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They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old:age shall not weary them, nor the years condemnANZAC Day, 25 April, is a special day in Australian his-tory. It marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915. It was here that the Anzac legend was born and, in the subsequent grim fi ghting, traditions of mateship, courage and perse-verance were established as hallmarks of the Australian serviceman.

Most of us know much more about Gallipoli than we do about the battles on the West-ern Front of the First World War and we tend to look on the ill-fated Gallipoli cam-paign as our country’s fi nest hour. Yet nearly 10 times the number of soldiers fought at the Somme than at Gallipoli, and they fought more than fi ve times as long and in equally shocking conditions.

The Anzacs fought the Turkish army solidly for more than seven months at Gallipoli and Australia had 50,000 troops engaged there; some were just boy soldiers who lied about their age to enlist. The number of Australians killed and wounded (19,000) shocked the nation. Each year on Anzac Day we remind our-

selves of these things, and yet on the Western Front in France, from 1916 until the end of the war in November 1918, 500,000 diggers fought in the trenches of the Somme battlefi elds, sometimes for weeks at a time and up to their knees in mud.

The bodies of nearly 40,000 Australians lie in the immacu-late war cemeteries in France and Belgium; a further 11,000 have no known grave. More than three times this number were wounded, many of them

on more than one occasion. In the years that followed the war, many returned soldiers died from poor health result-ing from their wounds and the aftermath of being gassed.

It has been argued that some of the Western Front battles are more worthy of com-memoration – battles such as Villers-Bretonneux, where the Australians stopped the German advance on Amiens (coincidentally on 25 April 1918, the third anniversary of the Gallipoli landing), or

Hamel, or Mont St Quentin – and other people have pressed the cause of signifi cant dates relating to Kokoda or the Bat-tle of the Coral Sea in the Sec-ond World War. But 25 April has become the day when Australians across the coun-try, together with pockets of expatriates in far-off nations and thousands of young pil-grims at Anzac Cove in Tur-key and in villages along the Western Front, stop to remem-ber the men and women who served their country. It is the

day when we honour all who have served Australia since federation – from the Boer War to the present confl ict in Afghanistan.

Gallipoli made an imme-diate impact; on 25 April in 1916 services were held in many towns and cities in Australia and 2000 troops marched through the streets of London. In the 1920s and 1930s, Anzac Day services were well attended and war memorials sprang up in every country town. With the com-ing of the Second World War, Anzac Day became a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians lost in that war as well.

The meaning of the day was subsequently broadened to include those killed in all military operations in which Australia has been involved.

However, by the 1950s Anzac Day had become “the one day of the year” for old diggers to drink and play two-up, to the embarrass-ment of rising generations. Thirty years later feminists used the annual march to pro-test against male violence in war, and were banned from marching. The diffi culties of the Vietnam War period

and the infl ux of non-Anglo-Saxon migrants led some to question whether Anzac Day had a future. Then in the late 1980s there was an incredible change, with an international resurgence of interest in the First World War and its com-memorations. There were four young hitchhikers (today called backpackers) at Anzac Cove in Turkey in 1965 when 300 Gallipoli veterans arrived on a government-sponsored trip; nowadays up to 30,000 people attend services at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine.

Attendances at Anzac Day ceremonies in Austra lia have risen, with young people tak-ing a particular interest and wanting to honour the sacri-fi ces of previous generations. Today, relatives of veterans march every 25 April and wear the medals of campaigns past with pride.

This special edition of The News provides some informa-tion on Australia’s war histo-ry; we think it is important to be aware of the legacy handed down from that fi rst Anzac Day, 25 April, 1915.At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Western Port News ANZAC Special Edition 2012 PAGE 3

Don Charlwood was an RAAF navi-gator in Bomber Command dur-ing the Second World War. In two autobiographical books, No Moon Tonight and Journeys into Night, Charlwood recalls the excitement, tedium and terror of navigating nighttime air raids in Europe and his years in Bomber Command. He is also the author of All the Green Year, a novel about boyhood and adolescence in a coastal Australian town (Charlwood grew up in Frank-ston), and Marching as to War, a memoir of life in Austra lia between the two world wars. Here he remem-bers the tragedy and utter futility of war; a time without a future.

OUR generation and our parents’ generation were always conscious of two monstrous markers in their lives to which everything else was related. There was “before the war” and “after the war”.

Our parents fi rst used these terms; they were mostly born between the late 1870s and the early 1900s. They might say, “Tom was born before the war”, or “Julia was married the year after the war”. That was their war, the Great War of 1914-18, “the war to end all wars”.

We, their children, learnt in our school days that the Allied sacrifi ces of that war had made our world “safe for democracy” and we were taught to revere the Anzacs for their part in it. But from the vengeance of the 1919 peace terms, Nazism resulted

and the unthinkable came – our war. The name Great War all but van-

ished; instead we now had a First World War and a Second World War. Ever after our generation has looked back on youth “before the war”, before 1939 when the great economic Depression merged into our war. Now, in the 21st century, as our generation vanishes, so too are these monstrous markers vanishing.

During our war, the men I knew in Bomber Command, avoided using the term “after the war”. It suggested expectations and would have been thought of as tempting providence. The poet Marya Mannes wrote a sonnet Love in War that might well have been for us. It began:

We are masters of the present tense,/Having imposed upon our-selves a law/Prohibiting the future.

There was even belief among some of the Bomber Command leaders that hope was the enemy of good morale, that it sapped courage, that we should not think beyond the bombing raid that night. Yet I re-member unmistakable signs of hope among ordinary aircrew. I became aware of them in September 1942 when our crew of Austra lian and RAF sergeants arrived at the Royal Air Force station Elsham Wolds, in Lincolnshire, UK.

Our posting was to the four-engine Lancasters of 103 Squadron. For the pilot and navigator this was the cul-mination of 18 months of training. In six or seven weeks we were to

“dice with death”, as aircrew par-lance had it.

We were allocated beds in long barracks, which were camoufl aged on the outside. Most of the aircrew sergeants were out for an operational briefi ng and their grey blankets were folded around their pillows in the regulation way. The barracks were cold, the pot-bellied stoves long out. Beside each bed was a low chest of drawers. On most of these were pho-tographs, each one of a girl, the girl with whom an unknown man shared secrets and confi ded hopes for a fu-ture together after the war. Most of the photographs had been taken in studios and had been back-lit in the manner of the day. The girls’ hair styles resembled those of contempo-rary fi lm stars, their eyes gazed long-ingly, their lips slightly apart. Most were of girls from the British Isles since most aircrew were from the RAF. The photographs contrasted with everything else in the barracks; the bare fl oor boards, the metal beds with their folded blankets, the ash spilt from the dead stoves.

We already knew, of course, that RAF men could see their girls when-ever they went on leave. In our train-ing days we had envied them, but we realised now that this wasn’t as good as it seemed: to say good bye to a girl in the early hours of the morn-ing with the likelihood of fl ying over Germany that night had a terrible unreality to it, a possible but unut-terable fi nality.

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On the evening of our fi rst day the absent men came tramping back into the barracks, their manner subdued. They had not long been briefed to fl y to a target somewhere in Germany. There was little opportunity to do more than exchange a few names. Predominantly they were RAF, but there were Canadians and Austra-lians and a couple of New Zealand-ers among them.

With their arrival the barracks looked like the senior dormitory of a

third-rate boarding school. Some of the men, in fact, had actually come from school straight into the air force. The average age was between 22 and 23. Some of us pulled up the average: I had just turned 27, Geoff Maddern, my skipper, was 26.

Regardless of age, we looked on these men with respect; they were already operational. Some had done 10 or 12 of the 30 operations over Germany and Italy required of us. This was called a “tour”. We glanced

at the operational men as if their demeanour might tell us something of ourselves in another few weeks. They were restrained, monosyllabic, preoccupied. We wished them luck as they left. Well after dark, as we were settling to sleep, we heard their planes roar overhead. I drew my blankets closer.

In the early hours of the morning we were aware of the operational men coming back into the barracks, aware too that there weren’t as many of them as had left the night before. I had feelings of unreality; we had

seen no battle, no stricken planes, the loss had taken place while we slept. When we got up the survivors were still sleeping; a few of the beds near them were empty. The girls smiling from the photographs next to these beds had no one to cast them their usual affectionate glance.

Before we left for breakfast, three men from the euphemistically-named Committee of Adjustment came in and emptied the contents of a chest of drawers into each miss-ing man’s kit bag. There too went the photograph of the girl, of his

hopes for life together after the war. The bedclothes were taken, the bareme ta l bed left for a newcomer. Some-where, girls were waking to this day, not knowing.

Within a couple of weeks most of the operational men in the barracks vanished, their girls’ photographs vanishing with them. Though the squadron was haemorrhaging, num-bers never changed, only faces; transfusions fl owed from Training Command – eager youngsters most of them, caps aslant, faces shin-ing, spirits assured. We who were

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Off to war: Left, a young Don Charlwood in Canada in 1942. Above, Don Charlwood, Geoff Maddern, Ted Batten, Max Burcher and Arthur Browett fl ew their fi rst operational mission from Lichfi eld to Bremen on 13 September 1942 and shortly afterwards were posted to 103 Squadron at Elsham Wolds.


older could see that for most of us there wasn’t going to be an “after the war”. Most replacements were RAF men, but others came from the dominions and allied countries. The supply seemed endless—the best of men, carefully selected, thoroughly trained, most bringing photographs to replace those gone.

My initial impulse had been to cry out against such wholesale loss of fi rst-class youth, but again and again the realisation returned to me: the Nazis were occupying most of continental Europe, only Bomber Command could strike them. All over Britain were servicemen from the occupied countries; the struggle was as much for their homelands as for Britain. Everything depended on Bomber Command maintaining its resolve.

We were in the barracks seven weeks and now had our own Lan-caster. Geoff said, “This place is no good for morale, I’ll see if I can get rooms”. In this he succeeded. Each had its own pot-bellied stove. In the one Geoff and I shared I dared put out the photo of Nell East, theCanadian girl I hoped to marry. It was in a leather folder, my family members on its other side. On ope-rations I used to shove it down my battle dress as a talisman. Each of us had our superstitions but in one we were united: we all wanted the same WAAF driver, 18-year-old Peggy Forster, to drive us to and from our plane. This she did, even returning once or twice from leave.

We had three married RAF men in the crew and Geoff was much concerned for them, particularly for Arthur Browett, our rear gunner, whose wife was in an advanced state

of pregnancy and suffering an acute state of anxiety. Geoff and I passed her delicacies from our hampers from home. There came an evening when Arthur failed to show up for briefi ng and we had to take a re-placement rear gunner. Next day he was paraded before the Wing Com-mander. I think all he could plead was that his wife was prostrate with anxiety. His failure to fl y never oc-curred again. When his wife’s time came their baby only lived an hour. They never had another. Of all our RAF men none had children, even when the war was over. OnlyGeoff and I had families when our operational days were behind us. I tell these things conscious that it was not only men who suffered in the Bomber Command war.

In the room Geoff and I transferred to we no longer saw empty beds. We slept soundly; nightmares belonged to the waking world. In the morn-ing as I drew our black-out curtains I would think, “How have we fallen into this grotesque existence?” Grad-ually I learnt to shrug it off and set-tle to the day’s routine. It might have steeled our resolve had we been told what barbarous acts the Nazis were perpetrating, told particularly of the extermination camps. But I doubt that we would have believed such re-ports. We were a cynical generation; we had been alerted to war propa-ganda in our school days, when we had learnt of the false accusations made against Germany in the Great War. How could we believe now that millions of our fellow beings were being “put down” with industrialised precision?

As 1943 began we had completed only six of our 30 operations and had

A moment of relief: RAF Lichfi eld sports day, 25 July 1943. Don Charlwood is standing second from the right.

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seen no crew reach the end of a tour. Four senior crews were taken off op-erations early because Training Com-mand was running out of pilots with four-engine experience. Other crews reached more than 20 operations and were then lost. One was lost on its 29th operation. Then, on 8 April 1943 – the target was Duisberg – we reached 30, the fi rst on the squadron to survive in eight months.

I see myself writing in the naviga-tor’s log: “0245 landed Base”. It is scarcely to be believed – our lives have been given back to us! It is a re-birth! We free ourselves from the um-bilical cord of oxygen and intercom, pass down the long belly to the steps, emerge into the fresh Lincolnshire

night, septuplets from the womb of our Lancaster. Peggy, our driver, our midwife, embraces us. She drives us then to the operations room for the usual interrogation by intelligence, but the group captain and our much-loved squadron medical offi cer in-tervene to congratulate us. Incoming crews are cheering. Thirty ops at El-sham Wolds is possible after all!

Geoff was the fi rst to realise the loss about to fall on us: loss of our crew. After almost nine months of fl ying together, in training and onoperations, we had become a devot-ed, disciplined team, utterly depend-ent on each other. It was Geoff who had fashioned us, who wished us to be an all-NCO [non-commissioned

offi cer] crew, undivided by commis-sioning. Though we had striven to do what the RAF demanded of us, we had each faced the unspoken prob-ability that we were together “till death us did part”.

Geoff and I cabled our parents; I also cabled Nell East in Canada. After we had slept we took our over-joyed ground crew for a night out at the Crosby in Scunthorpe.

That night was the last time all sev-en of our crew were together. In 1944 Nell and I married.

Four of our crew were to live to their 90s, three until last year. Of our crew of seven, six have gone on their Last Op. I fancy they are impatient.

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OF the 300,000 enthusiastic Australians who volunteered to fi ght in the First World War, 61,000 perished with the dreadful Western Front accounting for 46,000 of the fatalities.

My task was to identify a local man who paid the supreme sacrifi ce and who still had family in the area. As a starting point I looked at the war memorial in Tyabb and found the name “Cole” appeared three times: Lewis George and Godfrey Lawrence Cole, both of whom returned, and their younger brother, Harry Theodore, who was killed in action. I sought out Tyabb residents Harry (son of Lewis, and named after his uncle) and Valda Cole and, with their assistance, compiled this story.

A LARGE contingent of the Cole family arrived in Mel-bourne in February 1842 and among them was George Cole (1822-1866). With his broth-er, Thomas Cornelius Cole, he established fruit tree nurs-eries along the Merri Creek and in the eastern suburbs; Thomas was in Richmond and Tooronga, and George set up in Malvern. Family

Answering the call – the Cole family

The Cole houses

George Graham Cole (known as Graham).

Captain Lewis George Cole (known as Lew).

Home front: Merle, Harry and Alice Cole at “Fernbank” in about 1930. Below left, “Fernbank”, built in the 1880s by George Graham Cole; n in 1979 during Alice Cole’s residency. Below, the second house built by George Graham Cole, situated near the Tyabb shops and now awaiting restoration.

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records show that George and a cousin, John Cole, attended Melbourne’s fi rst meeting of the horticultural society and, within a decade of their ar-rival, the Coles were issuing catalogues advertising their produce. An advertisement in Melbourne’s The Argus news-paper in June 1851 (see below left) shows that catalogues could be obtained at either “Collins Street or Richmond Nursery”.

George Cole and his wife, Emma, had 11 children and the fi fth of these was George Graham Cole.

Graham, as he was known, was born in Malvern in 1855 and died in Tyabb in 1946. He and his wife, Sarah, built “Fernbank” on Frankston-Flinders Rd, Tyabb, (adjacent to Stockton’s Cool Store) soon after they purchased the land in 1886. They lived there until about 1914 when they built a new home opposite the recreation ground and near the shops in Tyabb.

Graham and Sarah also had 11 children and their sons and several of their grandchildren continued the family’s nurs-ery and orchard interests. Gra-ham was active in community affairs and was a councillor and president of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings.

Graham and Sarah’s 11 children were:

1. Adeline married Charles Grant, the son of 1859 Somer-ville pioneer James Grant. (Coincidentally Charles’ brother, John David Grant, was the father of Ray Grant who was the father of Valda Cole and Ron Grant.)

2. Elsie died in infancy.3. Millicent died in infancy.4. Graham Clifton was a

nurseryman in Tyabb.5. Queenie Stella did not

marry.6. Lewis George* (1888-

1951) married Elma Clarke,

granddaughter of James Clarke, a 1860 pioneer of Somerville. Also a nursery-man.

7. Godfrey Laurence* (1890-1958) married Ivy Van of Tyabb and conducted Roselton Nursery on the Frankston-Flinders Rd near where the Telstra building is now.

8. Ida Helen married Harry Denham and lived in Tyabb where Harry managed the cool store.

9. Harry Theodore* (1895-1918) was killed in action in France. Did not marry.

10. Leslie John married Vi-olet Gamble of Frankston and had a fruit tree nursery.

11. Dorothy Violet mar-ried Frank O’Neill of Ty-abb whose property was in

O’Neill’s Road. *Enlisted in AIF.

The Great War Although my original ob-

jective was to write a piece on Harry Theodore Cole, one of the 61,000 young Australians who did not return, the story would be incomplete if it did not mention the contribution of his brothers, particularly Lewis George Cole, whose war service was extensive and signifi cant.

Lewis George Cole: Having served for 18 months in the Hastings 6th Battalion Aus-tralian Field Artillery until its disbandment in 1908, Lew, as he was known, enlisted in the AIF at Frankston on 14 Sep-tember 1914; Great Britain


had only declared war on 12 August. The local newspaper reported how, like towns all over Australia, Somerville farewelled local servicemen: “In October 1914 a sterling silver wrist watch was pre-sented to each man at a so-cial held in the Fruitgrowers Hall at which Lewis G. Cole responded on behalf of his comrades.” (From Western Port Pioneers and Preachers by Valda Cole). Lew left Melbourne on SS Chilka on 2 February 1915, arriving in Alexandria, Egypt, on 9 March 1915. He was a member of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train and was

based at a camp near the an-cient pyramids for several months.

On 14 July Lew landed at Gallipoli, about seven weeks after the original Anzac land-ing, and spent the following fi ve months taking water up to the front line trenches. He kept a diary, pages of which are pictured above, which shows that in spite of a bit of shrapnel fl ying about there was still the opportunity to socialise; whether Harold was happy to be woken for a swim at 5.30am is not recorded.

On his second day ashore Lew posted letters to his wife Elma (who was six months

pregnant) and his mother Sa-rah.

Lew’s diary entries record-ed the positive outlook of a 26-year-old:

6 August – Gallipoli Penin-sula No. 4 Depot. The shells are screeching over our head a treat but, I am glad to write, well over. Our bombardment commenced this evening. Our Allied warships are giving the Turk what-ho. Terrifi c bom-bardment all night. Transport work between Anzac Cove and No. 4 Forward Depot.

7 August – Terrifi c bom-bardment. A grand sight this morning at daylight – the war ships and transports that had

come to light on the previous night. We have had a very busy day. Our boys did good work throughout the previ-ous night and early morning. Advanced many hundreds of yards, captured several ma-chine guns and a great many Turkish prisoners.

Other entries were not so cheerful:

16 August – Gallipoli Pe-ninsula, Turkey. Royal Ed-ward transport reported to have been sunk. Great loss of life.

On 14 December 1915 Lew left Gallipoli at 3.30am on SS Caron, bound for Lem-nos in the Aegean Sea. For

the rest of the war he served in desert campaigns, includ-ing at Beersheba. He received his commission as a Lieuten-ant then became a Captain in 1918. In operations east of the River Jordan between 30 April and 4 May 1918 he was mentioned in despatches for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty”.

Lew maintained his diary and the entries told consist-ently of extreme heat, frac-tious camels and hostile aeroplanes. At the conclu-sion of hostilities he returned to Tyabb where he resumed nurseryman activities with his brother (Leslie John) as

G G Cole and Sons. He was prominent in local affairs and became a Justice of the Peace.

However the army was not fi nished with Lew Cole. He had retained the honorary rank of Captain in the reserve and, accordingly, in May 1940 Southern Command made contact with the result that Captain L G Cole served as Railway Transport Offi cer at Seymour until May 1944.

Godfrey Laurence Cole: Per-haps inspired by the deeds of his older brother Lew, Laurie, as he was known, enlisted on 23 November 1915. On 20 September 1916 he was taken

Notes from the front: Pages from Lew’s diary recording his fi rst four days on the Galipolli Peninsula.

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Galipolli photographs from the collection of Lewis G Cole.

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on as a signaller with the 17th Battalion (2nd Divi-sion) in France. His stay at the front was not extensive for on 20 November 1916 his army record states: “Gunshot wound, scalp and back – severe.” Nine days later he was invali-ded to England where he spent about 18 months, his recovery interrupted by several severe bouts of infl uenza that required hospitalisation.

Laurie returned to Aus-tralia on 15 April 1918 and on 24 May he was discharged as unfi t for duty. Registered as a nurs-eryman on his enlistment papers, Laurie was able to resume where he had left off at “Roselton”, the fam-ily nursery in Tyabb.

Harry Theodore Cole: When he enlisted on 18 October 1916, Harry Cole’s papers stated that he was a 21-year-old nurseryman from Tyabb. On 23 November he em-barked on the troop ship Hororata in Melbourne, arriving in England on 29 January 1917. After some months of training in Eng-land, Harry was “taken on strength” with the 7th Bat-talion in France on 18 May.

In March 1918 he had a break from hostilities when he was sent to the Corps Pigeon School. He then spent several weeks in

hospital in July with infl u-enza, rejoining his unit on 27th of that month. Private Harry Theodore Cole (No. 6973) was wounded in ac-tion on 9 August in France and died the same day. Al-though the family had al-ready received the dreaded telegram, offi cial advice was conveyed by the of-fi cer in charge of Base Records on 15 August (see above).

Although the letter states

that Harry was buried at Copse Corner cemetery near Vauvillers, France, subsequent advice stated he had been buried at Heath Cemetery, near Har-bonnieres. Over the next fi ve years or so Harry’s parents not only received his medals and the memo-rial plaque that was issued to the family of soldiers killed in action, but a suc-cession of parcels with small personal items.

September 1918: two wallets, one metal mirror, photos and letters.

April 1919: three pairs of woollen gloves, one pair mittens, one pair socks.

June 1919: book of views and cards.

January 1920: photo-graphs of Harry’s grave.

February 1920: Harry’s identity disc.

Each parcel must have caused the family addi-tional grief.

Off to war: Harry Cole (left rear) and Laurie Cole (left front). The identity of the other two men is unknown.

Grim news: Offi cial advice of Harry Cole’s death.

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Second World WarAs mentioned, Lew Cole spent four years

in khaki during the Second World War. To round off this story it should be noted that he and his wife Elma had fi ve children, one of whom died in early childhood. Of the other four, all served in uniform of one type or another:

1. Lewis Stanley, born 1915, enlisted in the army on 4 June 1940 and, as a corporal, went to Malaya with the 27th Brigade Com-pany of the Australian Army Service Corps. He was captured at the Fall of Singapore and spent the next three years enduring the horrors of Changi and the Burma railway. He was discharged on 14 January 1946 and resumed duties as a nurseryman. He died in 2006.

2. Merle, born 1920, joined the Australian Women’s Army Service on 29 October 1942 and was employed as a driver for 3 Ambu-lance Car Company until her discharge on 3 November 1943. She then took up nursing which she practised until her marriage to Andrew Gibson, an orchardist of Hastings.

3. Alice, born 1922, became a student nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1941, later becoming a midwifery tutor at the Royal Women’s Hospital. She was a Fel-low of the Victorian College of Nursing.

4. Harry Rowland, born 1927, joined the RAAF Air Crew Training on 23 March 1945 and transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in August when the air force scheme was cancelled. Until his discharge on 26 May 1947, Able Seaman Cole was engaged in dumping old and unstable ammunition and explosives in Bass Strait and off the east coast. This was dangerous work and Harry’s time was spent on the armament supply car-rier HMAS Woomera, which later blew up with some loss of life. After the war Harry had a fruit tree nursery and later a poultry farm at Tyabb with wife Valda (nee Grant).

Family time: Top, Captain Lewis G Cole, left, at Southern Command Headquarters in Seymour with wife Elma and son, Corporal Lew S Cole.Above, Australian Women’s Army Service driver Merle Cole.

Navy service: Top, Able Seaman Harry Cole. Above, Alice Cole with brothers Harry, left, and Lew in the dining room at Fernbank in 1984.

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By Cameron McCulloughFlinders-born James Singleton was present on the fateful day that has gone down in Australian folk law – the landing of the fi rst troops in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Did he survive to tell the tale? And how did his life lead him to that day, storming that fatal shore so far from home?

JAMES Singleton’s story begins with his grandfather and grandmother who emigrated from England on the ship Wal-lace. Departing Liverpool on 3 Novem-ber 1843, the ship arrived in Melbourne on 16 February 1844 after a journey of 104 days.

Disaster struck when disease broke out as they crossed the tropics. There were 38 deaths recorded (11 adults, one older child and 26 young children) from diar-rhoea, dysentery and typhoid. Five births on the 15-week voyage went only a short way to evening the ledger.

Surviving the journey were Robert Singleton, aged 25; his wife Martha, 22; William John Singleton, three, and new-born Mary Ann Singleton.

William grew up in Victoria and mar-ried Christina Mitchell in 1864. They settled in Flinders and went on to have 10 children in total; Martha (born 1865), Helen (1867), Mary (1869), Robert (1871), Catherine (1873), George (1875), Margaret (1877), William (1879), James (1882) and Allison (1885).

Little is known of the life of the Sin-gletons in Flinders. However, an insight is gained from newspaper reports, one of which was entitled “Fatal gun accident”. The report in The Argus on Tuesday 27

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On the sea: HMAT Clan MacGillvray, the troopship that took James Singleton to war. Right, the tragic death of James’ brother, Robert, was reported in The Argus.

August 1889 reads:FLINDERS: A fatal accident occurred

here yesterday afternoon. A lad named Robert Singleton, the son of a shepherd, was out with a double barrelled gun. Af-ter shooting a bird he sat on a two rail fence waiting for some other boys to join him. When the others came he was leaning forward holding the weapon in front of him, and with the butt end of it was bruising a fern that was growing un-derneath against the lower rail. The gun slipping, the hammer of the locked bar-rel struck the rail, and an explosion fol-lowed. Singleton remained on the fence motionless for two or three seconds and his companions thought that he was un-

hurt, but he presently sank down, and exclaiming, “I’m shot”, did not speak again. His companions then found that he was seriously injured, the charge of shot having entered the top of his right breast, just below the shoulder. He died in about 20 minutes, in sight of his home. He was 18 years old. The intelligence of the sad event was promptly conveyed to Consta-ble Fowler at Dromana. A magisterial inquiry was held by Mr Robert Anderson JP this forenoon when the evidence of James Piddington, Edward Piddington, William Russell, George Singleton, and James Singleton showed that the mishap was purely accidental, and a fi nding to that effect was recorded.


One can imagine the trauma of watching their brother die of a gun-shot wound would have been nearly unbearable for the two Singleton boys; George was 14 and James was just seven.

As the years went on, James (Jim) Singleton worked as a labourer, “wandering around Victoria” to work, as a fellow soldier would later say.

His father died in 1908, followed by his mother in 1913 and one gets the feeling it was left to his oldest sibling, Martha, to keep an eye on the young James. He was no angel; his enlistment states that he had been fi ned for common assault.

When the war arrived, it didn’t take long for James to sign up. He enlisted at Yarram in Gippsland on 17 September 1914 and was assigned to a Light Horse Brigade. He was aged 31 and Martha was listed as his next of kin.

James embarked for war on the troopship Clan MacGillivray to join the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, which would undertake the Gallipoli campaign.

The fi rst port of call was Alexan-dria in Egypt for training and then it was to a strange-sounding place called Gallipoli in Turkey on the now infamous date of 25 April 1915.

James received gunshot wounds to his neck, back and, most severely, his calf during the fi rst day of fi ghting at Gallipoli and was evacuated to Alex-andria for recuperation.

In September he was admitted to various hospitals as he struggled to recover from the gunshot wound to his leg.

A letter received by Martha in Jan-uary 1916 states that in November the previous year he had been evacu-ated to England from the convales-cent depot in Gibraltar aboard the hospital ship Regina d’Italia suffer-ing from enteric fever (typhoid). He was admitted to hospital in London.

James’s mischievous ways resur-faced in England, where he was ar-rested on 21 December 1915 for “ir-regular conduct” and resisting arrest. He was detained for 168 hours and fi ned seven days’ pay.

On 29 January 1916 he was exam-ined by a medical board to determine his fi tness for duty. The report stated: “He was struck on the front of the right leg, the bullet entering about the middle third. The bullet emerged on the inner side just above the an-kle. There was no discharge from the wound and no fracture. He is com-plaining of pain round the ankle and up the leg on walking any distance. There is no permanent disability to be detected.” The board recommend-ed home service for three months.

In March, the board had decided that James had recovered suffi ciently to resume active duties in Egypt.

A letter received by Martha on 7 April 1916 informed her that her brother had returned to Egypt on 25 March and had then been posted to France, where he had been wounded three times and was then invalided to England again.

Correspondence received by Mar-tha dated 4 February 1918 stated: “I now beg to advise you that Private J Singleton has been reported admit-ted to 1st Birmingham War Hospital

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Beginning: The attestation paper for James Singleton.


27/1/1918 suffering from accidental fractured ribs.”

James rejoined his battalion in France on 13 June 1918, and was killed in action on 9 August 1918.

As was routine for the day, the Red Cross made enquiries as to the fate of Private James Singleton.

One of his fellow soldiers report-ed: “Singleton is buried in a shell hole just outside of Rosieres with several more men who were killed on August 9th.”

Private Wright wrote: “He was killed by a wizz bag at Rosieres and was buried in front of the old Ger-man C.C.S. There was a cross put up afterwards. I saw his grave.”

Another soldier stated: “About 2pm on August 9 at the Rosieres stunt between Villers-Bretonneux and Rosieres, Singleton was hit by a bullet through the head and was killed instantly. I saw him fall and saw his body... On the 11th August I went to where I saw his body to bury it but it was not there. It may have been buried by one of the burial parties on the fi eld. He was acting as scout to the tanks following when he was hit.”

On 16 May 1919 Martha wrote to the base records offi ce. “My broth-er Private Singleton was killed in France 9th August 1918. Has any of his personal things, his watch, been returned?” she enquired.

A reply was received as follows: “No personal effects of James Sin-gleton have yet been returned to this offi ce, but anything coming to hand will be promptly transmitted to you in accordance with the terms of his will. Some delay is inevitable in the transmission of deceased soldiers be-longings.”

Having heard nothing more about James’s effects, on 29 March 1920 Martha Singleton again wrote to Base Records. “I have not received any personal property of my brother Private J Singleton [who] lost his life in the war August 1918,” she wrote.

On 16 May she once again entreat-ed the offi ce: “My brother Private Singleton was killed in France 9th August 1918. Has any of his person-al things, his watch, been returned?”

In July a letter from the Australian Graves Services referred to corre-spondence in which Martha Single-ton had enquired after her brother’s personal effects.

An offi cer from Base Records re-plied to Martha in a letter dated 13 August, saying: “I have to state that no personal effects of any descrip-tion have been received in connec-tion with your brother, the late No. 1172 Private J. Singleton, 8th Bat-talion. As previously advised the London Kit Store records show that no effects were returned in the late solider’s name and his kit bag con-

OUR ANZACS

Wounded: Above, James Singleton’s service and casualty form reveals he was injured on Anzac Day.Above right, an excerpt from Singleton’s service and casualty form showing a scrape with the law.Below, a notifi cation from 1918 informing Singleton’s family that James had been injured and hospitalised.

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Terrible news: From top to bottom, Singleton’s service record stating he had been killed in action.A telegram informing James Singleton’s family of his death.A communication informing Martha Singleton that no personal effects had been recovered.The Red Cross collected testimony about the fate of James Singleton.

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From the past: Left, correspondence from Martha Singleton confi rming that she is the eldest sibling of James Singleton.Below, correspondence from Martha Singleton confi rming that William Singleton is the oldest surviving brother, other than George.


From the vaults: Left, the receipt for James Singleton’s war medals, sent to William Singleton. Above, The Argus of 26 September 1923 reporting the death of William Singleton.

tained no personal belongings.”Although the offi ce had always li-

aised with Martha and she was listed as James’s next of kin, Base Records contacted Martha in October 1920 to enquire whether James had closer relative – specifi cally a male – who could receive his war medals, the better to comply with the Deceased Soldiers’ Estates Act 1918.

Martha replied on 15 November 1920: “Father and mother not alive.

The eldest brother living is George Singleton, patient Yarra Bend Asy-lum. I would be glad to take care of medal; I am the eldest sister.”

But before the eldest sister would come the eldest brother, or any brother for that matter, and Base Records persisted, again question-ing Martha on November 23: “I shall be much obliged if you will favour me with advice as to whether the deceased soldier has any other

surviving brothers than the one mentioned in your letter.”

Again, Martha replies, one could imagine with some frustration: “Brother address. William Single-ton, Flinders. I did not receive any next of kin badge can I have one please. Martha Singleton.”

On 18 July 1921 there was a receipt for a memorial scroll for James Sin-gleton, signed by William Singleton.

Tragedy again struck the Single-

ton family in 1923 when William was killed. As reported in The Ar-gus on Wednesday 26: “Pinned un-der tree. Man Dies from Injuries: William Singleton, aged 43 years, labourer, died at the Melbourne Hospital yesterday from injuries re-ceived through having been pinned under a tree. While he was clearing ground at Flinders the tree fell. Sin-gleton told friends who found him under the tree at 6 o’clock on Mon-

day evening that he had been under there since 2 o’clock. His right hip and pelvis were severely injured, and he was suffering from shock when admitted to the hospital.”

Martha Singleton died in 1937, aged 72. She joined her mother Martha, sister Christina and broth-ers Robert and William at the cem-etery at Flinders. James lies in an unmarked grave in France, buried where he fell.

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realestate24 April 2012

Western Port

Rare standard of perfectionRare standard of perfection> Page 3> Page 3

WESTERN PORT realestate 24 April 2012>

real estate directory

The people to call for your real estate needs...

Tony LatessaMobile: 0412 525 151

Latessa Business Sales50 Playne StreetFrankston 9781 1588

Ty LuffMobile:0408 368 892Stockdale & Leggo3/1065 F’ston-Flinders Road, SOMERVILLE 5977 8877

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Nigel EvansMobile:0439 540 055

Tallon First National35 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 3000

EMAIL: [email protected]

Sid FergusonMobile:0418 321 963

Satchwells1/97 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 1888


Sean CrimminsMobile: 0411 734 814

Baywest Real Estate87 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 4412


Ben TallonMobile:0419 339 489

Ben Tallon Real Estate1/34 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 8003



Rob PryzlerMobile:0408 808 698

Stockdale & Leggo 1/109 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 2288


Phil StoneMobile: 0412 226 758

L. Cooper Real Estate1067 F’ston-Flinders Road,SOMERVILLE 5977 7766


Gabriele FrenkelMobile: 0413 773 075Peninsula Property Investment Centre2/80 Baxter-Tooradin RoadBAXTER 5971 3999&630 Nepean Highway, CARRUM 9773 2999


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Michael CurryMobile:0409 410 456

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Milton BrownMobile: 0418 326 044

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Ray White Real Estate69 High Street, HASTINGS 5979 3555


Kerry-Lee Marshall Mobile: 0408 363 686Century 21 Homeport2100 Frankston–Flinders Rd. HASTINGS.5979 3555

EMAIL:[email protected]

WESTERN PORT realestate 24 April 2012 Page 3>

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Address: 57 Hamilton Street, CRIB POINTPrice: On applicationAgency: Century 21 Homeport, 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555Agent: Kerry-Lee Marshall, 0408 363 686

Ideal livingOFFERING exceptional value for money, this very sound brick-veneer home is surrounded by neat lawns and gardens and is close to shops and transport. The home has four bedrooms or keep one as a home offi ce. The living areas are beautifully decorated with the lounge having a nice bay window and plush carpets. The combined kitchen and dining area has polished fl oorboards, gas heating and air-conditioning. The kitchen has a wall oven and plenty of cupboard space. From the meals area you can step out to the undercover entertaining area. Other external features include a detached double garage – with a handy second driveway – and garden shed.

Address: 9 Goris Close, BITTERNPrice: $452,000Agency: Satchwells Real Estate, 1/97 High Street, Hastings, 5979 1888Agent: Don McKenzie, 0419 955 177

White picket fence and allA PICTURE of peaceful suburbia, this quaint three-bedroom home is set on a 724-square metre corner site and offers excellent value as an investment property or for fi rst home buyers. There is a small entry area leading to the combined kitchen and dining room. Floating timber fl oors present very well and stylish downlights add a nice touch. The kitchen has been updated and features a dishwasher and upright stove with rangehood as well as a pantry cupboard. Through a set of bifold doors is a nice lounge room withair-conditioning. Overlooking the backyard is a large undercover timber deck that during the warmer months increases the living area considerably.

Address: 10 Dalton Drive, TYABBPrice: $349,950Agency: Baywest Somerville, 1/1085 Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville, 5977 9660Agent: Wayne Bourke, 0411 266 696

Wills you to purchaseHIDDEN away in the peaceful residential pocket known as “Old Tyabb” sits this gorgeous three-bedroom home. The established gardens, both front and back, create a very private setting from which to enjoy the timber decked areas for entertaining with family and friends. A room unto itself, the stunning kitchen has Tasmanian oak cupboards and granite benchtops all beautifully complemented by cafe-style tiled fl oors and stainless-steel appliances. The timber theme continues throughout the home with polished timber fl oors in the bedrooms, dining and lounge room. The bathroom is also exquisitely tiled and has a corner spa bath and separate shower. The home is spotlessly presented, verywell-priced for this area and on a large block.

Address: 10 Wills Court, HASTINGSPrice: $350,000Agency: Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate, 1/109 High Street, Hastings, 5979 2288Agent: Rob Pryzler, 0408 808 698


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area, front & rear gardens with plenty of room for kids to play. Double garage with side access and power also a powered workshop at the rear plus garden shed. Also including air conditioning.

What A Masterpiece! An inspection is an absolute must to appreciate this

appliances, dishwasher & breakfast bar. Open plan

built in cupboards with a further two bedrooms both

ducted heating & air conditioning. Outside is a decked

Hastings $225,000

Land, Land, Land

A prime 511m2 allotment ready for your building plans. Located in stage 2 of the highly sought after Cottonwood Estate, the allotment

great opportunity to make your plans come true. All sizes & measurements are approximate

Crib Point$449,000

Natures Way

allotment and with 21 squares of open plan

Double main bedroom with large robes, FES &

space, breakfast bar, d/w, open plan dining room / loungeroom with cosy wood heater and a separate family / entertainment room.

28 Point Road, Crib PointNegotiable over $385,000For Sale Now Or Forthcoming Auction

Ticks All The Boxes

estate, on a 720m2 allotment. Comprising of

bedroom with WIR & FES, formal lounge room, kitchen with dishwasher, gas cooking, meals area opens out to a courtyard and a family room.

family bathroom. Also including cooling & ducted heating. Outside is ideal for entertaining with large

garage with internal access.

HastingsNegotiable over $400,000

In a quiet location this well-presented home

warming décor and beautiful garden aspects, the entrance of the home opens up to the dining

with gas cooking, d/w and separate lounge room. Three bedrooms all with robes, semi-ensuite, separate toilet and large laundry. Also included is gas ducted heating, lock up garage,

Tyabb$365,000 - $385,000

47 Humphries Road Frankston SouthNegotiable over $590,000For Sale Now Or Forthcoming Auction

Welcome Home

Hastings Negotiable over $285,000

“Victoria Heights”

separate toilet, lock-up garage and street frontage

cooking, d/w, quality carpets, heating & cooling and

mid 2012.

NEARING

COMPLETION


“For the best deal in real estate, Ph: 03 5977 9660

Email: [email protected]: www.baywestrealestate.com.au

CHOICE OF THREELOT 1 - Older style W/B home ripe for renovation.

Set on 522m2 lot, only 200m to bus, train & general store. $220,000

LOT 2 Vacant building site of 346m2 $159,000LOT 3 Rear vacant lot of 346m2 $159,000

Fully serviced and subject to title release. (Expected 60 days from signing)

Agent: Gary Barnes 0412 347 233

Crib Point $159,000 - $220,000CHEAP

CHEAP

FIVE ONLY


Crib Point From $289,000AT LOCK-UP STAGE

TRANQUIL SETTING

Agent: Wayne Bourke 0411 266 696

Hastings $330,000OFFERS

PLEASE

OPPOSITE CENTRO & PLAZA


Somerville $349,000 NEG.

BE

QUICK

FOUR OF A KIND - YOU WIN!


Hastings $389,000BE 1ST TO

SAVE BIG

POSITION PERFECT - CHOICE OF THREE

new carport

garage

For plans and permits call:


Somerville From $325,000,

FIRST HOME BUYER - ACT NOW!

Buy off the plan now & save even more.

@ $200,000 loan.


Crib Point From $235,000ACT NOW

VENDOR INCENTIVES

**

*

date of settlement


Hastings From $239,000GREAT

BUYING*CONDITI

ONS

APPLY

118-120 VICTORIA ST.- INSPECT WED & SAT. 11-11.30AM

AFFORDALE RURAL ACREAGE WITH VIEWS - PRICED TO SELL

ATTENTION BUYERS - KEEN VENDOR SAYS SELL - OFFERS AROOUND $700,000 CONSIDERED


9 MAURANDRA CLOSE, HASTINGS - INSPECT WED/SAT. 12-12.30PM

BELOW

REPLACEMENT

COST

Hastings FROM $600,000

‘SUPER’DEVELOPMENT WITH APPROVED PLANS AND PERMITS


Langwarrin $475,000

KEEN VENDOR - LUXURY LIVING


TOP OF THE LIST


MUST SELL NOW

Somerville $420,000

OPPORTUNITY\

have 2 titles for your portfolio.


Tyabb $349,950

10 DALTON DRIVE - INSPECT SAT. 1-1.30PM

5 HUNTINGTOWER CRESCENT - INSPECT SAT. 11-11.30AM

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

DEVELOPMENT

PRICE REDUCED


35 High Street,Hastings tallon.com.au 5979 3000

Tallon

DOMINIC TALLONPhone:0408 528 857

NIGEL EVANSPhone:0439 540 055

RED HILL

Mud Brick Masterpiece

For Sale: $770,000

If you are looking for the peaceful life this home is it! Set in the tranquil surrounds of Red Hill this architect designed double story home overlooks a 1/3 acre of land. Walk through the large monastery doors where the light

and dining area. The home features 4 bedrooms - main with walk in robe and full ensuite, a separate study, high

Spectacular Kinfauns (app.1.58 acres)

For Sale: $949,000

A unique lifestyle awaits you in this huge 1.58 acre property situated in the sought after Kinfauns Estate. Public transport stops at the Estate’s entrance, Hastings town center two minutes drive and the brand new Bittern shops two minutes in the other direction. Fully serviced and surrounded by homes of equal quality and prestige.

BITTERN

CRIB POINT

A Quiet Retreat

For Sale: $279,000

As new unit set on a block of 4. Two bedrooms, main with WIR & dual access bathroom, lounge, modern kitchen with s/steel appliances & separate meals area with sliding doors leading to paved courtyard. Tiled and carpeted throughout. S/system, air con, single garage with internal entry and remote door. If you’re looking for an investment rental look no further, or perhaps a starting point to get into the market. Walking distance to schools shops + navy base.

HASTINGS

Stamp Duty Savings

For Sale: $350,000

brand new unit yet to be built nestled in a court position might be the answer. This unit of 18.77 squares consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge, dining, study, double garage and comes with quality appliances, tiles, carpet, dishwasher, ducted heating & cooling & 2000 litre water tank connected to home. Your choice of colours, paint, tiles, carpets (if purchased before commencement).

CRIB POINT

Sandstone Lodge

For Sale: $495,000

Ideal for the larger family the home has 2 living areas, main living with Coonara wood heater adjacent to the meals and a modern kitchen with s/steel appliances. The main bathroom, laundry and 2 bedrooms are on the lower level. A timber staircase leads to the 2nd living and main bedroom with FES & BIR’s + 4th bedroom or study. Outside is a large garage shed with power, concrete slab, water tanks, pergola and verandahs to keep the harsh sun out.

HASTINGS

Hop, Skip & Jump

For Sale: $295,000

This well maintained unit is a must see. Two bedrooms, main with dual access bathroom, separate laundry, large lounge with high vaulted ceilings & meals area. The modern kitchen has under bench oven & gas cook top, a third room could be used as a study or bedroom. The home comes with gas heating & air-conditioning and single garage. Leased until November 2012, walking distance to shopping precinct, doctors surgery & foreshore.

HASTINGS

Unique Investment OpportunityRarely do commercial properties of this scale present

from this increase in activity. With Bunnings nearby the commercial/industrial market of Westernport is clearly on the rise, this is your opportunity to jump on board.

HASTINGS

Palm Drive

For Sale: $189,000

Beautifully maintained, retirement unit with two-bedrooms, both with BIR’s & ceiling fans. A large lounge with gas heating, split system air-conditioning & ceiling fan. A good size modern kitchen with wall oven & gas cook top overlooks the meals area with picture window. The main bathroom has a large shower & the laundry leads to the long carport with roller door. Option for a 30 year lease.

CRIB POINT

Look No More

For Sale: $358,000

Builders/investors 3-4 unit site (S.T.C.A). Build 3 with rental income from house or build four if the house is removed. Set on a 1439m2 approx block of land all services available. Be quick to secure your next project.

HASTINGS

Land For Sale

For Sale: $412,870

Buy off the plan and save on stamp duty.4 bedrooms 2 bathroomsLiving room Family/meals areaRumpus room W.I.R to mainBIR’s to bedrooms

BITTERN

Secluded Homestead

For Sale: $412,000

Imagine your own homestead tucked away behind high fences with bullnose timber decked verandahs. The sweeping path & treed surrounds add to the country feel. The home comprises of 4 bedrooms main with full ensuite, 2 living areas with high vaulted ceilings, split system air-conditioning, gas column heater & coonara for year round comfort. A good size country style kitchen with gas up right cooker and plenty of bench space.

For Sale: $1,850,000

HASTINGS

Exquisite Two Bedroom Unit

For Sale: $345,000

Close to the shopping precinct, this immaculate unit will delight with a large lounge/dining area overlooking the kitchen that has solid timber cupboards, upright gas

throughout. Large main bathroom has shower & bath, there is a separate laundry & 2 bedrooms have BIR’s. Private courtyard with gate access, beautifully landscaped with extensive colour.

BITTERN

Country Style Living

For Sale: $385,000

Set on a beautiful treed block of 847m2. This home has sprawling verandahs, three edrooms, main bedroom overlooks garden and has FES with spa bath. The open plan lounge/dining has exposed beams, gas heating & A/C also with garden outlook. The modern kitchen with servery, s/steel upright gas cooker, dishwasher, pantry & stained glass window adds to the country feel. The home has been tastefully decorated with as new carpets.

HASTINGS

Commercial Land or Business, take your pick!

For Sale: $280,000

the busy commercial/industrial street of Hastings. Cur-rently set up with a nursery business you can purchase

use it for your own purposes or purchase the land + business WIWO for an extra $25,000 + GST.

HASTINGS

Industrial 3 Zoned Factory + Yard

For Lease: $1550.00pcm + GST + OGS

suits mechanics, engineering, fabrication and storage.

Industrial 3 Zone 757m2 approx land295m2 approx factory 4.4m roller door height 3 phase powerHeavy duty frame colourbond exterior Small side & rear yard with fencing toilet


Local Agents with Local Knowledge For Over 50 Years

www.satchwells.com.au1/97 High Street

14 Balnarring VillageCnr Cook and Wood Streets

HASTINGSBALNARRINGFLINDERS

03 5979 188803 5983 550903 5989 0744

SatchwellsHASTINGSNeg. over $295,000

Move in and enjoy this 3 bedroom cottage without having to do a thing. Located within a short walking distance from the township of Hastings this property has

The 3 bedrooms all have built in robes and the master offers an ensuite.

PICTURE PERFECT INSIDE AND OUT

BITTERNAsking $385,000

800sqms is a delight inside and out. This property has 3 bedrooms all with robes the master with ceiling fan and ensuite. The 2 split systems provide heating and cooling. A spacious living area adjoins the lovely large kitchen.

A SURPRISE PACKAGE

HASTINGSAsking $429,000

Situated in a prime location, close to the bay and the heart of Hastings. This 3 year young home in display home condition and still under warranty offers everything. Comprising 3 bedrooms, main with ensuite and good sized walk in wardrobe.

WHEN QUALITY MATTERS

CRIB POINTAsking $285,000-$305,000

It’s all about getting your foot in the door when it comes to Real Estate!!!!! By purchasing 1 of these quality built Units of the plan you’re on your way in becoming

Completed and ready to purchase today are these 6 Star energy rated units.

AFFORDABLE NEW LIVING

CRIB POINTAsking $350,000+

Nestled at the end of a quiet court in Crib Point this well thought out 3 bedroom home offers ducted heating & cooling, recently renovated kitchen & bathroom,

ONE FOR 1ST HOME BUYERS/RETIREES

CRIB POINTAsking $459,000

station is this fabulous site that would be a fantastic family home or a

veneer home that offers 2 bathrooms, 1living area and air-conditioning.

SO MUCH SPACE

HASTINGS BITTERNAsking $345,000+ Asking $254,000

This 3BR Villa still under warranty is close to transport & Marina. Features good quality carpet, s/steel appliances, ens to main bedroom, BIRs, ducted heating, fans throughout and r/c dble lock up garage. Landscaped, maintenance free gardens and tank water connected to the house.

the heart of Crib Point. With infrastructure in place including large shedding, double carport and concrete driveway. Surrounded by quality homes, close to schools, medical centre and transport.

INVEST OR LIVE IN READY, SET, BUILD


Undoubtedly prime position in this much sought after pocket of central

seeking a low maintenance home. With quality and style this 2/3 bedroom

SUPER CENTRAL LOCATION

BITTERNAsking $1,150,000

Individually designed with recycled beams, clinker bricks, soaring timber lined ceilings all incorporated into this prestigious property. The home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge, family room, renovated kitchen with stone benchtops all overlooking solar heated I.G pool & modgrass tennis court.

REDUCED

BY $10

,000

TO SELL


Properties established within a short stroll to the foreshore, Marina and town

m2 this home offers 3 bedrooms - master with air-conditioning, separate lounge, good sized meals area and quality carpets and tiles throughout.

DON’T MISS THIS ONE

NEW

LISTIN

G

REDUCED

BY 20,

000

NEW

LISTIN

G

BITTERNAsking $452,000

Desirably located in a quiet court setting in Bittern. This three bedroom

800sqm of land and is within walking distance to Primary School, public transport and the recently completed Bittern Shopping Centre.

IDEAL LOCATION, IDEAL SIZE & IDEAL LIVING

NEW

LISTIN

GNEW

LISTIN

G

MERRICKSAsking $1.15 - 1.25m

bathrooms incl a self-contained wing. Formal living room, billiards room leads to a 2nd party kitchen overlooking an outdoor entertaining area and the indoor solar-heated pool. A tennis court, outdoor meditation centre & putting green.

4.2 GLORIOUS ACRES (REDUCED TO SELL)

MUST

BE SOLD

Inspect by Appointment Inspect by Appointment

35 Orotava Street - Inspect Sat 11.00-11.30am

417 Stony Point Rd - Agent-on-site Wed 12.30-1.00pm

Inspect by AppointmentInspect by Appointment

2 Dylan Drive - Inspect Sat 1.30- 2.00pm

REDUCED

BY $30

,000

TO SELL

HASTINGSAsking $460,000 - $480,000

Only 6 years young and close to public transport and High Street shopping is this unique family home equipped with a fully self-contained unit - all on a spacious, low-maintenance corner allotment. This well-appointed home is large enough for a growing family, comprising formal and informal living options.

A UNIQUE 2 FOR 1 PACKAGE19 Rosemary Drive - Inspect Sat 12-12.30pm

REDUCED

TO SELL

Inspect by Appointment

58 Campbell Street - Inspect Sat 3.00-3.30pm 288-290 Stony Point Road - Inspect Sat 11.00-11.30am 9 Goris Close - Inspect Sat 2.30-3.00pm

HASTINGSAsking $435,000 Neg.

Modern single level, open plan and ideally located at the head of a quiet court is this fabulous family home that is sure to tick all the

A FAMILY HOME IN A POPULAR ESTATEInspect by Appointment


homes and is waiting for the lucky purchaser to create their own dream.

LARGE BLOCK IN SOLAR ESTATE

CRIB POINTFrom $235,000

NEARING COMPLETIONInspect by Appointment

HASTINGS

You enter this 4 BR property through a pleasant well maintained front garden. Access is also via Salmon St & through the private common area grounds. The property has a r/c gate & single garage. A colour video pedestrian gate door phone with remote opening & a security alarm system is provided for peace of mind.

THE VIEWS ARE A PRICELESS BONUS4/2 Skinner Street - Inspect Sat 12.30-1.00pm

113 Merricks Road - Inspect Sat 2.00-2.30pm

REDUCED

BY $30

,000

Asking $542,000+

UNDER

OFFER

HASTINGSAsking $395,000 - $425,000

this period style home features 2 living areas including an elegant formal lounge, an adjoining kitchen dining area with kleenmaid appliances.

A SPECIAL PLACE TO CALL HOME62 Reid Parade - Inspect Sat 3.00-3.30pm


This 3 bedroom home is a great opportunity to enter the property market. Features include large separate lounge, gas heating, timber galley-style kitchen with good size meals area. BIR’s to all bedrooms. Outside

BETTER THAN PAYING RENTInspect by Appointment

NEW

LISTIN

G

UNDER

OFFER


REAL ESTATE SOMERVILLE Est 1989

1067 Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville 5977 7766 PHIL STONE 0412 226 758HUGH GAMBLE 0401 319 811

French Island $1.4 million

50 acre (approx.) allotment with incredible Western Port Bay views

Short drive to Crib Point ferry Build your dream getaway (STCA) with access to your own

beach All measurements in above image are approximates. For all

enquiries contact Phil Stone

‘Picnic Point’

Somerville $285,000

uality built 3 bedroom, low maintenance unit Only minutes walk to local shopping, transport, schools Large lounge/dining area, floating floor boards Modern kitchen with s/steel appliances plus dishwasher Security shutters on all windows,

Position Position Position

INSPECT SAT

2.00-2

.30pm

6/1160 Frankston-Flinders Road

Outstanding solid brick 30sq approx. residence Picturesque 2 acres approx well-treed block Includes 4 bedrooms, FES, formal lounge/dining area with A/C

Modern tiled kitchen/family area with coonara heating Plus 2 bedroom semi self-contained in-law accomadation Tennis court, triple carport, large sheds plus car parking.

Seaview Gums

Somerville $750,000 - $795,000

34 Seaview Road

INSPECT SAT

12.00

-12.30

pm

Somerville From $290,000 - $380,000

2 x three bedroom units, FES to main bedroom

Open plan living areas, 9ft ceilings Double garage with remote, landscaped gardens Minutes walk to local shops & transport Buy off the plan and save on stamp duty

Brand New Units - Only 3 On The Block

INSPECT SAT

12.00

-12.30

pm

1-3 / 3 Seaton Court

Beautiful 8-acre property with charming colonial style homestead Large open plan lounge and dining areasBlackwood timber kitchen and meals area

Three bedrooms, FES to main Verandah overlooks two ornamental dams Lots of sheds for storage and separate bungalow

‘Norwood’

Pearcedale $830,000 - $850,000

795 Robinsons Road

INSPECT SAT

11.00

-11.30

am

Somerville $480,000

Located in one of the finest parts of Somervillebedrooms, main with FES

Lounge with open fire place, family room with gas heatingEvaporative cooling throughoutTimber kitchen with dishwasherOutdoor entertaining area, very private setting

Light, Space and Comfort

Tyabb Auction: Friday 18th May @1.00pm on site

Significant Tyabb Landmark Original Tyabb landmark formerly known as

Potts General Store Built Circa 1915 Offered for sale for only the second time in 97 years Plethora of opportunities for the investor/owner, occupier or developer.

Blue ribbon site consists of 3 dwellings on 1 title Potential land bank with income A rare & versatile offering unlike any other in Tyabb Significant investment in the Western Port Region with the Port of Hastings redevelopment and Peninsula Link Bypass. Zoning: Business 1 – Land Area: 560m2 approx

1527 Frankston - Flinders Road

Hidden sanctuary located 1.25 acres approx Huge 4 bedroom family home with wrap around verandah. Featuring timber kitchen/family area with polished floor boards, Ducted heating, lounge/dining area with open fire place

uge rumpus roomEntertaining area overlooking flood lit mod grass tennis courtHuge 12m x 8m shed.

Character and Charm

Somerville $790,000 - $820,000

Beautifully presented 2 bedroom unitComprising large formal lounge room with gas wall furnace R/cycle air-conditioningModern kitchen with s/steel appliances inc. dishwasherOutdoor entertaining area Single lock-up garage with remote.

Classy and Stylish

Somerville $325,000

Lovely 3 bedroom B.V home surrounded by parklandsLarge formal lounge room with vaulted ceilingModern kitchen & family room with ducted heatingPaved pergola areaSingle carport and double garage.

More Bang For Your Buck

Tyabb $325,000

Somerville $475,000

Four bedrooms, ensuite to main Lounge room with wood heater and ducted heatingModern kitchen & family area Terrific outdoor entertaining area, lovely gardens Room for boat, trailer or caravan Double garage with workshop

Simple Yet Stylish

INSPECT SAT

1.00-1

.30pm

8 Colchester Court


HOME PORT

SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTERPHONE: 03 5979 35552100 Frankston-Flinders Road. HASTINGS. VIC. 3915CENTURY21HASTINGS.COM.AU

This well built Merchant Builder home on approx.1/4 acre allotment (1080sq metres) has been lovingly cared for. Boasting 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 living areas,vaulted ceilings with chefs delight kitchen and lovingly maintained gardens, fernery & mature trees in a private setting. Our vendors have a genuine need to sell! Contact Exclusive Agent.

PRICE: $439,000 NegotiableVIEW: Saturday 12.00-12.30pmAGENT: Kerry Lee Marshall 0408 363 686OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555

4

2

4

BITTERN 3 Flinders Street

Spectacular English style Tudor home of approx 50 squares of living. Featuring four enormous bedrooms, two with full ensuites and all with walk-in robes. Brand new kitchen that opens to a fully enclosed entertaining area. Outdoor boasts a 30 x 60 garage, surrounded by approx 2 acres of natural bushland. Contact Exclusive Agent.

4

3

5

BITTERN 5 Centre Avenue

$410,000 NEGOTIABLE

VENDOR SAYS SELL!! MAKE AN OFFER!!!Carefully designed for the growing family, this executive residence is only five years old. Boasting four large bedrooms, master with W.I.R. & ensuite, plush quality carpets, three living areas plus quality fixtures and fittings. Also featuring ducted heating, double garage with rear roller door access, block size 800sqm and too many more features to mention. Still under builders warranty! Contact Exclusive Agent.

VIEW: By AppointmentAGENT: Kerry-Lee Marshall 0408 363 686OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road,Hastings 5979 3555

4

2

4

HASTINGS 10 Sunset Rise

HASTINGS 17 Rankin Road

BITTERN 15 Skinner Street

PRICE: $329,900VIEW: By AppointmentAGENT: Wilma Green 0407 833 996OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555

You will fall in love with this well-presented home, with a touch of French provincial flair. Large informal living and meals area with near new carpet, plus a spacious kitchen with Caesar stone bench tops. Both bedrooms are very spacious, master with W.I.R. This home has been tastefully renovated and is in excellent condition. Contact Exclusive Agent.

2

1

2

PRICE: $300,000 Offers OverVIEW: Saturday 1.00-1.30pmAGENT: Kerry Lee Marshall 0408 363 686OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555

THREE BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW UNITS. Contemporary style, two bedroom, single storey town houses! Ultra-modern and stylish - located in one of the best streets in central Hastings. Featuring two spacious bedrooms, master with W.I.R. & semi ensuite, two living areas, kitchen with stainless steel appliances, lovely outdoor area, ducted heating and air con. Contact Exclusive Agent.

2

1

1

CRIB POINT 57 Hamilton Street

PRICE: EXPRESS SALEVIEW: Saturday 11.00-11.30amAGENT: Kerry Lee Marshall 0408 363 686OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555

Positioned on a 1050m2 approx. allotment, this four bedroom family home features spacious formal and informal living zones, solid timber kitchen and secure double lock-up garage plus master bedroom with a W.I.R. and ensuite. Also boasts ducted heating, solid Jarrah flooring, freshly painted with quality carpets and window furnishings. Contact Exclusive Agent.

4

2

6

HASTINGS 34 Burke Street

PRICE: EXPRESS SALEVIEW: By AppointmentAGENT: Chris Watt 0417 588 321OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555

Quality four bedroom open plan main residence with soaring pine lined cathedral ceilings! Double garage under roof plus additional double garage to rear and verandah on three sides! There is a second three bedroom home under the same roof to rear with connecting verandah. Set on almost 3/4 acre, with planning permit issued for three lot subdivision.Contact Exclusive Agent.

7

3

4

PRICE: EXPRESS SALEVIEW: Saturday 2.00-2.30pmAGENT: Wilma Green 0407 833 996OFFICE: 2100 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, 5979 3555


(03) 5979 8003www.btre.com.au

Ben Tallon Real Estate Pty Ltd1/34 High Street Hastings 3915

“Your Local Expert”B T R E YOU’LL SOON BE HOME

®

Hastings $465,000

Display home style..... 4 BedroomsBeautifully located in the prestigious solar estate, on a generous 815m2, this stunning as new Henley home features 24sqs of quality living – 28.3 sqs under roof. Formal entry and a formal lounge, huge family and meals with the central kitchen offering practical entertaining on stone bench tops and quality appliances! A separate rumpus room. There are 4 dble BRS, main with superb ensuite. Shade sail covered deck overlooking trim gardens & shed.

Somerville $139,000

Cheap Land With PlansBlock of land in Somerville complete with approved plans for a 3br, 2bath, DLUG, BV house measuring approx 18.89sqs only minutes to public transport, shops, schools and more. The vendors are keen to get this sold and have even agreed to pay of the driveway costs making this property even more affordable. Get in now and beat the rush of investor expected once the Peninsula Link Freeway opens.

Bittern $249,500

Relax at Westernport Gardens Retirement VillageIf you feel like slowing down and putting your feet up yet still enjoy a feeling of having space around you then look no further. With it’s own private street entry and plenty of land to look at - without looking after, this home sized unit has a good sized lounge with gas ducted heat t/out and s/system cooling, 2BRs & study, kitchen/meals with gas cooking & dishwasher, private courtyard & L/U garage - don’t miss this one!

Hastings $365,000

1/4 Acre Mark Lew DesignSet in the Old Tyabb area this contemporary home was built with passive energy use in mind. Featuring a North facing clerestory window to provide Winter warmth to the core of the home and plenty of windows for a real light and open feeling. There are 2 main living zones, 3BRs with robes, s/system cooling. The chefs sized kitchen overlooks the private back garden through a shady pergola area.

Crib Point $389,000

Your piece of the country. Rare opportunity to enjoy space set at the end of a country lane. High set 4BR ranch with verandas and spa; 18 sqs incl spacious lounge with s/system, slow combustion heater, dining room, meals and upgraded kitchen. All bedrooms have BIRs, main with full ensuite and WIR. Outside is plenty of shedding: dble carport and 20 x 30 machinery shed with attached carport. Currently tenanted at $430/wk to secure tenant, or vacant possession is available.

Hastings $559,000

1/2 Acre (approx) Luxury living...10 sq garage!!Offering space and privacy conveniently located in town. Modern 20sq

kitchen, meals and rumpus spilling out to the covered terrace and park-like rear garden. There are 3BRs & study (or 4th), gleaming modern kitchen with dishwasher, spa in main bathroom, full en suite, ducted cooling, heating and vac and alarm system. A shade sail covered garden retreat, water features,

Hastings $209,500

Town At Your DoorstepStep out your front door and enjoy the convenience of this prime location in a growing town. This entry level property would make the

bright kitchen facing the street, 2 large bedrooms with built-ins, electric heating and cooking and off street parking. It is currently returning $200 per week to an established tenant or vacant possession available.

Hastings $239,000

Walk To WaterBeautiful position, a leisurely stroll to the foreshore and marina and handy to the town centre. Set well back amid dappled shade, this tidy unit is on the front of a small 4 unit development. Features separate entry, open lounge with heat bank and a good sized kitchen. Two bedrooms with BIRs, separate bathroom, toilet and laundry and a lock up garage.

Hastings $297,000

Court PositionGreat 3BR home, located in the centre of town. Open living space

bedrooms have BIRs, the inviting kitchen has had a facelift and features electric cooking and breakfast bench to the meals area. The yard is a blank canvas. Other features include gas heating, carport & shed.

Hastings $347,500

At Last An Affordable First Home!!You will jump for joy when you see this delightful 5y.o. home, set in tidy native gardens in a popular new estate. Bright and open with fresh neutral dcor and lots of windows enjoying garden aspects. From a separate entry

easily to the covered deck and adjoining double remote garage. The kitchen is also a cheery, sunny room with plenty of cupboards.

Bittern $464,950

1,066m2 Perfect For Families.huge Workshop!!Set at the top of the quietest brick paved court, this perfect family property has space and then some. With a beautiful wide frontage you can spread out and enjoy the luxury of your garden surrounds. The stunning 4 bedroom home is freshly decorated and features 2 great sized living areas and meals. Well zoned bedrooms, main with full en suite and walk in robe, great sized kitchen with dishwasher.

Hastings FOR PUBLIC TENDER Offers over $950,000 considered

Bittern $850,000

Rural calling 20 AcresRoll up your sleeves, its time to seize the day and give your family a new lifestyle!! Set on the fringe of this rapidly growing area this could be the idyllic escape you seek. Once a vibrant horse training and agistment complex, this property has extensive infrastructure but needs plenty of maintenance to bring it back up to scratch. The existing timber homestead has loads of potential and features 3 bedrooms & study, 2 living zones and a huge

What an opportunity to secure a property like this at vacant land price!!

3.75 Acres Country living at its bestLifestyle without compromise is offered here at Stone gate on the fringe of Warrangine Park. A long driveway sweeps past native stands and reveals a stunning new home. Built for luxurious family living this beauty offers 32 squares of living with 4 bedrooms and study. Need space? How about a cavernous tiled lounge, separate home theatre/rumpus, family- meals and a show stopper kitchen featuring stone tops, 900mm gas range, dishwasher

aspects while other luxuries include; Ducted heat & vac, alarm system, alfresco area, high ceilings and double remote garage. Great opportunity for a family needing room for horses or lots of vehicles and sheds with a home that sparkles!

Tender form available on request. Closing date for tender Friday 4th May

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

REDUCEDBY $16,000


249 High Street Hastings, Victoria 3915www.peninsula parklands.com.au

A lifestyle village for the over 50s - Sell Your Existing Home+ Buy at Parklands= Reap the Financial Rewards

email us at [email protected] A.H. Brad Wilcox 0419 583 634

Need to sell your house prior to buying at Peninsula Parklands?Ask us how we can make it very simple and easy

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5979 2700

Bay West Real Estate (VIC) Pty. Ltd.87 High Street, Hastings Victoria 3915Ph: 03 5979 4412Fax: 03 5979 3097Email: [email protected]: www.baywestrealestate.com.au

HASTINGS $735,000 Negotiable

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For Sale 1 & 2/3 Turnbull Street, MorningtonOwn Titles, Super Location

Price Guide: $690,000 - $750,000Contact: Louise Varigos 0408 885 982

For Sale 17 Parwan Crescent, Mornington

This home is packed full of features and offers something for everyone! It is a neat home that will appeal to many buyers whether you are in the market for a family

formal entrance, 2 spacious living areas, 3 bedrooms, main with WIR and ensuite, main

plan kitchen, reverse cycle air condition-

schools, transport, beach and shops! Inspect today!

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For Sale 631 Esplanade, Mornington

Set directly in front of a beach-bound path and with sparkling bay views spread before you, this luxury beachside home and inground pool offers a privileged posi-tion and a lifestyle proposition too good to

gates, the exquisite four-bedroom residence delivers amazing space, designer style and impressive entertaining options featuring an extensive poolside deck as well as a viewing balcony where sunsets over the water are

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Price Guide: $1.38 - $1.42 millionContact: Louise Varigos 0408 885 982

For Sale 74 York Street, Mornington

This exceptional residence is a newly established bed & breakfast alternatively a stunning family home with a relaxed lifestyle to match the sun, sea & fresh air of the

loads of special features give this home

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Price Guide: $950,000 - $1,000,000Contact: Louise Varigos 0408 885 982

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For Sale 1/14-16 Lucerne Avenue, Mornington

This gorgeous home has been tastefully

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maintained 3 bedroom brick veneer home has a large open plan living area, good size

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To advertise in the commercial real estate section of Western Port News, contact Jason Richardson on 0421 190 318 or [email protected]

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Below replacement costOPERATING out of near-new premises, this Indian restaurant has 15 years remaining on its lease. A set of bifold doors open onto a patio area, with an outlook across parklands to the foreshore, which creates extra dining space during the warmer months. The restaurant has seating for 150 with scope to increase this to 200, which is in line with the current liquor licence. The business lends itself to corporate lunches and dinners with a full sound system, projector and visual display units, which are all included in the substantial chattels list. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Indian restaurant, HASTINGSPrice: $150,000Agency: Tallon First National Real Estate, 35 High Street, Hastings, 5979 3000Agent: Dominic Tallon, 0408 528 857

Zoned for Industrial 3ON Mornington-Tyabb Road with plenty of passing traffi c, this large warehouse with Industrial 3 zoning has many possibilities for mechanics, engineering or storage. The site measures 757 square metres (approx), is fenced and includes a small side yard and rear yard. The factory is 295 square metres with a heavy duty frame, Colorbond exterior and three-phase power. The roof height is 6 metres and the roller door height is 4.4 metres, making it suitable for shipping containers. The factory is also available for lease at $1550 pcm + GST and outgoings.

Factory, TYABBPrice: $320,000Agency: Tallon First National Real Estate, 35 High Street, Hastings, 5979 3000Agent: Dominic Tallon, 0408 528 857

Tip-top bottleshopCURRENTLY run under management, this liquor outlet is in a prominent position in the industrial estate of Dromana. The business demonstrates consistent takings and the rent is quite low. Excellent lease terms are on offer.

Bottleshop, DROMANAPrice: $245,000 plus SAVAgency: Kevin Wright Real Estate, 172 Main Street, Mornington, 5977 2255Agent: Russell Murphy, 0407 839 184

Blue-ribbon commercial siteFORMERLY known as Potts General Store, this Tyabb landmark is a signifi cant part of the town’s history. Offered for sale for only the second time in 97 years, the site offers a variety of options to the investor or developer. Set on a main arterial road, the site measures 560 square metres and consists of three dwellings, all on one title. This is a rare and very versatile commercial investment in the Western Port region with the eventual Port of Hastings redevelopment and Peninsula Link soon to open.

Address: 1529 Frankston-Flinders Road, TYABBAuction: Friday 18 May at 1pmAgency: L Cooper Real Estate, 1067 Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville, 5977 7766Agent: Phil Stone, 0412 226 758

House & Land PackageLive Near The Bay

Lot 16 John Coleman Close, Hastings MEL REF. 154 H7

Four bedroom home, ensuite & bathroomDouble garage and eavesTwo living areas & rumpus roomStainless steel appliances + dishwasher6 star energy ratingFencing and full drivewayAll connectionsLetterbox, clothesline, towel rails,

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Call Ellen or Chris on 5977 8194Amery Homes - The builder with the lot

pic not indicative of view from home

$428,850


Juice Bar

Sale Price: $195,000Contact: Russell Murphy 0407 839 184

For Sale – Karingal

Hair Raising Prospect

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For Sale – Portsea


For Sale –Rye


For Sale – Rye

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For Sale – Rosebud


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For Sale – Frankston

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For Sale – Mornington Peninsula


Sale Price $79,000 + SAVContact Russell Murphy 0407 839 184


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Superb Freehold Opportunity

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Stop the presses THIS home business was established about 30 years ago. All equipment is in good order and include a near new cutting machine, 6 stamping machines, a German made wire cutting machine and a fully automatic, hydraulically operated wire straightening and cutting machine and 6 hydraulic presses. This family business manufactures the wire attachments for store security clips. All assistance is offered to the new owners.Manufacturing, FRANKSTON SOUTHPrice: $100,000 + SAV Agency: Latessa Business Sales 50 Playne St, FrankstonAgent: Tony Latessa, 0412 525 151

Opportunity knocksA WELL-PRESENTED takeaway shop with seating inside for 8 customers and more outside. Trading hours are Monday to Friday 5.30am until 2.30pm. The premises has a coolroom and there is also an ATM. All equipment is in good working order and there is plenty of preparation area. This business has been established for about twenty and is located in a busy industrial estate. Opportunities like this are highly sought after. Industrial takeaway, CARRUM DOWNSPrice: $45,000 + SAVAgency: Latessa Business Sales 50 Playne St, FrankstonAgent: Tony Latessa, 0412 525 151

Western Port soldiers who served

Private Bernard Francis Wilson, 24th Battalion, of Flinders. Private Wilson enlisted on 12 August 1915. On 19 July 1916 he was reported missing in action at Fleurbaix in France during the Battle of Fromelles. He was later reported to have been killed by a prematurely exploding shell on 23 July. He has no known grave.

Private William Hay Young, 1st Reinforcements, 24th Battalion, of Pearcedale. Private Young enlisted on 17 April 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ceramic on 25 June 1915. He returned to Australia on 14 January 1919.

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Private Sydney Charles Myers Ward, 2nd Reinforcements, 31st Battalion, of Hastings. Private Ward enlisted on 14 July 1915 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Kyarra on 3 January 1916. He returned to Australia on 8 September 1919.

Private Montague Romeo, of Hastings, originally enlisted on 11 September 1914 and was discharged on 5 October 1914. He re-enlisted on 28 September 1916 and embarked for overseas on 23 November 1916. He was wounded in action on 20 September 1917. After recovering, he returned to France on 23 December 1917. He was killed in action near Strazeele, France, on 5 June 1918.

OUR ANZACS

Memorabilia for the most discerning collector...

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An iconic photograph of the 11th Battalion of

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T-BUNDLES™ VALUE THAT STACKS UP

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Gunner Arthur Norman Potts, 21st Howitzer Brigade. A butcher from Tyabb prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 7th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 25 October 1916. He transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade and then, due to sickness, to the Pay Corps where he was promoted to corporal. He returned to Australia on 9 March 1920.

Sergeant Hector Aeneas Sutherland, 8th Reinforcements, 24th Battalion, of Flinders. Sergeant Sutherland enlisted on 6 March 1915 and was later promoted to Second Lieutenant. He was wounded on 26 July 1916 at Pozieres, France, and returned to Australia on 16 October 1916.

OUR ANZACS


By Peter McCulloughJOHN Basilone was born in Buf falo, New York State, on 4 November 1916. Completing mid dle school at the age of 15, he dropped out prior to attending high school.

After working for a short time as a golf caddy at the local country club, Basilone enlisted in the army and completed his three year enlistment with service in the Philippines, where he was a champion boxer.

Back home he worked as a truck driver, but after a few months he wanted to go back to Manila. He believed he could get there faster as a marine than in the army. He enlisted in July 1940 and, after his initial training, was sent to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as a member of the 1st Marine Division.

While on Guadalcanal his fellow marines gave him the nickname “Manila John” due to his prior service in the Philippines.

The US and her Pacifi c allies Australia and New Zealand wanted to kick the Japanese off Guadalcanal to stop the threat to South Pacifi c supply lines. It was to be the fi rst major Allied offensive against the Empire of Japan, which had been slowing spreading out across the eastern hemisphere like the red and white starburst on its war banner.

The US-led forces landed on Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942, surprising the Japanese and seizing an airstrip called Henderson Field. But the Japanese clung on tenaciously and fought bloody battles against the Allies before fi nally relinquishing the island in February 1943.

It was in one of those fi erce counter-attacks on 24 October that John Basilone stepped up to the mark. A regiment of 3000 Japanese soldiers from the so-called “Courageous” Sendai Division defending the airport descended on John’s unit.

The Japanese forces began a frontal attack using machine guns, grenades and mortars against the American heavy machine guns.

Basilone led the defence with

two machine gun sections of about 15 men. They fought almost without a break for the next two days.

Basilone’s comrades were cut down around him until he was left with only two other marines fi ghting off wave after wave of enemy troops. He repaired a machine gun, helped move another one into position and maintained continual fi re until backup arrived.

Basilone took enemy fi re while running through the jungle to pick up more machine gun belts to keep his comrades supplied. By the time the next dawn broke he was fi ghting with just a machete and a .45 pistol. The Japanese regiment was laid to waste. About 3000 Japanese Banzai soldiers had been killed in the attack and the airfi eld

Balcombe’s link with US war hero

An American legend: John Basilone.

Balcombe Army CampTHE fi rst huts were erected at the Balcombe Army Camp in 1939 and although it was used by the Australian army, including the 39th Battalion prior to its departure for New Guinea and the Kokoda Track, it was used extensively by American forces for most of the war years.

After the war it was the home of the Australian Signals and Survey Corps until it moved to Watsonia in 1970. The Army Apprentices School was at Balcombe between 1948 and 1982 where plumbers, electricians, fi tters and turners, mechanics, carpenters and other trades were trained. The last building left Balcombe in August 1999 and the area is now an upmarket subdivision, a private school, an oval and a park. The latter features a boardwalk from the mouth of Balcombe Creek to the oval.

OUR ANZACS

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had been successfully defended.America had itself a new hero.For his actions during the battle,

Basilone would receive the United States military’s highest award for bravery, the Congressional Medal of Honor, signed by President Franklin D Roosevelt.

After Guadalcanal the 1st Marine Division came to Australia to “rest and refi t.”

Up to 30,000 men were accom-modated at Balcombe near Mt Martha.

Some of their rest was spent prac-tising beach landings from HMAS Manoora near cliffs at Dromana and McCrae. On 22 February the division participated in a parade past Melbourne Town Hall. More importantly, in a ceremony at Balcombe barracks on 21 May 1943, the division received a Presidential Citation for its epic battle at Guadalcanal. Two of its veterans, John Basilone and Mitchell Paige, were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

After receiving his medal, Basilone returned to the US to participate in a war bond tour.

Following a massive homecoming parade on 19 September 1943, he toured the country raising money for the war effort and achieved celebrity status.

Basilone became the living embodiment of bravery and the American fi ghting spirit. There were parades and parties in his name. From movie stars to city mayors, everybody wanted to meet the marine who had shown the Japanese could be broken.

But Basilone preferred standing behind a machine gun to posing in front of the cameras. He felt out of

place and requested a return to the operating forces fi ghting the war. After a number of his requests were refused, the Marine Corps eventually relented, but before he left for war again, Basilone was to fi nd love.

While he was posted at Camp Pendleton, where he trained marines for coming Pacifi c battles, he met Lena Riggi. She was also a marine sergeant (a reservist) who had one less stripe than John.

The two fell in love and Basilone realised he would likely have to leave Pendleton towards the summer of 1944. It wasn’t easy to balance their different schedules, yet he was determined to marry Lena before he returned to the Pacifi c.

“I wanted to know how it was to love somebody the way Pop loved Mama,” he said. “At least I wanted a few days, or weeks if I could get it, to know what it was like to be married. I wanted to be able to say ‘I love you’ a few times and mean it. Lena agreed to marry me. We set the date for July 10th, 1944.” As expected, Basilone shipped out one month after their wedding.

On his return to combat, Basilone was assigned to the 5th Marine Division, which was about to undertake the invasion of Iwo Jima.

On 19 February 1945 he was serving as a machine gun section leader in action against Japanese forces on Red Beach 11.

During the battle, the Japanese concentrated their fi re at the incoming Americans from heavily fortifi ed blockhouses staged throughout the island. With his unit pinned down, Basilone made his way around the side of the Japanese positions until he was directly on top of a blockhouse.

He then attacked with grenades and single-handedly destroyed the entire strong point and its defending garrison.

He went on to fi ght his way toward

the airfi eld and aided an American tank that was trapped in an enemy minefi eld under intense mortar and artillery barrages.

He guided the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety despite heavy fi re from the Japanese.

As he moved along the edge of the airfi eld he was killed by Japanese mortar shrapnel.

His actions helped marines penetrate the Japanese defence and get off the landing beach during the

Devastation: Above, the Japanese transport Kinugawa Maru wrecked on Guadalcanal in November 1943. Right, a United States propaganda poster of John Basilone during the war. Basilone is remembered to this day in statues and war monuments.

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critical early stages of the invasion. For his valour during the battle of Iwo

Jima, John Basilone was posthumously approved for the Marine Corps’ second highest decoration for bravery, the Navy Cross, and became the most highly decorated marine in war who had been killed at Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted marine to receive the Purple Heart, Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.

He was later interred in Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.

It was on her 32nd birthday that Lena

learned her husband had been killed in action when she received a telegram:

“Deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, USMC, was killed in action February 19, 1945 at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, in the performance of his duty and service to his country. When information is received regarding burial, you will be notifi ed. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.”

The telegram was sent in the name of General Alexander Vandegrift, who had been Basilone’s commanding offi cer

Bravery rewarded: Left, 1st Marine Division Medal of Honor ceremony at Balcombe on 21 May 1943. The photo shows the fi rst marines of the division to receive America’s highest honour in the Second World War. From left, Major General A A Vandegrift, Colonel Merritt Edson, Second Lieutenant Mitchell Paige and Sergeant John Basilone. Centre, Sergeant Basilone being presented with his medal at Balcombe. Right, Basilone wearing his Congressional Medal of Honor.

How Basilone won the Medal of HonorTHE President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John Basilone, United States Marine Corps, for service as set forth in the following citation:“For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942.

While the enemy was hammering at the marines’ defensive positions, Sergeant Basilone, in charge of two sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault.

In a fi erce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fi re, one of Sergeant Basilone’s sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only two men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fi re, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived.

A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sergeant Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment.

His great personal valour and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service.

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at Guadalcanal. It was he who had presented Basilone with his Medal of Honor at Balcombe.

Because Lena was Basilone’s closest family member, she received the $10,000 life insurance payout given to the families of all American serviceman who had died as a result of war injuries. She promptly gave it to the Basilone family.

Lena never remarried. She survived him by 54 years. When she died in 1999, Lena was still wearing the wedding ring her beloved “Johnny” had given her. Her grave is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. She had declined the government’s offer of a burial spot near her husband at Arlington.

Resting place: John Basilone’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, US.

How Basilone wonHow Basilone wonthe Navy Crossthe Navy CrossTHE President of the United States takes pride in present-ing the Navy Cross posthumously to Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, United States Marine Corps, for service as set forth in the following citation:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japa-nese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945.

Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company’s advance was held up by the concentrated fi re of a heavily fortifi ed Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone boldly defi ed the smashing bom-bardment of heavy calibre fi re to work his way around the fl ank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single-handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison.

Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfi eld Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine fi eld under intense mor-tar and artillery barrages, skilfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelm-ing volume of hostile fi re.

In the forefront of the assault at all times, he pushed forward with dauntless courage and iron determination until, moving upon the edge of the airfi eld, he fell, instantly killed by a bursting mortar shell.

Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifi ce in the face of the fanatic opposition, con-tributed materially to the advance of his company during the early critical period of the assault, and his unwavering devo-tion to duty throughout the bitter confl ict was an inspiration to his comrades and refl ects the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Basilone and the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.For the President, James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy.

Sombre duty: Lena Basilone taking part in the launch of the destroyer that bears the name of her late husband, war hero John Basilone. Below, the USS Basilone.

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Four airmen killed when bomber fl ew into fog-bound Arthurs SeatArthurs Seat has been the scene of two RAAF aircraft crashes. The fi rst was an Avro Anson A4 on 10 August 1938, resulting in the loss of four lives and only one survivor. The second was a Bristol Beaufort A9-64 on 12 July 1942, with all four crewmen killed. This is the story of the Avro Anson crash.

ON 10 August 1938, fi ve RAAF Avro Anson A4 bombers from No. 2 Squadron based at Point Cook were on navigational exercises.

The aircraft followed a short trian-gular course with Port Phillip, West-ern Port and the Gellibrand light-house at Williamstown as the three points.

Due to worsening weather, the bombers had been recalled to Point Cook and four had landed.

Mid-morning the air force was given the tragic news that A4-29 had crashed into the northwestern face of Arthurs Seat. Four men had been killed and one had miraculously sur-vived.

At 9.45am, while fl ying in low cloud over Arthurs Seat, A4-29 had mysteriously crashed into the 300-metre high mountain.

The front of the aircraft was com-

pletely demolished after ploughing through trees, but the tail and mid sections were reasonably intact.

The survivor was the turret gun-ner, James Glover, who was in the rear half of the aircraft. Aircrafts-

man Glover, a 31-year-old rigger of Hawthorn, had sustained abrasions and was in severe shock. He was admitted to Dromana Bush Nursing Hospital.

Killed were Pilot Offi cer Stanley

Robert Symonds, aged 22 years, of Adelaide; Flight Sergeant John Mahon Gillespie, 28, of St Kilda; Aircraftsman Kenneth Campbell McKerrow, 23, of Carnegie; and Air-craftsman Robert Windram Mawson,

28, of Turramurra, NSW.Their deaths brought to 10 the

number of airmen killed that year, a record in peace time Australia.

A dense fog and drizzling rain limited visibility to about 30 metres (100ft) on Arthurs Seat when the plane roared in from the sea. Lopping the tops of the taller trees with its wing tips, the bomber crashed about 200 metres (600ft) up the mountain.

The crash was heard by residents of Dromana about six and a half kilo-metres (four miles) away.

Men working on the main road only 400 metres from the scene were fi rst to reach the wreckage, about four minutes after the crash.

They found the pilot dead and three other men unconscious near the An-son. A fi fth member of the crew was seen struggling from the cabin.

The fi rst to reach the plane, G J Griffi ths, said that he saw Glover emerge from the gun turret, struggle through the wreckage of the observa-tion cabin, and stagger to the side of one of the men lying on the ground. Glover was suffering from abrasions and severe shock, and was bleeding profusely from a cut on the chin.

Nothing could be done for the three unconscious men, and they died

Bomber command: Avro Anson bombers, including the ill-fated A4-29 of the RAAF’s No. 2 Squadron. A4-29 fl ew into Arthurs Seat on 10 August 1938. Killed were Flight Sergeant John Gillespie, Pilot Offi cer Robert Symonds, and Aircraftsmen Kenneth McKerrow and Robert Mawson. Turret gunner James Glover miraculously survived. Picture courtesy Australian War Memorial

Turret gunner miraculous survivorTurret gunner miraculous survivor


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within 10 minutes without having regained consciousness. They were pronounced dead by Dr A J MacDonald, of Dromana, who ar-rived 20 minutes after the accident.

Mr J Webb, who was working lower down on the mountain about 1200 metres from the crash scene, said he heard an air-craft above him, but it was obscured by low clouds.

He said the Anson suddenly appeared through the cloud and was fl ying inland. A few seconds later he heard the crash and hurried to the wreck.

Fragments of the plane were scattered along a path the Anson had torn through the trees for a distance of 125 metres down the mountain.

The cabin, built of fabric on a steel frame with celluloid windows, took the full force of the crash and was almost completely crushed. This was where the four men had been seated.

The four bodies were found where they had been fl ung in the direct line of fl ight of the bomber. The pilot’s body had been hurled more than 30 metres from the air-craft. A second man was found 15 metres in front of the wreckage, another about 10 metres away and the fourth was lying near a tree almost next to the aircraft.

Instruments from the cabin, including the wireless, were scattered about seven metres from the wreckage.

The starboard engine was fl ung about seven metres after the Anson struck the ground, and the port engine had been stopped by a tree about three metres behind the cabin.

Pieces of the wings hung in the treetops further down Arthurs Seat.

One indication of the terrifi c speed with which the bomber hit the ground was boots worn by the dead men had been ripped off their feet.

Another eyewitness, Robert Williams, said he heard the aircraft fl ying low south of Dromana at about 9.45am.

Broken branches indicated the Anson had struck trees more than 100 metres from where the wreckage lay.

Early inquiries into the crash revealed there was no engine trouble or structural fault in the bomber.

Minister for Defence Harold Thorby, af-ter expressing his regret at the accident, said

that the RAAF Air Accidents Investigation Committee had reported the engines of the bomber were running immediately prior to the crash and there was no sign of engine failure having occurred.

“It was a most tragic accident,” he said. “On the facts as they have been reported to me, it appears that no defect of the machine was responsible. It was sheer bad luck.”

Direction fi nding equipment was installed in the plane, but it was later shown the pilot had not called for a bearing.

Members of the investigation committee arrived at the crash site within three hours of the disaster.

They inspected the wreckage, interviewed the men who reached the site fi rst and spoke to Glover at Dromana Hospital.

It was reported in the press the next day that because the men’s shoes and para-chutes had been removed and the emergen-cy raft had been infl ated the pilot must have thought he was fl ying over water.

This theory was later discounted by mem-bers of the investigation committee.

They said the raft had automatically in-fl ated when the aircraft crashed and shoes had probably been torn from the men’s feet when they were hurled through the roof of the cabin.

Offi cial details of the fl ight of RAAF bombers from Laverton were made public a few days after the crash.

It was offi cially reported to the Air Board that fi ve Avro Anson bombers attached to No. 2 squadron at Laverton had been en-gaged in a navigational reconnaissance course.

After the fi rst “circuit”, it was intended to repeat the exercise with the second pilot of each crew in control, but owing to weather conditions near the completion of the fi rst exercise, the bombers were recalled. The plane that crashed had apparently received the call and was turning back.

A further report to the Air Board after a cursory examination of the wreckage stated there had been no engine failure.

Later it was reported: “It is believed the committee will report that an investigation disclosed no failure of the engines, which were running when the aircraft crashed and no other structural faults which might have explained the accident.

“The committee has been unable to deter-mine whether the altimeter was operating effi ciently, because it was smashed in the accident. The committee is likely to suggest that the pilot of the machine was not aware that he was fl ying over land immediately before the crash, and that the low clouds were probably responsible for the course the plane was taking.”

At the inquest conducted by Melbourne coroner Mr A C Tingate, Aircraftsman Glover said the Avro Anson bomber left the airbase at 8.55am.

He was in the rear gunner’s cockpit. Flight Sergeant Gillespie was the pilot and Pilot Offi cer Symonds was navigator. McK-errow was wireless operator, Mawson was the fi tter and Glover was there for general repairs if they were required.

Mr Glover told the coroner he and Air-craftsman Mawson inspected the plane and its engines for effi ciency and airworthiness before departure.

(Mawson was the only son of Dr Wil-liam Mawson and a nephew of Sir Douglas Mawson, the Antarctic explorer.)

Glover said the bomber circled the aero-drome twice to enable the wireless opera-tor to make contact with the ground. The aircraft then headed for Williamstown pier at a height of 2000 feet (610 metres), made a right turn, headed down Port Phillip, and climbed to about 3000 feet (915 metres).

On reaching Point Nepean, the aircraft

Grim discovery: The wreckage of Avro Anson A4-29 after it crashed into fog-bound Arthurs Seat. The front of the bomber was completely demolished after ploughing through trees, but the tail and mid sections were reasonably intact. Picture courtesy Australian War Museum, donated by H Smith

The four bodies were found where they had been fl ung in the direct line of fl ight of the bomber. The pilot’s body had been hurled more than 30 metres from the aircraft. A second man was found 15 metres in front of the wreck-age, another about 10 metres away and the fourth was lying near a tree almost next to the aircraft.


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made a left turn and after having travelled some distance entered a cloud bank.

“The visibility was so bad that I could not see the cabin or outside the plane,” Glover said in his evidence.

“After being in cloud for about four minutes at the normal cruising speed of 130 miles an hour [210km/h] we suddenly emerged. Directly in front of us and only a short distance away I saw trees and a hill.

“I knew a crash was unavoidable and I gripped the seat with both hands. I remember the plane crashing into the trees and the hillside; I was stunned. Later I remember climbing out of the plane, which was badly wrecked

“The four other members of the crew had been thrown out of the plane. I saw McKerrow about 80 feet away. He appeared to be dead. Mawson was about 10 feet away from the plane. He was conscious and said ‘I am pretty bad’. He died in my presence a few minutes later.

“I saw Symonds about 40 feet from the plane. He appeared to be dead. Gillespie was lying about 20 feet from the plane and he appeared to have been killed outright.”


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Glover said that up to the time of the crash the plane was fl ying per-fectly.

Rupert Moorehead, an estate agent of Latrobe Parade, Dromana, gave evidence that he was in his backyard with his wife when he heard an aircraft approaching from the sea.

Because of the fog, which was the worst that he had seen for some time, he did not see the aircraft un-til it was directly overhead. He saw the dim outline of the plane about 50 feet (15 metres) overhead. The aircraft disappeared in a straight line towards Arthurs Seat.

He said to his wife “My God, that plane will crash”. The words were hardly out of his mouth when he heard a crash.

First Constable Holland of Dro-mana told the coroner that he ex-amined the path cut by the aircraft in the trees. The aircraft had struck light trees at a height of about 25 feet (7.6m) and had continued in a downward direction. Other trees about 18 inches (45cm) in diameter had been broken before it struck the ground at a point 150 feet (45m) from where it had fi rst touched the trees.

After striking the ground, the air-craft had continued on for another 120 feet (36m). Light rain had fall-en that morning and Arthurs Seat was enveloped in a heavy fog.

Pilot Offi cer Gordon Waters Sav-age, the offi cer commanding A Flight No 2 Squadron at Laverton, told the coroner he was acting ad-

jutant on the day the aircraft left on its fl ight.

He produced written orders for the fl ight and read a statement de-tailing the course on which the navigator had been instructed to fl y. A pilot’s duty, he said, was to pilot the craft as the navigator instructed him.

Mr Tíngate asked: “What hap-pens if they are lost in the clouds?”

Pilot Offi cer Savage replied: “By the use of the direction-fi nding wireless bearings they can go right back to Laverton.”

Savage produced a copy of the wireless log. Asked by Mr Tín-gate if the crew had asked for their course, he said there was no record of this.

At the inquest, Inspector McMil-lan assisted the coroner; Squad-ron Leader Knox Knight, of the RAAF’s No. 2 Squadron, appeared in the interests of the air force; Mr R V Monshan represented the wid-ow and relatives of Gillespie; and Mr F G Marrie represented the rela-tives of Mawson.

Mr Tíngate found the four occu-pants were killed when the aircraft accidentally struck Arthurs Seat. “I am unable to say just how the plane came to be on the course that it was on,” he said, “but I am quite satis-fi ed that the collision was acciden-tal.”

The crash caused great conster-nation around the nation as it was the second air tragedy with multiple deaths that year, the fi rst being near the RAAF’s air base at Richmond

in NSW when three airmen were killed.

In the federal parliament, ALP leader John Curtin, who was to become Prime Minister in 1941 during the dark days of the Second World War, called for fuller inquir-ies into air accidents.

He said the Arthurs Seat crash, unfortunately, added force to the Labor Party’s contention that the Air Accidents Investigation Com-mittee should have as one of its members a person with magisterial experience.

“I have always held the view that these inquiries should be open to the public,” Mr Curtin said.

“Failing that, I consider that the presence of some person with cross-examination capacity (other than from within the Department of Defence) would excite greater public confi dence in the Air Acci-dents Investigation Committee and would quash the growing belief that these inquiries merely apply ‘whitewash’ to the department.

“It is certainly remarkable that, despite the number of fatal mishaps to RAAF planes, no statement has been made by the Minister for De-fence of corrective measures adopt-ed; there have been no changes (as far as I am aware) in the personnel of those charged with the control of the Air Force and, in brief, nothing has been done which would allay public disquietude as to the state of affairs existing within the Air Force.”

Four good menFour good menPILOT Offi cer Symonds of Adelaide joined the RAAF in 1937. He entered the Flying Training School at Point Cook in July and graduated in June the following year. He had been transferred to Laverton air station not long before the crash.

Symonds played lacrosse, was regarded as one of the best defenders in Aus-tralia and had represented South Australia in interstate games.

After moving to Victoria, he played for Malvern, which won the state pre-miership in 1937.

The coffi n containing the body of Pilot Offi cer Symonds was placed on the Adelaide Express. The funeral service was held at the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide

Before being placed on the train, the coffi n was placed on a trailer and cov-ered with a Union Jack on which rested the hat and sword of Pilot Offi cer Symonds. A mourning party of 35 offi cers and cadets followed the trailer from the mortuary chapel of E W Jackson in Williamstown to Spencer Street Sta-tion.

The Minister for Defence, Harold Thorby, was represented by Squadron Leader A M Charlesworth, while wreaths were sent by Mr Thorby, the air board, and from the No. 1 and No. 2 Air Squadrons at Laverton and Point Cook.

Flight Sergeant John Gillespie joined the RAAF in July 1936 and graduated in June 1937. He had 360 hours of fl ying to his credit in offi cial records.

Full air force honours were accorded at the funerals of Gillespie and McKer-row, which were held on the same day.

Gillespie’s funeral was at Melbourne General Cemetery and followed a req-uiem mass at the Carmelite Church in Middle Park, which was conducted by RAAF Roman Catholic chaplain Flight Lieutenant Chaplain K Morrison.

As the long cortege following the fl ag-draped coffi n approached the entrance to the cemetery, an Avro Anson bomber fl ew overhead and twice dipped its wings in salute with its motors silenced before returning to Point Cook.

The service for Aircraftsman McKerrow was held at Brighton Cemetery. A fi ring party was at the graveside, where the service was conducted by Chaplain Morrison, assisted by the Rev Father Dillon.

An air force bomber circled high overhead at the cemetery. Earlier, the fu-neral procession had left the home of his parents in Neerim Road, Glenhuntly. Draped with a Union Jack, the coffi n was carried on an air force tender. The cortege, headed by the band of the RAAF, was met at the cemetery gates by a guard of honour, the members of which stood with reversed arms.

The funeral of Aircraftsman Robert Mawson, who was educated at Cran-brook School and Sydney Grammar School, was held at the Melbourne Cre-matorium in Fawkner.

He was cremated and the ashes sent to Sydney for burial in a family vault.


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Three go to war and one returns: the story of Mornington’s Somers ‘boys’By Peter McCulloughWHEN the “Great War” ended in 1918, Australia had a population of less than fi ve million. During the pre-vious four years about 500,000 Aus-tralians wore some type of uniform and few families were untouched by events in distant lands.

For 61,000 families, telegrams de-livered the tragic news that a loved one had been lost. Some families had the misfortune to suffer bad news more than once: the Somers family of Mornington was one of those.

Dr J L Edgeworth Somers was a much-loved and highly respected doctor in Mornington in the late 19th and early 20th century. He died in 1938. Three of his sons enlisted during the First World War, but two never returned.

This story comes from records at the Australian War Memorial and the book Our Boys at the Front, pub-lished last year by the Mornington and District Historical Society.

SOMERS, Noel Travers EdgeworthEnlisted 14/12/1914; killed in action 8/8/1915.

Noel was a 21-year-old bank clerk and stated on enlistment that he had prior service, namely “Cadet Royal Navy 2 years” and “3 years OIC Stonyhurst College”. He was in the 5th Reinforcements of the 14th Bat-

talion, which left Melbourne on the Hororata on 17 April 1915, arriving at the Dardanelles on 9 July.

On 8 August he was reported miss-ing at Gallipoli: was he killed or had he been captured by the Turks? It would be a year before the answer was known.

On 6 September 1915, Dr Somers wrote to the army enquiring as to “… the circumstances under which my son is posted as missing, and if you would give me your private opin-ion as to his chances of being alive and well though a prisoner, or to the greater likelihood of his being dead and not being discovered or identi-fi ed. My boy had two chums named Friend and Greenwood (14th Bat-talion). Could I possibly have their relatives’ names and addresses so as through them to make some enquir-ies.”

The names and addresses were supplied.

In January 1916 the youngest son, Gervase Somers, wrote to the army stating that a list of prisoners cap-tured by the Turks had been pub-lished in The Argus, but his brother’s name was not among them; was an-other list likely to appear?

Although the Anzacs left Gallipoli in December 1915, the fate of Noel Somers remained unknown.

Eventually a court of enquiry con-

ducted by 4th Infantry Brigade AIF Headquarters sitting in Serapeum, Egypt, issued a determination on 7 July 1916.

Although Noel Somers’s body was never found, the fi nding was based on a document submitted by the Aus-tralian Red Cross Information Bu-reau in Melbourne:

“Sgt M P Connelley, 1079, 14th Btn, states that he was Sgt of the pla-

toon of which Somers was a mem-ber and was about 100 yards off when the casualty was wounded on the 8th August. They had advanced from trenches two days before near Suvla Bay, two miles inland. Inform-ant saw the casualty hit and could not tell how badly he was hurt but by the way he fell he considered that he was hit through the body. The coy. did not advance beyond the point where the

casualty fell, or if they did advance, it was very little. They then retired and the casualty was left there with about 65 of the Btn. either wounded or killed. As far as informant knows the bodies of the dead were not col-lected by either side. Names of pris-oners taken at that fi ght have been announced and the list did not in-clude that of the casualty. Informant seemed reliable.”

Local news for local peopleWe stand as the only locally owned and operated

community newspaper on the Peninsula.We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community

newspaper is essential to a strong community.We exist to serve residents, community groups and

businesses and ask for their support in return.

Editor: Keith Platt, 0439 394 707Journalists: Mike Hast and Jo Winterbottom, 5979 8564Photographer: Yanni, 0419 592 594Advertising Sales: Val Bravo, 0407 396 824Real Estate Account Manager: Jason Richardson, 0421 190 318Production and graphic design: Stephanie Loverso, Tonianne DelaneyPublisher: Cameron McCullough

Proudly published by Mornington Peninsula News Group Pty. Ltd

PHONE: 1300 MPNEWS (1300 676 397)Published weekly. Circulation: 15,000

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: David Harrison, Barry Irving, Cliff Ellen, Frances Cameron, Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Gary Turner, Peter Ellis, Casey Franklin, Fran Henke, Matt Vowell.ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915Email: [email protected] Web: www.mpnews.com.au

We are indebted to all those that made this special edition of The News possible. We must also acknowledge three main sources of information and inspiration: The Australian War Memorial, The National Archives of Australia, and the book “Our Boys at the Front” published by Mornington and District Historical Society.

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By 29 September, Dr Somers had received a package contain-ing his son’s effects: postcards, hairbrush and letters. Over the next few years he received Noel’s medals, the memorial scroll and memorial plaque.

Sometimes the offi cial records throw up a piece of information that leaves the reader guessing.

Noel Somers stated in his en-listment papers that he was not married and listed his father as next of kin. When Dr Som-ers wrote on 6 September 1915 asking for the home addresses of Noel’s chums, Dr Somers concluded his letter: “It is Mrs Somers special wish that the news of whatever kind when it comes should be communicated

direct to me and not through the medium of another person.”

However three days earlier (3 September 1915) the Offi cer Commanding of the Australian Records Section of the AIF in Alexandria received the follow-ing instruction:

“In the event of any casu-alty to No. 2015 Private N T E Somers, 14th Battalion, will you please notify his wife, Sis-ter Somers, Military Hospital, Grand Hotel, Helouan.”

All of his effects, medals, etc were sent to his father as next of kin.

Also, while service records of other soldiers contain a very ba-sic will, this was missing from the fi le of Noel Somers.

SOMERS, Gervase Louis Enlisted 16/5/1917; killed in action 12/10/1918.

An 18-year-old student, Ger-vase had to get permission from his parents to enlist as he was not 21.

He, too, claimed experience in the Sea Cadets (two years) and he was posted as part of the 9th Reinforcements for 60th Battalion.

It was May 1918 before he arrived in France and where he transferred to the 59th Bat-talion. After a spell in hospital with infl uenza and attending the Australian Corps School, he was selected to go to England for an infantry cadet course in October 1918.

High price: Left, the Red Cross report stating the circumstances of the death of Noel Travers Edgeworth Somers. Above, the battlefi eld at Gallipoli where Noel Somers was killed. Picture courtesy the C E W Bean Collection. Right, the memorial board donated by Mrs Somers with the names of her two sons. Gervase Edgeworth Somers was a late addition to the board, tragically killed just before the end of the war.

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Sadly he was killed before depart-ing and was buried in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, near St Quentin in France.

By May 1919 Dr Somers was sign-ing for a package of personal effects: address book, leather cigarette case, leather card case, notebook, paper knife, silver spoon, wallet, cards, and photos.

In July a separate package arrived with a pocket book, and then came medals and the memorial scroll and plaque.

Photographs of the grave were also supplied.

SOMERS, Neville EdgeworthEnlisted 26/1/1917: discharged 25/3/1919.

A 21-year-old medical student, Neville claimed four years in the Sea Cadets as relevant experience. After training at No. 5 Australian General Hospital he embarked on 10 May 1917, reaching Suez on 20 June.

Originally allocated to the Camel Field Ambulance, he was consid-ered surplus to requirements and transferred to the 1st Light Horse Ambulance and saw out the war in Palestine.

Like many others in that campaign,

Neville did not escape the scourge of malaria. The Peninsula Post of 31 January 1919 tells of an incident he experienced earlier. It reported: “Some months ago a horse he was riding was killed by a shell which burst nearby, and although Trooper Somers narrowly escaped death, he suffered severely from shock for some time and has since been in hos-pital with malaria for two months.”

This incident may be the explana-tion for his misdemeanour on 3 Feb-ruary when he was fi ned for “offen-sive language to an NCO”.

Trooper Somers embarked for

Australia on 26 January 1919 and was discharged on 25 March with the intention of resuming his uni studies.

Did Neville Somers complete his medical studies? His service record gives no indication.

The next document on his fi le, after his discharge papers, was a letter written in 1945 to the Offi cer-in-Charge, AIF Base Records in Canberra, requesting a copy of his statement of service.

By now he was using his full name, “Neville Essex Edgeworth de Firmont Somers”. It is understandable that it was not revealed to the boys in the

Camel Corps or in the Light Horse.Neville’s letter requesting a copy

of his statement of service explained politely and in some detail that while serving as an RAF offi cer in Singapore in 1942, he had to depart in something of a hurry. His personal papers and other effects were to follow by sea, but he never saw them again. He even enclosed a stamp in case the army was short of petty cash.

The letter, containing all the details, was not acceptable to the army; “Trooper Somers”, as he was referred to, was required to fi ll out the detailed statuary declaration to

Words from the past: Left, a letter explaining death of Gervase Somers. Above, the Frankston Standard of 25 January 1945 published a snippet that revealed Neville Somers made it through the war after some lucky escapes.


OUR ANZACS

155 Marine Parade, Hastings. Ph: 5979 1740www.hastingsclub.com.au

HASTINGS FOOTBALL CLUBThe late forties – a golden era

The resumption of MPFL football in 1946, proved to be one of the most exciting and successful periods in the long and proud overall history of the Hastings Football Club. Comprising champions such as Bob Stone, the Coleman brothers Albert and John, Les Tolson, Jack Roberts and captain-coach George Slocombe. These players were to provide the nucleus of three successive premierships 1946-7-8.

The 1948 HFC Premiership side which went through the year undefeated were not only a team of champions but also a champion team. Although he did not play until 1947, this overall period was known as the “Coleman era”, and the late great

John Coleman went on to become an AFL legend and one of the all-time “greats” of the game.

Four only members of the historical 1948 team remain alive today and for the staunch football followers who can remember, the overall grief and sadness of the war period was soon forgotten and replaced by the joy and success of the Hastings Football Club’s late forties football dominance.

Victor Jeremiah

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The heartbroken Somers parents

which was attached a form with a number of questions. Even then there was no guarantee of a favourable response; only “... further consideration will be given to the matter”.

Although the covering page contained all the necessary detail, the army asked Neville to “... detail the circumstances under which the papers were lost”.

Probably mouthing a few of the words that got him into so much trouble in Palestine in 1918, the old trooper wrote “Act of God”.

Even the army baulked at the thought of questioning the act of the Supreme Being, and the request was acceded to.

Dr James Louis Edgeworth SomersThe father of the three soldiers was a larger

than life characters in Mornington and the wid-er peninsula community for many years.

In The Bush – A story of the Mornington Bush Nursing Hospital by Hilary Abeyaratne, we are given an insight into his contribution:

“Pioneer practitioner” was the term used by The Peninsula Post to describe Dr J L Edg-worth Somers when he was, on account of his long and meritorious service in the area, given the honour of addressing the gathering at the opening of the hospital in 1937. In practice on the peninsula since 1892, one of its best known and respected citizens, Dr Somers was still amazingly fi t at 75 when he died most suddenly and unexpectedly, “a grand old gentleman and an ornament to the medical profession”.

He was loved as a doctor given to great skill in diagnosis, and also highly respected as the chairman of the local justices. In fact, the day before he died he presided over the cases listed at the local police court for the morning, did one set of his medical rounds soon after, an-other in the afternoon and again one that night, apparently in perfect health.

He is also remembered for the white horse on which he made his calls (although he later owned both a motorcycle and a car) and for the pack of noisy dogs that accompanied them to herald his arrival.

Dr Somers’s story before coming to Morn-ington is “most remarkable and romantic”. The son of a doctor in Ireland, he was, at 19, the youngest at that time in the British Empire to obtain his BA (Cantab) before going on for his clinical studies at St Mary’s Hospital, London.

In the years between his graduation and his coming to Mornington at the age of 30, he had had a most adventurous life. He was serving as a surgeon at Fort Juby in West Africa when he was attacked and badly wounded by maraud-

ers; he was rescued by a friendly Arab tribe with whom he remained for the next couple of years, living as an Arab.

Later, he lived and practised in South Amer-ica and Spain before coming to Australia in 1890 where he fi rst toured Queensland on foot before coming to Victoria and Mornington.

He served the town for 45 years, never miss-ing his daily swim at the baths, in winter or summer, until a couple of years before he died in his sleep at his home, Tarfayah, in Albert Street on 17 February 1938.

Shortly after his death the citizens of Morn-ington erected a cairn and sundial. It was dedi-cated on 16 July 1939 by Sir George Fairbairn and the inscription reads: “This sundial is set here in memory of a beloved physician, James Louis Edgeworth Somers, who ministered to the sick of the Mornington Peninsula from 1893 to 1938.”Frances Mabel Edgeworth Somers

Mrs Somers was the daughter of Dr Joseph P Usher of Ballarat and a cousin of Dr Somers. Apart from three boys, the family also included two girls: Florence Ruth Edgeworth Somers and Monica Mary Patricia Edgeworth Somers.

Mrs Somers shared the “intense anxiety” that Dr Somers referred to in one of his letters to the AIF when they were waiting on news of Noel.

On 15 June 1917, The Peninsula Post wrote in its editorial that “The memory of Pte. Som-ers is kept alive in St Macartan’s Church by two beautiful silver vases, suitably inscribed, pre-sented by Mrs Somers ...”.

In a letter to The Post in November, 1917, Mrs Somers said she was to make a presenta-tion to the Shire of Mornington of a memorial board of the fallen of the district, as a “small personal gift”, and expressed the hope that a more enduring marble memorial would be erected after the war to which she would con-tribute.

On 22 December the memorial board was offi cially presented by Mrs Somers before “a large assemblage of relatives and friends”.

It was described as “beautifully carved by an English artist (a brother of an Imperial Offi cer) ...” and bearing the names of 20 boys from the district.

It was unveiled with great ceremony by His Excellency Sir John Maddern, Lt Governor, whose stirring speech was reported in The Post on 4 January 1918:

“The noblest feelings of humanity which are theirs, adorned their character and their sacri-fi ce, and so our grief was assuaged in the pride of their heroic deeds.”

Sadly, more grief lay ahead for the Somers family with the death of Gervase toward the end of the war. His name was added to the board, which can be viewed at the Mornington RSL, beside that of his brother.

The grief of Mrs Somers was made more tan-gible by a poem she wrote entitled “My Son” and published in The Post after the war:

Little one with deep blue eyesLike shadows on the azure skiesSun kissed curls that seemed to danceDo you really lie in France?Son whose eyes ever grew darker blue, Hair that lost its golden hue,Eyes which looked with open glance,Do you really lie in France?Soldier son who left that dayKissed me softly seemed so gayI wonder do you know perchanceMy broken heart lies too in France. Our Boys at the Front: 1914-18 The Morn-ington Peninsula at war from the pages of the Peninsula Post is an excellent resource for anyone interested in this period of history. It in-cludes a DVD and is available from bookshops and newsagents on the peninsula.

Forgotten memorial: A sundial atop a cairn was erected in the memory of Dr James Somers. Today it stands largely forgotten in a small park on the corner of the Nepean Highway and Main St in Mornington.


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By Matt VowellARTHUR Ernest Bolger joined the Australian Imperial Force on 2 November, 1914. He was born in Carlton in 1893 and was given up for adoption soon after he was

born. He was sent to the Ragged Boys’ Home in Frankston, which was a place for underprivileged orphan boys.

When the boys’ home was shut down in 1901, he was adopted by

Charlotte and Matthew Bolger of Frankston residents.

Charlotte Bolger was the former matron of the boys’ home who had cared for Bolger since he was six weeks old.

Frankston orphan killed at Gallipoli

Ultimate sacrifi ce: Arthur Ernest Bolger and, right, HMAT Berrima, the troopship that took Bolger to war.

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Hellhole: Above and right, Quinn’s Post, where Arthur Bolger was killed two days after the fi rst landing at Gallipoli. Right, the memorial to Arthur Bolger at Quinn’s Post Cemetery.

After completing his schooling in Frankston, Bolger got a job as a labourer. He never married and was single when he enlisted and went to war.

He joined the AIF at Warragul on 2 November 1914 and passed all physical tests.

He enlisted as a private in the 14th Battalion.

Bolger embarked for Gallipoli on board HMAT Berrima on 22 December the same year.

He was serving near Quinn’s Post at Gallipoli when he was killed in action

on 27 April 1915, two days after the landing.

On that fateful day, Bolger was in one of two companies of the battalion lead by Major John Adams that were sent to Quinn’s Post.

At arrival, the commanding offi cer was shot and severely wounded by Turkish machine gun fi re.

Returning fi re was futile as the Turks were well concealed in the ‘dig-ins’ of the rough terrain. Twenty-seven men lost their lives in the battle, nearly a third of the men of the 14th Battalion, including Arthur.

Just after midnight, Chaplain Frederick Wray made his way up to Quinn’s Post and buried the 27 dead soldiers in the cold and dark, at the Quinn’s Post Cemetery.

Arthur Bolger was 21. Charlotte Bolger received

Arthur’s war medals and certifi cate of death since she was his only next of kin.

She was advised that a special memorial would be erected at Quinn’s Post with the inscription “Believed to be buried at this cemetery. He gave God’s greatest gift to man; his life.”


JOHN Phillips, owner and operator of Hastmotors, at 44 Glendale Ave, Hastings, served in the Australian Army reserves unit. He en-listed in 1996, completed ba-sic training at Army Recruit Training Centre in Kapooka, NSW, and marched out in February 1997.

He was then posted to 2/10 Artillery Regiment at Dandenong to work with fi eld gun detachments before being reassigned to Head-quarters Battery 2/10 Field Regiment in St Kilda as a craftsman vehicle mechanic with the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

During fi eld training, be-

ing able to apply the skills of his trade helped in the event of a breakdown or if repairs were required while in the fi eld.

John achieved a Com-manding Offi cers’ Certifi -cate of Achievement in June 2000 for outstanding per-formance of duty.

He completed several courses and served in joint Task Force 112 in the area of operational search, sur-veillance and security at the Sydney Oly mpic Games, making sure the public and venues were safe.

He also worked in the emergency response secu-rity team of the NSW police department, putting in long

days and nights seven days a week.

“It was all worth it to have been involved in the 2000 Olympics, the best ever in the world,” John said.

He was awarded a cer-tifi cate of appreciation and a medallion for his efforts.

“I am very proud of my time and the spirit of the Anzacs holds a special place for me.”

John is proud to announce that he has re-enlisted with the Army Reserves at Watso-nia Army Barracks.

Hastmotors offers a spe-cial discount to all defence personnel.

DIAMOND Denture Studio is a new clinic located at 190 High Street, Hastings.

Tony Finn is the principal owner and a qualifi ed dental prosthetist specialising in all types of dentures and custom sports mouthguards.

Tony served 20 years in the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps (RAADC) from 1987 until 2007.

During his service in the RAADC he worked as a dental assistant, a dental hy-gienist and a dental techni-cian. He also spent time as a section commander and a platoon sergeant.

The 4 years prior to dis-charge saw Tony posted to the Defence Force Dental School at HMAS Cerberus as an instructor.

Tony’s career highlights include being part of Op-eration Belisi 2 in 1999; a peacekeeping mission to Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.

His role was to work with a dentist in remote villages across the island seting up small treatment rooms where they could treat locals that required oral health care.

Diamond Denture Studio is located directly across

from the Hastings Commu-nity Health Centre and has onsite parking and full disa-bled access.

Tony offers a free no ob-ligation consultation where he can assess your needs and give you the options avail-able.

Tony’s services cover full dentures, partial dentures both metal and plastic, implant dentures, mouthguards, re-pairs and relining of existing dentures, and same day serv-ices on certain procedures.

For a free consultation call Diamond Denture Studio on 5979 3007.

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Extracts from Somme MudGas attack (page 240): The corporal bends down to tie a bootlace. He remains bent and speaks with a tremor. ‘Up near Polygon Wood I saw seven gassed men dying out behind a dressing station. They were in convulsions and black in the face and throat. Buckets of blood-specked foamy sort of jelly was coming from their mouths. The doctor and orderlies attending them wore gas masks. The poor gassed beggars kept grabbing at things and I saw one man grab his own hand and smash his own fi ngers out of joint. One man tore his mouth nearly back to his ear trying to pull the gas out of his throat. And as each man died, they threw buckets of mud over their head and shoulders. Been far kinder to have smothered them before they died, not after’.Tank attack (page 246): Our guide turns to the O.C. ‘You’ve heard of a man being called a fl at, haven’t you sir?’ ‘Um, yes.’ ‘Well here’s one.’ And he leads us into a little patch of wheat squashed fl at by the tank’s great caterpillar tracks. The guide points and we see a Fritz [German] uniform spread out on the ground. We look closer and see that a man is inside the uniform, squashed absolutely fl at on the ground when a tank has gone over him. A terrible sight, and sickened, we turn away.The value of teetotallers (page 308): Later in the morning the mail is given out. I have landed a parcel from my old high school at Bathurst and one from my grandmother and aunt at Carlton, so our little crowd is set. We eat tinned pears and smoke Australian cigarettes. I fi nd a nice pair of knitted mittens in my parcels and, not wanting to lug them all over France for another two months, I give them to Clem, for he gave me his rum issue this morning. He’s a teetotaller and as such is well worth cultivating. We could do with quite a lot more teetotallers in our platoon. Clem tries the mittens on. ‘Do me, thanks, Nulla. They’ll come in handy for the winter. It gets very cold over here I believe.’ And Clem goes away to put the mittens in his already over-loaded haversack. A man’s expectation of life is pretty good when he can carry extra weight about for two months before it is needed.

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By Peter McCulloughFOR decades after the First World War, Aus-tralians were mesmerised by the legend of Galli poli.

Scores of books were written telling of the heroic actions of the Diggers and we adopted the anniversary of the landing at what became known as Anzac Cove as our national day of remembrance.

About 20 years ago historians began to point out that while we had glorifi ed those brave but ill-fated deeds at Gallipoli, we had ignored the achievements of soldiers from the West-ern Front, where so many more suffered, were wounded or killed.

The Western Front was in many ways bigger than the Gallipoli campaign: fi ve times as many Australians served there (250,000 compared to 50,000 at Gallipoli); more than fi ve times more men died (46,000 compared to 8709), fi ve times more battles were fought on the Western Front (40 compared to eight), 52 Victoria Crosses were won by Australian soldiers compared to nine at Gallipoli, and fi ghting raged across the front for two and a half years, far longer than the eight months of the Gallipoli campaign.

Unlike at Gallipoli, the Australians on the Western Front fought under Australian com-mand, with all fi ve divisions led by General Sir John Monash.

Perhaps most signifi cantly, Australian sol-diers on the Western Front, all of them volun-teers, contributed to the defeat and surrender of the German forces, while the Gallipoli cam-paign was recognised as a defeat.

As Monash reported, the AIF constituted 10 per cent of Allied forces but won 25 per cent of enemy territory, prisoners of war, arms and ammunition.

This gradual appreciation of the signifi cance

of the Western Front has led to the publication of historical accounts over the past decade: The Anzacs – Gallipoli to the Western Front by Peter Pedersen, Diggers in France by Rich-ard Travers and, perhaps the best of them, The Great War by Les Carlyon.

Somme Mud by E P F Lynch is different to these publications as it is a fi rst-hand account written by an ordinary private, Edward Lynch.

Lynch was an 18-year-old AIF volunteer who sailed for France in August 1916. It wasn’t long before he was enduring the horror of the West-ern Front.

“It’s the end of the 1916 winter and the condi-tions are almost unbelievable,” he wrote.

“We live in a world of Somme mud. We sleep in it, work in it, fi ght in it, wade in it and many of us die in it. We see it, feel it, eat it and curse it, but we can’t escape it, not even by dying.”

On his return from France in 1919, Private Lynch wrote his recollections in pencil, fi lling 20 school exercise books, perhaps in the hope of coming to terms with all he had witnessed.

His account lay unpublished for more than 80 years, when it was brought to light by a grand-son.

The result is a book that, in the view of Bill Gammage, Australian National University his-tory professor and author of several books on the First World War, can be compared with Erich Remarque’s First World War classic All Quiet on the Western Front.

Somme Mud, written with dignity, candour and surprising wit, is a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Out of the mud that threatened to suck out a man’s very soul rose a compelling story of humanity and friendship.

Living in a world of Somme Mud


2/1907 Frankston Flinders Road, Hastings 5979 8522 www.peninsuladiesel.com.au

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