Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Extract from "The Recollections of Lt Harold D Andrews"
Norm stood firm and held fast although outnumbered by the enemy.
August 23rd: was a very sad day. Norm Way, my cousin of Beechwood was
killed in rallying the remnant of his platoon only twenty yards from their
objective behind a tank which missed the MG position. It promptly
disposed of half of 12 Platoon's strength at point-blank range. Lt. Fowler
and Sergeant Jimmie Lynch were both badly injured….but survived. In the
main, and by the Good Samaritan attention of a German, a bearded
German….a Red Cross man. He asked my permission and then proceeded to
dress all our wounded men. I had been acting as C.S.M. to “C” Company and
having word by runner of No 12's setback was requested by Captain
Withy(?) (Later in Second War, C.O., of 25 Battalion of Queensland, D.S.O.,
and M.C.) to “see what you can do, Andrews”. The object was attained with
some 30-40 prisoners - blasted down by their own field battery from
Froisey Beacon - mistaken in the dust and smoke for us! Such is war! The
fortunes of….or to friend or foe….that of mistaken identity in battle!
Likewise Eric Perrett was killed in Action in No 11 Platoon. Eric was same
age as me. We were pals before the War. He was the Cashier at the
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney - then located in what is now the
office of auctioneers, Jones & Berry, of Cameron Street, Wauchope. Eric had
to wait until 21 years to enlist. His parental authority was withheld, as it
was for so many others. This was his first major involvement. He may have
been too eager to dispel his own “fear of fear” a common complaint in
wartime. Eric’s name is on the Memorial Tablet in the vestibule of the
present Commercial banking Company premises in High Street,
Wauchope. Both these men (Way and Perrett) were buried in the one
temporary grave by two volunteers including myself, called for. They
were buried under fire as so many other men were. No burial service,
with only their handkerchief for covering – no time to scrounge a
blanket. As relief was pending and the job must go on regardless of
personal attitudes to such tragedy. It was all too common after four years
of it (death). Four years of it in varied forms – adopted for extermination
and/or be disposed of yourself.