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The Graveyards of Gallipoli; A Digger History Associate Site |
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A Tribute to the Men of all the Nations that took part in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 |
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Various assorted items of interest Page 2 |
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From Mena Camp Egypt, 1915
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| His Magesty's Transport 26 carried troops to the Middle East. They produced a "newspaper" called 'CRUSAIDERS'. |
Maybe true, maybe a "good yarn" |
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Pte Ernest Percival Wright, No.1368 of the 3rd Reinforcements, 12th Bn, AIF. Wright Died of Wounds on 6/9/1915. He served in Egypt and at Gallipoli. |
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THE REAL ANZACS |
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There are plenty of
slouch-hatted soldiers in town, Call them 'overseas soldiers'
or 'down-under men' Not many are left, and not
many are sound, |
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by an unknown Aussie soldier. |
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William
Charles Scurry enlisted as 2668 Private on 19 July 1915 in the 8th
Reinforcements of 7 Battalion, AIF. He also served in 58 Battalion, AIF
and as commanding officer of 15 Light Trench Mortar Battery, AIF. During
the Second World War, as V5965 Major Scurry, he served with 17 Garrison
Battalion and was commanding officer of No 4 Internment Camp at Tatura,
Victoria. Scurry was blinded in one eye. This occurred whilst examining
a fuze from a German 'rum jar' minenwerfer projectile which exploded,
fragments pierced his right eye and he lost his right index
finger.
Scurry was awarded the Military Cross at 12 October 1916 at Petillon, France and previously the Distinguished Conduct Medal in December 1915 at Gallipoli. |
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| Walter
Ernest Dexter was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire, in the UK, in August
1873. At the age of 14, he became a boy sailor on the barque "Buckingham",
from which he soon deserted and stowed away to New York. Some years
later he resumed his nautical career, and by 1899 had passed an
examination for the Master's Certificate. He had not yet commanded his
own vessel, however, when in February 1900 he enlisted as a trooper in
Lumsden's Horse (a unit raised mostly in India from British troops
serving there) for service in the Boer War.
Dexter served in South Africa until early 1901, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his courageous actions. No citation for this award is known to exist, but it was probably for the action at Karee when a party of Lumsden's Horse was cut off and had to fight its way out, suffering fifty percent casualties in the process. Later in 1901, Dexter became master of the "Afghan", and began a period of study at sea which was to lead, in 1906, to his enrolling at Durham University with the intention of joining the Anglican ministry. After graduating, he was ordained in 1908, and in 1910 appointed to work as a vicar at Wonthaggi in Victoria. He was later transferred to South Melbourne, and at the outbreak of war in 1914, offered his services as a chaplain, becoming one of the first twelve such appointments to the AIF.
In France, he continued to devote himself to the welfare of the troops, and was awarded the Military Cross in 1918, becoming the most decorated chaplain in the AIF. After the war, and what he described as "all this work amongst men", Dexter had doubts about resuming parish work, and for a time became a soldier-settler at Kilsyth, Victoria. This venture proved unsuccessful, however, and he soon returned to the church, successively serving the Victorian parishes of Romney, Lara and West Footscray until his retirement in 1947. Walter Dexter died at his home in East Malvern in August 1950. |
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| Joseph
Climpson was born at Redfern, Sydney, in May 1894, and as a young man was
employed as a printer. He also completed several years of compulsory cadet
service, and then joined 16 Signal Troop of the Militia. He enlisted in
the AIF immediately after the outbreak of war in August 1914, and
presumably due to his previous experience, was allotted to the 1st
Divisional Signal Company with the service number 78 (later 78A). He
landed at Gallipoli with his unit on 25 April 1915, and was promoted to
lance corporal the following day. Climpson served throughout the campaign,
and was Mentioned in Despatches (along with a number of his 1 Div Sigs
compatriots) for distinguished service in the action at Lone
Pine in August.
After the evacuation, the AIF was reorganised, and Climpson was transferred to the 4th Divisional Signal Company, with whom he served for the remainder of the war. During 1916, his gallant conduct at Pozières saw him awarded the Military Medal, and by the end of the year, he had been promoted to sergeant. He was awarded a Bar to the MM after the fighting a Bullecourt in April 1917, and having reached the rank of warrant officer, was selected for officer training late in the year. Climpson returned to 4 Div Sigs as a 2nd lieutenant in March 1918, and was almost immediately awarded the Military Cross for maintaining communications during the crucial fighting at Villers Bretonneux in April. Shortly afterwards he was evacuated after being gassed, but soon returned to his unit and was promoted lieutenant in June. After his return to Australia in June 1919, Climpson was discharged from the Army and soon enlisted in the NSW Police Force, with whom he served until 1954. He eventually reached the rank of sergeant 2nd class, and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal. Joseph Climpson died in Cooma, NSW, in January 1973. The citation for the Mention in Despatches which was awarded to Climpson and twelve other members of 1 Div Sigs reads as follows: "These N.C.Os and men distinguished themselves by their unflinching devotion to duty and excellence of work under fire in maintaining and repairing telephone lines during the action of Lone Pine from 6th to 9th August". |
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| Roy
Doutreband was born at Dubbo, NSW, in September 1894, son of Charles
Francis Doutreband, a Belgian immigrant. He was educated at Sydney
Grammar, and worked as an accountant before the war, as well as serving
in the Militia with 21 Infantry Regiment. Enlisting in the AIF in
January 1915, he received the service number 1937, and soon held the
acting rank of sergeant, becoming part of the 5th Reinforcements to 5
Battalion. He was taken on the strength of the unit at Gallipoli in
July, and served through the remainder of the campaign, despite spending
several weeks in hospital with illness.
By the time of the evacuation, he had been confirmed in the rank of sergeant, and when the AIF was reorganised in Egypt in early 1916, he became part of the newly raised 57 Battalion, the 'daughter' unit of the 5th. Quickly promoted to Company Sergeant Major, (Warrant Officer Class II) Doutreband was commissioned following the heavy casualties suffered in the disastrous attack at Fromelles in July. He was promoted to lieutenant later in the same year, and in mid 1917 was appointed battalion intelligence officer. Repeatedly recommended for awards in recognition of his gallantry and leadership, it was 1918 before he finally received the Military Cross for his distinguished service in the attack on Polygon Wood the previous September. Almost immediately, he was awarded a Bar to the MC for leadership and courage in the fighting around Villers Bretonneux in April. He was also Mentioned in Despatches before the war ended, and returned to Australia in March 1919. After completing accountancy studies, Roy Doutreband obtained a position with the 'Sydney Star' (later the 'Sun') newspaper, and eventually rose to become its general manager. He died in Sydney in February 1959. Several recommendations for Mentions in Despatches to Doutreband exist, although only one was eventually granted. No award appears to have been made for the first, (18 September 1916) which reads as follows: 'The Divisional Commander has much pleasure in placing on record the gallant and meritorious conduct of this Officer. During a raid made by a party from the 57 Bn on the night of the 19/8/16 showed splendid resource and gallantry; after two Officers had been casualties, he took charge of the party and was one of the first to enter the enemy's trench and last to return, bringing with him a captured enemy machine gun, which he recovered after it had been left behind by a wounded man. He exhibited praiseworthy coolness and courage in crossing 'No Man's Land' under heavy artillery bombardment and machine gun fire. A second MID recommendation, (March 1917) reads as follows: 'Lieut DOUTREBAND has during the period from October 1916 to March 1917 served with his unit in France at FROMELLES and on the SOMME. During this time he has been employed as Intelligence Officer and the information that he has obtained has been of the greatest assistance to his Battalion Commander. During a period of 5 months on GALLIPOLI this officer did fine work with the 5th Battalion. He has always displayed great devotion to duty.' The third Mention in Despatches (October 1917) was a recommendation for the Military Cross, but was then downgraded to an MID, and may not have been approved. It reads as follows: 'East of Glencorse Wood during the period 25th/27th September 1917 this officer showed the greatest bravery and initiative. He laid tapes for the assembly of the attacking Battalions on the old front line. He lost nearly all of his party, but persevered with the work, and the attacking Battalions were assembled without a hitch. During the many periods of uncertainty he did most valuable reconnaissance forward, reporting on the situation and enabling us to protect the right flank. His work was done under heavy shell fire, and the courage and initiative shown was of the highest order. It is interesting to note that a second, and more detailed, submission (in March 1918, possibly for the King's Birthday Honours List of that year) of a Military Cross recommendation for this same action was successful and led to the Bar to the MC. |
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Postcard from Gallipoli, for Christmas 1915 |
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May I out of a full heart be permitted to say how gloriously the Australian and New Zealand Contingents have upheld the fine traditions of our race. General Sir Ian Hamilton. |
| The capture of the positions we hold will go down in history as a magnificent feat of the Australians and New Zealanders. General Sir William Birdwood. | |
| Australia's thoughts this Xmas will be with her gallant and noble sons at the front and in the hospitals. To those at the front we wish a speedy victory over their enemies, to those in hospital a complete recovery. Senator The Hon George Foster Pearce, Minister for Defence | |
| Happen what may, the Australians who have fought at Gallipoli will bequeath a heritage of honour to their children's children. General Sir Ian Hamilton |
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| Billjim was a common term for the ordinary bloke in the first AIF. It was a combination of the diminutives of William (Bill) & James (Jim), the 2 most common male names at the time. |
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