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From Jay D'Souza

Capt James Thomas TYRRELL One of my 26th Battalion "boys". He was later an original of the 40th Battalion (Tasmanians only), and killed in action on 10th January 1917, France.

The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas) Mon 21 Feb 1916 Page 3
CAPTAIN JAMES THOMAS TYRRELL
INVALIDED HOME.

Under the shade of a heavily laden peach tree, in a delightful English-looking garden with—to a passer by—not the slightest connection in the world with this awful war, our Wynyard representative on Wednesday afternoon had an informal chat at his home at Flowerdale with Captain James Thomas Tyrrell, one of the most popular of the soldiers that have left the Wynyard district to do their share in upholding the dear old flag and all that it stands for.

Captain Tyrrell is one of the soldiers of whom Tasmanians and Australians are so proud. A soldier every inch of him, and a man who faced death dozens of times in various forms during the past few months, yet when asked to narrate some of his more exciting experiences he naively replied :—"Oh! they are nothing out of the ordinary run of a soldier's life, and not worth telling you." Such a man inspires confidence and respect as a leader of men and one whom it would be a pleasure to serve under.

On the first occasion on which Captain Tyrrell presented himself for examination he was rejected on the ground of bad teeth, but this was overcome by a visit to the dentist, and on the second occasion he was accepted. Leaving Tasmania 17th May with the 26th Battalion, he went to Brisbane in order to join up with the other two companies of the 26th Battalion. After a few weeks at the Enoggera camp the battalion sailed for Egypt on 29th June. They arrived at Suez after an uneventful voyage [2nd August 1915], and went straight into training in the desert. From there they went to the peninsula [12th September 1915], which will ever be associated with the name of Australia, arriving there the first week in September, the 26th acted as a reserve battalion on arrival at Gallipoli, but was subsequently transferred to Walker's Ridge [1st week of November 1915], on Russell's Top, to relieve the 20th Battalion. They had the honour of holding this ridge, which was the key to the whole position.
When Lord Kitchener visited the peninsula [13th November 1915] this was the only line of trenches he went through. The 26th Battalion was only 30 yards away from the Turks.

In common with all other soldiers and civilians Captain Tyrrell regards the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula as a marvellous piece of work. He said before Lord Kitchener visited the spot General Monroe had expressed the opinion that the positions would be untenable during the winter. How close the margin between making the evacuation the success it was and a costly affair may be gauged when it is stated that if there had been a breeze blowing on the nights the troops were to embark thousands of men would have been at the mercy of the Turks batteries, and the slaughter would have been dreadful.

Captain Tyrrell had the honor of visiting the whole line of trenches from Gabe Tepe [questionable as this was held by the Turks] to the Gulf of Pharos, and says that nothing the Australians had to put up with at Anzac was anything like as bad as that with which the British troops had to contend. The Britishers had to live in open trenches with not nearly as much protection or comforts the Australians had. They were also much more exposed to the shell fire of the enemy and the elements than the Anzacs.

When Captain Tyrrell and his men arrived on the peninsula the fighting had resolved itself to mining and bomb throwing, which was carried out chiefly at night, and was very trying to the nerves. In the day time the snipers made themselves a perfect nuisance. Whenever work had to be carried out in the open, snipers soon made themselves apparent, taking up a position at night and hiding behind a bush during the day. Many casualties were caused in this way. As far as Captain Tyrrell's experience went he found the Turks clean fighters and always "played the game."
Some of the Turkish prisoners were fairly well clothed, although their clothing was of a varied character, and consisted of several portions of the British uniform. Other Turks that were captured were in a poor condition, scantily clad, and only too pleased to give themselves up.

Talking of narrow squeaks, Captain Tyrrell told the following story, which he heard from the survivor. Two machine gunners belonging to the 26th Battalion were lying in the same dug-out. One was blown to pieces by an enemy's shell [probably No. 102, Alexander Kemp, A Coy, 26th Bn, died from wounds on 23rd September 1915], and a rifle which was lying between the two men had the woodwork stripped off. The other man was not touched and did not know that the shell had been so close to him. He thought it was the roof of the dug-out that had fallen on him. Captain Tyrrell uttered a word of warning in respect to the lurid tales found in some of the letters received from soldiers some of whom have a greater faculty for imagination that for telling the truth. In his capacity as a censor of the letters sent by the men Captain Tyrrell came across one giving a vivid description of the writer's experience in connection with shells, which he said were flying and bursting all around him but he had got used to then now and didn't mind a bit. This letter was written on a troopship before the writer had landed in Egypt. After such an episode surely the warning is justified.

Speaking in regard to the present situation, the Captain said in his opinion conscription ought to be introduced as the fairest way of raising men. If this system was introduced everyone would be doing his share, and the sentimental feelings about the class fighting for another would be abolished.

After he was forced to leave the peninsula owing to illness, Captain Tyrrell spent a short time in Egypt, and in response to a request from our representative gave some useful and authentic information in regard to the matter of Red Cross goods being available for our men. This information is published in view of the fact that so many statements are in circulation in regard to this matter, Captain Tyrrell said that where the mistake is made is that some people in subscribing to Red Cross funds think they are giving money to a fund which provides comforts for the men in the trenches. The Red Cross Society cares for the sick and wounded only, and does not send any goods to men in the trenches. Those who desire to send comforts for men in the trenches should adopt some other means, as the Red Cross goods are not sent there. On the other hand, in the hospitals there are plenty of goods for all and he was well supplied with all his requirements entirely free of cost. He did not know of any Red Cross goods having been sold from personal knowledge, but had heard that owing to some leakage earlier in the war by some means or other Red Cross goods did get into the hands of certain firms who sold them. This was now the subject of an inquiry, and was discontinued. The Red Cross was doing a magnificent work, and was deserving of all the support that could be given it.

The behaviour of the troops from Tasmania was good and compared very favourably with those from the other parts of the Commonwealth. The men set a high standard of conduct for those who were now responding to the call to arms to live up to. Generally speaking, the men were well looked after. Of course, there were discomforts to be faced, but in war time one had to be prepared for these.

Captain Tyrrell left Egypt on January 3, and arrived in Melbourne on February. 3. He spent a few days in the base hospital, and arrived in Burnie by the Donah on Wednesday. After a rest of six weeks, he expects to again take his place amongst the men who are upholding the best traditions of our race so well.
Although delighted to be again amongst the lovely surroundings and all old friends the captain said he would not have missed the experience for anything.

Note Capt Tyrell's son, QMSM Geoffrey Tyrrell, 3rd Light Horse injured at Sinai, 9th January 1917 and RTA 8th March 1917