1918

WAR: 1918

January 1^st, 1918 –
Sr Alicia Kelly MM (Mt Dandenong), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is awarded the Royal Red Cross, 2^nd Class, for her work on the Western Front.

January 3^rd, 1918 –
Pte John Irwin x (Mooroolbark), 17^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia on the HMAT Themistocles to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of defective eyesight.

Pte Ormond Footit x (Lilydale), 2^nd Anzac Light Horse Regiment: Arrives in Australia on the HMAT Anchises to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of head wounds he’d received in action the year before.

January 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Fred Town (Lilydale), 2^nd Division Ammunition Column: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from conjunctivitis.

Harold Smith (Silvan): Leaves Australia on the SS Borda as an Australian War Worker, he is to undertake farm work in England. Being well over the age for the trenches, he had become so concerned with the drop in volunteers that he settled up his interests, paid off his debts and headed off to England to ‘fill any gap required, be it road making or stretching bearing’.

January 6^th, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

January 10^th, 1918 –
Pte Frank Morton (Lilydale), 59^th Battalion: In the field, France. In a letter to Cr J McGhee of Lilydale – ‘The war still drags on and there is no sign of the end yet and Oh, what a war it is. I don’t think the people at home realise it yet or else they would not have turned down conscription as they did. I don’t know what they were thinking of. It only means that men who have been here two or three years have less chance of ever getting home than if it had gone through. Well, I suppose it gave great satisfaction to a few.

Well, as our general told us the other Sunday at Church Parade, it is going to be worse than ever this year, and great as have been the deeds done in the past, they will be a mere detail to what is in front of us. Oh, that it were possible for a few German aeroplanes to fly over Sydney and Melbourne and drop a few bombs for a change, just as our poor fellows are getting day and night almost. It would do them good.

We are having a rest at present but we are under orders for the front again, so before you get this we will be in it once more. My word, it is a terrible affair. You can’t imagine what it is like. I saw a German plane brought down the other day by two of our machines. It was a big Gotha plane and was reckoned to be about 6000 feet up. It did not last long as it could not manoeuvre as quickly as ours, and was soon tumbling in flames to the earth, and the three occupants fell out of it, turning over and over till they reached the ground. Such a sight is often witnessed at the front, and, my word, the men on both sides are game.

I think the Yanks are bound to make a big difference, and will fight to a finish. The Russians are not done with yet, I think, and will give the Germans a lot of trouble. There are rumours of peace floating around, but I don’t know whether it will come to anything. I see Tucknott now and then – he is just the same old hard case, and popular with his battalion. He looks well. When we meet again we will have a good time. I see a few of the boys occasionally. It is good of you to write, for it makes a man think in his dark hours that a few remember him in their thoughts’.

January 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Albert Ragartz x (Seville), 6^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia on the HMAT Port Darwin to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of cardiac dilatation.

Pte Thomas Payne (Seville), Australian Army Medical Corps: Arrives in Australia on the HMAT Port Darwin to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds to his face and eye.

January 12^th, 1918 –
Duncan Eales (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a bank clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. Both of his older brothers, Thomas and William, had already enlisted.

January 17^th, 1918 –
Cpl Henry Lord (Wandin), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

January 18^th, 1918 –
Pte Andrew Noden (Lilydale), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench fever.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In hospital in France. In a letter to his mother – ‘Yes, for the first time in just on three and a half years I’m down to it. I told you in my last letter that I was not too well, I’ve been in this hospital five days and four days before they sent me here I was in bed with my unit so that’s ten days I’ve been in bed. I am down with Trench Fever, a new complaint manufactured in France, it’s a rotten thing, high temperature and awful pains in the legs and shins and you break out in cold sweats and shivers. I’m fed up with it and the Doctor told me this morning that I’ve got a few more days before he will let me up, but I don’t mind because it’s beastly weather out and I’m having a good rest. I’m feeling ever so much better, my temperature has gone down and the pains have left me, so I’m pretty comfortable. I’m in the 1^st Australian Casualty Clearing hospital, the sisters are angels the way they are always fussing round, makes one quite embarrassed, always wanting to do something for you. But I got into hot water this morning cos I sat up to write and the sister sang out ‘Sergeant lie down and cover yourself up, you’ll catch cold’.

Pte George Reid (Lilydale), Australian Flying Corps: Is attached to 4^th Squadron in France as an air mechanic.

Pte James Morrison x (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit for having contracted a venereal disease.

January 19^th, 1918 –
Pte Felix Hargrave (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

January 23^rd, 1918 –
Pte Sydney Leake (Olinda), 22^nd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench fever.

Pte James McNeill (Lilydale), 3^rd Divisional Ammunition Column: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis and influenza.

January 24^th, 1918 –
Pte Frederick Miller (Coldstream), 59^th Battalion: On the ship over to Europe he contracts measles and when they arrive at Taranto, Italy, on route to France, he is disembarked and sent to a hospital in Taranto.

January 25^th, 1918 –
Joseph Bell (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a warehouseman and enlists in the AIF, he is 41 years old and married with four children. He had previously served with the AIF for forty-one days but was discharged as medically unfit after contracting jaundice. In enlisting he stated: ‘I considered it is my duty’.

January 26^th, 1918 –
Pte Clement Morey (Lilydale), Australian Flying Corps: Is transferred to No 7 Flying Squadron in Cirencester, England, as an air mechanic.

Victor Ellis (Wandin): Leaves his job as a cook in the Wandin area and enlists in the AIF, he is 36 years old, a widower with no dependants and of the Jewish faith.

January 29^th, 1918 –
Pte Bert Hooper (Mt Dandenong), 15^th Machine Gun Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

Pte Arthur Watson (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from enteric fever.

January 30^th, 1918 –
Pte Lance Matthews (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Euripides to be discharged as medically unfit.

February 1^st, 1918 –
Robert Hayes (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old. The year before his older brother John had returned to Australia wounded.

February 2^nd, 1918 –
Pte Joseph Goodall (Lilydale), 10^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from measles. While here it is discovered he is just 17 years old and underage for active service.

The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire:

Pte Arthur Padgett (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion

Trp William Hayes (Mt Dandenong), 13^th Light Horse Regiment

Pte Joseph Bell (Lilydale), No 4 Section Sea Transport: His role in the AIF would be to accompany the HMAT Wiltshire on its journeys back and forth to Europe.

Frank Warwick (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

Frederick Brierty (Lilydale): Re-enlists in the AIF, he was discharged in 1916 when his unit was disbanded.

February 3^rd, 1918 –
Capt Joseph Anderson (Lilydale), Australian Army Medical Corps: Is posted for service at the 3^rd Australian Hospital in France.

Dvr Edmund Boulter (Olinda), 5^th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Kanowna to be discharged as medically unfit. He is classed as ‘feeble minded’ after receiving a shrapnel wound to his head the year before.

February 4^th, 1918 –
Pte Charles Dorrington (Montrose), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Is killed in action at Hyde Park Corner, Belgium. He is 20 years old and is buried at the Royal Berks Cemetery, Belgium.

Pte Thomas Butcher (Yering), 5^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from scabies.

February 7^th, 1918 –
Pte Allan Dodd (Olinda), 8^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from measles.

February 9^th, 1918 –
Pte Malcolm Bethune (Seville), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound in the leg and back, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Charles Shell (Lilydale), 2^nd Machine Gun Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from diphtheria.

February 12^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Henry Millward (Olinda), 2^nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from trench fever.

Pte Thomas McGuire (Mt Evelyn), 39^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Persic to be discharged for refusing to have an operation on his hernia.

Sgt Arthur Mattingley (Wandin), 1^st Divisional Ammunition Column: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Persic to be discharged for now being over the age required, he is 50 years old.

L/Cpl Michael Upton (Yering), 6^th Machine Gun Company: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Kanowa to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of losing a leg in action the year before.

February 13^th, 1918 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Runic:

Pte Henry Rowney (Coldstream), 24^th Battalion: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action the year before.

Pte Walter Deppeler (Gruyere), 37^th Battalion: He is to receive further medical treatment on the wound he had received the year before.

Pte Francis McLass (Lilydale), 59^th Battalion: He is to be discharged as medically unfit.

Spr William Reid (Olinda) 2^nd Field Company Engineers: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing cardiac troubles.

Gnr William Atkinson (Lilydale), 116^th Howitzer Battalion: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action the year before.

February 18^th, 1918 –
Pte Frank Rance (Wandin), 5^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from scabies.

February 20^th, 1918 –
Pte James Donleavey (Gruyere), 5^th Division Sanitation Section: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Anchises to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing urethra.

Robert Marshall (Mooroolbark): Leaves his family’s property ‘Meadow Bank’ in Mooroolbark and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 20 years old.

February 21^st, 1918 –
Arthur Geuer (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. The fact his father was born in Germany doesn’t dissuade him from enlisting.

February 22^nd, 1918 –
Pte Felix Hargrave (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

Sr Matilda McNeill (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Reports for duty at the 2^nd AAH Southall Gardens Hospital in England.

February 25^th, 1918 –
Sgt George Deacon (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is later recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this day through to September 16^th, 1918. His recommendation states: ‘For consistently good work and devotion to duty from 25 February to 16 September, 1918. At Strazeele, during a minor operation, under a heavy barrage, he showed great initiative in organizing the forwarding of ammunition to the line. In the operations forwards of Villers-Bretonneux in August, he again showed gallantry and devotion to duty in keeping up supplies in the company. His personal courage and energy are an example to all his men.’

February 28^th, 1918 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Nestor:

Pte Alwyn McConachy (Montrose), 46^th Battalion

Pte Thomas McCarthy (Lilydale), 57^th Battalion

Aircraft Mechanic Wyatt Blair (Mooroolbark), Australian Flying Corps

Spr Cyril Barnes (Lilydale), 3^rd Division Signal Company

Spr John McGhee (Lilydale), 3^rd Division Signal Company

March 1^st, 1918 –
The following poem is written by an anonymous soldier from Olinda who went under the pen name ‘Aussie’ and sent to The Lilydale Express to be published –

HOME THOUGHTS

When Fritz his hate was raining down,
And poison filled the air;
I thought of a mount near Melbourne town,
And wish’d that I was there.

When in this muddy trench I sit,
And more whizz bangs come along,
I pray the Lord to wait a bit,
Till I again see Mount Dandenong.

The gap through which the coaches go,
Over Olinda side,
The lookout from whence you see below,
Far as the ocean tide.

This war can make you give up hope,
But one thought prolongs;
Heaven to me is the sunset on the slope,
North side – Mount Dandenong.

March 2^nd, 1918 –
Pte James Varty (Mt Evelyn), 8^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from influenza.

Cpl Albert Atkinson (Lilydale), Australian Army Medical Corps: Is transferred to serve with the 5^th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company in France.

March 3^rd, 1918 –
Pte George Evans (Mt Evelyn), 22^nd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Corinthia to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received the year before.

Pte Cyril Dennis (Lilydale), 5^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Corinthia to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received the year before.

Pte Albert Hawkey (Lilydale), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Corinthia to be discharged as medically unfit. He had developed a hernia problem but refused to have it operated on and as a result was sent home.

March 4^th, 1918 –
Pte Arthur Overton (Wandin), 23^rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Port Darwin to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in 1916.

March 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Joseph Speakman (Coldstream): While stationed at Broadmeadows he is transferred to the Australian Flying Corps at Laverton.

March 7^th, 1918 –
Pte David Davies (Wandin), 21^st Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Did I mention that I visited the Armenian Camp while I was on holiday. Well I was rather disappointed with the refugee camp as I had heard so much about it. Everything was nice and clean and all the “bints” (girls) were very busy. Some of the work by men (unfit for the army) was very good. They were making spoons, forks and fine combs out of wood. A large number of the bints were doing fancy work and others were making cakes for the army. While we are back from the front line these cakes are available at the canteens.

After I joined our squadron I had a ride through several villages and was surprised to see the improvement. The orchards were all ploughed and the trees look very healthy. In some orchards barley is growing between the trees. The natives have ploughed the valleys also most of the flats are under crop. In one field I noticed the family hard at work, Father was directing operations and his two wives were having a spell. Two bints were ploughing, one driving a donkey and the other a cow. Also three boys were ploughing as well only they had camels. Three other children were minding a few sheep and several donks. This work is usually done by bints whose ages vary from three years to ten years. Some of the women have to work very hard but of course the men do not work unless it suits them. They are a lazy lot.

I visited the Camel Corps Sports a few days ago and some of the events were very exciting. The camel races trotting and galloping were exciting and I would not care to ride a camel in a race as it appeared to be a very rough passage. Wrestling on camels is not as fast as wrestling on horseback as it is easy to get a good grip on a camel. One chap had his arms around the camel’s neck and another chap was trying to pull him off. The camel put his head on the ground and then lifted the chap back again with a swing. This chap did not get pulled off. The first battalion won after a good half-hours’ fun. Musical chairs was another good race. All the competitors rode a camel outside a ring and when the music ceased they had to get a seat but the camels refused to hurry when the chaps jumped off and were rushing for a sea’.

Pte Francis O’Hara (Olinda), 58^th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on board the RMS Ormonde.

Pte Walter Gladstone Clegg (Wandin), 28^th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the RMS Ormonde.

Pte Albert Round (Kilsyth), Camel Ambulance Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the RMS Ormonde. His sister Doris Baldwin (nee Round) of Kilsyth, in an interview in 1994 – ‘We went and saw him off and there were bottom, second, third – right up to the tip top, nothing else but soldiers on that ship. I was sad, parting with anyone is sad but parting with your dear ones is an ordeal’.

March 8^th, 1918 –
Pte Ernest Le Page (Seville), 58^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

March 10^th, 1918 –
Pte Thomas Holter (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Dunluce Castle. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received the year before.

March 11^th, 1918 –
Sgt William Marshall (Wandin), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the arm and leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Howard Vernon (Lilydale), 5^th Battalion: While AWL he marries an English girl at Deptford, England, despite the fact he was already married in Australia.

March 12^th, 1918 –
Pte George Joy (Mt Evelyn), 24^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, concussion from a shell blast, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Cpl Patrick Pender (Lilydale), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the right heel, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

March 13^th, 1918 –
Dvr Ernest Dutton (Wandin), 1^st Divisional Ammunition Column: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Dunvegan Castle. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the wound he’d received the year before.

March 14^th, 1918 –
Dvr Thomas Priest (Seville), 1^st Australian Tunnelling Company: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, is evacuated to hospital in England.

March 15^th, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Fritz shelled Bailleul today, struck the civilian hospital and smashed various other buildings. We had to move out again, moved back to Magallin Camp’.

March 18^th, 1918 –
Sgt George Milne (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: In the field in France. In a letter to his wife – ‘Arrived back from Paris last night after seven days there. To tell you all I saw and my impressions would occupy much space. Arrangements by Army and Navy Leave Club and YMCAs are most perfect and the former occupy a portion of Hotel Moderne, a large hotel situated Rue De La Republique. Inside the fittings are marble, inlaid floors, mirrors and the whole finished in white and gold. Nothing at all in Melbourne to compare, and this is the main soldiers’ hostel presided over by English ladies. Meals are obtainable at all times, and a couple of shops are also inside for tobacco, postcards, etc.

As you will see from enclosed circular, trips are arranged, and we had the pleasure of a couple. The first to Versailles, twelve miles from the city, occupied six hours altogether and transit was by motor. Of course one has a bare two and a half hours to see a full eight hours sightseeing. The palaces themselves, as far as exteriors, are nothing wonderful; but the inside furnishings are most gorgeous, and the galleries, beyond a description from one who lacks art. All floors are inlaid wood and highly polished, the walls and ceilings throughout, are painted by old world artists, and the execution to my mind is of the highest order. Preservation through some hundreds of years old is as though of most recent finish. Of course we did all the Boulevards, including the famous Champ de Elysees, but they will not look their best for month, as the trees are only just bursting into bud. Beautiful avenues radiate from all quarters to the Bois de Boulogne, where there is a lake with the usual pretty surroundings and this vicinity is also a favourite promenade.

Now, I suppose I’ll start the girls talking and criticising, but all the same I mean what I say, viz, ‘Our girls can’t put their clothes on’. It’s an eye-opener to see the tens of thousands of fashions and the greatest neatness is observable, right from the boots to headdress and I can quite understand why we have always to look to Paris for our fashions. Also saw the Paris racecourse Longchamps, but it is practically a thing of the past, as far as racing is concerned. I am posting a small book I was using called ‘Paris’. 

All statues and works of art of which the place literally abounds are being protected by sand bagging so from now on sightseers will miss a lot. We had one experience of an air raid in which accepted official figures one hundred were killed and suffocated. Also was on the scene, five miles from the city, within a few minutes of the great munitions explosion and it is a remarkable thing that so few lives were lost, but destruction of houses were considerable. Glass windows were broken even at a distance of over five miles, and in the immediate vicinity, practically not a pane remains unbroken.

Now, for the cooking. We always treated ourselves to a good evening dinner, ranging in price from 4/6 to 7/6 (always the latter), and I am satisfied that treats are a feature in the preparation of meals. Snails I intended having but they are not always on the menu, although I’ve been guilty of eating them with a mixture of other foods. Sugar is unobtainable, but otherwise one has no complaint to make. It is possible, everything going well for me, that I’ll take my second furlough trip (trip I just had was a special one)to either Nice or Paris, or some other fashionable watering place. Rome also, I believe, is in the running but transit is slow and expensive.

We find it hard to converse in French as our slight knowledge is not sufficient to carry us through but we have no difficulty in getting through with a little English mixed in. Our men who are fortunate to be amongst the people who pick up the language in three months easily’.

Trp Vincent Black (Coldstream), 4^th Light Horse: Arrives in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Ulysses. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in the charge of Beersheba.

TrpIver Hamilton (Mt Evelyn), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Ulysses.

March 19^th, 1918 –
Shoeing-Smith Walter Thompson (Wandin) 2^nd Field Company Engineers: With his son William having been killed in action the year before, he makes a special application to return home stating: ‘Upon the loss of my son, the sole support of my wife and five children has fallen upon my shoulders. My wife at present is greatly worried owing to the loss of our son and financial difficulties and my absence’. He is supported by his Commanding Officer and he is sent home the next month.

March 20^th, 1918 –
Pte Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Marries an English girl in Northumberland, England. She later comes out to Australia as a war bride.

THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

With the Russian revolution having happened back in October 1917 and the withdrawal of the Russian forces from the Eastern Front, the German High Command decided to move their troops to the Western Front and do an all-out attack before the American troops could arrive. Known as the Ludendorff offensive, they undertook a series of attacks on three separate fronts, pushing forward by raining down a storm of gas shells and high explosives ahead of their infantry.

March 21^st, 1918 –
Pte William Davies (Wandin), 21^st Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field and sent to hospital in France.

Gnr Percy Hyne (Lilydale), 8^th Field Artillery Battery: In a letter to his Mother – ‘Then we got an order to hurry down to the Somme as Fritz had broken through. Things were a bit mixed there’.

Gnr Louis Sage (Lilydale), 102^nd Howitzer Battery: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Euripides.

Pte John Rose x (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Euripides to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action.

Pte Percy Cox (Seville), 21^st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Persic.

March 22^nd, 1918 –
Pte Thomas Hogg (Wandin), 24^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field and sent to hospital in France.

Sgt Charles Cooper MM (Wandin), 24^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field and sent to hospital in France.

Sgt Bruce Timms (Yering), 14^th Battalion: Is awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the period under review. This NCO, an Orderly Room Sergeant, has carried out his duties in a most efficient and praiseworthy manner. On two occasions during the period he has ‘gone over’ with Battalion Headquarters when the enemy line was penetrated for an average of three miles, and has rendered Signal Services in coordinating the work of Headquarters. His tireless energy and attention to detail has been of the utmost service to the unit on all occasions, both in and out of the lines’.

Spr Louis Yoxon (Lilydale), 1^st Division Signals: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Runic.

March 23^rd, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In hospital in France. In his diary – ‘Fritz has deliberately shelled Bailleul to pieces, why no one knows. It is twelve miles behind the line and as far as military importance is concerned it’s practically nil, today he finished the Town Hall. Dozens of civilian women and children have been killed and wounded, all civilians have left the town now, it nearly made me cry to see the poor people getting out with their belongings in a handkerchief’.

March 25^th, 1918 –
Pte James Wallace (Seville), 2^nd Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in France.

March 27^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Leonard Bunt (Wandin), 2^nd Light Trench Mortar Battery: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right arm, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.

Thomas Parker (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a jeweller and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.

April 2^nd, 1918 –
Pte Michael Griffin (Lilydale), 17^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench fever.

April 3^rd, 1918 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Around Bela and Gaza the crops are doing well. I was surprised to see so many wild flowers around this place; Red Poppies and daisies are very common and sweet peas (three colours) flags, lilies etc. The grass is very plentiful and all our horses are fat. We have them out grazing every afternoon and sometimes all day.

When I went through Khanyunis I was surprised to see such an improvement. When I went through this town several months ago the people did not have much food and the orchards were not attended to, but now the people look well and the orchards have been ploughed. The almonds and apricots are still green but I do not expect to be here when they are ripe. Oranges are still plentiful and we get 4 for 2½ piastre.

I was able to visit Gaza but did not see a house that escaped the shells except the mud houses in the native portion of the town. The large mosque in the centre of the town caught its share of the shells and a portion of the dome was blown away. The trenches, lines of communication etc were very extensive. I went into some dug outs where you would be perfectly safe during any bombardment. Jacko is not within miles of this town’.

April 4^th, 1918 –
Pte William Goodall x (Lilydale), 24^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Kenilworth Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds received in action the year before.

John Cathcart (Lilydale): Leaves his grocery and bakery business in Lilydale to enlist in the AIF, he is 28 years old and married.

The tactics the German used for the Spring offensive were highly effective and broke through the lines, forcing the British and French troops into a sudden retreat. In just a week the enemy’s swift advance took much of the ground that had been bitterly fought over in the past two years.

The newly formed Australian Corps, made up of the five Australian Divisions, were quickly moved into action and were able to hold their positions at a number of places, most notably at Villers-Bretonneux and Dernacourt.

April 6^th, 1918 –
Capt James Rowan (Olinda), Australian Army Medical Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Ilanstephan Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of defective eyesight.

April 8^th, 1918 –
Pte Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale), 4^th Pioneer Battalion: Marries a Scottish girl in Scotland. She would later travel to Australia as a war bride.

Pte Alfred Larking (Lilydale), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Dunluce Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the effects of gas poisoning.

April 9^th, 1918 –
Gnr Ray Tregear (Mt Evelyn), 2^nd Battery, 2^nd Brigade, New Zealand Artillery: Is stationed with four other men in a gunpit on Hill 63 facing Messines. On this day the Germans decided to attack Messines as part of their Spring 1918 offensive in what it usually referred to as the Battle of Lys. Very early in the morning, as the men slept in the gunpit, a shell landed right upon them killing them all instantly. As the New Zealand forces around them were soon being forced to fall back there was nothing much they could do but collect their identity disks and dig their bodies in where they lay. He is 25 years old and as his body was never recovered again he is listed on the New Zealand Memorial to the missing at Messines Ridge.

Pte John Ellis (Mt Evelyn), 23^rd Battalion: He is in a shell hole by himself when they came under artillery attack. Sadly, a shell landed directly on him and according to one witness ‘he was blown to pieces, there wasn’t much to bury’, he was 33 years old. His mates dug a grave for him nearby and made a small cross to go on his grave. He was later reburied at the Meaulte Military Cemetery in Picardie, France.

L/Cpl Harold Wilkin (Wandin), 39^th Battalion: Is wounded in action for a third time, gunshot wound left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Robert Jenkins (Gruyere), 21^st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell concussion from a bomb blast, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

April 10^th, 1918 –
Pte Alexander Blair (Olinda), 22^nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England. This is the third time he has been wounded in action.

Trp Kavan Lawlor (Coldstream), 3rd Light Horse Regiment: Is wounded in action during the attack on Amman, gunshot wound to ankle, and is evacuated to hospital in Egypt.

April 12^th, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Marched out of Benthencourt at 5am, arrived Amiens 10.30am, entrained for up north again where Fritz has busted through. At St Pol, while our train was standing in the station yard, Fritz bombed us heavily, seven of our men wounded’.

Ordinary Seaman Thomas Preece (Wandin), HMAS Melbourne: After finishing his training at HMAS Cerberus he is sent to England and on this day joins the crew of HMAS Melbourne. Over the coming months the ship joins the Grand Fleet at Scapa, becoming a unit of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron. For the remainder of the war period it was on routine patrols and fleet exercises in northern waters. It took no part in any action at sea.

April 13^th, 1918 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1^st Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

2^nd Lieut Harold Manders (Wandin), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australian from Europe on the HT Osterley. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting neurasthenia.

Pte Henry Stewart (Kilsyth), 8^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Osterley, to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received the year before.

April 14^th, 1918 –
Pte Frederick Davies x (Kilsyth), 8^th Battalion: Is killed in action during the German push on the allies’ lines at Le Nieppe Forest. He is 26 years old and is buried at the Nieppe-Bois British Cemetery in France. His brother Isaac had been killed in action two years earlier in 1916.

Pte Michael White (Lilydale), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: He was with a platoon digging trenches between Walrly and Albert near Marloncourt when a shell landed in the trench he was in, killing him. He was 40 years old and as he has no known grave, he is listed on the memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘The sights I’ve seen this last few days would melt the heart of a statue, the poor people fleeing for their lives leaving everything behind them except what they can carry. I took four old people in one of our cars this morning from Morbecque to Ellinghen. Going through Hazelbrook a shell burst twenty-five yards ahead of us in the centre of the street. There are thousands of homeless people, we’ve got them pretty well all away from the forward area now, and since we went into the line on their front, Fritz hasn’t advanced an inch’.

April 15^th, 1918 –
Cpl Harry Black (Coldstream), 23^rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion: Is accidentally injured and is evacuated to hospital with injuries to his hip and back.

April 16^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Herbert Meade (Mooroolbark), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Alfred Parish (Lilydale), 13^th Battalion: Marries an Australian girl at Croydon, England.

Archibald McLarty (Olinda): Leaves his farm at Olinda and enlists in the AIF, he is 37 years old and married with six children.

April 17^th, 1918 –
Pte Jack Lester (Yering), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, suffering gas poisoning and shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘At 10am this morning Fritz shelled us very heavy, getting a direct hit on our station and two more within a few yards demolishing the farm. Our casualties: four killed, six wounded, three of our wagons smashed to atoms, and our gear. We moved to another farm during the afternoon’.

April 18^th, 1918 –
Gnr Percy Hyne (Lilydale), 8^th Field Artillery Battery: In a letter to his Mother – ‘Two divisions of Australians were the only ones going to stop Fritz’s advance, and we did it too. I can tell you that is about the rottenest thing that has happened in the war, as far as I know’.

April 19^th, 1918 –
Pte William Hayes (Mt Evelyn), 5^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Gnr David England (Silvan), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from measles.

April 20^th, 1918 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘I have not visited Jerusalem yet but I expect to do so before very long. I went through Jaffa a few days ago but this city is not worth visiting. The town is half deserted and is very dusty. We saw some nice buildings but the town is suffering from the effects of war. The weather is nice just at present but I hope we do not remain long in this camp because it will be very dusty in a few weeks’ time. Our horses are not looking as well as they were a few weeks ago but there was plenty of grass at the other camp’.

April 21^st, 1918 –
Shoeing-Smith Walter Thompson (Wandin) 2^nd Field Company Engineers: Arrives in Australia from Europe.

April 22^nd, 1918 –
Pte Edwin Meade (Mooroolbark), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the back, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte William Russell (Seville), 6^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from diarrhoea and trench fever.

April 23^rd, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Fritz has got the draw on us, he shelled us this afternoon and got a direct hit, killed my mate Mac Stewart. I had just walked away from him, not got more than twenty yards off, when crash and he was dead. Hundreds of shells have fallen round us this last few days and hundreds of bombs during the night, the air was full of planes’.

THE BATTLE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, FRANCE

The Australians were able to hold their positions at a number of places, most notably at Villers-Bretonneux, a French village just east of Amiens. It was believed at the time that if the Germans pushed through Villers-Bretonneux they could easily take Amiens and if they took Amiens, the channel ports would be next.

On this day the Germans launched an all-out attack on Villers-Bretonneux and captured the town. As soon as the grave news reached British High Command, orders came that this vital position had to be retaken, which it was with a swift night-time counter attack. A remarkable achievement with one general calling it ‘perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war’. It marked the end of the great German offensive and was a major turning point in the war.

April 24^th, 1918 –
Pte Leslie Farndon MM (Mt Dandenong), 23^rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the back, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Irwin Campbell (Mt Dandenong), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe gunshot wound to the thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte George Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to legs, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Cpl Philip Kidgell (Lilydale), 15^th Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Gnr Thomas Ogilvy (Seville), 13^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

April 25^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Robert Black (Montrose), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to face and arms, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from laryngitis.

Tpr Arthur Campbell (Mt Dandenong), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in Egypt suffering from dysentery.

Dvr Donald Lord (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Service Corps: Is transferred to the Tank Corps as a motor mechanic.

April 26^th, 1918 –
Pte George Conner (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion: Is killed in action by shell blast at Morret Wood while on a ration party to bring rations to the front line. His brother Archibald was nearby and carried his body to Mericourt and was the one who buried him. He is 29 years old and is buried at Mericourt L’Abbe Cemetery, France.

Lt Francis Johnson (Seville), 58^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right ear, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

April 27^th, 1918 –
Pte Frank Rance (Wandin), 5^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Stan Goode (Lilydale), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

April 29^th, 1918 –
Sgt George Milne (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Is wounded in action not far from Hazelbrouck, severe gunshot wounds to the legs, and is evacuated to hospital in France. A Captain in his company later wrote to his mother saying: ‘he was alongside me at the time and we got him away at once. The stretcher bearers are simply wonderful fellows and at the dressing stations a motor that was waiting took him straight to hospital where he received the best attention’.

Pte Harry Moore (Lilydale), 45^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left wrist, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Clarence Cutting (Lilydale), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded accidentally, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

THE BATTLE OF ESALT – PALESTINE

April 30^th, 1918 –
Tpr George Cassidy (Seville), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In the field in Palestine. The following is a letter to his mother – ‘I will give you a brief description of the second Amman ‘stunt’ in which I took part as a signaller. I was attached to the 4^th Light Horse Regiment and on April 29^th, 1918, we were warned to get ready to move immediately after dark and to leave all fires burning, this was to deceive the enemy scouts. At about 7am we moved from our old camp under the Mount of Temptation and proceeded eastwards towards the Dead Sea, leaving only a few tins and cigarette packets as evidence that there had ever been a camp there.

We then moved around in a great semi-circle towards Esalt (a town near Amman) where we halted, having travelled about ten miles, it was then midnight and freezing. We were then told to tie our horses to something – our legs preferably – and have a few hours sleep. At 3.30am we were awakened rather roughly and told that we may have to charge at any time. All I could hear was the crackle of rifles, machine guns and the roar of bursting shells a few hundred yards to our right. The flashing of star shells, which I believe, are the signals for artillery fire, looked very beautiful in the half light, each different color meaning different batteries, but I had no time to think of their charm then. 

We then started to gallop up the Jordon Valley, where ‘Jacko’s’ artillery made things very uncomfortable for us. They put up barrage after barrage but each time they seemed to be just too late or too early; our casualties in this mad dash were comparatively small. A mate of mine had his horse blown to pieces beneath him but he was not hurt, only a little shell shock. I was riding alongside of him and received a shower of horseflesh but as the heat of the charge had got into my veins, I seemed to see red and thought no more of the dangers which prevailed although after it was all over I felt very nervy for a while. For three days after this we held a position east of the Jordan but in the end were forced to retire before superior numbers, which was rather a difficult job owing to the ‘Jackos’ being nearly around us. ‘Jacko’ paid very dear for his temporary triumph. As you will see by the result of the last big push’.

May 1^st, 1918 –
Sgt George Milne (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: While at the 15^th Casualty Clearing Station north of Bailleul, he dies of wounds he’d received in action a few days before. He is 39 years old and is buried at the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery in France. Writing to his mother, a Captain from his battalion wrote: ‘a wave of deep feeling passed through the company a fortnight ago when we heard that your son had died of wounds. It was a shock to all of us who knew him so well, but what must your loss be – that of a son. He was always ‘George’ to all in the company, he was always thinking of us, planning and working for us, to the last he worked for the men of the Company, whom he loved so well. He died the death of a true soldier and we are the poorer by a true friend and companion. May the memory of his brave and bright life be a solace to you and a happy memory in the days to come, as it will be for us’.

Pte Edwin Hill (Gruyere), 7^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from measles.

Pte Robert Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 2^nd General Reinforcements: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on board the HMAT Euripides.

Pte Thomas Parker (Lilydale), 2^nd General Reinforcements: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on board the HMAT Euripides.

Pte Donald Fergus Scott (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Service Corps: Arrives back in Australia on board the HMAT Wilshire to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing rheumatism.

May 2^nd, 1918 –
Pte Felix Hargrave (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from cellulitis.

May 3^rd, 1918 –
Sgt James Rushton (Lilydale), 3^rd Light Horse Regiment: Is killed in action during a Turkish attack at Kefr Hudr near Es Salt. He is 24 years old and is buried at the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria.

Hugh Burns (Lilydale): Leaves his studies as a medical student to enlist in the AIF, he is 19 years old. His older brother James had been killed in action in 1915 at Gallipoli.

May 4^th, 1918 –
The following poem is written by an anonymous soldier from Olinda who went under the pen name ‘Aussie’, it was sent to The Lilydale Express to be published –

A NAMELESS GRAVE

 Upon the march, ‘neath skies of gray,
In France a grave once met my eyes,
With wooden cross and words to say,
‘Here an unknown Australian lies’.

 A battlefield there was hard by,
That name had bruited everywhere,
From which the Hun was forced to fly;
But not unknown the valor there.

Though nameless here within his grave,
I said, for sure a type of all,
The young, the resolute, the brave,
Who fell lest Freedom’s self should fall.

Though nameless here, everywhere thy name,
Is whispered still in accents dear;
Upon the head that is to blame,
A cure alight for every tear.

And yet as plain as words could say,
Thy tale is written for the wise,
As though in stone or storyed say,
Here an unknown Australian lies.

May 5^th, 1918 –
Sister Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: While serving in Salonika, Greece, she is transferred to the 52^nd General Hospital to work.

May 6^th, 1918 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘I have been in Jericho and this is a very small place and very dirty. This is a new village as far as this land goes. Ancient Jericho was about one mile away from the present town. We had a scrap a few days ago and our casualties were rather numerous. Another of my mates paid the supreme sacrifice. I was lucky and did not get a scratch’.

May 8^th, 1918 –
Frederick Tooley (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 33 years old and married with four children.

May 9^th, 1918 –
Sgt Richard Goodall (Gruyere), 46^th Battalion: Is evacuated to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

Victor Campbell (Silvan): Leaves his job working as a farmer for his guardian, Mrs Agnes Benham, at Silvan and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

May 10^th, 1918 –
The following letter was published in The Lilydale Express. It doesn’t name the local soldier or his father, it just states they were from Lilydale – ‘I have been seriously thinking of enlisting for some time past. You might think I am only a bit of a kid yet, and don’t realise the hardships of life yet, but I can assure you it is the very reverse with me. On Sunday night you asked me if I were in any trouble or not, but I can assure you there is nothing wrong. The reason I left the way I did on Sunday night was that I could not supress the disappointment I felt when I got your answer. I feel that it is my duty as well as any other eligible to enlist. When I see some of the returned men without legs or arms or eyes it makes me feel a bit of a cad, stopping home here while their mates are away in the trenches fighting for us’.

May 11^th, 1918 –
Drv Alvin Closs (Olinda), Australian Army Service Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on board the HMAT Ascanius.

May 12^th, 1918 –
Pte Edwin Hill (Gruyere), 7^th Battalion: After being admitted to hospital in France a few weeks earlier suffering from measles, his condition develops into broncho pneumonia and he passes away. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, France.

May 13^th, 1918 –
Pte Henry Lalor (Montrose), 7^th Battalion: Is evacuated to hospital in France suffering from scabies.

Thomas Geddes (Wandin): Enlists for a third time, this time in the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. He was discharged twice as being medically unfit after twelve months’ service in the AIF. He is 41 years old and married with five children.

Pte Patrick Duffy (Lilydale), 6^th Tunnelling Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Kenilworth Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of his exposure to gas.

May 14^th, 1918 –
Pte Harry Dawson (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left hand, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

May 16^th, 1918 –
Thomas Rose (Seville): Leaves his family’s orchard ‘Eastvale’ in Beenak Rd, Seville and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 19 years old.

Trp Wallace Coutts (Wandin), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from diarrhoea.

May 17^th, 1918 –
Pte Ern Mason (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Is wounded in action, bullet wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Arthur Shore (Lilydale), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the abdomen, and is evacuated to the 14^th Field Ambulance. Later that day he dies of his wounds. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Aubigny British Cemetery in Picardie, France.

Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘It does not appear as if the end of the war is near so I do not expect to be home for Christmas unless I get wounded and I am not anxious to stop one. The sooner this war ends the better. ‘Business’ is going on quietly and we have enough work to keep us fit. In fact, there is always plenty to do.

We were on a stunt a few days ago and Jacko was delighted to see us and gave us a warm reception. One of my mates paid the supreme sacrifice. He was on a listening post and Jacko paid us a visit. He reached our line and the Jacko’s got a warm reception and retired. The machine guns were very busy and three of our chaps were hit in as many minutes. Hughie Gillies was killed and the other two were wounded but fortunately only slightly wounded.

There are a few places of interest around here and I will mention them. Jericho has been built three times and each time on a different site. The first Jericho which was destroyed by the Israelites was behind the Hill of Temptation and on the Brook Fayin. There is an old church near this brook which was built about the time of the Crusaders. The second city of Jericho was built on the brook only nearer the Jordan. I visited the ruins of this city but it is not worth the walk as only a few foundations of the houses are visible. The present Jericho was built by a Pasha and he brought natives of Egypt to this town. The inhabitants are all Egyptians at the present time. There is a good water supply and the town looks well from the distance but not when you get into the town. This town is 1100 feet below sea level and is very hot and dusty at the present time.

The Hill of Temptations is a high point overlooking the Jordan Valley where Christ is supposed to have been tempted. This site was not known as the Hill of Temptation until the time of the Crusaders. It would not be a great temptation for me at the present time as the Jordan Valley is very bare and the surrounding country is not very fertile. On the side of this Hill there is a large Greek Monastery. It is a fine building and there was a few monks left at the monastery. I think the Turks must have put spies in place of the monks as they have been arrested for signalling to the Turks. Right on the top of the Hill there is the foundation of a large church called the Church of John the Baptist.

The Jordan River is about 200 miles long but direct from the source of the river to the Dead Sea is only 100 miles. It falls over 600 feet in forty miles and where it enters the Dead Sea it is 1300 feet below sea level. This river is about a chain across and flows very rapidly. I have not had a swim in the river but I have quenched my thirst at this stream.

Numerous streams flow into the river from the hills near the Jordan Valley. I have not been fishing in any of these streams but I may go bombing one of these nights. It should not be such a slow method of catching fish. I do not expect to get an opportunity of visiting Jerusalem (inside the walls) but you never know your luck. The Dead Sea is 46 miles at its greatest length and 9 miles at its greatest width. It is fairly deep in places. This sea has about four times as much salt as the Mediterranean. Although there is no life in this sea it is quite safe to go in for a swim but unless you have a bath in fresh water after a swim in the Dead Sea you may suffer from a rash. I have not had an opportunity to swim in this sea.

I think this is about all the places of interest just around this part but we may visit other places in the near future. I shall be quite satisfied to return home without visiting Damascus or any of the other large towns but my wishes will not be considered’.

THE BATTLE OF VILLE SUR ANCRE, FRANCE

May 19^th, 1918 –
Lt Thomas Eales (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Early in the morning, during the battle of Ville Sur Ancre, they had taken the town and were starting to move out. One witness to what happened next later stated: ‘After Ville Sur Ancre had been taken and things had quietened down a bit, a party went into the place to ‘clear up’. Eales was leading his platoon in the advance near the right of the village and had got into a sunken road. Eighteen pounder shellfire from our own artillery burst short, just above us, but only three were hit, two men wounded, Eales killed. He put his hands up to his neck and said ‘I’ve got it’. They were the last words he spoke, and he died directly after. He was also hit in the body. He was killed about 6.00am and he was buried near the sunken road’.

He is 22 years old and is buried at the Mericourt L’Abbe Communal Cemetery in France. One soldier who served with him later stated: ‘Lieutenant Eales was very popular and we were awfully sorry when he was killed, he was always considered such a good soldier’.

Cpl Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the face, and is evacuated to hospital in England. The piece of shrapnel entered behind his left ear and out his mouth, fracturing his lower jaw.

May 21^st, 1918 –
Able Seaman Robert McComas (Montrose) and Stoker Albert Clegg (Wandin), HMAS Coogee: Both are transferred to HMAS Coogee, an armed patrol vessel & minesweeper, and spend the next seven months patrolling Bass Strait before the ship is returned to its owners in 1919.

May 25^th, 1918 –
Trp Alexander Mathews (Seville), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field suffering from gastritis and sent to hospital in Kantara, Egypt.

Lt Lyndon Watt (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Wandilla to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action the year before.

May 26^th, 1918 –
Pte Leopold Navas (Lilydale), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Sydney Leake (Olinda), 22^nd Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Karoola to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting severe trench fever.

May 30^th, 1918 –
Pte Edward Read (Seville), 58^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Borda to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action to his thigh, hand and neck.

Pte James Jordon (Kilsyth), 59^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Borda to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action the year before.

May 31^st, 1918 –
Sgt George Hastie (Seville), 58^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from cellulitis to the hand.

June 1^st, 1918 –
Trp Walter Boys (Seville), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated to hospital in Kantara, Egypt suffering from Rheumatism. They must have looked after him well here because he later called his property in Girgarre ‘Kantara’.

Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘The mate I lost was killed in action and his brother is leaving for home in the next boat. Wish I was with him. Another one of my mates lost his life during the recent operations. He was the third in the family to be killed in action. Some families do more than their share of fighting. The boys in France are kept busy and it is an anxious time for those at home. We do not take any more risk than we can help. I wish the war was over and that we were all home again but it does not look like an early peace.

Pigs run wild in the Jordan Valley. I have not seen any myself but a couple of pigs advanced on an outpost and were mistaken for Turks at first. The outpost did not capture any of the pigs. Snakes, scorpions and other pests are very common in the Valley but we do not trouble them. The weather is rather too warm for comfort but we must expect hot weather for another month.

Did I mention that all along the road to Jerusalem and on to Jericho that working parties are kept busy.  These parties are employed keeping the road in order. The majority of these parties are girls and they work hard and appear very happy. When we were at Jaffa we were very anxious to get on a little further but I’ve seen all the places I was anxious to visit. We like to be on the move (I don’t mean fighting) as it gets monotonous if we stay long in any camp. I wonder if we will suffer from this roving spirit when we get home. Its time I was home again’.

June 4^th, 1918 –
Pte Leonard Giddins (Olinda), 7^th Battalion: Is charged with desertion from the AIF for the period 13/3/18 to 16/5/18. A Court of Enquiry eventually sentences him to ten years prison and he is sent to the 3^rd Military Prison in France.

June 5^th, 1918 –
Sgt Charles White (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right arm and leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

June 6^th, 1918 –
Gnr William Rothque (Lilydale), Field Artillery Brigade: On the ship home to Australia he injures himself, injuring his spinal column.

June 7^th, 1918 –
Tpr George Cassidy (Seville), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: The following is a letter to his mother that was published in The Lilydale Express –

‘You will know by this note that I am not yet numbered among the slain; although we’ve had a fairly rough time with ‘Jacko’. You ask me to give you a description of the country, which I will endeavor to do, but remember that I am not an Ashmead Bartlett.

To start from the beginning, from the canal out to El Arish is simply a waste stretch of plain sand, with an occasional oasis of palm trees and sometimes water. The atmosphere there is light and pure, and very healthy and comfortable in cool weather, with about one cloud annually to be seen in the sky. During the summer the sand, which reflects the heat, is very hard on the eyes.

The place is inhabited mostly by Bedouins. They are long thin, wiry fellows, with sharp features and very, dark sneaky eyes. They are most treacherous, always on the move, and quarrelling amongst themselves, and would not hesitate to draw a bead on anyone whose pockets might yield something.

The country changes between there and Gaza, where the soil is the best and would grow anything, and is said to be the home of wild flowers. They grow a lot of barley and wheat, also prickly pear (cactus) which is always the hedging around the homes of mud and there is very little passage way between – just wide enough to ride through without getting too many of the prickles in legs and arms. This prickly pear grows very high and yields fruit similar to that of our own pear (Queensland). It does not spread like ours nor even is it so prickly, but to the untrained eye it appears identical.

From Gaza to Jaffa and around Beersheba the country is mostly small hills and wadis (waterways large and small), and in spring time blooms with barley and wheat and sometimes a bit of tobacco. Jaffa, Ramleh, and Ludd change the scene. The first place where we saw Jews was in Dieran, in a bit of a depression which keeps it from view when approaching. The place seems so snug and comfortable, with all the grapes, lemon, and orange groves after so long on the barren desert.

The Jews are a clean people. Their houses, painted white, with red roofs show up attractively among the green trees. Jaffa, Ramleh, and Ludd are all peopled with Jews. Jaffa on the sea coast, looks best, and on the sea front side the houses are built on a gradual slope, and from the coast they look very pretty. After leaving Jaffa, the coastline turns due north and the country is flat for about ten miles inland and then come the great Judean ranges, south-west approximately, to the west of Beersheba.

The hills are precipitous and rough, and the ascent was accomplished on our hands and knees, with a spell every fifty yards or so and the descent on that portion of the anatomy which fits so nicely into an armchair. Little villages of Bedouins, nestling on the hills in most impossible places, make the bird’s eye view picturesque. The Bedouins here are different; they speak differently, and are different in complexion-three parts black and one part white, but much the same in build and character. Even occasionally one strikes a white one.

The boundary of the two kingdoms which were formed by the splitting up of the ten tribes of whom you read in the Bible was about there. Later on there was no need for a boundary because the tribes from the Jerusalem side realised their strength and just hopped in and conquered the whole turn-out. Jerusalem is about fifteen or twenty miles from the foothills of the range and just about the summit. A road leads up to Jerusalem through these hills, and anyone travelling along can get his fill of scenery. It is hard to understand why they built the holy city there, but perhaps they thought it could not be approached by invading armies; but that has long since been proved wrong.

From Jerusalem to Jericho the hills drop, and until the Jordan valley is reached the britches is used. Coming off the range into the valley, you overlook the Dead Sea and the River Jordan. The valley runs north to the Sea of Galilee and is about fifteen miles wide. I did not really see much of Jerusalem except riding through, but I found it to be a much bigger place than I judged it to be by the photos I have seen. The place is quite busy, and business goes on just as if there were no war on, except that the military swell the traffic a little.

Its churches are rare samples of architecture, especially the Russian, which has golden domes and great spires standing high above the beautiful trees which surround it. Where the zigzag road runs out into the Jordan valley you come right on to Jericho, a one-time beautiful city, now composed mostly of mud huts. West from Jericho stands the Mount of Temptation, on the flat top of which stands a big wall, built high and strong. The difficulty of procuring a new pair of breeches prevented me from making the ascent, therefore I don’t know what might be inside the walls.

On the side of this hill and about half way up, where it is most precipitous, a monastery is built into the rock. A path leads up to it from the northern side. In this so-called monastery is the stone on which Jesus sat for forty days and forty nights. The monks in this place could speak English, but pressure of work and a dash of laziness prevented me from obtaining what information they had to impart. The Sodom and Gomorrha mob dwelt about here, and Lot’s wife insisted on looking back and became a pillow of salt. Someday I may collect sufficient energy to speak further parables’.

June 8^th, 1918 –
George Barnes (Seville): Leaves his family’s orchard in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old.

June 9^th, 1918 –
Pte Victor Ellis (Wandin), 13^th Battalion: Leaves Australia for Europe on board the SS Feldmarchall.

June 10^th, 1918 –
Leo Maxwell (Wandin): Re-enlists in the AIF. He had previously enlisted in 1914 and had travelled to Egypt on the first convoy with the 1^st Field Artillery Brigade. In June 1915 he was admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from gastritis and was then sent for further treatment to England. In September 1915, while in England, he successfully applied to be transferred to the Royal Field Artillery with a commission as 2^nd Lieutenant. What exactly happened to him after that is a mystery but in February 1916 he married in London and soon after left his new wife and returned to Australia. Back here he married another woman, without having gotten a divorce from his deserted wife, and was soon after charged with bigamy, tried and sentenced to prison. Coming out of imprisonment he decided to re-enlist in the AIF but even this doesn’t end well.

Pte Robert Marshall (Mooroolbark), General Service Reinforcements: Leaves Australia for Egypt on board the HMAT Wiltshire.

June 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Fred Whiteside (Lilydale), 14^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wounds to arm, neck and chest, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.

June 12^th, 1918 –
Pte Benjamin Gibson (Kilsyth), 23^rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Marathon, he is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds that left him blind in both eyes.

Athol McLachlan (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a postal employee and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

June 13^th, 1918 –
Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin) Naval & Military Expeditionary Force: Leaves Australia bound for Rabaul on the SS Melusia.

Pte Frederick Tooley (Lilydale) Naval & Military Expeditionary Force: Leaves Australia bound for Rabaul on the SS Melusia.

June 14^th, 1918 –
Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: In the field in Palestine. In a letter to his father – ‘About 28 of us and an officer left camp at 5 o’clock in the morning per one of our uncovered motor lorries. After we had travelled some 25 or 30 miles over a very dusty and hilly road we arrived in Jerusalem about eight. We then had breakfast and an hour later entered the walls of the holy city through the Damascus gate, with a guide leading.

Inside the city is just an old business place, with very narrow little lanes and we made our way straight towards the holy sepulchre. The interior of this place was lovely; lamps and valuable pictures greeted one’s eye as one entered. We saw the stone on which Jesus is said to have been laid after the crucifixion and on the left of this is a cage erected where the Virgin Mary stood and watched the proceedings. Then we went and saw His tomb (which place is known as the Holy of Holies). Hanging above the tomb are numerous valuable lamps, given by all denominations, and fresh flowers are taken there daily. In the centre of the Holy of Holies is a small marble column where the ascending angel is said to have taken His soul to Heaven.

Then we went to Calvary where Jesus was crucified and on the spot where Mary stood watching Him being crucified now stands the most wonderful statue of Mary herself, decorated and studded with gold and very precious stones. She is seen with a very solemn face and shedding tears. Her heart is pierced with a solid gold dagger. The decorations on her head and body are most wonderful and costly and have been presented by all denominations. She has a ruby on her forehead valued at £25,000 and the Kaiser gave a beautiful solid gold heart, studded with diamonds. I am not able to give the value of this statue as different guides gave different totals; but I believe and was told that the whole contents of the holy sepulchre were worth over thirty million pounds.

The next place we went to was the Jews’ wailing place, and here is a huge wall of stones where the Jews visit and wail. The Jews treat this as very sacred, and I might mention that this is the closest they are allowed to the holy sepulchre, which is about 200 yards away. Our next move was to the Mosque of Omar, which has been built on the Temple of the Rock, where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Being a mosque this place is solely for the Mohamedans and they have some very peculiar beliefs. They believe that the rock, which is strongly barricaded, is floating between heaven and earth. Once a year this rock is swept and the dust is sold and is valued dearly by the pilgrims. Another belief is that on the day of judgment a rope will be stretched across from the rock covering the Valley of Jehosophat to the Mount of Olives, about half a mile. If they can walk this rope they will have no sins and go to heaven, and if not they fall into the valley of Jehosophat will go to hell.

Next we moved on to the wall of the tomb of Solomon, who was supposed to have 999 wives and many children. There are iron bars in this wall, to which childless women tie rags from their clothes in the belief that it means a prayer to Solomon and that they will get their wish of a family. We then moved on to the Garden of Gethsemane. In this garden is an olive tree over 2000 years old. Under this tree it is said Jesus rested and prayed over the people of Jerusalem, just before He was crucified. I picked a carnation there, and if it presses well I will enclose it. On we went, to the church of St Ann, built underground by the Crusaders in the 16th century and on the spot where Mary was born. This church was like the others with its lovely hanging lamps and one little corner has a big slab which is supposed to be the spot where Mary was born. We then came to the pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed His wonderful miracles in giving sight to the blind, and where He ordered the sick to take up their beds and walk.

This was the finish of our morning’s exploration, and we had lunch, after which we drove to the Mount of Olives. Many people believe that it was on this Mount that Christ was crucified, but according to our guide it was at the holy sepulchre that the crucifixion took place. The Kaiser has a big church known as the German Hospice on the Mount, and when the Turks occupied Jerusalem their headquarters were in this church, and what interested us most was a patched hole in the roof of it where one of our airmen had dropped a bomb. There is also a big mission church with a very high tower on the Mount but we were unable to enter it.

From the Mount of Olives one can get a lovely view all round. On one side is Jerusalem and just opposite one can see the Dead Sea and the Valley of the Jordan. We then went out to Bethlehem, a distance of six miles. Here we visited the church of the Nativity, and it is claimed to be the oldest church in the world. We saw the spot where Jesus was born, and the star of Bethlehem is there in solid silver and was presented by the French. On the right is the manger where Jesus was carried by His people. Above are numbers of wonderful lamps and pictures. One lamp is of solid gold and its cost was £6000. There is also a beautiful golden picture of the wise men who followed the star and found Jesus. On the left the Roman Catholics have a lovely modern church built.

We then went back to Jerusalem and had tea, and at six o’clock had commenced our journey back to the camp, where we arrived at about 8.30pm. You will probably want to know my opinion of Jerusalem now that I have seen it: It is not much. There is a vast amount of poverty there, and it is a very dirty place. Food is very scarce and bread is unprocurable. We paid 3/ for four fried eggs and a small cup of tea with no butter or anything else’.

L/Cpl George Harrison (Wandin), 58^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Tofua.

June 16^th, 1918 –
Pte Alex Martin (Lilydale), 14^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to shoulder and right knee, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

June 17^th, 1918 –
Sgt Mechanic Walter Bridgland (Olinda), Australian Flying Corps: Joins No 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, on active service in France.

Gnr William Rothque (Lilydale), Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Suevic, he is to be discharged as a result of injuries he sustained to his back on the ship home.

Pte Joseph Goodall (Lilydale), 10^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Suevic, he is to be discharged as a result of the fact he is just 17 years old and is in fact underage for active service.

June 18^th, 1918 –
Gnr Ove Ovesen (Seville), 11^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

Bernard Johnson (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a horse trainer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.

Alfred Rothque (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a cab proprietor and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

June 22^nd, 1918 –
Sr Isabel McAlpine (Wandin), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives at Salonika, Greece and reports for duty at the 50^th General Hospital.

June 24^th, 1918 –
Pte Ralph Garth (Wandin), 8^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

Pte David Strachan (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England after suffering a cerebral concussion to the head during an accident.

Pte Sam Tucknott (Mt Evelyn), 22^nd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis.

June 25^th, 1918 –
Sgt George Ingram (Seville), 24^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from a re-occurrence of malaria, a disease he originally contracted while in Rabaul.

Pte William Parr (Lilydale), 3^rd Supply Column: While on leave in England he is admitted to hospital suffering from influenza.

Douglas Black (Mooroolbark): Leaves his orchard and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old. Three of his brothers had already enlisted, only two of them would survive the war.

June 26^th, 1918 –
Cpl Vincent Lawlor (Gruyere), Australian Camel Corps: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from otitis media.

June 30^th, 1918 –
Gnr Arthur Jeeves (Mt Dandenong), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Kanowna to be discharged as medically unfit after having a leg amputated.

July 1^st, 1918 –
Pte Howard Vernon (Lilydale), 5^th Battalion: Is sentenced to four months imprisonment by a civil power in England for stealing a bicycle.

Edmond Bamber (Gruyere): Leaves his family’s property at Gruyere where he works and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.

July 3^rd, 1918 –
Lt Wilfred Tucker DCM (Mt Dandenong), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

THE BATTLE OF HAMEL, FRANCE

July 4^th, 1918 –
Pte George Rouget (Wandin), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left hip and ankle, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Gnr Bertie Blashki (Lilydale), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the face, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Capt Roland Wild (Kilsyth), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is awarded the Military Cross for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘This officer has during the period from February to September 1918 has shown great courage and absolute disregard for personal danger on several occasions. On the night of 4^th July 1918, at Hamel he was in charge of the tape reconnaissance party engaged in the marking out of a communication trench linking the front line. This was carried out despite the exceptionally heavy hostile machine gun fire. Later on when he returned he led up the Company and succeeded in bringing them through a heavy high explosive. barrage and placing on the works which he had completed that night. During the period of consolidation after the battle, his untiring efforts on reconnaissance works and then in charge of the Company on works, set a splendid example to all ranks under his command’.

Lt Walter Summers (Seville), 23^rd Battalion: Is awarded the Military Cross for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He led his platoon successfully against an enemy post, capturing two machine guns and fifteen prisoners, and personally shooting five of the enemy. During consolidation he reconnoitred forward, and established posts and command ground. He showed fine courage and leadership’.

July 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Frank Rae (Mooroolbark), Australian Motor Transport Corps: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Gaika to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting chronic bronchitis.

Dvr Donald Lord (Mt Evelyn), Tank Corps: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Ruahine.

Sr Alicia Kelly MM (Mt Dandenong), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Ruahine. She has spent the trip home in charge of caring for the wounded on board. Soon after arriving home she would marry a soldier she met on the voyage home.

July 6^th, 1918 –
Pte William Guillerme (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right hand, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Frank Turner (Mt Dandenong), 7^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

July 7^th, 1918 –
Pte George Hamilton (Lilydale), 1^st Pioneer Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing premature senility.

July 9^th, 1918 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Bethlehem and seeing the Church of Nativity. There is a large Church and Monastery with a small church inside. The other buildings are used for schools and accommodation for (visitors) pilgrims. The church is divided between the Greeks, Italians and Armenians and each has a beautiful Altar but I liked the Italian Altar best.

We went into the cave which was used for a stable in the time of our Lord. The walls of the cave are covered with marble and tapestry. If you move the tapestry aside you see the natural wall of the cave. The pilgrims who visited the cave used to chip pieces of rock off the wall before it was covered. The floor of the cave is very smooth and it is hard to walk in the cave without coming to grief. The monk showed us where Jesus was born and the manger where he was laid. There is a passage from the stable to another cave where the scriptures were translated in the fourth century. In this passage many beautiful and valuable lamps hang from the roof. A silver lamp decorated with many jewels was presented by King Leopold.

From this cave there is another passage to another cave where several of the early Christians were buried but their bodies were taken to Italy. The Catholics have several churches and schools around Bethlehem and many of the Arabs are Christians. Solomon’s Pools – There are three large reservoirs built of rock in a valley just beyond Bethlehem on the Hebron Road. These pools are very ancient. In the centre pool there is a fair supply of water. There is an aqueduct about forty feet below the ground and cut out of rock (it may be deeper in places). We used to get our drinking water from this aqueduct. This aqueduct used to supply Jerusalem with water but I have not read the history of this aqueduct.  

I also visited the Holy City and visited all the places of interest. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built by Queen Helena of Greece, is a very wonderful building. It is built on the ground where Christ was crucified and buried. The bust of the Virgin Mary is in a glass case and is just covered with precious stones. It is a wonderful collection of gold, diamonds, rubies etc. A heart of gold presented by the King of Spain is about six inches at its greatest height and over four inches at its greatest width and about one and a half inches thick. It is a beautiful piece of workmanship.

I went into the sepulchre which was beautiful. Where Christ was buried is covered with marble. At the entrance into the sepulchre there is a wonderful piece of hand carved marble. (Well I am afraid I cannot do these places justice so I shall tell you more about them later on.) We visited the Mosque of Omar which is built on Mt Moriah on the site of Solomon’s Temple. Two marble pillars which were in Solomon’s temples are used in the mosque, the Mosque of Asha, which is also in the Temple area.

The Jews’ Wailing Place, where the Jews put a nail in the old city wall when they visit this place. The Russian excavations where portion of the ancient Roman wall has been excavated. The pool of Bethesda where the Jews used to sit on the bank of the pool and wait until the waters were troubled. The Tower of David which is just inside the Jaffa Gate. We visited many other churches in the City and all of them are worth visiting. We inspected the Roman pavement where the Roman soldiers used to play marbles and other games. The Garden of Gethsemane is outside the wall and I saw this garden when we rode through the first time.

We had dinner at the Central Hotel and as I was tired we had a very quiet afternoon. Lately we have been able to go swimming in the Jordan River which is a very pleasant pastime while the weather is so hot. The current is very strong but the river is not very deep. The horses enjoy a swim in the river and it saves a little grooming.

Yesterday we had a very exciting day out on patrol. We arrived at our positions and all was well. A patrol frightened two wild pigs and they came near our post. Naturally we had a few shots and we succeeded in killing a nice young pig. It was not long before he was dressed and hanging from the stand. We made ourselves comfortable when the man who was observing shouted ‘pig’ so we went up for another shot. These pigs were running along a waadi so three of us ran to cut off their retreat. The pigs saw us and came between the two parties through our horses (our horses broke away) and straight for the river. We fired a few rounds but these pigs escaped. In this mob of pigs half of them were suckers and we made them gallop. There was about twelve pigs altogether. We carried our pig home and had him for dinner and he was very tender so we hope to get another pig shortly. These pigs were all in good condition but are not like the pigs at home. Their legs are much longer and their heads are shorter. I expect our pig would weigh about 130 lbs.

Game is very plentiful in the Valley and we often see a few hares, also grouse, pheasants, quail and pigeons etc. We often saw gazelles when we were camped in Egypt but I have not seen many about here. Perhaps we shall see plenty of them as we move further along the Jordan Valley. Fish are plentiful in the river and some of the boys go fishing in the evening but meet with very little success. The weather is very hot but this is the hottest month so it will soon be cooler’.

Adolphus Wilson (Lilydale): Leaves his job with the Victorian Railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.

July 17^th, 1918 –
Pte William Hunter (Wandin), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in France.

Pte Frederick Brierty (Lilydale), Army Veterinary Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Borda.

July 18^th, 1918 –
Pte Alfred Parish (Lilydale), 13^th Battalion: While in England he is discharged from the AIF as a result of being medically unfit, he had been having epileptic fits, and takes up a job as an Australian War Worker and works in munitions.

July 19^th, 1918 –
Trp Walter Morrison (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted from the field in the Jordon Valley to hospital in Palestine suffering from malaria.

July 20^th, 1918 –
Tpr George Cassidy (Seville), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted from the field in the Jordon Valley to hospital in Palestine suffering from dysentery. The following is a letter to his mother that was published in The Lilydale Express – ‘I have very nearly forgotten my stay in Hospital by now. Ah! that is a sweet memory. When I was convalescent I used to sit on the banks of the Canal and play sweet melodies to the Sisters. Fine stamp of Australians these Sisters, believe me, although one strikes a ‘bitie’ sometimes. In your last letter you said that fever is a bad thing in this country. Well, yes, I agree with you, but please remember that I had dysentery, and I think by my own experience that that is equally as bad, if not worse. When in hospital with this disease they put you on what is known as ‘light diet’ but I think they made a mistake and gave me what is known as a ‘feather-weight diet’. It consists of a cup of tea and a few spoonfulls of porridge for breakfast, some jelly and beef tea for dinner, and a pint of tea at tea time. Well, I do not want to make your mouth water, so I will not tell you about some of the other extraordinary concoctions, such as barley water three times a day. When you are on this diet the Sister puts on your card ‘Liquids only’, then you say, ‘thank you Sister’ — and something else under your breath’.

July 22^nd, 1918 –
Pte James McNeill x (Lilydale), 3^rd Divisional Ammunition Column: Arrives back in Australia from Europe to be discharged as medically unfit.

July 23^rd, 1918 –
Pte Florian Deschamp (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated from the field and invalided to hospital in France.

Pte Duncan Eales (Lilydale), 7^th General Reinforcements: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Marathon.

Pte Arthur Geuer (Lilydale), 7^th General Reinforcements: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Marathon.

July 24^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Alexander Tonkin (Wandin), 36^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

July 25^th, 1918 –
Lt Wilfred Tucker DCM (Mt Dandenong), 7^th Battalion: Dies in a hospital in France from wounds he’d received in action a few weeks before. He is 27 years old and is buried at the Terlincthun British Cemetery in France.

July 26^th, 1918 –
Alfred Currell (Coldstream): Leaves his job as a groom for Madame Melba at Coombe Cottage and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

July 27^th, 1918 –
Spr Joseph Sies x (Wandin), 4^th Division Motor Transport Company: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Hacking.

George Cummings (Kilsyth): Enlists in the Royal Australian Navy for a period of seven years, he is 19 years old.

July 28^th, 1918 –
Pte William Buckley (Kilsyth), 6^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg and heel, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

July 29^th, 1918 –
Pte James Tanner (Yering), 29^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

July 31^st, 1918 –
L/Cpl Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong), 57^th Battalion: Dies in hospital from the shrapnel wound to his head that he’d received a few days before in action. He is 30 years old and is buried at the Crouy British Cemetery, France.

Pte William Gilson (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Barambah to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of defective eyesight.

Pte Mort Tait (Lilydale), 31^st Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Barambah to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of suffering from neurasthenia and shell shock.

August 1^st, 1918 –
Pte Frederick Jeeves (Montrose), 6^th Field Company Engineers: Is killed in action during an artillery barrage, he is 30 years old and is buried at the Villers-Bretonneaux Military Cemetery in France. As a tribute, his wife and daughters placed the following few lines in the newspaper:

‘The German shrapnel did but kill,
The body, not thy spirit fine,
That liveth still to work its will,
Within thy country’s heart and mind’.

Pte Edward Gray (Seville), 37^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Essex to be discharged as medically unfit.

Pte Frank Muirson (Lilydale), 50^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Essex to be discharged for being underage.

Pte Arthur Cheep (Lilydale), 5^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Essex to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of defective eyesight.

August 2^nd, 1918 –
Antonio Sassella (Lilydale): Of Italian heritage, he leaves his job as a butcher and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.

August 5^th, 1918 –
Gnr Percy Hyne (Lilydale), 8^th Field Artillery Battery: In a letter to his Mother – ‘You will see by the above address that I am on my leave in Edinburgh. I left the Somme last Thursday and reached London on Saturday and got aboard the ‘Flying Dutchman’ and arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday morning. I am going on to Aberdeen tomorrow’.

August 6^th, 1918 –
Pte Joseph Bell (Lilydale), No 4 Section Sea Transport: Having accompanied the HMAT Wiltshire twice to Europe and back he is discharged from the AIF in Melbourne as being medically unfit, as a result of his history of having jaundice before and during the war.

August 7^th, 1918 –
Pte Ernest Clow (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to face and left arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS, FRANCE

The five Australian Divisions moved forward across a twenty kilometre front between Albert and Villers-Bretonneux, a front that had been designed to protect the strategically important city of Amiens. The Germans were soon pushed back and were on the run leading German General Ludendorff to call it the ‘Black Day’ for the German army.

August 8^th, 1918 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13^th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (France) – ‘On the 8^th of August a lot of our men were sent to the Battalion HQ to carry despatches to the companies in the line, the first time to my knowledge horses going to the front line while the infantry were attacking’.

Sgt Tom Lydster MM & Bar (Wandin) 4^th Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Edgar Wilson (Lilydale), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Charles Stanbury MM (Lilydale), 8^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in Egypt suffering from malaria.

Sgt William Marshall (Wandin), 57^th Battalion: Is awarded the Medaillemilitaire (France) for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘Sergeant William Marshall showed conspicuous gallantry in action under heavy shell fire and machine gun fire as Platoon Sergeant of No 7 Platoon ‘B’ Company 57th Battalion. On August 8th when his platoon had suffered casualties he reorganised them and by his splendid example helped to keep their spirits up to the highest standard. At Harbonnieres his work in guiding and assisting in the assembling at the lie out position of the 8th Battalion AIF was of the highest order, so much so that the Company Commander with whom he was working sent a note of appreciation to ‘B’ Company 57th Battalion’.

Frederick Hill (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a farmer and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 18 years old.

August 9^th, 1918 –
Pte Bernard Johnson (Gruyere), 7^th Battalion: Is killed in action near Lihons. He is 24 years old and is buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.

Pte Charles Mooney (Gruyere), 7^th Battalion: Is killed in action near Lihons. He is 19 years old and is buried in the Rosieres Communal Cemetery, France.

L/Cpl Robert Black (Montrose), 7^th Battalion: Is killed in action near Lihons, shrapnel wound to the chest. He is 24 years old and is buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France. His brother, Douglas, would die a few months later in Egypt.

Sgt David Ogilvy (Seville), 60^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right arm, and is evacuated from the field and invalided to hospital in England.

Pte Allan Dodd (Olinda), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte James Varty (Mt Evelyn), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Bombardier Albert Street (Gruyere), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wounds to face, abdomen and thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte George Shell (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendations states: ‘For very valuable work and devotion to duty during the attack north of Rosieres on 9th August, 1918. In the advance with tanks, all the tanks on our sector had been knocked out in the heavy barrage. A battery of field guns in our immediate front were causing us severe casualties when Private Shell noticed a tank moving on our right. At great personal risk he crossed the whole front and intercepted the tank and directed it to engage the enemy guns. He continued to pilot the tank, picking out targets and pockets of Huns that were greatly impeding our advance. His initiative and total disregard of danger, when near the tank, which was subject to severe shelling and sniping, was of such a high standard as to inspire all around him’.

Pte Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendations states: ‘On 9/8/18 during the attack on enemy positions between villages of Vauvillers and Lihons, Pte Palliser displayed great courage and coolness as a company runner. Regardless of danger he carried important messages from his platoon commander, and had to frequently pass over open ground exposed to the view of the enemy, and under heavy fire. He worked with the greatest zeal and speed, and his efforts were of material value to his Company Commander, and enabled important messages to be quickly sent through from Company to Battalion Headquarters.

After the objective was reached Pte Palliser proceeded out to a flank under heavy machine gun fire, brought in a wounded comrade and dressed his wounds. He then worked with the greatest energy and devotion in attending to the wounded until they could be sent to the rear. The courage and unselfishness of this soldier was an inspiring example in circumstances of exceptional danger and difficulty’.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Thousands of prisoners coming in, our boys in great heart, we’re right on Fritz’s tail. He’s only been driven out of this village a few hours, his guns etc are just where he left them. Captured a Fritz ‘Casualty Clearing Station’ any quantity of dressings etc’.

August 10^th, 1918 –
Dvr Andrew Blythe (Mt Dandenong), 14^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wounds to hand, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Norman Mounsey (Seville), 3^rd Field Ambulance: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘During the First Australian Divisional offensive on 10th August 1918 No 2689 Private Norman John Edwin Mounsey in company with No 2621 Lance Corporal H.N. McLeod, 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, was on duty as stretcher bearer in the forward area. Whilst passing a battery, a shell was noticed to explode in a gun pit killing one man and wounding four others, although the battery was under heavy shell fire, they went out into the open, dressed the wounded men and carried them to a place of comparative safety. Their courage and coolness have drawn upon them the admiration of their comrades’.

Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Of course you received word in the last letter that I was having a rest in the Ordnance Depot. I’m supposed to be working but it is an easy life after the regiment. This is known as a ‘cold foots’ job but it will do me for a rest. My address will be just the same and I may re-join the regiment in about a months’ time. I think I will be tired of this job by then.

Our present camp is near the station and it is just a nice walk up to the gay city. Last night we went up to hear the band and to get a few little things. While we were at Jericho the weather was rather warm for comfort but here it is beautiful. Tonight I am going to a concert in the YMCA given by the American Red Cross. Did I mention that one of my mates is on the water going home? He had three brothers killed and the fourth was severely wounded. His mother will be pleased to meet him’.

Cliff Urch (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a foreman and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old and married with one child.

August 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Geoffrey Berry (Seville), 38^th Battalion: Is severely wounded in action at Proyart, France, receiving machine gun wounds to his chest and right leg, he is evacuated from the line but dies soon after. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France. His older brother Guy had also died of wounds the year before at Passchendaele. Interestingly, he had enlisted on this date exactly a year before.

Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7^th Battalion: Is awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For gallant and distinguished service at Lihons, 11 August, 1918. Sgt Hogg was in charge of a platoon throughout the attack. His platoon officer having been killed and he wounded. Though greatly fatigued by three days marching, he skillfully lead his platoon with total disregard for his personal danger and reached the objective without a casualty. During the enemy counter attack, he directed his platoon with great coolness and judgement, continually moving among and cheering his men. He personally accounted for many Germans. At one period about 80 of the enemy attempted to rush his position, but again by his direction and example the attack was beaten off with great loss to the enemy. Through his great devotion to duty he was directly responsible for the safety of his position and his most gallant actions had a direct bearing on the success of our operations’.

August 12^th, 1918 –
Pte Frank Rance (Wandin), 5^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound left arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Clarence Jack (Wandin), 5^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, bullet wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

August 13^th, 1918 –
WOI Leonard Walters (Wandin), 6^th Battalion: Is brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war. He is then recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal.

August 15^th, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘By gum we’ve had a lively time, at night Fritz has bombed us from his planes, hundred every night. Our unit got a travelling dispensary which we have sent to London for the Australian Museum’.

August 16^th, 1918 –
Pte Leopold Navas (Lilydale), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Just before returning to Australia he marries a Welsh girl in Monmouth, Wales. She later comes out to Australia as a war bride.

August 17^th, 1918 –
Bombardier Albert Street (Gruyere), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Dies at a casualty clearing station in France of wounds he’d received a few days earlier. He is 24 years old and is buried at the Vignacourt British Cemetery, France.

Pte Alex Pope (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the Dunluce Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the effects of trench fever.

THE BATTLE OF CHUIGNOLLES, FRANCE

August 22^nd, 1918 –
Gnr Finlay McCay (Silvan), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Spr Reginald Lyons (Olinda), 3^rd Divisional Signal Company: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘Near Chuignolles on 22^nd/23^rd August, 1918, Sapper Lyons, as a linesman at the Divisional report centre, was responsible for maintaining the line to the left Division which was under continuous shellfire. On the night of 22^nd, just previous to the operation, when communication to the left was of the utmost importance, this man was out alone on the line for eight hours, repairing breaks under heavy shell fire. It was owing to his courage and untiring energy that the line was kept in a serviceable condition throughout the operation’.

Pte Francis Webster (Lilydale), 23^rd Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack west and north of Bray on 22^nd August, 1918, this soldier, although wounded, refused to leave his gun until the completion of his task. Finally, when his wounds had been attended to, he returned to his gun team, until he was again wounded during the operation west of Bray on the 24^th August, 1918. He thereby set his comrades a splendid example of tenacity and endurance.’

August 23^rd, 1918 –
Gnr David England (Silvan), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the face, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Henry Lalor (Montrose), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right hand, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to right thigh and femur, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Thomas Butcher (Yering), 5^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Edmund Rossiter (Silvan), 6^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound in back, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Henry Hunt, (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Is awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his efforts on this day. His recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. did excellent liaison work at Herleville Wood on 23 August, 1918. As the advance proceeded he collected stragglers, and after a brisk fight succeeded in taking them forward and establishing them on the final objective. By his initiative and courage, he undoubtedly relieved some of the pressure on the front line.’

August 24^th, 1918 –
Pte Albert Anderson (Olinda), 37^th Battalion: Is killed in action in the attack on Bray. He is 21 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

Pte John Payne (Seville), 5^th Battalion: Was with the 5^th Battalion as they advanced on the village of St Martins Wood. One local story has it, was that John was sent with a raiding party across ‘no man’s land’ to attack the Germans in their trenches opposite. Returning back again over the exposed area John found a wounded comrade and carried him back to their lines. Just as they reached their trenches John was wounded in action when he was shot in the hand, thigh and abdomen by a German sniper. He was evacuated from the line to hospital.

Pte Francis Webster (Lilydale), 23^rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Harry Boxall (Silvan), Australian Camel Corps: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in Egypt suffering from malaria.

Pte Arthur Padgett (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from bronchitis.

August 25^th, 1918 –
Pte Oliver Hargrave (Lilydale), 46^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt George Deacon (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

THE BATTLE OF MONT ST QUENTIN, FRANCE

August 26^th, 1918 –
Pte James Wallace (Seville), 1^st Machine Gun Battalion: While moving into place around Mont St Quentin, in preparation for the attack on this position in a few days’ time, he was wounded in the neck by shotgun fire and was evacuated to the 1^st South African General Hospital at Abbeville. He died of his wounds here and was later buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France. He was 27 years old.

Pte Frank Poyner (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Wilmot Stephens (Lilydale), 23^rd Battalion, Wellington Regiment: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound in the left buttock, and evacuated from the field to hospital in England.

Pte Alvoria Williams (Lilydale), 44^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left elbow, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Alwyn McConachy (Montrose), 46^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

August 28^th, 1918 –
Pte Alfred Blanksby (Wandin), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Charles Cooper MM (Wandin), 24^th Battalion: Is killed in action when he was hit by a shell that landed almost on top of him. At the time he was advancing towards Mont St Quentin through Truex, France. His men tried to get him to medical assistance but he died of his injuries soon after. He is 32 years old and is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.

August 29^th, 1918 –
Pte William Parker (Silvan), 38^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, mustard gas poisoning, and evacuated to hospital in England.

August 30^th, 1918 –
Pte Herbert Beswick (Mt Dandenong), 58^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the chest, and evacuated to hospital in England.

Trp Allen Mounsey (Seville), 9^th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated to hospital in Palestine suffering from malaria.

Pte Henry Simpson x (Wandin): Is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit at Melbourne. After enlisting in December the previous year, he injured himself during training at Broadmeadows and then made the injury worst while at the Seymour Military Camp.

August 31^st, 1918 –
Pte John Payne (Seville), 5^th Battalion: Died in the 8^th General Hospital in Rouen of wounds he’d received a few days earlier at St Martin’s Wood. He was 26 years old and is buried at the cemetery at Boisguillaume, France.

Pte Edwin Meade (Mooroolbark), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to chest, shoulder and left hand, and is evacuated to hospital in England. This is the third time he has been admitted to hospital with shrapnel wounds.

Pte Robert Marshall (Mooroolbark), General Service Reinforcements: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from pleurisy.

The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Barambah:

Pte Victor Campbell (Silvan), 5^th Battalion

Pte Alfred Rothque (Lilydale), 58^th Battalion

Pte Archibald McLarty (Olinda), 10^th General Reinforcements

Pte Hugh Burns (Lilydale), 11^th General Service Reinforcements

Pte Frank Warwick (Lilydale), 11^th General Service Reinforcements

Pte John Cathcart (Lilydale), Australian Army Service Corps

THE BATTLE OF PERONNE, FRANCE

September 1^st, 1918 –
Lt Reginald Farndon (Mt Dandenong), 24^th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Cross for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion during the attack on Mont St. Quentin, north of Peronne, on 1st September 1918, when he acted not only as intelligence officer, but took charge of the dispatch of rations and ammunitions and supervised the carrying parties under heavy fire, and also, on several occasions, he undertook the reparation and maintenance of telephone lines. He carried out his various tasks with the greatest courage, energy, and skill, and, though the whole area was continually swept by high explosive and gas shells, he never showed himself to be deterred’.

Pte Alfred Currell (Coldstream): While training at Broadmeadows he is admitted to hospital suffering from influenza.

September 2^nd, 1918 –
Lt Howard Morey (Lilydale), 58^th Battalion: The 58^th Battalion were preparing to attack the village of Peronne and had moved into the village of Flamicourt opposite Peronne. At 2.30pm Lieutenant Morey was leading a patrol which was feeling for an opening into Flamicourt and was working a little ahead of his company. As they moved past the railway station they came under artillery fire and during this time a piece of shrapnel hit him in the head killing him instantly, he was 28 years old. Owing to the operations his body was not found for some time, but when it was, it was buried where he fell and a cross placed on it. Later the location of his grave was lost and today he has no known grave, rather he is remembered on the memorial to the missing at Villers-Bretonneux.

Pte Lindsay Yeaman (Montrose), 20^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England. This is the fourth time he has been wounded and sent to hospital.

Pte Leo Maxwell (Wandin): Is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit at Liverpool, NSW. Re-enlisting for a second time in June after a series of escapades, he not long after presented himself to the Garrison Hospital at Liverpool camp claiming to be suffering from shell shock. The doctors examining him, believed his symptoms were in his imagination and diagnosed him with neurasthenia and discharged him.

September 4^th, 1918 –
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31^st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to chest and leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His left leg is later amputated.

September 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Francis Lyall (Mt Evelyn), 57^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, injured shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

September 6^th, 1918 –
Pte Joseph Keeley Jnr (Mooroolbark), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: For his actions on this day he is awarded the Military Medal. His recommendation states: ‘On the morning of the 6th September, 1918, to the South of Tincourt, No. 2584 Private Joseph Henry Keeley was engaged on a patrol keeping touch with the Platoon on the northern side of the river. This portion was exceedingly difficult, owing to the wooded and marshy nature of the land, which was also strongly held by the enemy with machine guns and snipers. Private Keeley showed great courage and coolness during these operations, maintaining touch throughout. He himself, during this work, inflicted casualties on the enemy, and he set a fine example to the remainder of the men with him’.

September 7^th, 1918 –
William Guiney (Yering): Leaves his parent’s property at Yering and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

Ernest Park (Coldstream): Leaves his job as a clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

September 9^th, 1918 –
David Laidlaw (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a draughtsman and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.

September 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is accidentally injured in the field, sprained spine, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in France.

Robert Badger (Mooroolbark): Leaves his orchard at Mooroolbark and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old. This is his third attempt, in 1914 he was rejected for having a hammer toe and in 1915 he was rejected as a result of the condition of his teeth.

September 12^th, 1918 –
Dvr Gus Gilbert (Yering), 8^th Field Artillery Brigade: While stationed in London he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit. He then takes up employment as a munitions worker in England.

September 13^th, 1918 –
Stoker Charles Ebeling (Wandin), HMAS Swan: After a number of years serving on HMAS Encounter he is transferred to the crew of HMAS Swan, a torpedo boat destroyer then on anti-submarine service in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean. It also took part in the bombarding of the Albanian coast in October and in December they were chosen to carry out a mission of inquiry at the Cossack (anti-Bolshevik) headquarters at Novocherkassk via the Black Sea. It returned to Australia in March 1919.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Was warned at 6pm tonight to be ready to proceed on furlough to Australia. I don’t know where I am, I’m half ratty, Fritz is dropping shells within a couple of hundred yards of us, I’ve lost my nerve, what if I should get hit before I leave, and there’s his bombers tonight and its moonlight, I’m that ‘windy’ I feel like fainting. 10pm – for the last two hours the sky has been full of Fritz planes, whoof, whoof, whoof come his bombs. Two of his planes have been brought down in flames’.

September 14^th, 1918 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Not got away yet, waiting orders from Headquarters. Fritz has started shelling us again. Order in 11am, I’ve got to collect two men from the front line, what joy. 12.30pm – at last I’m out, marched into reinforcement camp Peronne. Left 1.30pm on motor buses, arrived Bray’.

Pte Thomas Rose (Seville), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the SS Port Darwin. On the way over he has an accident and dislocates his arm.

Pte Peter Witt (Olinda), 1^st Remount Unit: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the SS Port Darwin.

Pte Ern Mason x (Lilydale), 21^st Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Arawa to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action.

September 16^th, 1918 –
Staff Sgt Frederick Bartholomew (Kilsyth), 4^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions during this period. His recommendation states: ‘During the period 25^th February, 1918 to night 16^th/17^th September 1918, Corporal Bartholomew has occupied the position of Draughtsman on this Divisional Artillery Headquarters. His work has always been of a high standard, and he is possessed of marked energy and ability. During the recent offensive, his work was invaluable and materially assisted in the preparation of orders for Artillery operations. A very valuable man in the position he occupies’.

RSM George Deacon (Lilydale), 7^th Battalion: Is later recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions from this day through to November 11^th, 1918. His recommendation states:‘A highly efficient and courageous Warrant Officer. He has during the period 16^th/17^th September, 1918, to 11^th November, 1918 carried out the duties of Regimental Sergeant Major with the greatest devotion and self-sacrifice. During this period when his Battalion was in the line east of Peronne, Warrant Officer Deacon was unceasing in his efforts to ensure the smooth working of the Battalion under very difficult conditions. His supervision under shell-fire of rations, ammunition, etc., control of working and carrying parties were beyond praise and by reason of the skill and care of the R.S.M. it is certain casualties were avoided and the men in the line saved much inconvenience. During the period in October, 1918 when the Battalion was in rest this R.S.M. was conspicuous for his zeal in bringing the discipline of the Battalion up to a high standard’.

September 18^th, 1918 –
Gnr Theodore Lowe (Gruyere), 4^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is killed in action while in a gun pit between Roisel and Le Templeux during an artillery attack. He is 27 years old and is buried at the Roisel Communal Cemetery in France.

Capt Joseph Anderson (Lilydale), Australian Army Medical Corps: Is awarded the Military Cross for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack west of Bellenglise, north of St. Quentin, on the 18th September, 1918. During a protracted advance he established his Regimental Aid Post well forward in the open, and continued with cool courage to attend the wounded under heavy shell fire. His efforts saved many lives’. 

September 19^th, 1918 –
Pte James Wheeler (Yering), 4^th Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, concussion resulting from a shell blast, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

September 20^th, 1918 –
Spr Henry Woodruff (Seville), 2^nd Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wounds to the left arm, back and buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte George Shell (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Dvr Arthur Street (Gruyere), 4^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from deafness.

September 23^rd, 1918 –
Pte David Briers (Lilydale), 37^th Battalion: During September 1918 several battalions were ordered to disband to provide reinforcements for others. The 37^th Battalion was one such battalion. Its CO, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Story, was dismissed for questioning the order and as such, the men of the battalion, including David Briers, subsequently mutinied. As a result, on this day the order to disband was temporarily suspended.

Trp Leslie Howard (Olinda), Imperial Camel Corps: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in Egypt suffering from pneumonia.

Pte Malcolm Bethune (Seville), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Returned to Australia on the HMAT Runic to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the gunshot wounds he received to his back while in action. He grandson, Bruce Bethune, would later die while on active service in World War Two.

September 24^th, 1918 –
Sgt Henry Hunt (Lilydale), 6^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kaiser-I-Hind.

September 25^th, 1918 –
Pte Frederick Tooley (Lilydale)Naval & Military Expeditionary Force: Arrives back in Australia from Rabaul on the HT Melusia to be discharged as medically unfit for contracting lumbago.

THE BATTLE OF BELLICOURT, FRANCE

September 28^th, 1918 –
Pte Andrew Noden (Lilydale), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg and fracture of tibia, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Archibald Conner (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion: Is recommended for the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For gallant conduct and devotion to duty. On September 29^th, the 39^th Battalion took up a position in Dog Trench in front of Bony. There were numerous casualties in the 27^th American Division and also in the 38^th Battalion. Pte Conner did splendid work in carrying wounded across the open to the nearest RAP generally through machine gun fire’.

September 29^th, 1918 –
Lt Francis Johnson (Seville), 58^th Battalion: Is killed in action, hit by shrapnel in the right thigh from a shell blast and died five minutes later. He is 36 years old and is buried at the Bellicourt British Cemetery, France.

Sgt William Marshall (Wandin), 57^th Battalion: Is awarded the Medaillemilitaire (France) for actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘At Bellicourt practically the whole of his platoon were casualties and he personally supervised the collecting of the wounded from the open and their transport to a place of safety. His example to the remnant of his platoon, whom he had organised as a Lewis Gun Section was beyond praise as these men were very shaken having been very severely knocked about by direct artillery fire. It was under this direct fire that he assisted the wounded’. 

Cpl Andrew Ragartz (Seville), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe gunshot wound to left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital.

September 30^th, 1918 –
Pte William Boyden (Wandin), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.

THE LIGHT HORSE ENTER DAMASCUS, SYRIA

October 1^st, 1918 –
Sig Gordon Ewart (Montrose), 58^th Battalion: On this night he and another soldier were ordered by Battalion Headquarters to move forward to the front line trench, known as the Le Catelet Line, to repair a phone wire that had been broken by shell fire. They arrived there and were able to complete the job, even though they were under heavy fire, and then once they finished they headed off towards headquarters. Both were never seen alive again. A day and a half later their bodies were found beside a shell hole, both having been killed by an explosion, Gordon with a large wound to his chest. He was 20 years old and is buried at the Bellicourt British Cemetery in France.

Pte Archibald Conner (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion: Is recommended for the Military Medal for  a second time for his actions on this day. His recommendation states – ‘On October 1^st, the 39^th Battalion occupied a trench in front of the Canal Tunnel on the left of Bony. Stretcher-bearers were required to go forward to bring in wounded members of an advanced patrol. Pte Conner volunteered to go. He showed utter fearlessness and was instrumental in bringing into safety wounded who might otherwise have been overlooked. His conduct throughout the operation was highly commendable’.

Stoker George Cummings (Kilsyth): Is transferred to HMAS Encounter, a Light Cruiser, and spends the next few months on patrols in Australian waters.

October 3^rd, 1918 –
Trp Leslie Howard (Olinda), Imperial Camel Corps: Dies from complications of pneumonia while hospitalised at the No 26 Casualty Clearing Station at Ludd, Syria. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Ramleh Cemetery, Palestine.

Pte Benjamin Sessions (Silvan), 1^st Anzac Cycle Corps: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

October 4^th, 1918 –
Pte Albert Walker (Montrose), Australian Flying Corps: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from pleurodynia.

Dvr Thomas Priest (Seville), 1^st Australian Tunnelling Company: Arrives back in Australia on the HMAT Carpentaria to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of gas poisoning. Soon after he would meet his son, born the year before, for the first time.

THE BATTLE OF MONTBREHAIN, FRANCE

October 5^th, 1918 –
Lt Reginald Farndon MC (Mt Dandenong), 24^th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Cross for a second time for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘During the attack on Montbrehain, east of Peronne, on 5th October 1918, he, as signalling officer, established communication forward to the jumping off tape at zero hour. Shortly afterwards, he personally reconnoitred a route under heavy fire and laid wires right up to the forward line of posts. He then established two report centres, and, by the effective communication thus obtained, got back information of the utmost importance to his commanding officer. Throughout he showed great gallantry and energy’.

Lt George Ingram (Seville), 24^th Battalion: For his actions on this day, George Ingram is awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry under enemy fire, and the only recipient of this award from the Shire of Lillydale. His recommendation states: ‘For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack on Montbrebain, east of Peronne, on this day. When early in the advance his platoon was held up by a strong point, Lieutenant Ingram, without hesitation, dashed out and rushed the post, at the head of his men, capturing nine machine guns and killing forty-two enemy after stubborn resistance. Later, when the company had suffered severe casualties from enemy posts, and many leaders had fallen, he at once took control of the situation, rallied his men under intense fire, and led them forward. He himself rushed the first post, shot six of the enemy, and captured a machine gun, thus overcoming serious resistance. On two subsequent occasions he again displayed great dash and resource in the capture of enemy posts, inflicting many casualties and taking sixty-two prisoners. Throughout the whole day he showed the most inspiring example of courage and leadership, and freely exposed himself regardless of danger’. 

Pte Walter Leach (Gruyere), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 23 years old and is buried at the cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Pte Ebenezer Gray (Seville), 24^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to the buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

During the last stages of the war one of the deadliest dangers to those serving was the Spanish Influenza pandemic. At the time it started there was no cure for it and it soon spread amongst the troops who were in close contact in large numbers. Then with the movement of troops all over the world it was spread to almost every country. By the time it was eventually contained it had killed more people than the First World War had.

October 8^th, 1918 –
Pte Thomas Mackay (Lilydale), Anzac Provost Corps: Dies while at the No 2 General Hospital at Maitland, Cape Town, South Africa after contracting influenza. The head of the Red Cross later wrote to his mother saying: ‘you may rest assured your son was tenderly nursed, that everything possible was done to save his life’. He is 30 years old and he is buried at the Woltemade Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa. One of those present at the funeral later wrote to his mother saying: ‘representation of all regiments in camp in the Cape Peninsula were present at the funeral. The firing party was drawn from the ranks of the Cape Peninsula Rifles and the pall bearers consisted of six of his fellow numbers of the AIF. He was held in very high opinion for his many excellent qualities, and his loss is greatly deplored’.

October 9^th, 1918 –
Pte Sidney Ingram (Silvan), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis.

WOII James Whyte (Olinda), 10^th Australian Army Service Corps: Arrives back in Australia on board the HT Port Sydney.

October 10^th, 1918 –
Spr William King (Lilydale), Tunnelling Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England after his left thumb was crushed in an accident.

Dvr Frederick Hopkins (Lilydale), 1^st Divisional Motor Transport Company: Is travelling from Ireland, after having visiting there while on leave, on the RMS Leinster, when the ship is suddenly torpedoed by a German submarine. It sank quickly killing 501 people on board but Frederick was one of the lucky ones to survive and be rescued. It was the worst disaster to ever befall an Irish owned shipping company and the highest ever loss of life in the Irish Sea.

October 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Leopold Navas (Lilydale), 3^rd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Medic to be discharged as medically unfit.

October 12^th, 1918 –
Maud Hamilton (Mt Evelyn): Leaves her job as a nurse and enlists in the Australian Army Nursing Service, she is 27 years old.

October 13^th, 1918 –
Sgt David Ogilvy (Seville), 60^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

October 14^th, 1918 –
Sr Maud Hamilton (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Nursing Service: Leaves Sydney on the SS Wyreema bound for Fremantle where she will report for duty at the hospital set up at the Quarantine Station.

October 16^th, 1918 –
Pte Albert Walker (Montrose), Australian Flying Corps: Dies while in hospital in Camiers, France from complications of broncho pneumonia. He is 23 years old and is buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.

Pte Douglas Black (Mooroolbark), General Service Reinforcements: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the SS Malta. On the trip over he contracts influenza and ends up in the ship’s sick berth.

October 18^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Frederick Bunt (Wandin), 2^nd Light Trench Mortar Battery: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from a nasal defect.

October 19^th, 1918 –
Pte Francis O’Hara (Olinda), 58^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

October 20^th, 1918 –
Sr Edith Yeaman (Montrose), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is removed from active service and sent to hospital in England suffering from influenza.

October 21^st, 1918 –
Pte William Johnson (Mt Evelyn), 14^th Field Ambulance: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

October 22^nd, 1918 –
Pte Adolphus Wilson (Lilydale), Australian Railways Corps: Leaves Melbourne bound for Europe on the SS Boonah.

October 27^th, 1918 –
Pte Francis O’Hara (Olinda), 58^th Battalion: Dies of broncho pneumonia at the 3^rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville, France. He is 20 years old and is buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France.

October 28^th, 1918 –
Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from malaria.

John Rouget (Wandin): Leaves his job as a farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 40 years old and married with three children.

October 30^th, 1918 –
L/Cpl Harold Wilkin (Wandin), 39^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

October 31^st, 1918 –

ARMISTICE IS SIGNED IN MIDDLE EAST

November 1^st, 1918 –
Sgt Walter Bridgland (Olinda), No 2 Squadron, AFC: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

November 3^rd, 1918 –
Cpl Frederick Bartholomew (Kilsyth), 4^th Field Artillery Brigade: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

November 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Alex Duncan (Lilydale), 14^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

November 6^th, 1918 –
Shoeing Smith Henry Bamber (Coldstream), 13^th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from influenza.

November 7^th, 1918 –
Pte Frederick Miller (Coldstream), Army Medical Corps: Is admitted to the 1^st United States of America General Hospital suffering from pleurisy.

Frederick Stewart (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

ARMISTICE IS SIGNED IN EUROPE

November 11^th, 1918 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13^th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (France): ‘While riding one morning, cold and wet, we were told by two staff officers that the armistice had been signed’.

November 12^th, 1918 –
Lt Alfred Eades (Montrose), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: While on leave in England he is struck down with influenza and admitted to hospital. He dies here, just a day after the Armistice was signed, he is 22 years old and is buried at the Brookwood Cemetery in England.

November 16^th, 1918 –
Pte Louis Cazaly (Montrose), 57^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France with a septic leg from a wound he’d received in action the year before.

November 17^th, 1918 –
Spr Ernest Rae (Mooroolbark), 1^st Divisional Signal Company: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Arawa, to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing sciatica while exposed to the wet and cold.

Pte Sam Tucknott (Mt Evelyn), 22^nd Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Arawa, to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing chronic bronchitis.

Gnr Arthur Fenton (Mt Dandenong), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Arawa. On the trip back he served as part of the submarine guard.

November 18^th, 1918 –
Pte Reg Charteris (Wandin), 23^rd Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

November 19^th, 1918 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Tripoli. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Our present home is a few miles out of Tripoli on the side of a high hill and we get a splendid view of the surrounding country. In the valley there is a pretty village amongst the olive groves. Beyond the village there are large olive groves and the snow clad hills of Lebanon form a very pretty background. Sorry to say the inhabitants around this part of Asia are starving and all their clothes are in rags. They have enough food now but they need their winter clothing. Most of the inhabitants are Syrians and a few of them have been in America and speak English fairly well. Do not confuse this place with Tripoli in Africa. This town is on the coast between Alexandretta and Beirut. We did not travel beyond Homs and we have not visited Haifa or Beirut but we may go touring before we leave this fair land.

Well Jessie I expect we shall be coming home before so very long but you never know your luck these times. All the 1914 men have left the unit and I expect they have sailed before now. It would be nice to go home as a unit but the fastest method of going home would suit me best. The home coming will bring sadness to many homes. Still it will be a time of rejoicing. My brother was anxious to enlist but I’m afraid he will have to wait for another war and go instead of me’.

November 20^th, 1918 –
Pte William Boyden (Wandin), 2^nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Suevic.

November 23^rd, 1918 –
Pte William Walker (Montrose), 24^th Battalion: Marries English girl Lora Hinds in Bath, England. She later returns to Australia as a war bride.

The following local soldiers arrive in Australia from Europe on board the HT Devon:

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance:

Dvr Richard Pendlebury (Seville), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade

Dvr Percy Whyte (Olinda), 10^th Australian Army Service Corps

Dvr Albert Bedbrook (Lilydale), Australian Army Service Corps

November 24^th, 1918 –
Pte David Briers (Lilydale), 38^th Battalion: Dies while a patient at the 3^rd Australia General Hospital in France of influenza. He is 28 years old and is buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France. Sadly, he never got to see his son Stanley who had been born the year before.

Stoker George Cummings (Kilsyth), HMAS Encounter: Is part of the crew when the ship is despatched to Fiji and Samoa with medical stores following a severe outbreak of influenza among the local natives. This is Australia’s first overseas humanitarian assistance operation.

November 25^th, 1918 –
Pte John Wilken (Kilsyth), 14^th Battalion: Arrives in England after being repatriated from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been captured in 1917 during the Battle of Bapaume.

November 26^th, 1918 –
Gnr Howard Guttmann (Olinda), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: Marries an English girl in Surrey, England. She later comes out to Australia as a war bride.

Sgt John Lucke (Montrose), 12^th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Runic.

L/Cpl Herbert Meade x (Mooroolbark), 8^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Runic for further treatment to wounds he’d received in action.

November 27^th, 1918 –
Sub Lieutenant Frank Larkins (Mt Evelyn): Is transferred to HMS Vampire, a V Class destroyer that was assigned to the 4^th Destroyer Flotilla, and would be part of the crew on operations in the North Sea until March 1919.

November 28^th, 1918 –
Pte David Mitchell (Lilydale), 14^th Battalion: Arrives in England after being repatriated from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been captured in 1917 during the Battle of Bullecourt.

Pte Archibald Conner (Lilydale), 39^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

December 1^st, 1918 –
Pte Robert Jenkins (Gruyere), 24^th Battalion: Dies of bronchi pneumonia while in hospital in France. He is 29 years old and buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France.

December 2^nd, 1918 –
Pte Reuben Parry (Wandin), 29^th Battalion: Arrives in England after being repatriated from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been captured in 1916 during the Battle of Fromelles.

Pte Howard Vernon (Lilydale), 5^th Battalion: Is sentenced to six months imprisonment by a civil court in England for obtaining two horses under false pretences. In May 1919 he is released from prison put straight on a boat to Australia to be discharged.

Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Tripoli. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘Yes it is very nice to know the war is over but it may be a while before we are back in the sunny south. I expect to get home just before the winter so I hope it is a very mild season. The snow is still deep on the hills of Lebanon and the weather is rather cold but in a peaceful camp we are very comfortable.

I joined the regiment before we left Ludd on the last push and was with the regiment all the time. It was a great stunt but was hard on our poor horses. It’s hard to think that the horses will not be able to return with us and I hope the horses are not sold to the people of this land. The Indians would look after them but the natives would abuse them. I would sooner see the horses shot than go to the natives or some of the other eastern races. Some of the old horses have been shot and they may shoot all the old horses.

The people look much better of late. They were very short of food but all is well now. Vegetables are fairly plentiful and the potatoes are very good. They should be good when they are over four pence a pound. Most of the olives have been gathered and they are sending large quantities of oil away. The YM has not found out where we live but perhaps they will reach here by Christmas. We have been about this place nearly four weeks and every prospect of remaining another four. I would sooner move to another town as a camp gets monotonous. It will be very hard on those who have lost loved ones to see the boys coming home. Many faces will be missing still they did their duty and their sacrifice was not in vain’.

The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Port Sydney:

Cpl Jack Lester (Yering), 8^th Battalion

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams x (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion

Shoeing Smith Hugh Wilson (Coldstream), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade

December 5^th, 1918 –
Pte Alfred Rothque (Lilydale), 58^th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from bronchitis.

December 6^th, 1918 –
Gnr Archibald Arnott (Lilydale), 4^th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from rheumatism and myalgia.

Cpl Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 22^nd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Somali to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action a few months before.

December 8^th, 1918 –
Tpr George Cassidy (Seville), 4^th Light Horse Regiment: The following is a letter to his mother –‘Just a few more lines to let you know that everything is ‘quis-cateer’; in other words, ‘good-o’. The much longed for parcel, which you said you were sending, has not yet arrived, although some of the Christmas mail has already been received. And being pretty downhearted, I thought I would write a few lines to try and revive my spirits (no whisky).

Of course, long before this reaches you, you will have all the particulars regarding the armistice and peace negotiations. Everyone is well satisfied here, and the prospect of an early home coming is, I think, very probable; although, of course, the last to come over will be the last to go home. Up to date we have heard no news, as the peace negotiations are not yet signed but I suppose you know. There was no fuss made here as everyone has been expecting it for some time. Of course, every man is jolly happy about it. As there is a fairly good account of the same in the papers there is no need for me to say anything, only that ‘Jacko’ has ‘got it in the neck’. I believe that a lot of people in Australia have funny ideas of the operations in Palestine. Well all I can say is this, that if they had seen half of what most of the men have seen in Palestine, they would hold an entirely altered opinion. I hope that next time I have energy enough to talk of this country, it will be in our own little dining room’.

December 11^th, 1918 –
Pte Adolphus Wilson (Lilydale), Australian Railways Corps: While on the ship SS Boonah on his way to Europe he contracts influenza and is disembarked and sent to hospital at the Fremantle Quarantine Station at Woodmans Point.

Sgt Richard Goodall x (Gruyere), 46^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Saxon. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing ‘effort syndrome’.

December 13^th, 1918 –
Pte Douglas Black (Mooroolbark), General Service Reinforcements: Dies from cerebra spinal fever in the 31^st General Hospital in Abbassia in Egypt. This had developed as a result of the influenza he contracted on the ship over. He is 20 years old and is buried at the Cairo War Cemetery, Egypt. His older brother, Robert, had been killed in action in France in August.

Harold Smith (Silvan): Leaves England to be repatriated back to Australia. He has spent the past year working as an Australian War Worker on farms and in aircraft production factories until he was struck down with influenza and developed bronchial problems.

December 15^th, 1918 –
Trp George Gilbert (Yering), 9^th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives at Port Said, Egypt, after being repatriated from a Turkish prisoner of war camp.

Pte Edwin Meade (Mooroolbark), 8^th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Borda for further treatment for wounds he’d received in action.

Pte Charles Willimott (Lilydale), Mechanical Transport Division: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Borda.

December 17^th, 1918 –
Pte Albert Parkes (Coldstream), 59^th Battalion: Arrives in England after being repatriated from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been captured in 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood.

December 19^th, 1918 –
Pte Adolphus Wilson (Lilydale), Australian Railways Corps: Dies of influenza while at the hospital at the Fremantle Quarantine Station at Woodmans Point. He is 21 years old and is buried at the Perth War Cemetery in Western Australia.

Dvr James Currie (Seville), Divisional Supply Column: Is discharged in London from the AIF for being medically unfit as a result of an injury to his foot in 1916.

Pte David Laidlaw (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF and transferred into the Aeroplane Construction Committee.

December 21^st, 1918 –
Cpl Andrew Ragartz (Seville), 59^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Mamari to be discharged as medically unfit due to a wound to his left leg.

Sr Maud Hamilton (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives back in Melbourne on the SS Wyreema after serving at the hospital set up at the Quarantine Station, Fremantle for a number of months.

December 22^nd, 1918 –
Sister Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Leicestershire.

December 23^rd, 1918 –
Private Arthur Newman (Yering), 5^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Durham.

December 24^th, 1918 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from the Middle East on board the HT Port Darwin:

Sgt Herbert Mackin (Lilydale), Australian Light Horse

L/Cpl John Taggart MM (Wandin), 4^th Light Horse Regiment

Pte Walter Hoffman (Montrose), 5^th Machine Gun Battalion

The following local men stationed at Broadmeadows are discharged as a result of the demobilisation of the AIF.

Pte Robert Badger (Mooroolbark)

Pte Edmond Bamber (Gruyere)

Pte George Barnes (Seville)

Pte Alfred Currell (Coldstream)

Pte William Guiney (Yering)

Pte Frederick Hill (Lilydale)

Pte Athol McLachlan (Lilydale)

Pte Ernest Park (Yering)

Pte Antonio Sassella (Lilydale)

Pte Joseph Speakman (Coldstream)

Pte Frederick Stewart (Lilydale)

Pte Cliff Urch (Lilydale)

December 25^th, 1918 –
Pte Adrian Camp (Wandin), 8^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Lyttleton.

December 27^th, 1918 –
Spr Robert Fairnie (Lilydale), Australian Army Pay Corps: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from scarlet fever.

Pte Charles Osborne x (Lilydale), 8^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Sardinia to be discharged as medically unfit.

Pte David Strachan (Lilydale), 60^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Sardinia to be discharged as medically unfit.

December 28^th, 1918 –
Lt Walter Summers MC (Seville), 23^rd Battalion: Is accidentally killed while stationed at Charleroi, Belgium. A Court of Inquiry later stated: ‘Whilst working in a workshop of a Belgium civilian, de-detonating German nose caps, and after successfully completing one, he was carrying on with the second when suddenly it exploded. Killing him outright and wounding Private Miller and a Belgium civilian. He had severe laceration of left hand, left thigh and slight wound of head. Death was to haemorrhage’. He is 28 years old and is buried at the Hais Communal Cemetery, Nalines, Belgium.

December 29^th, 1918 –
Pte James Varty (Mt Evelyn), 8^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Gaika to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action.

Pte Michael Griffin (Lilydale), 17^th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Gaika to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting chronic rheumatism.