craker was processed through the medical system for treatment to his knee…………….

If you found this article of interest and would like to read more on Sergeant Crakers’ life or  other soldiers of the First AIF, why not fill out a Membership Application Form today and enjoy the benefits of our DIGGER magazines? Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area (click on tab at the top of the page).

FFFAIF Members can read more about Sergeant Crakers’ life in the AIF including being wounded a second time and his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in the latest edition of DIGGER.

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.

Copyright © DIGGER Magazine. All material in DIGGER is copyright. Subject to the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, reproduction in any form is not permitted without written permission of the Editor or Author/s.

All website information (i.e. the images, graphics, text etc) on our website are copyright © Families and Friends of the First AIF Incorporated (FFFAIF Inc.) or its individual Members.

Call back later to see if there is MORE NEWS

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.

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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