Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2024 winner Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize written by Chloe Hammat from Jamestown Community School (also attached as a document)

William Leslie Retallick, known to his friends and family as Les was born in Walloway, South Australia, on the 25th March 1893.[1] His father, Arthur William Hutchings Retallick, was born in Cornwall, United Kingdom in 1863, emigrating to South Australia in June 1884. Arthur and his wife, Lucy May Crabb, had eleven children together, six girls and five boys. Sadly, the boy born after Les survived for less than a year.[2] The cause of his death was unknown, but family members presume it was whooping cough. William was the eldest of his siblings, therefore much responsibility fell to him.

Les grew up on a station in the north of South Australia, near the town of Orroroo. His father worked on the property, at that time owned by the Heaslip family. It held a large landowner’s house, workman’s cottages, and a small store. Neighbouring this was the sheep station Yednalue, which was home to the school Les attended, open from 1887-1926. Eventually, due to drought, the larger station of Yednalue took over the smaller one. Les attended the school until age 13 when he left to return home and work alongside his father.[3]

Les loved playing cricket with his three brothers and boys from neighbouring stations. Although they were too far from the local town to have a cricket club, they made do with the backyard. Les’s family described him as having a wonderful sense of humour and always up for a practical joke.[4] His father was reportedly a stern and sullen man and had no relatives in Australia. Luckily though, the family was quite close to Lucy Crabb’s relatives.[5]

Les enlisted in the Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF) on the 27th October 1916 in Adelaide, South Australia.[6] [7] He was 23 years of age and held the position of Private for the duration of his service. His enlistment papers state that he was “faithful to the Church of England” and exhibited a “dark complexion”.[8]

Les embarked from Adelaide aboard the HMAS Berrima on the 16th of December 1916.[9] [10] After a few months at sea, he was admitted to the ship’s hospital with the common cold. He disembarked the Berrima, on the 16th of February 1917 in Devenport, Northern England.[11] Fortunately, he disembarked when he did, because on 18 February 1917, HMAS Berrima was torpedoed in the English Channel, off Portland, by the German submarine U-84. The submarine was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Walter Roehr.[12] HMAS Berrima was badly damaged, and four lives were lost.[13]

In early March of 1917, whilst Les’s reinforcement was traveling to Durrington in the South of England, ready for embarkation on a ship to France, Les again became sick with a cold. This saw him hospitalised for a few days, before advancing on. Once in France, his group was added to the 10th Battalion as part of the 23rd reinforcement.[14] The 10th Battalion was one of the first recruited from South Australia (along with the 9th Battalion).

The 10th Battalion spent the next few days in Ribemont, Northern France where they were drilled and took on specialist training. The official unit diary of the 10th Battalion show that the 12th of July was a special day, as they came under inspection by His Majesty King George V. On the 13th of July, they marched from Ribemont over the border to Bray, Belgium, a long trek of 98 kilometers. Over the next few weeks, the battalion undertook many route marches, and the Lewis guns firing classification test.[15] [16]

On the 23rd of July while in Bray, the Battalion was deployed to attack. They completed a trench-to-trench attack, by verbal command only. The instructions for this were as follows; B company will attack on left of advance, and C company on the right. Each will have a frontage of 600 yards. D company will support the attack.[17] No major casualties were sustained by Les’s Battalion, and overall, a successful advance was made.  At the end of the month, they found time for Church parades and began the construction of trenches in Beninghem.[18]  

The unit diary shows that throughout August 1917, Les completed many training exercises and specialist drills. They held battalion sports and inspections, mostly they maintained base camp in Staple, on the border of France and Belgium, although they marched to Bleu towards the end of the month. This was time for some relaxation, before the treacherous month that lay ahead.[19]

The Battalion spent September preparing for action, and inspections and final marches took place on the 18th, when they moved to Chateau Begard. There is much conflicting evidence as to when the battle started, as the unit diaries show the 20th of September, although many credible websites show the 26th. From the 20th to the 22nd of September, Les fought in the battle of Polygon Wood.[20]  This was staged as a part of the third Battle of Ypres or ‘Passchendaele’. This type of operation, consisting of well-planned advances, supported by large numbers of artillery, was the idea of Herbert Plumer, a British general, and these types of attacks became known as a “Plumer Battle”. The battle led to 5770 Australian casualties.[21]

It was over the course of this battle that Les’ battalion mate Private Roy Inwood was awarded the Victoria Cross.[22] The battle was a crucial victory, as it allowed our Australian troops to advance further into Belgium.

It was during this battle, that Les received a gunshot wound to his right elbow. Les’s family reports that it was only due to great luck that Les’ friend Private Burt, a stretcher bearer, happened to be going past with another wounded soldier on his stretcher, and he cried, “Is that you Les Retallick?” After Les confirmed that indeed it was, Burt said “Well mate, if I make it back, I’ll help you out of there!” Mr Burt did indeed make it back and moved Les to safety. Interestingly, Burt and his family lived not far from Les back home in Australia, in the neighbouring farming area of Hawker. Les remained on the site of the battle for two days, before embarking for England on the 24th September 1917, where he was admitted to the Bevan Mill Hospital, Sandgate for rehabilitation. The hospital had opened in the Autumn of 1914 in the old Alfred Bevan Memorial Convalescent Home.[23]

Les returned to Australia after spending 2 months in hospital in England. He was officially discharged from service some months later on the 11th July 1918 under the written judgement of being ‘medically unfit, not due to misconduct’.[24]

After returning home, Les worked on various stations to the north and east of Hawker (where his mate Private Burt came from). Being of his kind and gentle nature, Les had a powerful gift for handling horses. He married Myrtle May[25] Walladge, the fourth child to her parents in a family of seven. May was born in Hawker and lived on a large property called Gum Pilot. The gum after which the property was named still stands today. Les and May had 6 children together.[26]

Les ran mainly sheep in a marginal cropping country on his property named Hillcrest, not far out of the town of Belton. During the Great Depression of 1930 times were strenuous as Northen South Australia experienced drought and dropping wool prices. However, Belton in those days was a flourishing community with tennis and cricket teams as well as dances in the local hall. Sources have claimed that the best dance floor was in Belton Hall, prepared by Les Retallick.[27]

Les retired to Orroroo, where he loved his garden, playing bowls or walking around town for a chat with old friends. His Granddaughter, Lee McHugh, relayed that he had a rare and remarkable talent for making whips and bridles.

In the last years of Les’s life, memories of the horrors of the war returned to him. He became physically and mentally unstable. This was a terrible ordeal for the family, and May could not care for him any longer. Les stayed with his daughter in Mannum for his last months.[28]

Les died in Mannum, South Australia the 8th May 1966. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, Mitchem, South Australia.[29]

He is proudly part of many honour rolls and memorials in the Carrieton Hawker district.[30]

Les proudly demonstrated the Anzac spirit qualities of courage and resilience. He endured walking for miles with heavy packs, supporting his mates, and risking his life for the liberty of his country. Les raised his hand for the challenges and hardship of war without a doubt in his mind, leaving behind everything he knew, to venture into the unknown. According to his Granddaughter, Les had a good sense of humour and loved a practical joke. He persisted with courage, still fighting to honour the country he loved so dearly. While waiting painfully with a gunshot wound, he never gave up. His family remembered him as a man who showed the quality of mateship throughout the war and later during the Great Depression, reflecting this quality profoundly. [31]

[1] “RETALLICK William Leslie : Service Number - 7063 : Place of Birth - Orroroo SA : Place of Enlistment - Adelaide SA : Next of Kin - (Father) RETALLICK Arthur William Hutchins.” National Archives of Australia, 1914, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8029097.
[2] Familysearch.org, 2024, www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/9JH4-WW8. 
[3] Mchugh,L (2024) Conversation with Chloe Hammat, 24 June
[4] Mchugh,L (2024) Conversation with Chloe Hammat, 24 June
[5] Mchugh,L (2024) Conversation with Chloe Hammat, 23 July
[6] Details 2024, Adfa.edu.au, viewed 22 August 2024, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=252965>.
[7] Unsure why Les enlisted in Adelaide, not his home town, travel would not have been easy. I could not find any info regarding this.
[8] “RETALLICK William Leslie : Service Number - 7063 : Place of Birth - Orroroo SA : Place of Enlistment - Adelaide SA : Next of Kin - (Father) RETALLICK Arthur William Hutchins.” National Archives of Australia, 1914, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8029097. Accessed 30 July 2024.  
[9] ---. “HMAS Berrima.” Seapower.navy.gov.au, seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-berrima.
[10] The HMAS Berrima was built in Scotland, and named after the small village in the southern highlands of New South Wales
[11] Birtwistlewiki.com.au. (2021). HMAT A35 Berrima - Our Contribution. [online] Available at: https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMAT_A35_Berrima [Accessed 2 Sep. 2024].
[12] Navy, corporateName=Royal Australian. “HMAS Berrima.” Seapower.navy.gov.au, seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-berrima. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.
[13] The ship was sometimes referred to as HMAT because it served as a transport ship.
[14] List of men part of the 23rd reinforcement “Unit Details.” Adfa.edu.au, 2024, www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showUnit?unitCode=INF10REIN23. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
[15] The Lewis gun is a lightweight machinery gun that fires from an open bolt. The gun was designed by Isaac Lewis, a colonel in the United States army. It was used in the First world war as a battlefield and aerial machine gun
[16] Lewis Mk 1 Light Machine Gun n.d., www.awm.gov.au.
[17] See figure 2.
[18]AWM4 23/27/21 - July 1917 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 21 August 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341853>. 
[19] AWM4 23/27/22 - August 1917 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 21 August 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341854>.
[20] The battle saw 5700 Australian Casualties
[21] Awm.gov.au. (2024e). Battle of Polygon Wood. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84337#:~:text=The%20battle%20cost [Accessed 2 Sep. 2024].
[22]  10th Battalion AIF n.d., www.diggerhistory.info.
[23] The Bevan Hospital, Sandgate in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project - 2023, Wartimememories project.com, viewed 20 August 2024, <https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/hospitals/hospital.php?pid=15722>.
[24] See figure 5 for discharge papers
[25] Known as May
[26] Joan, Enid, Ray, Jack, Clem, and Valda, respectively.
[27] Mchugh, L(2024) conversation with Chloe Hammat 21st July
[28] Mchugh, L(2024) conversation with Chloe Hammat 27th July
[29] Familysearch.org, 2024, www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/9JH4-WW8. Accessed 4 July 2024.
[30] Vwma.org.au. (2024). William Leslie RETALLICK. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/115433 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].
[31] Mchugh, L(2024) conversation with Chloe Hammat 21st July

Reference list

10th Battalion AIF n.d., www.diggerhistory.info.

AWM4 23/27/21 - July 1917 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 21 August 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341853

AWM4 23/27/22 - August 1917 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 21 August 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341854>.

Birtwistlewiki.com.au. (2021). HMAT A35 Berrima - Our Contribution. [online] Available at: https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMAT_A35_Berrima [Accessed 2 Sep. 2024].

Details 2024, Adfa.edu.au, viewed 22 August 2024, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=252965>.

Familysearch.org, 2024, www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/9JH4-WW8. Accessed 4 July 2024.

"Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29R-WMKG : 5 August 2020), William Leslie Retallick, ; Burial, Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia, Australia, Centennial Park Cemetery; citing record ID 152638869, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

---. “HMAS Berrima.” Seapower.navy.gov.au, seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-berrima.  Navy, corporateName=Royal Australian. “HMAS Berrima.” Seapower.navy.gov.au, seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-berrima. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

  Lewis Mk 1 Light Machine Gun n.d., www.awm.gov.au.

List of men part of the 23rd reinforcement “Unit Details.” Adfa.edu.au, 2024, www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showUnit?unitCode=INF10REIN23. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.

Navy, corporateName=Royal Australian. “HMAS Berrima.” Seapower.navy.gov.au, seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-berrima. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Terrace, Victoria. “View Digital Copy.” Naa.gov.au, 2024, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8029097. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.

The Bevan Hospital, Sandgate in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project - 2023, Wartimememories project.com, viewed 20 August 2024, <https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/hospitals/hospital.php?pid=15722>.

Vwma.org.au. (2024). William Leslie RETALLICK. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/115433 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024].