My GrandfatherMy Hero

A story of 2456 Driver Adam Campbell Spring

By Michael (Mick) Spring

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PrefaceThis is a story about a man I never knew or met. He has been the source of great inspiration throughout my military career. From time-to-time, throughout my career I have called on him for advice and guidance, particularly when I was deployed on operations in IRAQ and Afghanistan. Just a quick word to find some assurance that what I was about to undertake made sense and that I would be OK.

The thought to writing this book came about by what I had learnt and heard from both my family members and from researching military history, in particular, his personal file and the history of the 5th Battalion, 1st AIF.

This book will focus on family members both living and not and of times in the late 19th Century and the beginnings of the 20th Century to his death in 1956.

The purpose of this book is to share with family and friends to try and accurately depict the life and times of an ordinary Australian bloke who went off to a great adventure in another land to defend the country he loved.

I have been toying with writing this book for many years now. In semi-retirement I have found the time and the passion to finally put pen to paper. I have scoured many resources and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Chapter One

The Early Years

Adam Campbell Spring was born at Casterton, pre Federation, on 18 April 1895 to Angus and Johanna Spring (nee Morrison). Casterton is a rural township on the Glenelg River in South-West Victoria. The town was first surveyed in 1840. The first building, the Glenelg Inn, was established in 1846.

Casterton is nationally recognised as the ‘Birthplace of the Kelpie’. The first kelpie was born in 1871, her parents being a pair of black and tan collies imported from Scotland.

Casterton is renowned for its livestock production, particularly sheep. The first graziers were known to have come from Portland after hearing positive reports of good pasturage with their flocks sometime after 1834 to the district. The land is fertile and has reliable rainfall.

Angus Spring, Adams father, was first a labourer in the district, then later was a farmer at Bahgallah (via Casterton). Whilst little is known precisely about the farm, history for the region dictates that it would have been a small parcel of land, no bigger than 50 to100 acres and it would have produced some small crops of perhaps wheat, a small flock of sheep and maybe one or two cattle. Of course, fruit and vegetables would have been grown for family use

Adam was one of eight children born to Angus and Johanna. In order of birth date; Effie, Adam, Ina, John (known as Jack), Annie, Lindsay, Colin and Jean. It is widely known that Adam and Ina were very close from an early age and subsequently through the war years as I will later talk about.

All of the children attended Bahgallah State School No 1586 which was located four miles from the family farm. Little is known about their formative years in regards to their education and home life, both in Casterton and later on the farm at Bahgallah, however, one can assume that they either walked to and from school or went to and from on horse drawn cart or horseback.

Adam first attended Casterton State School prior to moving to Bahgallah when he was just a little over seven years of age. He would have attended both grades prep and one in Casterton. He completed the remainder of his formative schooling up until Grade Six at Bahgallah. His name is listed on both the Casterton State School WWI Honour Roll and the Bahgallah State School WWI Honour Roll.

Again, due to very limited information, it is unclear how Adam completed his secondary schooling, or if indeed, did complete his secondary schooling. The Casterton Higher Elementary School (now known as the Casterton High School) did not open its’ doors to students until 20 July 1917 and there are no records of a high school in Bahgallah. He may have attended Mount Gambier (69 km away) or Portland (103 km away), but that would have

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meant boarding and I would doubt that his family would have been able to afford such things. He may well have been home schooled.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Grade Six was considered a very high level of education, so it may well be that Adam was put to work on the farm after finishing Grade Six.

Adam was a short, slimly built boy with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Libby recalls that his eyes were a very clear blue, almost violet in appearance. It appears that not much had changed with his physical appearance and condition upon reaching his teenage years. Upon his enlistment into the AIF he stood just 5 foot 4 ¾ inches tall (165 cm) and weighed 118 pounds (53.5 kg).

Due to many factors, no educational records were able to be obtained about his educational ability. What is known, from later in his life, is that he had neat hand writing, excelled at arithmetic and practical mathematics and his English skills were very proficient. His letters home to his sister Ina from the trenches were very well written. I have learnt from reading these letters that he had a quick wit, was cheeky, and had a great sense of humour and a love for family.

Prior to enlisting/volunteering into the AIF, Adam was a grocer in the township of Casterton. There is a gap in his life that neither family nor historical records can fill from about the age of 11 to the age of 20.

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Chapter Two

Australia’s Involvement in the Great War

In Australia the outbreak of World War One was treated with considerable enthusiasm. Even before Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, the nation pledged its’ support alongside other states of the British Empire and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to participate in the conflict.

The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was formed on 15 August 1914. The word 'imperial' was chosen to reflect the duty of Australians to both nation and empire. The 1 st AIF was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War One. It was initially formed with one Infantry Division and one Light Horse Brigade. The AIF included the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), which consisted of four combat and four training squadrons that were deployed to the United Kingdom, the Western Front and the Middle East throughout the war. After the war, the AFC evolved into the Royal Australian Air Force; the remainder of the 1st AIF was disbanded between 1919 and 1921. After the war the achievements of the AIF and its soldiers, known colloquially as "Diggers", became central to the national mythology of the "Anzac legend". Generally known at the time as “the” AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to it distinguish from the Second Australian Imperial Force raised during World War II.

An all volunteer force, by the end of the war the AIF had gained a reputation as being a well-trained and highly effective military force, playing a significant role in the final Allied victory. However, this reputation came at a heavy cost with a casualty rate among the highest of any belligerent for the war.

Upon formation, the AIF consisted of only one infantry division, the 1st Division, and the 1st Light Horse Brigade. The 1st Division was made up of the 1st Infantry Brigade under Colonel Henry MacLaurin, an Australian-born officer with previous part-time military service; the 2nd, under Colonel James Whiteside McCay, an Irish-born Australian politician and former Minister for Defence; and the 3rd, under Colonel Ewen Sinclair-Maclagan, a British regular officer seconded to the Australian Army before the war. The 1st Light Horse Brigade was commanded by Colonel Harry Chauvel, an Australian regular, while the divisional artillery was commanded by Colonel Talbot Hobbs. The initial response for recruits was so good that in September 1914 the decision was made to raise the 4th Infantry Brigade and 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades. The 4th Infantry Brigade was commanded by Colonel John Monash, a prominent Melbourne civil engineer and businessman. The AIF continued to grow through the war, eventually numbering five infantry divisions, two mounted divisions and a mixture of other units. As the AIF operated within the British war effort, its units were generally organised along the same lines as comparable British Army formations. However, there were often small differences between the structures of British and Australian units, especially in regards to the AIF infantry divisions' support units.

Hastily deployed, the first contingent of AIF was essentially untrained and suffered from widespread equipment shortages. In early 1915 the AIF was largely an inexperienced force, with only a small percentage of its members having previous combat experience. However, many officers and non-commissioned personnel (NCOs) had previously served in the pre-war permanent or part-time forces, and a significant proportion of the enlisted personnel had received some basic military instruction as part of Australia's compulsory training scheme. Predominantly a fighting force based on infantry battalions and light horse regiments—the high proportion of close combat troops to support personnel (e.g. medical, administrative, logistic, etc.) was exceeded only by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF)—this fact

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at least partially accounted for the high percentage of casualties it later sustained. Nevertheless, the AIF eventually included a large number of logistics and administrative units which were capable of meeting most of the force's needs, and in some circumstances provided support to nearby allied units. However, the AIF mainly relied on the British Army for medium and heavy artillery support and other weapons systems necessary for combined arms warfare that were developed later in the war, including aircraft and tanks.

The first commander of the AIF was Major General William Throsby Bridges, KCB, CMG. He was also the first Commandant of the Royal Military College Duntroon. On 25 April, as part the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, Bridges' command was among the first ashore at Anzac Cove, at the start of the Gallipoli campaign. He was wounded in action on 15 May 1915 and later died aboard HMHS (His Majesty’s Hospital Ship) Gascon on 18 May 1915. He was shot through the femoral artery in his right leg by a Turkish sniper. Dragged to safety, he was evacuated to the Gascon. Infection set in but amputation was deemed impossible since he had lost so much blood. On 17 May 1915, Bridges was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, although the award was not formally gazetted until 22 May He was also posthumously Mentioned in Despatches.

Bridges was buried in Alexandria but in June his body was returned to Melbourne where he received a state funeral. Bridges is the only identified Australian killed in the First World War to have had his body repatriated and buried on Australian soil. His funeral service was conducted at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. He was buried on 3 September 1915 at Duntroon on the slopes of Mount Pleasant.

He was survived by his wife and children and was also survived by his horse "Sandy", the only Australian Waler horse to return from the First World War, due to quarantine restrictions. It is not clear when Bridges met Sandy but after his death Sandy was cared for by a number of Army vets until, by order of the Minister of Defence, the horse was returned to Australia where he lived at the Remount Depot at Maribyrnong, before being put down in 1923 due to ill health

I have attended many Anzac Day dawn services conducted around the gravesite of Bridges whilst posted to Canberra. It is a haunting yet uplifting occasion to be gathered around his resting place and sharing the same ground as one of our finest commanders.

So, it was on.

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Chapter Three

The Enlistment of Adam Campbell Spring

For any Australian man of that era, the outbreak of world war one was seen as a positive thing. It appeared to give young and older men alike, a sense of duty and belonging to both the Empire and to our very young Nation. It also may well have provided those with an opportunity to earn a regular wage and provide for their family. They also may have thought of gaining specialist qualifications through the Army for when their duty was done to enhance their prospects in the workforce when they returned home.

Adam was 20 years old when he enlisted into the AIF at Hamilton, Victoria on 21 April 1915. His father, Angus Joseph Spring had to give his consent in writing on 16 April 1915 to allow him to join the AIF.

Upon enlistment Adam was allocated to the 5th Infantry Battalion, as part of the 7th

Reinforcements bound for Gallipoli.

But first, intensive training would be required. Considering no rail line existed between Casterton and Melbourne, let me indulge for a moment and consider that Pop’s method of transport may have been many and varied to get to Melbourne, either by horse, horse and carriage and most definitely by foot. What a way to start your Army career. All for King and Country!!!!

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Although a system of compulsory military training existed in Australia before the war, the standing army comprised fewer than 3000 men. This number rose to 50,000 within three months. This sudden influx of men, along with a lack of military police, explains some of the Australians reputation for rowdy behaviour and larrikinism. From the very first days of their composition as the Australian Infantry Force, a looser standard of discipline existed in comparison to the British Army.

[E]very soldier was supposed to be in his blankets by 9:30pm. As a matter of fact, every night both men and officers thronged the streets and cafes in Melbourne.

Adam began his training at Broadmeadows. Broadmeadows was home to the major army training camp for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The land was previously known as Mornington Park. It was a wide field, suitable for military practice, including training for the Light Horse regiments. To reach the camp, soldiers marched from Victoria Barracks in St Kilda Road and headed north up Sydney Road, only resting near Fawkner Cemetery. The camp soon became a popular location for family outings on Sundays. Soldiers slept in tents and food was basic. Training was hard, the men were trained to use bayonets, rifles and entrenching tools, but it did not prepare soldiers for a modern war with machine guns, gas, shells and aeroplanes – technology that did not exist in previous wars.

The Broadmeadows Camp 1915

If you will, take yourself back to 1915 in Melbourne. Limited transportation, very limited comforts, no luxuries and you are training to go to a war in a country you most likely had not heard of. Accommodation consisted of a canvas tent, maybe two blankets at best, maybe a pillow, a straw bed no doubt, no running hot water, dug latrines, sloppy food and six to eight hours per day of training to get ready to fight. Now, having been through the training system at Wagga, I can guarantee that my training (whilst I thought it was difficult at the time) was a breeze to what Pop would have done. I had every modern convenience that existed in the late1970’s.

At the conclusion of each day’s training there would have been a duty roster for the men to perform guard duty or kitchen duties. There would have also been some night training to prepare them for night attacks. Little or no tactics would have been taught to the basic infantry soldier for this war as it was deemed that only the officers, warrant officers and senior non commissioned officers were competent enough to understand them. What a very short sighted observation, but built on a British model, that was the thinking of the time. It proved to be very costly during the war however; there were many smart and strategic thinkers amongst the other ranks.

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Prior to Pop’s completion of training and departure he returned home to Bahgallah. On 24 May 1915 a farewell was held in his honour at the Bahgallah schoolroom. This extract is taken from “The Casterton News and the Merino and Sandford Record on Thursday 27 May 1915”

“On Monday, 24th inst, a large number of residents attended the Bahgallah schoolroom, the occasion being a farewell social tendered to another district volunteer -Mr Adam Spring, Mr J. McIntyre occupied the chair, and commended Mr Spring for his patriotism and trusted that the war would soon be over, so that he and the other Bahgallah soldiers would return to us, as such men as those who have volunteered could ill be spared. Messrs Blair, Nowacki, Somerville and Jamieson spoke in complimentary terms of the departing guest. The Chairman then presented Mr Spring with a handsome pocket wallet as a memento from his Bahgallah friends. A similar gift was made for Mr W(William Argyle). Spring, who was unable to leave Broadmeadows. Mr Spring suitably responded and assured his friends that he would endeavour to uphold the reputation of the Australians at the front. A varied programme of considerable merit was rendered by local residents and much appreciated. The usual hospitality of the Bahgallah ladies was in evidence.”

Having enlisted in April 1915 and departed for Gallipoli in July 1915 training would have taken approximately two and a half months. To be thrust into the destruction of war after very limited training was going to take all of his efforts to survive for even one day.

Here is a transcript of three letters Pop wrote whilst undergoing his training at Broadmeadows.

Letter One – 27 April 1915

Dear Ina, just a line to let you know that I am still alive. We have not gone out to Broadmeadows yet we were to go out today but they could not get a special train so we won’t be going until tomorrow. It is terrible to put in the time we have nothing to do only go to the Hall for meals and bed. I am sending you a photo of the tent where we go to write and read you can get a good feed for 4 pence. I would not live down here for anything. How is the horses getting on has any died yet.

We have not struck a soul yet that we know. The eight hours procession was a great sight to see the turnouts were done up lovely. Tell Dad to get in good form because I will be Lord and Champion when I get home I don’t know when that will be.

Tell mother to get the money from Ian Smith I told him to pay her it is two pounds eight shillings and ten shillings from Ted Balkin. If Ted Illingworth pays for the pup she can have that.

The stew we get down at the Hall is not too good this morning was the first time we had it we were getting our meals up the street until then but we are running short of money so we had to tackle it. Give Colin and Jean a kiss for me and give the boys a shilling each when Smith pays. I owe him 3 shillings tell him I’ll pay that when I get first pay. I can’t think of any more to tell you so I will ring off with love to all from Adam.

I don’t know what address to give you so I will write again.

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Letter Two – 8 May 1915

Dear Ina, I suppose you thought I was never going to write. To tell you the truth I have not had time we have been on guard four times this last week. There has been great rain down here I say by the paper you have had it up there. The mud down here is something terrible it is up to your boots tops you have to walk very careful or you will slip over. I had a time of it last night I was up four or five times last night and splashing through the mud was lovely. I am alright today I got a dose from the Doctor. There is a terrible lot in hospital they say it is full up.

A brother to one of the young fellows in our tent died last week he cam from Nhill such a nice young fellow. I was very sorry for him he was only in the hospital for two or three days.

I have not been out of the camp yet but will be going into town one day this week. I have not seen Ada yet every Sunday since we came here we have been on guard. I don’t think it is fair some fellows have been here 18 or 19 weeks and only been on one.

There is some talk of them closing the camp for a week or so to let it dry up I hope they do we will be able to go home then it is not in a fit state for a horse to be in let alone man. I think they will soon send us off on account of the state of the camp.

When I go into town I am going to get my photo taken they will supply you with a uniform. Well Ina I think I have told you all I can think of give Colin and Jean a kiss for me and tell them I will soon be home and bring them something nice. Tell mother I will write to her tomorrow and send some money I would send it in this only I forget to get a money order. Give my love to them all.

I am your loving brother

Adam

Letter Three – 31 May 1915

Dear Ina, I have been going to write every night his week but kept putting it off. How are the folks up there? I was in to Melbourne last Saturday and had my photo taken. I saw Ada and went up and had tea with her. Mrs Patterson is such a nice woman she said any time I was in town to be sure and go up and have tea with her.

It is pay night tomorrow so I will break leave Wednesday night and go in I would be going tonight only funds won’t stand it. We are going to march through the streets of Melbourne next Saturday there is some military sports on we are going to get our uniform on Thursday so I hear.

I am a Corporal’s batman today so am not out at drill it is a good job all I have to do is wash up after breakfast and sweep out the tent then I am finished until dinner time. You get splendid food from a job like this. It is nice and dry here now the mud has dried up wonderfully you would not know there has been a drop of rain.

Well Ina I must close with love to all.

Adam

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Chapter Four

The Departure from Australia

Adam departed Australia on His Majesty’s Australian Transport (H.M.A.T.) DEMOSTHENES on 16 July 1915 from Station Pier, Port Melbourne. Everything would have been bustle and hurry on this particular morning commencing at Broadmeadows Camp. A fond farewell from the Camp Commandant and a chorus of cheers from those remaining behind either completing their training and from the instructional staff. Considering it was dead winter in Melbourne the march to the train station would be through mud and slush. A “special” train was used to get the diggers to Port Melbourne from Broadmeadows. Disembark from the train and embark on the DEMOSTHENES bound for Alexandria. I cannot find a time of which the vessel would have pushed off from the pier but it would have been filled with people saying goodbye to loved ones or just patriotic Australians bidding farewell and good luck to our brave soldiers with a tear in their eye.

His Majesty’s Australian Transport (H.M.A.T.) DEMOSTHENES

Three months on a large vessel heading to war. All Australian troop carrying ships went via Albany (Western Australia), Colombo (Ceylon back then, but now known as Sri Lanka), Gulf of Aden (located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa.) and Port Said (a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 kilometres along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal) The first leg of the journey is a seven day steam to Albany placing him there on or about 6 August 2015. He would have seen the fortified Mount Clarence and ahead of him the immense and beautiful lighthouse erected on Breaksea Island. He would have then steamed slowly into King George Sound. On his right is a rough coast covered with scrub on

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the left and slightly ahead is the entrance to Albany harbor. Here is where the vessel would “coal up” for the next leg of their journey once anchored inside the harbor. The stay in port would be a great attraction to young Australian soldiers of the day to try and leave the vessel without permission in pursuit of young Western Australian ladies. Guards would have been posted to stop this behaviour. Depending on how many vessels were docked in the harbor waiting on coal and other supplies would have dictated the length of stay in Albany.

After several days the DEMOSTHENES pulled up anchor departing Albany for Colombo, a fourteen day steam. Upon sighting land, tremendous mountains appeared in the distance. They weighed anchor in the open sea outside Colombo awaiting the arrival of a “ships pilot” to guide the vessel into Colombo harbor. The harbor is made by very large and long breakwaters with two or three separate spaces for entering. Colombo from the boat looks like a beautiful city. Every building is beautifully built and their roofs are of terracotta tiles. There is a little railway line with an old fashioned engine and a tram line that is electric. The local population make their way down to the harbor to sell trinkets, gifts and fruit to us. The prices are exorbitant. Generally soldiers and NCO’s would not be allowed ashore, it would be the officers only. Those that did get ashore stated that Colombo is a most beautiful place like you would see in a postcard. There is a large lighthouse in the middle of the main street electrically fitted and throws a bright beam from one horizon to the other. Again, the vessel would “coal up” and depart for the next stop, Gulf of Aden.

Weather would have played a huge part on the progress to their next stop. It would have also been a major factor in how Pop would have fared at sea. Having already spent three weeks at sea and anchored out in the open sea would have dictated on how he would have been feeling day in day out. One could only assume that sea sickness would have certainly inflicted him at one time or another. Maybe he got his “sea legs” and was fine.

The next leg of the voyage from Colombo to the Gulf of Aden would prove to be another ten to twelve day steam. The area consisted of high and desolate mountain ranges. There was no vegetation and the landscape appeared just like the moon does through a scope. Lower down on an apparent island was a lighthouse and other necessary outhouses. Further along to the left were numerous houses for permanent troops, a wireless station and fortress. On the opposite side, but could not be seen, was the island of the Seven Apostles. The Gulf of Aden is the “step off” point to enter into the Red Sea enroute to the Suez Canal which is protected by British interests. To your south west is Somalia and Ethiopia, to your west is Eritrea and to the north west is Egypt. To the east is Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Persia (Iran/Iraq). The Red Sea was the last part of the sea journey to reach Egypt. They are now departing the Indian Ocean to enter the Red Sea. The beginning of the journey takes them through Hells Gate, so named as to the many number of vessels that were sunk in the area. There are twelve large rocks known as the 12 Apostles and most of the vessels are reported to have met there fate on these group of rocks.

The change in the weather from departing to Australia in winter and now arriving in Middle East would have been extreme to say the least. It would have been late autumn and the heat oppressive. Steaming up the Red Sea to the Suez and the scenery in the gulf is beautiful with piers and wharves to our west and small neat towns to our east. Upon entering the Suez it is a wonderful sight, simply lovely. There are pretty plain houses, very neat and tidy in appearance. Everywhere there a piers and docks and a large amount of ships. They continued up the canal and soon came to the land of nothing; sand everywhere you looked. They soon begin to sight numerous fortifications, entrenchments and barbed wire entanglements. An overnight stay in the canal is warranted and we are to set sail again the next morning.

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We start off again up the canal noticing train stations with Egyptian writing. We arrive at Port Said for the night and again, “coal up”. We depart early the next morning for out final run into Alexandria. It is a beautiful place from the boat and I’m sure I’ll get a good look around when we disembark. The 7th reinforcements of the 5th Battalion disembarked straight onto a train bound for Cairo. It would be about an eight hour journey. Arriving in Cairo the troops were then detrained and marched to another area to catch another train to Mena Camp.

About 500 reinforcements boarded with Pop and the trick would be to get a sleeping spot. Certainly hammocks would have been used and they were most likely slung in any part of vessel including the galley (Mess). Of course, they would need to be pulled down during the day to allow the use of the Mess for eating etc. I am unable to confirm the number of horses that were on this vessel, however, history tells me that it may have been as many as 400.

What to do with 500 men on a three month voyage. Drill would have been conducted, if not on a daily basis, perhaps every third or fourth day. Shooting practice off the deck into the sea, most likely with targets towed behind. All the men would have had to perform some type of duty whilst on board, whether it be in the mess washing dishes (dixi basher) or assisting the cooks with either serving or cooking. Maintenance of the stables would be paramount.

If you can, imagine the conditions on that ship in 1915, it would have been cramped, hot, cold, more training conducted, parades, sleeping in hammocks, bully beef out of tin can etc. Can you also imagine the stench from all those without “sea legs” for the better part of the journey and of course there would have been the stench from the horses and other animals on the vessel as well.

During my flights on my way to deploying to IRAQ and Afghanistan, I had about 12 hours to think of what lies ahead. Will I do my job properly, will it be dangerous, could I be wounded or even killed in action. 12 hours to contemplate your fate!! What I had in my distinct favour over my grandfather was that I was a professional soldier with almost 30 years experience. Adam had left his job as a grocer, trained for just two and a half months and had just three months to contemplate what was going to happen to him and his mates around him. Would he see the bloke next to him again, would he panic, would he hide, would he be able do to the job he had trained for? Was it the right training they had received? Due to the times and for the morale of the Empire and our fledgling nation, I am sure much information was suppressed. Did he know the rate of casualties for an infantry soldier? Did he know the rate of attrition by way of illness at Gallipoli? I cannot begin to imagine how many times he may have doubted himself, then reorganised and said “It’ll be OK”, “I’ll be right”, then some days later those same doubts would again creep in to muddle his thinking. All the officers and soldiers on the ship would have had the same conversation with themselves over and over again. Could you have walked off that ship thinking I’m going to be alright?

I deliberately have not mentioned this previously, but what Adam had in his favour was that his first cousin, 2457 Private William (Bill) Argyle Spring had enlisted a few days after him and had trained with Adam and was on the DEMOSTHENES with him as well. What a comfort that would have been. Both Adam and Bill were from Bahgallah, attended the same school, were of similar age and were both allocated to the 5 th Battalion. They would have been able to keep each others spirits up and could have talked about home, family and life in general in Bahgallah.

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Chapter Five

The Arrival - Egypt

The DEMOSTHENES docked in Alexandria, Egypt on 18 October 1915. Oh, what a joy that must have been. Just over three months at sea, would have been great to get onto terafirma again!! Once disembarked they were placed on a train for the journey to Mena Camp outside of Cairo for further training to head into Gallipoli.

Mena Camp

So, a young man from rural Victoria jumps on a ship, sails to the other side of the world, gets off, jumps on a train and lands right under the Great Pyramids!! Wow!! What would he have been thinking? This is 1915, how surreal would this have been? I cannot begin to contemplate the feelings he and his mates would have had.

Egypt has two seasons, a mild winter that runs from November to April and summer from May to October. Temperatures on arrival would have been about 21 degrees Celsius during the day and down to freezing by night. Pop has arrived just at the end of summer. He would not be there for long though, just enough time to undergo refresher and specialist training.

The camp was set up at Mena, about 10 miles from the centre of Cairo, just on the outskirts of the city. The pyramids and Sphinx at Giza made for a spectacular backdrop as the training camps providing enough space for training drills and manoeuvres for unlimited troops. Within days, British staff in Egypt had arranged contractors to lay water pipes to all the camps and extend tramlines to the prospective depot at Mena. Before the winter of 1914-15 was over, the valley in which the 5th Battalion had camped was full. It was described by Bean as being ‘with the hum, bustle, the dust, smell, sounds and lights of a busy city.”

The training was arduous and of a high intensity. Limited leave was allowed in Cairo after hours, as training would be 8 hours a day, six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza there were groups of men advancing, retiring, or squatting listening to their officer. At first, to harden the troops, they wore their full kits with heavy packs during their training, resulting in their backs being drenched with 12

perspiration. As they took their midday meal break, the desert wind blew on them making many of the men sick, some dying of pneumonia.

The Australians’ training was very similar to the British Army, with little advice coming from the battle field as to the tactics being used in the new form of modern trench warfare. However the view at the time was positive and a newly arrived officer from England remarked that the Australian Division was as well trained as any regular division before the war.

The training conditions in Egypt were tough with many Australians embracing the challenging lifestyle of a soldier. In Cairo, many took tours of the pyramids and tombs and haggled with Egyptian traders for souvenirs in the markets, sent home to families to become precious keepsakes.

So our grandfather would have done all the tours, purchased mementos and keepsakes, wonder where they are now?

Lines of the Australian 9th and 10th Battalions at Mena Camp, looking towards the Pyramids. The soldier in the foreground is playing with a kangaroo, the regimental mascot. Many Australian units brought

kangaroos and other Australian animals with them to Egypt, and some were given to the Cairo Zoological Gardens when the units went to Gallipoli.

Pop, now having completed his further training, his mind would now be turning to stepping foot onto the shores of Anzac Cove. Now allocated to Charlie Coy (C Coy) he would have been given a role, placed into a platoon of some 30 men and most likely placed in a section of 10 men with a defined role within that section. He intimately knows his platoon commander (a Lieutenant), platoon Sergeant and his section commander (Corporal) and the other men in his section. He must trust these men with his life for the next undefined period he is about to enter. Since enlisting in April it has been one big adventure and I suppose the adventure is to continue with one more journey into history as part of the mighty 5th Battalion.

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Next stop Lemnos for embarkation into Gallipoli.

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Chapter Six

Lemnos

Pop was taken on strength in Lemnos at Sarpi Rest Camp on 3 November 1915 along with his cousin Bill Spring and all reinforcements for the 5 th Battalion. Sarpi Camp was home to No 3 Australian General Hospital and the No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital. It was here that Australian soldiers came for respite from the shores of Gallipoli.

Sarpi Rest Camp

There are no entries in either Pop’s or Bill’s records to show when they actually left Sarpi to enter Gallipoli. It is only 60 km from Lemnos to the Gallipoli Peninsula. British Naval vessels were used to transport troops to and from Gallipoli.

It is fact that he arrived at Sarpi on 3 November 1915. With only a short steam to Gallipoli it can be assumed that he arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula on either 4 or 5 November 1915. Now, he was in it!

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Chapter Seven

Gallipoli

The 5th Battalion had been in Gallipoli since day one. It participated in the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, coming ashore in the second wave, before taking part in the fighting at Krithia and then at Lone Pine. The 5th Battalion was part of the 2nd Brigade.

It was led by Lieutenant Colonel D. S. Wanliss, the officer who had raised the battalion. Ten days after the landing the 2nd Brigade was transferred from ANZAC to Cape Helles to help in the attack on the village of Krithia. The attack captured little ground but cost the brigade almost a third of its strength. The Victorian battalions forming the 2nd Brigade returned to ANZAC to help defend the beachhead, and in August the 2nd Brigade fought at the battle of Lone Pine. 

On arrival at Gallipoli the 5th Battalion strength was 1024 officers and soldiers. Up until 5 November 1915 the 5th Battalion had suffered many casualties. This was indicative of all units within the Peninsula. Approximately 190 days of hard and determined fighting by both sides had passed until Adam, as a 7th Reinforcement had landed to commence his war time adventure.

From this point in time I can only look into a crystal ball for what might have been for Pop. Coupled with my own operational experience, I can assume many things that may have happened.

Since enlistment Pop has received two and a half months training in Australia, boarded a vessel for three months to reach Egypt, a further two weeks of training then onto Lemnos to go forward to the Gallipoli.

Historical information tells me he would have arrived at night, disembarked into long boats, rowed into Anzac Cove and then would have been taken to where the 5 th Battalion was currently staged within the trench system. This deep into the campaign, the fighting was less fierce, but no less dangerous. As a “newbie” he would have been given arduous tasks to give relief to those that had been there for the duration. As a keen, young 20 year old, he would have been itching to get into the fight with “Johnny Turk”, as was the case with all young Australians at that time. Eyes wide open, ears that would have heard everything going on around him. He would have found it difficult to sleep for the first few days. You want to take in everything around you, know what’s going on at all times and put your hand up to do anything to help out your unit. Of course the battle hardened veterans who had survived until this time would gladly accept any offer you made to do something for them.

The weather conditions at that time of year would have been on the way down for Pop. It was heading into winter. Average daytime temp of 16 degrees during the day and a night time low of around 8 degrees. Rainfall would also have been a factor with the average for November being about 80 mm in the month. December would be colder and wetter. The only saving grace for this time of the year would be the alleviation of the stench of death throughout the trenches, but it would still be there.

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Australian Trench held by the 5th Battalion, Gallipoli

The living conditions for Pop as you can see in the picture above were not very comfortable. Being a “newbie”, he would not have had the pick of where he could sleep, wash or eat his meals. He would have to make do with what the others would let him have. The only way he might have got a better place to live was if someone had been killed or wounded and he would be able to occupy that space. In Gallipoli he probably did not have to wait that long.

Pop, unbeknown to him of course, had arrived at a time of upheaval within the senior officer ranks. The commanding general, Monro, had suggested to Lord Kitchener to evacuate as the probability of winning the campaign was remote. Kitchener dismissed this notion and relieved Monro of his command and appointed Birdwood who was widely known to be a “yes” man. Soon after, Kitchener visited the Peninsula and reconsidered his removal of Monro and appointed him to a new command, effectively, in command of Gallipoli once more.

The weather was turning nasty and on 17 November a gale smashed the landing piers at Helles and Anzac Cove. On 22 November Kitchener advised the British Cabinet that Gallipoli should be evacuated. This would involve taking off more that 93,000 troops, 200 guns and more than 5,000 animals as well as vast quantities of stores and ammunition.

A heavy rainstorm struck on 27 and 28 November 1915. It lasted three days and was followed by a blizzard at Suvla in early December. Rain flooded trenches, drowned soldiers and washed unburied corpses into the lines; the following snow killed more men from exposure.

Whilst the evacuation of Gallipoli was being considered and prepared by senior officers, business as usual was conducted within the trenches. Since his arrival at Gallipoli Pop had at least 39 to 40 nights to survive, not knowing of course, that he would leave there on 20 December 1915.

The objectives of the first two stages kept secret from all but those who needed to know, that it was not until the second week in December that the ordinary soldiers realised that a full-scale evacuation was in progress. Charles Bean felt that everyone knew by 13 December. Men’s reactions varied, but a common sorrow was the thought of leaving behind their dead

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comrades. Bean noted how many now spent time in the small Anzac cemeteries tidying up the graves.

A Lance Corporal named William Scurry invented the “drip gun” which was largely responsible for the successful evacuation. Scurry was a member of the 7 th Battalion and our Grandfather, whether he was there at the time when the idea was thought about or not, was a witness and user of this incredible invention. For me, that is truly staggering. Scurry saved tens of thousands of lives with this simple invention, including our Pop. Scurry would later serve on the Western Front, be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for this invention and would later be awarded the Military Cross for actions in France. He survived the war, married and had four daughters and died in 1963 in Silvan, Victoria.

On 19 December just 10 000 men held the lines of trenches from Bolton’s Ridge in the south to Hill 60 in the north. The day was spent in constant activity aimed at convincing their watchful enemy that things were preceding as normal. At 2.15 pm the British started a feint attack at Helles to distract the Turks. At dusk the rear guard began leaving for the beach until finally there were but 1500 left in all those miles of dark trench.

The evacuation of Gallipoli commenced in mid December 1915 with some 67,000 troops evacuated after 13 December. Between 18-20 December, the final 26,000 troops were evacuated to Lemnos.

By 4.00 am, 20 December 1915, a handful of men were left at North Beach. Among these was the commander of the ‘Rear Party’, Colonel J Paton, from Waratah, Sydney. At 4.10 am, Paton, having waited ten minutes for any last Anzac straggler, declared the evacuation complete and sailed off. The Anzacs had successfully left Gallipoli with hardly a casualty.

On 19 December, as he waited to go, Company Quarter Master Sergeant A L Guppy, 14th Battalion, of Benalla, Victoria, confided his feelings in verse to his diary. His words probably spoke for them all:

Not only muffled is our treadTo cheat the foe,

We fear to rouse our honoured deadTo hear us go.

Sleep sound, old friends- the keenest smartWhich, more than failure, wounds the heart,

Is thus to leave you- thus to part,Comrades, farewell!

An entry in Pop’s record of service indicates that he was at Sarpi Camp on 23 December 1915 after the evacuation from Gallipoli. 5th Battalion history also supports this as they proudly report that the battalion was part of the initial landing on 25 April and was one of the last units to leave the peninsula on 20 December. It is known that those that stayed behind in the trenches for the last few hours were all volunteers and were to be single men. So, Pop spent most likely 40 nights at Gallipoli, enough to get a taste of war and what was to lie ahead for him and his mates on the Western Front.

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For his service in the trenches of Gallipoli, Pop was awarded the 1914/15 Star.

This is the paperwork signed by Pop upon receipt of his Medal. It was awarded to him on 26 April 1920 in Casterton.

Letter from Pop to Ina – The Trenches 2nd December 1915

Dear Ina, as it is your birthday today I thought I would drop you a line wishing you many happy returns of the day. I would not mind if I were home to give you a handshake and a kiss but never mind I hope to be home before your next. The fellow in the recess with me, Bill Harvey also said he sends his best regards.

Well Ina I am keeping fairly well the only trouble it is very cold and you have to keep your head down. A couple of days ago we had about 4 inches of snow and by hang it was cold. It has not all melted away yet. I don’t know how I am going to put the winter in here. What kind of weather are you having at home I suppose you are busy with the Xmas cleaning? Are you going to Strath this Boxing Day? I think it will be very quiet this year.

When you see Ada Jelly you can tell her I saw Jack yesterday he is not looking too well.

Your loving brother, Adam

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Note re Bill Harvey mentioned in Pop’s letter. 2465 Private W.J. Harvey transferred to the 24th Battalion in early 1916. During action at Pozieres he was awarded the Military Medal for brave conduct. He was initially a 6th Reinforcement of the 5th Battalion at Gallipoli, not a bad bloke to share his recess with. He enlisted from Echuca.

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Chapter Eight

War Diaries

176 Lieutenant Allan Alexander Clarke, MM, MID

With permission, I have included this special chapter of Don Clarke’s father, 176 Lieutenant Allan Alexander Clarke, MM, MID, who kept meticulous war diaries. Without his diary entries I would not have been able to be as descriptive about the journey to Egypt and subsequently Gallipoli. He departed Australia on 22 December 1914 and returned home in November 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) and was Mentioned In Dispatches (MID) for his gallant and brave actions in France.

He enlisted as a Sapper in the 1st Signal Company Engineers. He also served in the 4th

Division Signal Company and in the 49th Battalion. He was promoted to Corporal on 09 March 1916, Sergeant on 01 April 1916, 2nd Lieutenant on 14 July 1917 and Lieutenant on 26 December 1917.

It is from theses diaries that I was able to give a more accurate description of the voyage from Australia to Alexandria and to give you, the reader, a real perspective from a soldier on the ground fighting in our fledgling nations first major conflict.

I have changed very few words in an attempt to make sense of it and hope that you too, will have the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end like mine did as I read his real life accounts during World War One.

Allan Clarke arrived at the Gallipoli campaign at 0400 hours (4 am) on the morning of 25 April 1915.

Of the 20,000 Australian men who landed on Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915, here is his recount of what happened from his vantage point on that morning.

25th Many big shell came very close to the ships The Third brigade had attempted a landing about 4 AM just as we were coming up Never will I forget this Sunday Am the 25 th when all the boys full of the Australian spirit boarded the torpedo destroyers in turn knowing that they will be there or cheered as it moved away toward the shore to where, for many, awaited certain death All around us were dead and dying coming back in boats. Those heroes who had managed a good start but were checked in their brave attempt. They all knew that we came to take the peninsular and that take it we must and shall so all was inevitable. They did not want to be rowed in close to the beach they plunged into the water threw off their packs and charged the Turks up steep ravines and cliffs shouting their wrath at the enemy as they plunged the bayonet home. Dead and wounded of both sides lay on the beach innumerable but the officers said “There is no retreat boys on to victory” Between rifles and guns from the Battleships and artillery you could not hear anything else. The ships which took part were the Queen Elizabeth Prince of Wales Queen and London

These further transcriptions will focus on the period 2 November to 20 December 1915. This is the period we can safely determine that our Pop was at Gallipoli. Whilst he may or may not have been in the same area at the same time, again, real life accounts from a man who has been involved in the entire Gallipoli campaign will give you an outstanding account of what the men were going through at the time with regards to weather conditions, workloads, rations, the differences between the treatment of the officers compared to the other ranks and the non commissioned officers. The ??? are words or phrases that cannot be deciphered.

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2nd to 9th November 1915

2nd to 9th was put in doing much the same and running duplicate lines to each Bde Had a very cold snap this week and there’s every evidence of the winter setting in suddenly The food is quite up to standard (and what is the main and constant factor is that we never receive our proper ration). We receive half and ¼ and ¾ issue of the majority of it and some times none at all and this goes on for weeks and is never made up I am sure some of us will never come through the winter there.

I have achieved my old complaint diarrhoea and cramped stomach and cannot seem to get relief I’m afraid it has come to ???? They talk about us and the good times we receive red tucker canteens in cust papers but the only canteen here is a bag but about 12 by 24 and it never has more than a few shillings worth of what a soldier wants or needs and then only on rare occasions so the canteen is all tommy rot likewise the food and the same with anything we have sent us as a gift from the people It is ransacked before it arrives by the heads and then when our officers see it they pick it over and finally the men see what I call the “ ???? “ of the remainder This invariably occurs and we are helpless to change the state of affairs A soldier I believe writes home that those who complain about the food are wasters. I’ll swear to God that such man never set foot on Gallipoli or he would talk like that or else he’s an officer and signed himself as a Pte. The Officers here in a majority of cases are living better than in civil life. They can send away to Egypt for beer and spirits and the best of food and warm clothing but when it comes to a soldier sending love or having a man detailed to buy something for them it’s a different matter and has to be considered and one thing and another and finally some one is sent has returns having only gone to the Greek island of Imbros and (emptiness ?? ) and reports only able to get a limited supply of a few rotten eggs at 2/6 a dozen I purchased 10/- worth 4 dozen and 75% were uneatable and stinken rotten so that is a thing you cannot pass by on the other side.

The food at present is ridiculous never receive our ration what you receive wouldn’t do he most elite small eating man for one meal. If they get me to enlist for another war should I survive this I reckon I shall have been close to hypnotized. What the devil are my country or my King to me off us when they don’t keep us fit. If we were fed and clothed we would do as we do in civil life but as it is I have neither shirt and no singlet nor underclothing to my back and the snow is falling the adjacent island of Imbros. The bitter weather is damnable. Another a scarcity of water I have never had a wash since 26 th Sept and never had a drink of water either only on a very rare occasion and all we have is the tea to drink and one day a ¼ ration another day ½ and another day and soon very rarely getting a full ration of drink at each meal This is not so with the officers: they can have a fresh water wash or bath every now and again ( wash of face and teeth ) every morning and water to dilute with their spirits also at any time and coffee at all hours of the night. As I said before they don’t want the war to end at all as they are in a warm dugout where water never is and living better than in their homes in a majority of cases with a man to attend hourly and all day long to their wants and wash their clothes and tuck them to bed of a night amongst a multitude of blankets while we enjoy what warmth we can acquire from two.

9th to 20th November

From 9th to 20th November had absolutely no time to write up diary so can only give the gist or the main points We ran a line to MAP the trenches on Russells Top and with two operators and a linesman. Set up communications between there and the General because of a demonstration being held on the right flank the Light Horse. Advanced 150 yards and opened a new firing line with on a new front. Turks attacked immediately after and were repulsed with heavy losses with 13 men and one officer on our side.

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Continuous heavy gales bitterly cold Sgt Martyn and Sgt Don and I have taken over XA and FVA and ZE1 and 2 ????? he’s being sick Rec ???? from ???? ??? ???? Run a line to MAP direct and as 7 th Bde have come in from the APEX (An area of land between Rhododendron Ridge and Cheshire Ridge) we are utilizing MAP ????? and run it through to 7 th Bde Line to MAP now called GFT 1.

21st Had a holiday off 2nd Sunday now and quite handy bitterly cold day Position unchanged.

22nd 2000 hours. Turks attacked the Apex during night and got to within bombing distance when our 40 machine guns there accounted for between 600 to 800 of them for their cheek very cold day but better Posi unchanged.

23rd to 27th Position unchanged and I am in a very bad health and don’t know what on earth to do about it. Very bad Doctors attending us and I think it is all percent of the trouble Turks started with 8.2 inch on Russells Top and 10 and 11.2 inch on Lone Pine and our work I assume you has become exceedingly dangerous and if were not in the smoke of them we have to chance our luck under a shower of steel and flying lumps of stone and earth. The weather has been bitterly cold and some ????? ( ????? ) its exceptionally so and I must scramble into my burrow

28th It’s as cold as Hell and snowing like the devil and already 4 inches deep and now and again it stops and is followed by rain and then snow again and it seems as if your nose and various other projections have left you and by the living Harry its cold. I am still as bad as it is possible to feel and cannot leave my bed so remained there all day in pain mainly ( in the ) my stomach and my mate brought me my meals. Bad meals and no water etc through everything being frozen and pipes burst. On the night of 24 th I forgot to mention a proposed evacuation scheme lasting three days yet nothing firm and orders to fire on all visible bodies of hostile troops.

29th to 2nd Blizzard has followed the recent snow and my nose ears ( tips of my ) fingers and toes ( are no more ) have left me The fierce biting gales are near sufficient to hurl you given some of the steep cliffs around which we climb during the ??? has daily ???? and through mention work is an utter failure but duty calls and stillJohnnie Turk is busy with 7/5 th Bn 8.2, 10 and 11.2 inch howitzer will give it a fly The winds are still bitterly cold and you become so cold one can hardly do anything. Many chaps in the trenches have been frozen footed and some frozen all over and ??????? has been turned into a Hospital ship and was here then a battalion of men went away in one day alone just after the snow and the above boat left here with 5,000 men aboard.

2nd to 15th The weather has completely changed and is nice and sunny now and I am in the best of health again and work is proceeding well on Russells Top. I am now working on 6th Bde and Lone Pine lines and am very busy running lines in so many directions that I really don’t know where I am. The whole peninsula is covered with wire and now the whole place is to be evacuated We have landed here and lost 25000 men for F.A. and now what will we get for it FA, again. We also thought the evacuation scheme up to putty but now were going to bluff the Turks through it and clean out without a casualty and don’t you forget it

16th Now starts some heavy work We have to be informed of the move and were busy working night and day perfecting the retiring communication and we are the lastparty to leave the peninsula

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17th started running line duplicating ZA 2 and continuing onto Walkers Ridge at the outpost ZE ( new ). Lovely weather prevailing started running duplicate for PT outpost started cause unknown in Ordinance and delayed our night for the climax one day.

18th All the line to machine guns on ??? ???? ??? ???? broken by shell and ???? into by others and pulled down through carelessness on the part of those putting up barbedwire entanglements Sure ???? PT ??? ???? and cathedral broken by shrapnel mended by Bde lineman.

19th Everything swimming along many troops embarked morning of 19th and night equipment padded with blankets, roads made conspicuous. Anything of value blown up and broken so it cannot be used and given with ???? to be blown up in case Turks attack while were at the last post. Shrapnel caught 2 officers and one sergeant, too bad. Everything still swimming although right up to last when ???? ???? he came inattentive. Everything ????? and Turks putting up sand bags and barbed wire. 3.30 AM Office closed up all trenches empty and we are the last with the machine gunners and are now yards from the boat.

20th Neck was blown up and Turks thinking it was an attack responded with rapid fire and splattered us with bullets. I don’t know how I missed it I attempted to deliver amessage to Col Paton but Col Glassfurd informed me it had been fixed up and then went aboard a steamboat lying alongside the ???? of Works” and left the land at fouram and transferred to the Prince Hobart thence to Lemnos arriving there at 10am It was fearfully chilly on the deck as no other comfort was available We went alongsidethe Eleba ?? and transferred to her then the Eloba came alongside and took half our English troops and finally we again transferred to a steamboat and after an hours sailarrive at the ???? in outer harbor and had a 4 mile weary walk with full pack up and other gear and after having several spells arrived at our camp in a sheer state ofexhaustion slept a heavy sleep all night and next day.

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Chapter Nine

The Western Front – 1916Pozières

From 23 December 1915 until 7 January 1916 Pop was located at Sarpi Camp in Lemnos undergoing rest and recuperation from the Gallipoli Peninsula. The 5 th Battalion as a whole would have certainly appreciated the extended period of down time. His first Christmas and New Year overseas spent in Greece.

On 7 January he embarked upon HMT Empress of Britain, an armed merchant cruiser to steam back to Alexandria. He disembarked on the same day, 7 January.

The initial raid on the Suez Canal, also known as Actions on the Suez Canal, took place between 26 January and 4 February 1915 after a German-led Ottoman Army force advanced from Southern Palestine to attack the British Empire-protected Suez Canal, before the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of One.

Substantial Ottoman forces crossed the Sinai Peninsula, but their attack failed mainly because of strongly held defences and alert defenders.

This battle at the Suez in early 1915 was the catalyst for the Gallipoli campaign.

Between 7 January and 16 March 1916 the 5th Battalion was involved in defending the Suez Canal prior to deploying to France and the Western Front. Not much is written about the defence of the Suez in this period, noting that from the end of 1916 and into 1917 it would become a fierce battleground for the Sinai conflict and the Palestine conflict involving the light horse brigades.

On 28 February 1916 Pop was transferred from C Coy to the Battalion Headquarters. (I had missed this entry on previous readings of his record). In what capacity it is not clear, but, from my experience with such structures, it could have been as a runner, batman, line layer, signaller , headquarters security or any other task that was needed within the Battalion Headquarters. After a small downtime back in Alexandria from the Suez Canal, the Headquarter element embarked on the “Minnewaska” on 20 March 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles on 24 March 1916. The headquarters element is always sent forward to setup and plan for the next stage of the battle.

Whilst Pop had been transferred to the Battalion Headquarters, Bill Spring remained in D Coy and he departed Alexandria on 25 March 1916 arriving in Marseilles on 30 March 1916. It was clear that all the company’s were being called forward to the Battalion Headquarters position.

Let me be very clear, unlike today’s modern warfare and how headquarters are structured, the 5th Battalion Headquarters would have been at the front at all times, that is how they fought in that time, unlike today’s headquarters who are centered at the rear of the battle. So this means that Pop would still have been involved in the fighting.

Prior to the commencement of violent hostilities on the Western Front, Pop had turned 21 on 18 April 2016. What a place to celebrate your 21st birthday. Many thanks to Libby Jungwirth who sent me a copy of Pop’s letters. In his letter dated 24 April 1916 from France to his sister

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Ina, Pop talks briefly about the war as censorship of their letters was paramount. He is lamenting the fact that he cannot be home for I presume one of his friend’s wedding and states that he may “bring a little French girl home” and ponders what “mother” would think of that. He celebrated his birthday in style with cousin Bill with a bottle of champagne. He states to Ina that he sees Bill every day although they are in different companys. They are to celebrate the first anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove tomorrow, 25 April 1916.

Letter from Pop to Ina – France 24 April 1916

Dear Ina, Just a line in answer to your letter of the 6 th of February. I was very pleased to hear from you and to know they are all well at home. I often wish I was back home with you all but somehow I think it will be a long time yet before we get back.

It is Easter Monday today I suppose you will all be having a good time while I am sitting writing to you. Well Ina I would like to be home to go to Bob’s wedding anyhow next time you see him wish him every success from his old pal it makes me feel old to think he is getting married. When I come home I will bring a nice little French girl back with me. I wonder what mother would say to that.

You have asked me several times was Bill and I parted, such is not the case we are very much together I see him every day we are in different companies that’s all. We are going to have a great night tomorrow night the 25th of April the day the Australians landed at Gallipoli. I think I told mother in my letter we kept up my birthday with a bottle of champagne.

How are the two little children there is one little girl next door to us always reminds me of Jean. She is a great pet with me I buy her lollies and oranges. You never mention anything about my two dogs, have you still got them?

I still carry the name of being flash, most of the fellows in the battalion say I swank too much, I have a good pair of trousers and a nice tunic that’s what does it. Over here Ina is much better than Egypt the weather is a bit cold but we can put up with that and I think the fighting is worse here that in was at Anzac.

Don’t forget to write and let me know how Bob’s wedding turned out. Do you ever go over Bahgallah way now; I have not had a letter from there for such a long time. I suppose you have no idea what Alex Taylor’s address is, I would very much like to see him he was my pick of the lot. Well Ina there is not very much to write about so I will close with best love to all from

Your loving brother, Adam.

P.S. I sent the little ones a handkerchief give them a lot of kisses for me.

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Pop indicates that he thinks the fighting is worse in France than it was at Gallipoli. An interesting observation considering the massive loss of life on the peninsula, however, arriving so late in the campaign it makes sense for him to make that observation.

The Battalion was now in the initial preparation stages for their entry into the fight at Pozières. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley in July 1916. During the battle at Pozières the Germans fired a concentrated Artillery barrage non-stop from 24 to 26 July 1916, not to gain ground or advantage, but to kill and maim as many allied soldiers as possible. The battle at Pozières lasted from 23 July to 7 August 1916, the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the Australians. The Australians suffered in excess of 13,000 casualties, however, the Germans were defeated in this battle.

On 25 July 1916 Bill Spring was wounded (possibly by this Artillery barrage) at Pozières and was evacuated to the 1st/2nd South Midland Field Ambulance British Unit. He died of his wounds on 26 July 1916. At this moment in time, both Pop and Bill were in the same Battalion, Pop in the headquarters and Bill in D Coy. From what I have learnt about Pop’s transfer to his headquarter role, it is more likely now that he may have been at his side when he died at the Field Ambulance Station as was remembered by my father and Auntie Dot.

The next two letters from Pop indicates that the 5 th Battalion was out of the fighting line during the latter part of September 1916 into early October 1916.

Letter from Pop – Egypt – September 30th 1916

Dear Mother, A few more lines to let you know I am keeping well hoping you are all well at home. I have only had one letter from you and it was written late in August so the ones before that must be hung up somewhere. Well Mother, there is not much to write about when you write once you find it harder to fill up another letter.

I am very sorry for poor Auntie Leanie she seems to always have bad luck. What is wrong with Hannah, I did not know she was ill. Bill had a letter from Auntie Jennie and she said Duncan had a daughter I suppose he is quite proud of it. Peter Prescott has managed to get across this far. Lil Dalgleish was saying she saw you with a nice bunch of violets, are they as plentiful this year as others? Did Cis come and stay with you at that time, I suppose she will be wild with me for not writing but I don’t know her address.

You never said whether you got the letter I wrote from Fremantle. You will find a little piece of cardboard in here that was given to me when I was leaving Seymour; I want you to keep it till I come home again. Did you every hear anything of Jack Dowling?

The flies nearly drove me mad I bought 6 yards of net to keep them off. Everybody is saying that winter is coming on but I can’t see any difference yet there has not been a drop of rain since we came the nights are getting a little colder that is all.

Well Mother as I said before news is scare so I will draw to a close with love to all. Adam

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Letter from Pop – Egypt – October 1st 1916

Dear Ina, I received your letter yesterday and was pleased to see you are all well as I am splendid. I had a letter from Effie she seems to be getting on alright at Betreat. What has happened to George that he has turned you down?

I suppose Colin and Jean have grown quite big do they still remember me? You have never mentioned anything about Miss White or Tony have you still got them both?

Things are very quiet here I am real sick of this place I wish we could get away to the front. How is Les getting on in camp Bill had a letter from him but there was not much news in it.

I have posted you, Effie, Jean and Mother some presents they will do for Xmas presents if I don’t send anything. For Colin, ask Mother to buy him something. I heard that old Jerry had gone broke is there any truth in it. Has Bob Picken been down lately I don’t suppose he is married yet? Did you ever get those photos I had taken before I left Seymour? Do you still take the Weekly Times if so I would like you to post it to me.

Have you been over to Bahgallah Church lately, remember me to them all if you happen to get across that way. How is your crop growing did you get any more in. I suppose Bob Clodes crop is looking well. How many cows are you milking mother was talking about selling some did she get rid of them?

We have just come in from a sha fight it was great bit of fun the only thing with it we had to walk a bit too far across the desert.

Well Ina there is not much to write about so I will ring off with love to all. From Adam

Pozières was one of 13 battles fought by the allied forces in the Somme Valley from 1 July to 18 November 1916. Also raging was a separate battle at Verdun, the longest battle in the First World War, lasting for almost a year. Led by the French the battle ran from 21 February to 18 December 1916. Casualties at the close of the battle amounted to over 400,000 German casualties and over 540,000 French casualties, many thousands of whom were killed.

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To my knowledge only Libby and Ian, Vicki, and Kim, Bob, Laurelle, Tanya and Darrel Spring are the only family members to have visited the resting place of 2457 Private William Argyle Spring, 5th Battalion, 1st AIF. Thanks to Tanya for the photo.

He is buried at the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, Warloy-Baillon, Picardie, France, The Somme. His grave location is Plot 5, Row B, Grave 15.

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Chapter Ten

The Western Front – 1917The Battle of Passchendaele

After a hellish 1916 where many Australian soldiers had lost their lives, the 5 th Battalion was now receiving the 12th Reinforcements from Australia for the upcoming offensive in Ypres, Belgium. On the bright side, and, I suppose due to the staggering casualties incurred during the war, the next entry in Pop’s service record is dated 6 January 1917 – STILL WITH UNIT. A very good thing for him and a great thing for the offspring who are here today. There is only one further entry after that date for 1917. On 6 September 1917 Pop went from Private Spring to Driver Spring. This duty may have involved driving trucks, passenger vehicles (staff cars), motorbikes or even a horse drawn cart. He may also have to act in the role as a stretcher bearer.

Throughout 1917 the 5th Battalion was involved in operations against the Hindenburg Line, before being involved in the Battle of Passchendaele between June and November 1917.

Passchendaele/Passendale, a Belgian village in the Zonnebeke municipality of West Flanders province. The Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres, Flandernschlacht and Deuxième Bataille des Flandres) was a major campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies against the German Empire.

In 1916 along with involvement in Pozieres, the 5th Battalion had been involved in the 1st

Battle of Passchendaele. This was old ground for the men of the battalion, but no less fierce and hostile.

After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, actually a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'.

The Australian infantry divisions joined the Third Battle of Ypres which had been going on since 31 July when they took part in the battle of Menin Road on 20 September 1917. Fortunately a change in the weather brought for them better fighting conditions. The side-by-side advance of the 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions took them up to the splintered remnants of Polygon Wood not far from Zonnebeke. The 4th and 5th Divisions then took over and, as part of the wider effort, they attacked on 26 September. In both cases the fighting was bloody. German concrete pillboxes often blocked the Australians' progress, and many men fell under shell and machine-gun fire. However with heavy artillery support the objectives were taken and enemy counter-attacks held off. These systematic step-by-step advances, staying within range of the supporting artillery, pushed the line forward by a few kilometres, but they were made at a heavy cost; in just over a week there were almost 11,000 Australian casualties.

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The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions captured Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917. It was a vital victory. But, then it began to rain. Five days later the 2nd Australian Division suffered heavily in a further attack in the mud. Finally, on 12 October, another attack, involving the 3rd Division assisted by the 4th, was made against the village of Passchendaele atop the main ridge. In the face of heavy fire, the men fought in the mire while struggling to keep up with their artillery barrages. Ground was taken but it could not be held. In wretched conditions, with casualties mounting at an appalling rate, the Australians had to fall back. The troops were finally exhausted and could do no more; by 15 November they handed over to the Canadians.

I can most likely understand why there are limited entries in Pop’s service record for 1917. What a bloody and murderous period in the war. Casualties on all sides reached record numbers. It would have been all hands on deck fighting the enemy and very little time for administration besides those killed or wounded.

I have often thought that many a youngster when he was hit out there on the Passchendaele heights … and he knew that the end had come – must have thought to himself: "well at least they'll remember me in Australia". C.E.W. Bean

For me personally, the most haunting image of war on the Western Front

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Chapter Eleven

1918

The last year of the Great War, but at this stage no one knew it. After a constant and tiring 1917, the 5th Battalion was not done yet.

The first recorded furlough for Pop and his first extended break out of the theatre of operations was from 3-20 February 1918. It shows that he was in London for the duration. Since arriving at Gallipoli in November 1915 and having only a few days to rest and recuperate at Sarpi Camp in January 1916, and a small respite in Egypt in late September and early October 2016 this would have been heaven on earth.

There were several AIF Camps in Britain, one at Dorset, another at Salisbury Plains and one at Essex. Obviously it is not recorded in his record where he exactly was, but you can be assured that he would have gotten around. I can only imagine that he would have had access to hot water, a bath, alcohol and a chance to have a good sleep. His batteries recharged, it was time to return to the front.

In 1918, the battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive in March and April.

The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle), also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914. The Germans had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and matériel resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers afforded by the nearly 50 divisions freed by the Russian surrender (the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk).

There were four German offensives, codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau and Blücher-Yorck. Michael was the main attack, which was intended to break through the Allied lines, outflank the British forces which held the front from the Somme River to the English Channel and defeat the British Army. Once this was achieved, it was hoped that the French would seek armistice terms. The other offensives were subsidiary to Michael and were designed to divert Allied forces from the main offensive on the Somme.

No clear objective was established before the start of the offensives and once the operations were underway, the targets of the attacks were constantly changed according to the battlefield (tactical) situation. The Allies concentrated their main forces in the essential areas (the approaches to the Channel Ports and the rail junction of Amiens), while leaving strategically worthless ground, devastated by years of combat, lightly defended.

The Germans were unable to move supplies and reinforcements fast enough to maintain their advance. The fast-moving stormtroopers leading the attack could not carry enough food and ammunition to sustain themselves for long and all the German offensives petered out, in part through lack of supplies.

By late April 1918, the danger of a German breakthrough had passed. The German Army had suffered heavy casualties and now occupied ground of dubious value which would prove impossible to hold with such depleted units. In August 1918, the Allies began a counter-offensive with the support of 1–2 million fresh American troops and using new artillery techniques and operational methods. This Hundred Days Offensive resulted in the Germans retreating or being driven from all of the ground taken in the Spring Offensive, the collapse of the Hindenburg Line.32

The battalion subsequently participated in the greatest Allied offensive of 1918, launched near Amiens on 8 August 1918. The advance by British and Aussie troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front. The battalion continued operations to late September 1918, when the Australian Corps was withdrawn from the front line for a period of rest and training. Consequently, when the armistice came into effect on 11 November 1918, the battalion was out of the line.

In October 1918 Pop was admitted to an Australian Army Field Hospital in France and the entry only states “sick”. It was not for a lengthy period, just a few of days. Admitted on 2 October and discharged back to his unit on 5 October.

Now, fortunately, he was out of the fighting. Since leaving Australia he had seen action at Gallipoli, France and Belgium and had participated in some of the bloodiest fighting ever recorded in history. How he survived is a miracle. In a war that claimed 59,357 Australian lives, wounded 155,133, he had made it through. He had been away from home for 1410 days.

He would have still been in France when the Armistice was signed. His unit did not move back to Britain until early 1919. Now the logistical nightmare of getting all the troops home would begin. On 25 January 1919 Pop was posted to the 2nd Training Battalion in Bulford, England prior to heading back to Australia. This was a staging area to wait your turn to return to Australia.

Pop departed England on the “NESTOR” for the sun drenched shores of Australia. He arrived back in Melbourne on 7 May 1919 and was housed at Parkhouse in South Melbourne and was discharged at his own request from the AIF on 31 August 1919. There are no records to indicate what took place between 7 May and 31 August 1919. With so many men to administer back in Australia, I presume that the administrative requirement was a lengthy process.

Now 23 years of age, what to do next? Back to Casterton for a family reunion and then back to work. The next chapter of his life is about to be written.

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Chapter Twelve

Spring Family Involvement and District Involvement (Including Spurrell Family)

Four Spring family members enlisted from Casterton/Balgallah into the AIF to fight for King and Country in World War One. Besides Pop and Bill the other two were Bill’s brothers:Leslie Arthur Spring (Cabinet Maker), born 1893 and was initially allocated to the 4 th Light Horse Division, enlisted on 3 August 1915 and served from January 1916 until May 1919. He was later transferred to the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion. He served in Heliopolis and France. He retuned home to Australia aboard the “Ypiringa” and discharged on 27 August 1919.Younger brother, Michael Charles Spring (Labourer) born 1899, enlisted, also into the 5 th

Battalion (18th Reinforcements) enlisted on 25 May 1918 until May 1919. Michael was a career soldier and served in WW II with the Royal Australian Transport Corps and was awarded an MBE (Military) for his service in the South West Pacific.There were 52 young men from Balgallah and the wider district that enlisted to fight in World War One. Thirteen either were killed in action of died of wounds, the remainder returned home to the district. A total 113 men perished from Casterton and wider community. I have yet to commence any research on the Spurrell (Pop’s wife Mavis, my Nan) side; however, it also appears that six Spurrell men from the district fought in World War One with one being killed.3141 Private Charles Henry Spurrell, 40th Battalion, enlisted on 25 October 1916, NOK Mother, Sarah Spurrell, Jackson Street, Casterton. Initially allocated as a 7th Reinforcement to the 37th Battalion, he was later transferred to the 40th Battalion after spending time with the 9th

Training Battalion in England providing training for New Zealand infantry soldiers. Upon returning to France he was transferred to the 40 th Battalion. He was wounded in action (gun shot would left chest) on 31 August 1918 and was discharged from hospital on 7 October 1918. He departed London on the Hospital Transport “City of York” on 14 January 1919 and arrived in Melbourne on 27 February 1919. He was discharged on 29 April 1919.217 Trooper George Finlay McLean Spurrell – 7th Light Horse Regiment (later the 4th

Battalion) enlisted on 3 November 1914. NOK Wife Doris Spurrell (nee Murray). Son of George and Annie, brother of Frank and Mavis. George’s unit was sent to Gallipoli in May 1915 due to heavy casualties amongst the Infantry battalions. He also served in France. He was diagnosed with influenza and epilepsy and was repatriated to Australia on HMAT “Barambah” arriving in Australia in October 1917 with his English wife in tow (Doris) and returned to Casterton and resided at Henty St. In 1967 Doris applied for George’s Anzac Medallion from her place of residence in Moorabbin. 163 Trooper George Foley Spurrell (Father of George, Frank and Mavis) enlisted into the AIF at the tender age of 49 on 25 September 1915. NOK, wife, Annie Spurrell (nee McLean). George served in the 1st Remount Unit and later in the AIF Canteen. He arrived back in Australia on 2 August 1919. George was a cook and was based at all the rear camps throughout the war in Cairo.7046 Private William Henry Spurrell, 8th Battalion (brother of Frederick Alexander Spurrell), NOK, father, Frederick James Spurrell. Did not see Active Service, was diagnosed with Diphtheria during training in England and was repatriated home to Australia.V81532 Private Frank Stewart Dundonald Spurrell (Twisty Frank) DOB 22 July 1900, enlisted into the 1st AIF on 1 November 1918. NOK, father, George Spurrell and Mother

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Annie Spurrell (nee McLean) of “Inglesyde”, Henty Street, Casterton. He did not see active service and was discharged on 24 December 1918 due to the demobilization of the AIF. 3942 Signaller Frederick Alexander Spurrell (brother of William Henry Spurrell), 9 th

Reinforcements, 23rd Battalion, enlisted on 28 September 1915, NOK, father, Frederick James Spurrell, Dunrobin, Casterton. He was wounded in action (gun shot wound to stomach) in France on 4 August 1916 and died of his wounds on 6 August 1916. Thanks to Laurelle and Tanya I have a photo of his gravesite and headstone and is buried in the same cemetery as William Argyle Spring.

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Chapter Thirteen

5th Battalion Statistics

5th Battalion Colour Patch 1st AIF5th Battalion Battle Honours (All the theatres of war this Battalion was involved in).

Somme, 1916, '18 Pozières Bullecourt Ypres, 1917 Menin Road Polygon Wood Broodseinde Poelcappelle Passchendaele Lys Hazebrouck Amiens Albert, 1918

Hindenburg Line Epéhy France and Flanders, 1916-18 Helles Krithia Anzac Landing at Anzac Defence of Anzac Suvla Sari Bair Gallipoli, 1915 Egypt, 1915-16

5th Battalion Casualties – 1915 - 18

970 killed, 2013 wounded (including gassed)

Australia’s Contribution

The Australian population as at 21 April 1915 (Pop’s enlistment date) was approximately 4.9 million. 420, 000 Australian males between the age of 18 to 44 (38.7% of the male population) enlisted into the AIF. From 1914 to 1918 112,399 Victorians enlisted into the AIF.

The official number of Australian soldiers who were KIA was 59,357. On average, 38 members of the Australian armed forces died per day during the 1,560 days of the war.

155,133 Australian soldiers were WIA.

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Chapter Fourteen

Home

Having been discharged from the AIF, it was back to Casterton. It was early in the Spring of 1919. There would be some unpleasant duties to perform. Heading out to Bahgallah to talk with William Argyle’s family about his death and most likely finding out for the first time about other brave young men, perhaps mates from the District that had not come back. But, there would be some pleasant duties as well catching up with family and friends that he left a little under four years ago. You can imagine it would have been quite the reunion and the changes, in him, his family, friends, and in Australian society in general would have been staggering.

Australia in those times was an era of men. The war would not have been talked about in front of the women and certainly would not have been asked about in their company or that of children. One can wonder about the conversations between Pop and his father about the war. Did they talk about it? How long did it take before he could talk about it? How much information did he give? Had he suffered mentally? How was his general health and wellbeing? All questions, unfortunately that cannot be answered due to our history being both Nan and Pop, gone.

I can only presume that he resumed his job as a grocer in Casterton. There would be no good reason as to why had would not have done so. I know he was still in Casterton when he received his 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal for service in Gallipoli and France on 20 April 1920.

Now I suppose the one thing on his mind would have been women. At 23, survived the war, if lotto tickets were around, probably should have bought one and the right thing to do in the early 20th century was to get married and have a family. It was the Australian thing to do and was encouraged by the government of the day.

It is unclear as to whether or not he knew the Spurrell’s prior to the war. What we do know is that he met Mavis Isabel Victoria Spurrell (Nana Spring) DOB 25 November 1897 in Casterton and in a recent chat with Auntie Dot, Auntie Ail and Bob, it was suggested that they would have met at a dance, in Casterton with Nana most likely playing up a storm on the piano. In the 1920’s that was the Australian custom in the bush and in the cities.

The courtship would have been and interesting one with Nana’s father also a World War One veteran. It would have been an interesting conversation between them. With Pop up in the front lines for the duration and old George cooking up a storm in Cairo, some stories would have been told. From my own experiences, I reckon they would have formed a special bond as returned servicemen.

All of us know of Nana’s musical ability and background having graduated with the Licentiate of the London College of Music (L.L.C.M) in 1918 and in the same year gained the Special Certificate. Quite an achievement She would have been about 20 years of age at this stage. She was a prized student of Miss Myrtle Lamborne, L.L.C.M. of Casterton.

So Pop’s arrived home in August 1919 and resumed his job as a grocer. Readjustment to life back in Australia was just beginning for him. There were no support services in those days, no Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Whilst the RSL was formed in 1916 in readiness to provide welfare support for returned servicemen, the Casterton RSL was to come much later. The memory of the war would have been still fresh in his mind. It would be a time of renewing

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old friendships and acquaintances and forging new ones. Let’s presume that they would have met in 1920 sometime as it seems that Pop did not return to Balgallah as both Angus and Johanna had moved back to “Green Lagoon” in Henty Street Casterton whilst he was overseas. What we have is a returned soldier who was held in extremely high esteem by all within the District, hooking up with the bohemian, eccentric, exceptionally talented and way ahead of her time, Miss Mavis Spurrell. I’ll bet she even wore a hat for the occasion!! What a hoot I would imagine.

My first vivid memory of Nana is when I was about five or six and we had just moved from Wilby to Yarrawonga into Everest Avenue. I was to learn the piano with the rest of the Spring kids. It was a pokey little place with the piano taking pride of place and her teaching me scales and having to keep up with the bloody metronome!! I think I lasted about three months and I was done! Proudly displayed on top of the piano was the red Scottish Lion flag with the yellow background. But I digress.

Adam was married to Mavis Spurrell on 22 September 1921 at the Scots Church, Casterton by the Reverend J. Meers. The marriage notification was placed in The Argus newspaper in Melbourne. All indications are that they moved into “Inglesyde” with Nanas parents after they were wed. The death notice in the Argus of Nana’s mother certainly gave me that impression. The children soon came along with Rex in 1922, Annie (Nance) in 1924 Geoff in 1925, Dot in 1928, Bill in 1931, Ail in 1933 and Bob in 1944. All the children were born in Casterton, except for Ail and Bob.

Victoria sent about 90,000 men and women to serve overseas in the First World War, about 70,000 of whom survived to return home. As the war continued, the issue of repatriating returning soldiers became increasingly urgent. As well as providing War pensions and other financial assistance, State governments of the time set up ‘settlement’ schemes to support returning soldiers with work. These schemes involved subdividing large rural estates into smaller farming blocks and leasing them back to discharged service-people. Victoria’s scheme was created under the Discharged Soldier Settlement Act 1917 . Reports from the time indicated there were around 11,000 farms created. There were a good number of these settlements that were in and around Casterton, I wonder why Pop never bothered to take one up? Maybe he was not into farming or more likely Nana was not going to end up on a farm!!

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In 1932 the family departed Casterton for Seaford to run a grocer shop with a post office attached. The depression years had beset Australia and I suppose they were lucky to be given the opportunity to run the shop and the post office as work was scarce.

The stay in Seaford was short with the next move being to Mont Albert or Box Hill. With Auntie Ail being born in Box Hill it certainly seems likely that it was Box Hill.

Again the stay was short before moving into 121 Winmalle Road in Balwyn. My memories tell me that this (along with the Wilby store) was the most talked about address for the Spring family. I think Dad’s earliest childhood memories are from here. Obviously during the depression and it appears that Pop was out of work but he managed a garden on the property, had chooks as the girls had an “egg round” to complete as part of their chores. He also farmed lucerne hay which he sold. If the harvest was good, Dot and Ail remember that Pop would taken them to the pictures and buy them an ice cream. Located near was Birds Dairy which was the source of fresh milk and cream for the family and a trip to the dairy was a highlight for Ail.

Both Dot and Ail seem to recall that Pop moved to Avoca for a short period in 1938 to work and returned back to Balwyn in early 1939. Pop had a motorbike and sidecar early on and later had both an Austin Standard and a Rover and different times. He did some work at Central Spring Works.

Now Nana from my memory was a bit of a gypsy and wanderer around the place dropping into people’s places and staying a while. I always knew when she was in Melbourne and would ring the family home in Clayton from the train station and would press the “B” button and not the “A” button in the public phone box. I would say “mum, nana just phoned she’s at the station”, mum would ask how I knew and I would reply, “because she doesn’t know how to work the phone and has pressed the “B” button again. Mum and I would jump in the car, head down to Clayton Station and there she was in her hat and gloves (whether it was winter or summer), string bags in hand knowing that we would come down and pick her up. The other classic was that she would just appear at the house in a taxi. Classic Nana!!

It appears that she would wander from an early time in their marriage as well during the children’s formative years. Pop having to pick up the cooking and sewing duties. Ail recalls that he was very good at darning socks. No one can really recall where she went to or how long she was gone. But it was to continue throughout their married life.

The outbreak of World War Two saw three of the Spring children enlist. Rex, Anne and Geoff all served with Rex (Army) seeing Active service in Africa with the 9 th Division Signals and is a Rat of Tobruk. Anne served at Victoria Barracks in the Womens Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and met Uncle Harry whilst they both worked at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, Geoff (RAAF) served in Darwin where he was noticed and subsequently recruited to play for the Richmond Football Club between 1948 to 1957 in the then VFL.

1949 saw the move to Wilby and into the store. Dot (21), Bill (18), Ail (16) and Bob (5) accompanied Pop and Nana to the store. Pop bought the Wilby store from a business broker in Hardware St Melbourne. The doctors felt the climate would help Nanna’s asthma and overall health. She thought Wilby was the back of beyond. Nana and Pop were in separate rooms by then with Nana in the front room closest to the kitchen, Pop in the middle and the kids in the back bedroom. Besides Winmalle Road, this period in his life is the most and often talked about. It appears that he was at his happiest in Wilby. Nana had left in 1950 and returned to Melbourne to teach music.

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The store provided Pop with work, an income and more importantly, a small farming community to be in with his growing family. It would not be long before Dot, Bill and Ail would marry and have families of their own, all living in the Wilby district. Dot and Den at “Wattle Grove”, Ail and Norm at “Glenvale” and Bill and Val just up from the pub at Wilby, not sure if our little farm had a name but Jenni remembers Uncle Harry getting gate signs made for all properties and she remember ours being “Springfield (s)” or similar.

Jenni has a memory of Pop with his trademark cigarette holder at the Wilby store. The big glass lolly counters in the front of the store was where he would treat Jenni and Lib with lollies. It was the same treat for me when I stayed with Auntie Dot and Uncle Den many years later.

Pop had the mail run and was known to like a chat, sounds like that is where we all got it from. The Wilby pub was then in operation and he was known to frequent it on a regular basis. What else are you going to do in a town of 25?, kids grown, and living alone for the most part, footy ground across the road with Billy boy being from all reports a star player in the Tungamah League, I’m sure he would have supported them on a Saturday and of course back to the pub afterwards.

Libby recalls that he was an extremely neat and tidy person (how Nanna’s conduct must have irked him!) Pop taught Auntie Anne to cook, clean and pack a suitcase, and whenever Nanna went away as soon as she was gone he would say to her, “come on “Bulls Wool”, lets clean this place up”. They would get the copper going and have a real spring clean - no pun intended.

Grandchildren were starting to appear and from all accounts he loved children and for the most part they were close in Wilby with only Ross, John, Vicki and the newly born Shirley being around at that stage, with Libby and Jenni in Melbourne and Geoff and Verna’s children also in Melbourne. Libby describes Pop as being “warm and fuzzy” and always gave them a big hug when he saw them.

From all accounts he was a “two pot” screamer and was done nice and early when having a tipple. Again, Jenni recalls Uncle Harry used to recount the story of Pop driving home to the Store after a few beers meticulously giving the appropriate hand signal (no car indicators then!) at each intersection around Wilby - quite unnecessarily as they were the only car on the road at the time!

Both Dot and Ail cannot recall that he may have suffered from any type of Post Traumatic Stress from the war. They both agree that he was a gentle soul, coherent, loving and caring father who loved his family. However, Auntie Anne recalled that he often experienced black moods that could last for days. During such episodes he could not bear any noise with a house full of kids and Nanna teaching the piano. All the children talk of him being gassed during the war, but there is no record of this is his service record. His hospital admissions did not disclose this either. In all likelihood, he would have been in the vicinity of the gas bombs that were fired by the enemy and thus became affected by them, but not recorded. For the Germans, this was their weapon of choice.

He loved children dearly and we are all sure would be extremely proud of each and every one of the grandchildren.

Pop passed away on 30 September 1956. Jenni remembers the night Pop died, Auntie Anne receiving the fateful telephone call in the lounge at Mitcham Road, having scrambled eggs for tea then the four of them (Anne, Harry, Lib & Jenni) arriving at Wattle Grove well after

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midnight. She seems to remember Josie Morris minded both Lib and Jen while the funeral took place. Libby’s last memory of Pop was when they left Wilby one weekend and he was ankle deep in water, and guiding “our little old Standard Eight car (little Sammy they called it)” through the water.

With the passing of Pop, Bob went and lived with Dot and Den at Wattlegrove for approximately two years. He then attended Balwyn High School in Melbourne and through Pop’s war service he was able to reside at Blamey House in Burke Road, Kew through the Legacy organisation.

You don’t have to meet someone to have them as a hero. My grandfather is my hero. He did not receive any gallantry or bravery awards, but in my eyes he is as brave and gallant as they come. He rightly earned the titles of “digger” and “Anzac Legend” in the war to end all wars.

Lest We Forget

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The Ode

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Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their assistance and valuable input into the preparation of this story.

Dot Fisher Ailsa Whinray Val Spring Bob SpringLaurelle SpringTanya SpringDarrel SpringDon ClarkeJenni ClarkeLibby JungwirthLynne DowsettThe Australian War MemorialNational Archives of AustraliaThe History of the 5th Battalion, 1st AIFThe Casterton Historical SocietyThe Bahgallah Historical Society

A very special mention to Don Clarke who provided so much valuable information, firstly, his father’s war diaries and for his meticulous research of all families through his genealogy work.

Four Generations

It all started with Pop in 1915. Our immediate Spring family has a long and proud military history with four generations being in the military.

Adam Campbell Spring – World War One Rex Arnold Spring – World War Two Annie Morrison Mason (nee Spring) – World War Two Geoffrey Spring – World War Two Michael James Spring – IRAQ and Afghanistan Jake Spring – currently deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations (son of Darrel

and Tanya Spring)

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Glossary of Terms

Abbreviation Meaning1st ACB 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion1st AIF 1st Australian Imperial Force1st Div 1st Division1st LHB 1 st Light Horse Brigade1st RU 1st Remount Unit1st/2nd SMFABU 1st/2nd South Midland Field Ambulance British Unit23rd Bn 23rd Battalion2nd AIF 2nd Australian Imperial Force2nd ASH No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital2nd LT Second Lieutenant2nd Trg Bn 2nd Training Battalion37th Bn 37th Battalion3rd AGH No 3 Australian General Hospital 40th Bn 40th Battalion48th Bn 48th Battalion4th Bde 4th Brigade4th Bn 4th Battalion5th Bn 5th Battalion7th LHR 7th Light Horse Regiment8th Bn 8th Battalion9th Trg Bn 9th Training BattalionAFC Australian Flying CorpsAIF Canteen Australian Imperial Force CanteenANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army CorpsAWM Australian War MemorialBHQ Battalion HeadquartersC Coy Charlie CompanyCMG Companion of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeCOL ColonelCPL CorporalCQMS Company Quartermaster SergeantD Coy Delta CompanyDigger Australian SoldiersDOB Date of BirthDVR DriverFM Field MarshallHMAT His Majesty’s Australian TransportHMHS His Majesty’s Hospital ShipHQ HeadquartersJerry German SoldiersJohnny Turk Turkish SoldiersKCB Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the BathKIA Killed In ActionL.L.C.M. Licentiate of the London College of MusicLCPL Lance CorporalLT LieutenantLTCOL Lieutenant Colonel

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Abbreviation MeaningMAJGEN Major GeneralMBE Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireMID Mention in DispatchesMM Military MedalNAA National Archives of AustraliaNCO Non Commissioned OfficerNewbie new soldier (reinforcement)NOK Next of KinNZEF New Zealand Expeditionary ForceOFFR OfficerPTE PrivateRAAF Royal Australian Air ForceRSL Retuned and Services LeagueSGT SergeantSIG SignallerTommies British SoldiersTPR TrooperVFL Victorian Football LeagueWAAAF Womens Australian Auxiliary Air ForceWIA Wounded In ActionWW I World War OneWW II World War Two

Below are the badges of rank worn during World War One. Australian officers and soldiers wore exactly that of the British forces.

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