Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I’m sitting here in Canberra, in our van, pondering the last couple of days, the past and current times. Have you ever really considered the futility of war, and bearing in mind the current world situation I would have thought most of us would have. 
Can I tell the story of a lad named William??
William Edward Regester was born to my 2 times great grand uncle Thomas Regester and wife Ann in Caulfield, Vic in May 1897. At the outbreak of WWI he was a butcher, living with his parents and working in Caulfield. 
William enlisted in the AIF in Elsternwick, as a member of the 6th Battalion on 
2 March 1915. He was only 5” 4’ and weighed 9 1/2 stone, he was 18yrs 10ths.
He embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata on 17 Apr, 1915.
He had had his 19th birthday in transit.
He arrived on the beaches of Gallipoli on 17 June, 1915.
On 7 Aug, 1915, William was listed as Missing in Action and presumed dead.
His personal possessions were received by his family 26 Apr, 1918, his remains had still not been recovered.
William’s remains, lay untouched on the battlefield where he and his mates had fallen until finally located and exhumed by the Graves Exhumation parties some 3 yrs. after he had fallen.
The family received a scroll and King’s message on 9 Jan, 1922.
His identity disc’s were returned to the family on 16 Jun, 1922.
The lad had now been deceased for almost 7 yrs.
William now lays in “Courtney’s and Steele’s” Cemetery approximately 1/2 mile from Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
For his life, William was awarded a Victory Medal on 1 Nov, 1922.
It was no victory for William.
Sorry to sound cynical, but just to prolong the family’s grief a Memorial plaque was presented to the family 10 Jun, 1923. 

My family never spoke to me of William, maybe they didn’t know.
I write this having done a extensive family tree, and learned that in fact, I had 2 relatives, one on dad’s side of the family and one on mum’s that had not survived the war, both had died at Gallipoli.
Emilie and I visited the Aust War Memorial on Tuesday, and joined a tour group. We searched the remembrance wall and located both names. We returned to the group just as the tour leader was recounting an event that was depicted in a very graphic painting. The painting showed a bayonet charge the cost the lives of 300 Victorians and a further 300 WA lads. The battle was the Neck and occurred on 7 Aug, 1915.
You may recall the final scenes of the Australian movie “Gallipoli”.  

At the end of the tour I asked the guide if he had a living relative of one of the casualties of an action he was  describing had made themselves known to him? He didn’t think so but with my permission would recount William’s story to future groups but we still didn’t know at the time whether or not William died at the Nek or elsewhere. 
I have alway believed that it was at the Nek that William lost his life but there is doubt, as he was not a member of the 8th or 10th light house regiments he was a member of 5th Reinf, 6th Battalion. Yes he died on that day but the battle is not confirmed,  we do know that the 6th was involved in an attack on either “Baby 700” or “Dead Man’s Ridge”?? The 1st Light horse led the attack at Dead Man’s Ridge so it was most likely William died at the other site.

There, William’s story is told.

Terry Regester