Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

All four WEEKS Brothers enlisted WW1 Francis ( Jim ), Leslie, Stanley & Roy
( as did Francis James four sons in WW2 : Stan, James [ Jim ], Max, & Charlie ) ;

( ) = JMW addtions &or comments CAPITALS for further emphasis
17 Jul 1915 General, Commadning (MEF) Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Sir Ian Hamiton's Intructions to Vice-Admiral, Commanding the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron,

1. included a series of Tables showing in detail, men, animals ( Horses & Mules ) vehicles ( including Horse Wagons & Mule Carts ), stores, etc
"which it will be required to land in connection with the forthcoming operations"
( 2nd Offensive 1915 Aug Suvla Bay [North of ANZAC Cove - site of the original 1st Offensive 1915 Apr]) including " New Beach " ( Kuchuk Kemikli ) ;

2. "immediately AFTER the disembarkartion of the details referred to in the attached tables (A, B, C, D, & E) it will be necessary, if the operations are successful, to land 5,000 to 7,000 horses" "details as to disembarkation of these horses will be forwarded later.
In the MEANTIME the horses will be collected at Alexandria, and should subsequently be brought up to Mudros of Imbros, to begin arriving on august 6th.
It will also be necessary to land the remaining portions of the units referred to in the tables (first line transport, etc.), and, further, the remaining units of the formations to which they belong"


included in the INITIAL Suvla Landings ( 1 hour after dark 9.30 pm ) from the following Tables A, C, D, E :-

A 1915 Aug 1 from Helles to Anzac Cove Mule Corps 50 men 200 mules
C 1915 Aug 1 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") 1 Inf. Bde & Sig. Sec a 3050 men, 36 horses
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") 1 Inf. Bde & 1 Sig. Sec & 1 W/T Stn 3065 men, 36 horses
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") Field Co. RE 175 men, 16 horses, 4 tool carts
C 1915 Aug 1-2 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") 2 Mountain Batteries b 100 men, 80 horses
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") Div. HQ & Sig. Co. 125 men, 28 horses, 2 cable wagons, 1 water cart, 2 limbered RE wagons
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") 1 Inf. Bde,Pnrs Btn,Sig. Sec,W/T Stn 3840 men, 44 horses
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") 2 nd Field Cos RE 350 men, 32 animals, 8 tools carts
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros &or Mudros horse-ships to Kuchuk 1 FA L Bde c 550 men, 251 animals, 16 guns, 44 wagons, 1 telephone wagon, 5 water carts
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli Kuchuk Kemilkli 9 Tent Sub.-Divs 350 men 84 horses or 144 mules, 30 ambulance wagons, 9 water carts, 3 Maltese carts
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") Bde Ammo Col 60 men 62 animals, 8 ammunition wagons, a water cart, 4 SAA wagons
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") Mule Corps ( British 10th Div ? ) 150 men 300 mules, 150 mule carts
C 1915 Aug 6-7 from Imbros to Kuchuk Kemilkli ("New Beach") Wireless Sec. 18 men 16 horses, 2 x 2-horse vehicles
D 1915 Aug 7 from Mudros to Anzac Cove 1 18-pr. Battery & HQ FA A Bde 120 men 92 horses
D 1915 Aug 7 from Mudros to Anzac Cove 10th Heavy Battery RGA 110 men 70 horses
D 1915 Aug 7 from Mudros to Anzac Cove 3 18-pr. Batteries A Bde 300 men 246 horses
D 1915 Aug 7 from Mudros to Anzac Cove Mules of Mule Corps 200 men ? 400 mules
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove Divl HQ ( British 10th Div ) 125 men, 28 animals, 2limbered RE wagons, 1 water cart, 2 cable wagons
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove 3 Btns ( British 10th Div ) 2325 men, 40 animals, 6 water carts
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Port Iero to New Beach &or Anzac Cove 6 Btns ( British 10th Div ) 4650 men, 76 animals, 12 water carts
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove HQ Divl RE 525 men, 30 animals, 12 tool carts, 3 water carts
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove 15th Heavy Battery RGA 121 men, 70 animals, 4 guns, 4 wagons, 1 water cart, 2 GS wagons
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove 10th Div Tent sub.-Div 350 men, 54 horses or 84 mules, 15 ambulance wagons, 12 carts
E 1915 Aug 7-8 from Mudros to New Beach &or Anzac Cove Mule Corps ( British 10th Div ? ) 150 men, 300 mules, 150 carts

2nd Offensive Suvla Bay TOTAL Animals scheduled to land TOTAL Animals scheduled to land 2591
( as distinct from 1915 Apr 1st Offensive – original Landings ANZAC Cove – z Beach (& 1991 = 1 Driver / " animal" assuming
& British Helles Peninsula s -y Beaches ) horse & 1 Handler / 2 Mules)

Glenthorne Farm / O'Halloran Hill No 9 Remount Depot, connection :-
Biographical details
1. All three CAMPBELL Brothers enlisted WW1 James, Norman & Allen, in order of Seniority
Eldest James & 2nd Norman, also fought in the IB ( Imperial Bushmen ) & ACH ( Australian Commonwealth Light Horse ) 4th Btn together during the Boer War ( 1899 - 1902 ) ;
Similar to
2. All four WEEKS Brothers enlisted WW1 Francis ( Jim ), Leslie, Stanley & Roy
( as did Francis James four sons in WW2 : Stan, James [ Jim ], Max, & Charlie ) ;
listed in order of seniority : from Francis Allen Prideaux Weeks & Elizabeth nee Northey
Sadly, the youngest brother, Roy Eric, died 1st of the 4 WW1 WEEKS brothers ! and as a bizarre cruel twist, but remarkably for our Branch of the Weeks Clan ;
the eldest brother, Francis James, died last !


" Dual Services & Discharges : Sgt AASC & AIF Driver 512 : Glenthorne ( Farm ) Estate, Farmer/Machinist & No 9 Remount, Showjumping Horseman Vs the Light Horse "

1 of 4. AIF Driver 512 Weeks, Francis James ( Jim )
allocated AIF Driver number 512, Gawler Encampment as early as 23 Feb - 10th Mch 1914 ; ASC Complement complete : inspection by Hamilton ;
Remount Section, Indian Remount Unit
Occupation : Soldier AASC Permanent Services ; already enlisted AASC Permanent Forces 4 years 9 months Remount Unit still serving Remount Section ;
( AASC enlistment 10 Feb 1913, same day as 2nd eldest brother Leslie Horace Charles )
Born: X'mas Day 25 December 1889 Noarlunga South Australia
Religion : Church of England
School : Old Noarlunga Primary School, Noarlunga, South Australia
Son of Francis Allen Prideaux Weeks & Elizabeth nee Northey
Marital Status : Married & 2 ( of 5 ) Children : Ellen Theresa Harris, married 1913
Next of kin: Nellie Weeks nee Harris, wife, c/o Father Charles " Chas " Harris, Coachbuilder, John Street, off Wright Street, Adelaide South Australia
Enlisted AIF : 1 November 1917 ( Attested same day as 2nd youngest Brother Stanley William was wounded 2nd time [ lead up to charge of Beersheba ] 29 October 1917 )
Embarked: 8 November 1917 SS Chindwarra, Adelaide, South Australia
Age at embarkation : 28
Returned: 8 January 1918, unit demobilised ( became Remount Section, BOTH 4th Military District, Keswick Barracks & O'Halloran Hill Remount Depot No 9 ) ;
DUAL : Services AASC 1913 - 1923 / AIF 1917 - 1918 & Discharges : AIF 8 Jan 1918 " paid in full to 8 Nov 1918 after " / AASC 3 Mch 1923 ( 4th Military District, Remount Section, Keswick Barracks ) ;
Served : Indian Remount Section
Medals : 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Death: 17 November 1965 37 Milner Street, Hilton, Adelaide South Australia

Occupation / Working Life :-

All his life he was a very quiet, gentle & humble man ( although he gave his 4 Sons a very strict, stern upbringing, such were the times before, during & after the Great War as well as the Great Depression, years 1929 - 1933 ) ;

* Military :
1913 - 1923 Farmer & Driver 512, ASC permanent Forces, No 9 Remount Farm / Depot, O'Halloran Hill & also on 1918 AIF return Remount Section, 4th Military District, Keswick Barracks ;
1914 Gawler Encampment, ASC Complement complete : inspection by Hamilton ; allocated AIF Driver number 512 as early as : 23 Feb - 10th Mch 1914
1914 Morphettville Camp 4th Coy ASC Divisional Train : Aug 1914 " F Wickes "

Enlisted AIF : 1 November 1917 ( Attested same day as 2nd youngest Brother Stanley William was wounded 1st time [ at charge of Romani ] 29 October 1917 )
Returned: 8 January 1918, unit demobilised :
DUAL : Services AASC 1913 - 1923 / AIF 1917 - 1918 & Discharges : AIF 8 Jan 1918 " paid in full to 8 Nov 1918 after " / AASC 3 Mch 1923 ( 4th Military District, Remount Section, Keswick Barracks ) ;

claimed to have gone to Gallipoli 2-3+ times Helles Peninsula &or ANZAC Cove ? 1915 with LH ( Light Horse ) &or Mules ? trans shipments / re Supply ;
possibly via " TF " Territorial Force &or Indian Mule Train, Australian Division ( Helles V Beach under British 29th Division &or ANZAC Cove under Australian 1st &or 4th Div Train ? [ ASC Army Service Corps ] )
most probably during 1915Aug with the 2nd Offensive at Suvla Bay, Allied Landings ( not the 1st Offensive Landings 1915Apr ? ) via Lemnos, Imbros, Tenedos &or Mytlene

1918 AIF return in March, became Remount Section, BOTH 4th Military District, Keswick Barracks & O'Halloran Hill Remount Depot No 9 ;
1917 - 1922 contested numerous 15+ Events, Showjumping & Horses in Action, for Remount Vs Light Horse :-

After Active service ( possibly including British ASC 29th Div prior to AIF 29/10/1917 ), Francis James Weeks was awarded Showjumping trophies in his own name for Remount Vs Light Horse, up until 1922 with his old Sergeant status back, & possibly in 2 instances, with his ( 2nd oldest ) Brother, Leslie Horace Charles Weeks for Light Horse, 04/10/1920 on " Dolly " & 22/11/1920 on " Dulcie ", both
Horses in Action Events, only 2 of many that Francis James Weeks also contested ;

When I & my Brother John were youngsters ( 3 - 12 years ), we use to " explore " the Store / Lean to, at the back of 37 Milner St, Hilton on Parental Friday night visits, before Ellen ( " Da " ) billeted for the West Adelaide Football Club, later to be located at their own Richmond Oval ;
Foss Williams ( 1946 - 1949, later Port Adelaide icon )
&
Ken Eustice ( 1958 - 1963, later Central District icon ) ;
I remember Grandfather Francis James Weeks :-
* much cherished Light Horse slouch hat with plumes, always resting on the end of the Double Bed, foot board, post ;
&
* on a much littered Work Bench with scattered War memorabilia, a particular Portrait photo of him in WW I " Digger " Uniform including the AIF British khaki woollen Peak Cap with Neck sun cape ;
that most if not all ANZACs were instructed to wear especially for the Landings, as a ploy, to signify to the Turks that they were part of a homogeneous force destined for Helles peninsula only ?

I think there were also photos of/with, his Army " buddies " all in the same British " Peak Caps " ;

There is currently a Debate of " protecting the officers " theme on the Great War Forum ( from Turkish [ & German ? ] Snipers which were very prevalent from the earliest days of the Landings ) ;
The British Peak Cap was an Officers dress look-a-like, & were subsequently discontinued for the helmet in France the following year 1916 onwards ;

Francis James ( Jim ) Weeks NEVER mentioned any of his WAR experiences ; however he stated this 2-3+ Trans - shipments / Re - supply to Gallipoli ( possibly from Lemnos &or Imbros ; NOT via Egypt as originally thought ) story as mentioned above, in the early 1960's to me a few years before he " passed on ", in 1965 ;


Pg 164 of 400 Australia in Arms by Phillip F E Schuler 1916