Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stephen Moran was a 25 year old sawmill labourer when he enlisted in September 1915. He embarked early 1916 and joined the 15th Battalion at Zeitoun.

After various bouts of illness he joined the battalion in France in June 1916 and they took part in all the main engagements on the Western Front.

His diaries detail tank battles, the mine explosions, having their positions bombed by German aircraft and the horrors of close quarter combat.

In the battle at Messines he souvenired a German pocket watch which he had engraved with the battle date and posted home to his father.

His battles and experiences are well detailed in his diaries, some of the entries are:

YPRES:

12-10-1917:

This morning left Halifax camp and moved up into Ypres. The place, which was once a beautiful town, is now a mass of ruin. The church and Cloth Hall are totally destroyed. This morning the 12th and 13th Brigades made a stunt; all objectives being taken, Passchendaele Ridge being the main objective.

13-10-1917:

 Paid 150 Frs. Weather very showery. Still camped in tunnels in Ypres. These tunnels are under what was once the city wall. Moving off from here to an old trench-Kitten Rat-there is little or nothing left of the town of Ypres, which, at one time, seems to me to have been a fairly busy centre. There are several kinds of manufacturers all of which are in total ruin, the church and Cloth Hall, both of which are completely ruined. Around the city there is a very large wall with a flow of water all round it; this being what they call a moat.

KITTEN RAT:

14-10-1917:

 Received letter from Dode also postcard from Margurite. Left here today and marched over a few miles of duck-boards. Arrived at Jonnebeeke, where we waited till dusk then proceeded to the support line. The enemy brought down one of our planes. Later on he also burned one of our observation balloons.

(SUPPORTS) JONNEBEEKE:

15-10-1917:

 Camping in dug-outs in a sunken road above Jonnebeeke. The road itself is nothing but a sea of mud and the fields around are very much torn about by shell fire. there are also a good number of concrete block houses, "Pill Boxes", built by the enemy for machine gun and field pieces. These he shells continuously owing to our people making good use of them. Went to front line to have a look over ,also to see all machine gun positions and field of fire.

16-10-1917:

Still in sunken road in dug-outs. This morning the enemy put a fair number of heavy shells about this road with little effect. Last night he also sent over a great lot of gas shells into the town of Jonnebeeke (front line. Tonight relieved D Coy. 14th Btn. from front line.

About midnight the enemy got very active with his artillery, also again at early morning, when he strafed Ruby Wood with guns of all calibres. From observation during the day, the Wood contained nothing to make him strafe it so much

(FRONT LINE) JONNEBEEKE:

17-10-1917:

Today both sides fairly active with artillery fire; chiefly shelling the rear of each other's line, roads farm houses etc. Air craft have also been busy on both sides, occasional air fights taking place. About midday our anti aircraft guns brought down an enemy plane, which fell behind his own line.

The trenches here are about a thousand yards apart; the enemy being on a ridge in a very good position. We are also holding a good position on another ridge. The country in between the ridges is very much torn up by shell fire. It is also very marshy and boggy. At the rear of his line there are two villages; these can be very plainly seen, one of which has a very tall steeple. Tonight fairly quiet.

18-10-1917.

 This morning the enemy put a very heavy barrage on our trenches, lasting for over an hour and it was not until our guns quieted him that he stopped. Later in the day, he put another barrage of his heavy artillery on us in places the trenches falling in burying a few men. Tonight were relieved by the 13th Bin. and were lucky to get out while things were quiet. We moved out through Jonnebeeke over a few miles of duck-boards, to a big tunnel before reaching Ypres. In front of us lies the village of Moorslede and, further to the right, where a very tall steeple can be seen, is the village of Terhand.

RAMPARTS:

19-10-1917:

 Received letter from Frank. Camping in very large dug-outs. These dug-outs are about forty feet deep and two floors and tunnels running in all directions. Today the guns are very active.

20-10-1917   

Still in dug-outs. Today the enemy planes came across our lines, dropping bombs by our big guns. He also shelled heavily a small sector which contained a lot of guns. He hit a few small dumps of ammunition and light railway also a few hits on the road.

RAILWAY DUG OUTS:

21-10-1917:

This morning at daylight, the enemy came across again dropping bombs from his very large planes (Gothas), doing no damage in the vicinity of our dug-outs. Battalion left here for fatigues further up the line. This afternoon the Battalion moved further up to Werthoeck Ridge and relieved 14th Battalion which went to front line. Tonight a very heavy barrage started; lasted til morning.

WERTHOECK RIDGE:

22-10-1917:  

On this ridge we are camped in dug-outs and Pill Boxes. These "Pill Boxes " are one of the enemy's great line of defence. They mare not badly knocked about and afford good shelter for our troops. Beyond this ridge there does not seem to be many of these "Pill Boxes".

This morning the barrage, which was going all night, increased immensely. and continued for about three hours. Along the ridge there are also a number of enemy's captured guns lying about in a damaged condition.

23-10-1917:

This morning early it started raining very heavy making the shell-torn country into nothing else but a sea of mud, which will be very common from now on. Another heavy barrage was heard on our left this morning. Lasting for about an hour, it was evidently another part of the present advance.

Today relieved by the 8th battalion, we moved off from here back to Ypres, into the tunnels which we occupied previously. When we arrived it was found that all of our packs had been blown up. This had been done a few days ago whilst the enemy shelled Ypres, doing a great deal of damage and inflicting fairly heavy casualties.

24-10-1917:

Camped here in the tunnels last night. Left here today and were taken by Renninghelst. After leaving the buses, were marched to a place called Bussehoom. It was then found that we had taken the wrong road. So we then had to about turn over the same road back nearly to where we started. About a three mile march for nothing.

RENNINGHELST:

25-10-1917:

This morning clean up rifle, inspection of kit. Afternoon. Pay 7Frs = 2.11.4. Loaded limbers with all machine gun gear ready for moving 7.30am next morning.

Tonight the enemy came across in the large planes (Gothas). The searchlights were quickly into operation and once he is found by the lights he looks like a bright silver light. The anti aircraft guns open fire, also a considerable number of machine guns. He dropped several bombs in the vicinity of Poperinghe. Received letter from Gerald. Beat, Harrison, Eileen and Mater, also one from Dorothy Francis Townsville.

26-10-1917:

Early this morning, it started raining fairly heavy and continued throughout the day. There was also a very heavy bombardment at about 5.30am. received letter from Eva and tow each from Eileen and Mater also one from Dorothy Francis, Townsville enclosing a small photograph.

27-10-1917 :

Left here this morning. Marched to a siding about three miles away and entrained. We passed through Poperinghe, Abelle etc, then arrived at Wizermes. After waiting about four or five hours at Wizermes we were taken by motor buses to a place called Crepy where we are now billeted.

He was wounded twice in 1918, seriously in the ankle in August 1918, presumably at Amiens. The shrapnel was removed and retained as a souvenir. As a result he was hospitalised in England and returned to Australia in January 1919.

Stephen died in 1990, probably accounting for why his collection of effects has remained together.