Any Anzac descendants ??

[DeeJay]

The things you learn
My wife has been researching a great uncle of hers killed at Gallipoli in Schrapnel Gully. Every Anzac day up to now, what little info she had - a photo and a medal were sent off to school with one of our kids the day before, good stuff for them too. Her sister, a teacher, has his wallet and watch, and does much the same with her classes.
Well, there is a new website that swmbo says has been only available for a couple of weeks, that has an enormous amount of data and she has been able to access more photo's and info than ever before.
Here is the funny part, I knew I had a great uncle killed in France, but Dad only ever said he took too many risks and look where it got him, sort of attitude, but I knew he was affected by his death, as it was taken really badly by his father.
Well, we found out more about him and it turns out he was Albert Jacka's battalion intelligence officer and won the Military Cross & Bar, DSO and mentioned in despatches 3 times. He enlisted with his brother being numbers 279 & 280 and both sailed together for Alexandria (then Gallipoli) He is buried at Villiers Brettanoux and his brother survived the war.
Here is the website.
http://www.awm.gov.au/database/collection.asp

As an example, to find the Battalion photo of Jacka's 14th click on collection search then item E01725 and the conflict as WW1 1914-18.
My great uncle is Lt JH Johnson 5th from the left back row.
(The 0 in E01725 is a number, as I found out) and the site is really slow today being what it is.
Good luck looking up those long lost rellies:)
David

[barney]

yeah, my grandfather was there. i don't think he was in the first landing, but i have his gallipoli medal out, alongside his fob watch that he "liberated" from a dead german soldier in another campaign during WW1. i also have his diary, which he kept from his first days camped at sydney show grounds around the 11th of august 1914.
he sailed aboard HMAS Berrima to port moresby, did some fighting there adn then on to Rabaul.
he diary doesn't go any further than his time on that campaign.

[Quarks]

I had a bit of a find in the middle of last year... my grandmother was going through her cupboards, and pulls out a box with my great uncle's medals... still in their original wrapping!!! :o

Since my g/uncle was killed in the hospital in Singapore, the medals got posted out after the war, but left untouched until as I said, last year. What I think is strange is that my grandfather didn't get his brother's medals out with his own!

Anyway, I gave them their first parade today... 65 years after my g/uncle died.
My next mystery is to find out how another uncle (private in 6th Light Horse - Gallipoli etc.) managed to get lieutenant's pips in the box with his medals!

[barney]

just loking over my grandfather's watch. the soldier he took it off had engraved on the rear casing, all of the places he had been. the last entry is Rabaul. my grandfather continued this tradition and went on to engrave all of the places he went.
these include;-
rabaul, gallipoli, jeruselem, egypt, lone pine, bullecourt, dickenbusch, villiers, plyson wood, poziers, malt trench ypres (where ever that is),
belgium, france, alexandria, lemnos, bapaume, bois grenter and it goes on and on. a lot of them i can't read as they are in another language or the metal has worn down,

[Quiggers]

Yup, maternal grandfather was a Gallipoli Corporal, Charles Clarke (5272) 13 ASC AIF.

GQ

[Redback]

just loking over my grandfather's watch. the soldier he took it off had engraved on the rear casing, all of the places he had been. the last entry is Rabaul. my grandfather continued this tradition and went on to engrave all of the places he went.
these include;-
rabaul, gallipoli, jeruselem, egypt, lone pine, bullecourt, dickenbusch, villiers, plyson wood, poziers, malt trench ypres (where ever that is),
belgium, france, alexandria, lemnos, bapaume, bois grenter and it goes on and on. a lot of them i can't read as they are in another language or the metal has worn down,

Belgium Matt.

Read this;



Passchendaele (3rd YPRES)
Passchendaele was known for its atrocious conditions and it is a tribute to those who fought at this place. This is one of the reasons why it has been declared the finest feat of the war. Passchendaele was broken up into eight smaller actions. All five Australian divisions were involved in the attacks at Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde. The aim was to capture Paschendale which meant numerous fortified ridges along the way need to be taken also. These ridges were strewn with concrete pill-boxes, had a 100 meter wide strip of barbed wire and trenches. It formed the best built-out resistance line of the Germans. Supported in the rear by heavy artillery and protected by inaccessible swamps Hanebeek and Steenbeek it was thought to be invulnerable. The pill-boxes walls were a foot thick. Direct hits from artillery shells could not put a hole or break in the wall only chips. Each pill-box had pre-designated field of fire for the machine guns and with the mud making advancing an impossible task it was amazing how any solider managed to get to the pill-boxes to drop a grenade inside.
Siegfried Sassoon wrote:

"...I died in Hell
(they called it Passchendaele) my wound was slight
and I was hobbling back; and then a shell
burst slick upon the duckboards; so I fell
into the bottomless mud, and lost the light"
The mud was like a death trap within itself as many lives were lost from soldiers either drowning in it or being rescued and having their internal organs crushed as they were pulled out of the mud via rope. Although all battles and actions were a success the bad planning and mud caused a high amount of casualties. The five Australian divisions were in the line for eight weeks and in this time the total casualties amongst all of the divisions was approximately 38 093. Passchendaele was the result of chronic shortage of men in the AIF.

[barney]

yeah. i read about the battle of the somme last night, none of it sounded like much fun.
but get this, a turkish guy that contacted me thru the LROC wanting to buy some club gear as he is a landy nut sent me an email this morning, although i did ask him to but it really knocked me over that he actualy did it, he sent me a photo of himself laying a sprig of rosemary on the war memorial in instanbul on behalf of my family.
isn't that bloody awesome! what a top bloke!

[Redback]

Yep gotta be chuffed with that.

Given anymore knowledge to Dr Karl lately:D

[barney]

nah, missed him today. got stuck on a job during his whole segment

[Bigbjorn]

I know of six of my relatives who served overseas in WWI. One in 1st. DVn. Ammunition Supply Column (an ANZAC ) & later 4th. Dvn. A.S.C. in France, one in 4th. Dvn. Headquarters Tunnelling Coy and later 52nd. & 49th. battalions, one in 41st. Bn. (KIA Passchendaele), one in 4th. Field Coy. Engineers (badly gassed), one each in 5th. & 6th. Light Horse. There are no doubt more as I have yet to track all the blood rellies in NSW in my maternal grandmother's family.

[Redback]

My relos were engaged in a differant struggle to be bothered with WW1 or WW2, although my father served in the Canadian airforce in the later stages of the WW2 before returning to Ireland then England and then migrating to Australia, well so the story goes, my mother did say he left Ireland under strange circumstances:unsure: :spudnikwhat:

Baz.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

My maternal grandfather was WW1 but not Gallipoli, Egypt, France Belgium, Villiers-Bretenau,1st & 2nd battle, was gassed at Ypres, I wear his medals on Anzac Day, he was 5th Light Horse Regt, No 710, his 1914-15 Star is engraved Pte A.E.Dyos all other medals are engraved Capt. he recieved a King's Commission in the field for being in charge of the first party to retrieve a live aerial torpedo and carry it to British Coy headquarters :eek: (where they left it in the courtyard and promptly bolted back down the road). He was marshall of Anzac Square in Brisbane from 1946-1967 to my knowledge. when he died in late 67 my mother consigned most of his military collection and uniforms to the tip :eek: I was working in Sydney at the time and when I asked what happened to them, she informed me that I would not want that RUBBISH :eek: it included a piece of Von Reichoffen's aircraft, several nice shrappenel knives/letter-openers,and about 300 photos, but I managed to get both the candle holder and prayer bell from the Cathedral at Villiers-Bretenau ;) that now are in safe keeping. I can remember going to Dawn Service from a very young age, and being on the steps of the Cenotaph in Brisbane for the main services in both Cub and Scout uniform. He was re-activated from the Inactive List in mid 39 and was 2IC at Frazers Paddock induction camp at Enoggera in Brisbane in the early months. Dad signed up on 4 Sept 39 as a driver and got out in 47 with the rank of Sgt. 87 now and still going strong.

cheers

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

My maternal grandfather was WW1 but not Gallipoli, Egypt, France Belgium, Villiers-Bretenau,1st & 2nd battle, was gassed at Ypres, I wear his medals on Anzac Day, he was 5th Light Horse Regt, No 710, his 1914-15 Star is engraved Pte A.E.Dyos all other medals are engraved Capt. he recieved a King's Commission in the field for being in charge of the first party to retrieve a live aerial torpedo and carry it to British Coy headquarters :eek: (where they left it in the courtyard and promptly bolted back down the road). He was marshall of Anzac Square in Brisbane from 1946-1967 to my knowledge. when he died in late 67 my mother consigned most of his military collection and uniforms to the tip :eek: I was working in Sydney at the time and when I asked what happened to them, she informed me that I would want that RUBBISH :eek: it included a piece of Von Reichoffen's aircraft, several nice shrappenel knives/letter-openers, but i managed to get both the candle holder and prayer bell from the Cathedral at Villiers-Bretenau ;) that now are in safe keeping. I can remember going to Dawn Service from avery young age, and being on the steps of the Cenotaph in Brisbane for the main services in both Cub and scout uniform. He was reativated from the Inactive List in mid 39 and was 2IC at Frazers Paddock induction camp at Enoggera in Brisbane in the early months. Dad signed up on 4 Sept 39 as a driver and got out in 47 with the rank of Sgt. 87 now and still going strong.

cheers

[Tiny]

My Grandfather and his three brothers enlisted in Melbourne and were all involved in WWI - including Galipoli and the Europe. Amazingly they all returned, although a couple of them were not the same as when they left - including partial deafness, gunshot wounds, partial blindness between them all. My G.Father was mentioned in dispatches and I've got his medals mounted with new ribbons a few years back couldn't find the fern(?) leaf that I think should be on the medals due to the M-I-D award.

I've got all the service records for the four of them from the archives - very interesting to flick through.

Cheers,

[shorty943]

Most of my family have been Navy. My uncle was a Kokoda track man, father was Armed Merchant Navy doing supply runs to New Guinea and the Islands. WW2. Not sure on the WW1 era of the family. The family has served, volunteers, since before Federation. Every generation, even my youngest, a medic.

What really moved me Wednesday, was the news bulletins out of Belgium.
A chap in a wheelchair is melting down found war time schrapnel, casting the lead into soldiers, and then painting them up into diggers uniforms. He then sends one home to the families of every Australian named soldier on their honour roll.
Damn, now I'm getting all misty again. Better go plough a paddock or two.
Chat to all again, when the farm stuff eases up again.

Shorty.

[PeterM]

My paternal grandfather was a rarity in that he was in the Australian Army before WW1. I can't remember his service number but I think it was around 200. He was a Staff Sargeant-Major and at the outbreak of the war was part of the training staff for the AIF. In 1917 he transferred to the AIF as a SGT, went to France & got gassed for his troubles. Also had a Great Uncle who served throughout the war and survived.

Maternal Grandfather was in the RAAF in Darwin for WW2 and then there was me as the only other family member to have served, that I know of.

[shorty943]

From Unca Ho.
He was marshall of Anzac Square in Brisbane from 1946-1967 to my knowledge. when he died in late 67 my mother consigned most of his military collection and uniforms to the tip I was working in Sydney at the time and when I asked what happened to them, she informed me that I would want that RUBBISH it included a piece of Von Reichoffen's aircraft, several nice shrappenel knives/letter-openers, but i managed to get both the candle holder and prayer bell from the Cathedral at Villiers-Bretenau that now are in safe keeping.
End quote.



Unca Ho. Just now reread your post.
Sad, tragic, to loose something so valuable.
Please, no slight intended mate, but, what was she thinking? Family history, of such bravery. I bow my head in sadness.

Shorty.

[OLR-067]

My Grandfather was Trooper 113 of the South Australian Imperial Bushmen in the Boer War. Then was with the British Light Horse in India, and from there joined the AIF in Perth and served in Europe.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/04/11.jpg

[OLR-067]

...should be Trooper 319 ....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/04/10.jpg

[UncleHo]

G'day Shorty943 :)

Yes, it was a travesty:( but my mother was only interested in what was of interest to HER:mad: and anything else was of no value, I had a 1/4 share in their estate and home which she blocked my purchase of, it was in a upper class suburb in Brisbane and sold it without my knowledge or the chance to purchase:mad: But I still managed to smuggle the medals, candle holder and bell out from her clutches.

I know it does not sound well, but she was not a nice person,very self centred.

cheers

[Tank]

The things you learn
My wife has been researching a great uncle of hers killed at Gallipoli in Schrapnel Gully. Every Anzac day up to now, what little info she had - a photo and a medal were sent off to school with one of our kids the day before, good stuff for them too. Her sister, a teacher, has his wallet and watch, and does much the same with her classes.
Well, there is a new website that swmbo says has been only available for a couple of weeks, that has an enormous amount of data and she has been able to access more photo's and info than ever before.
Here is the funny part, I knew I had a great uncle killed in France, but Dad only ever said he took too many risks and look where it got him, sort of attitude, but I knew he was affected by his death, as it was taken really badly by his father.
Well, we found out more about him and it turns out he was Albert Jacka's battalion intelligence officer and won the Military Cross & Bar, DSO and mentioned in despatches 3 times. He enlisted with his brother being numbers 279 & 280 and both sailed together for Alexandria (then Gallipoli) He is buried at Villiers Brettanoux and his brother survived the war.
Here is the website.
http://www.awm.gov.au/database/collection.asp

As an example, to find the Battalion photo of Jacka's 14th click on collection search then item E01725 and the conflict as WW1 1914-18.
My great uncle is Lt JH Johnson 5th from the left back row.
(The 0 in E01725 is a number, as I found out) and the site is really slow today being what it is.
Good luck looking up those long lost rellies:)
David
David, My Great uncle Private Francis Walter Gibson # 857 2nd Battalion, 1st Division AIF was wounded on landing at Gallipolli on 25th April 1915, he was transported back to Egypt to recover and then was sent back to Gallipolli just in time for the big offensive on Lone Pine, he was killed In Action between the 6th August and the 9th August. He was found by the company Priest who buried him where he died in the Turkish trench. His Family had no Idea that he was dead until my Grandfather Stanley Harrington Clyde Gibson (Francis's brother) who was in Egypt (waiting to go to France) and making enquiries at the army hospital there for any info on his brother when he bumped into the Priest who had buried him, this was in February 1916, My Grandfather Stanley survived severe gassing and Gunshot wounds and one of his other brothers John Clyde Gibson also served and was badly wounded in France, both returned to Australia in 1919, John died of his wounds in 1924, he must have suffered greatly to take 5 years to succumb to his wounds.
The thing that upsets me is how much different Australia would be today if the 60,000 young Australians hadn't died, but lived normal lives, married and had families, A lot of women who lost Boyfriends and Husbands never married or remarried, what a loss of diversity in our population. Also many of the 40,000 that were seriously wounded and gassed died prematurely, their loss to Australia is hard to imagine. Do you know if Australian soldiers were photographed as part of their Military record, I have no Photos of Francis or John and would love to find out if the military have any, Regards Frank.

[Debacle]

The things you learn
My wife has been researching a great uncle of hers killed at Gallipoli in Schrapnel Gully. Every Anzac day up to now, what little info she had - a photo and a medal were sent off to school with one of our kids the day before, good stuff for them too. Her sister, a teacher, has his wallet and watch, and does much the same with her classes.
Well, there is a new website that swmbo says has been only available for a couple of weeks, that has an enormous amount of data and she has been able to access more photo's and info than ever before.
Here is the funny part, I knew I had a great uncle killed in France, but Dad only ever said he took too many risks and look where it got him, sort of attitude, but I knew he was affected by his death, as it was taken really badly by his father.
Well, we found out more about him and it turns out he was Albert Jacka's battalion intelligence officer and won the Military Cross & Bar, DSO and mentioned in despatches 3 times. He enlisted with his brother being numbers 279 & 280 and both sailed together for Alexandria (then Gallipoli) He is buried at Villiers Brettanoux and his brother survived the war.
Here is the website.
http://www.awm.gov.au/database/collection.asp

As an example, to find the Battalion photo of Jacka's 14th click on collection search then item E01725 and the conflict as WW1 1914-18.
My great uncle is Lt JH Johnson 5th from the left back row.
(The 0 in E01725 is a number, as I found out) and the site is really slow today being what it is.
Good luck looking up those long lost rellies:)
David

Thanks for posting that DeeJay, I looked up my grandfathers records from when he served in France from 1916-1918 and was amazed to find that they still have all this stuff in their archives from his enlistment papers through to parental consent forms, his "EBA" of 3 shillings a day, service and medical records through to his invalid discharge papers. Will pass it on to other family members, a bit of history there.
Thanks again