Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Pte John Alfred Wunhym

There are so many avenues towards the telling of a story; I usually know exactly which tack that will take as soon as the process of writing begins. But, for some reason, with Jack Wunhym, all I “heard” was chaos; a cacophony of competing voices. So many aspects of his young life clamoured for the telling, that I found it impossible to start on the right path… Was it ancestry, childhood trauma, or men beginning wars and sending boys to fight them? Every piece was legitimate in its entirety, but I still couldn’t find the main ingredient. Perhaps he was just the sum total of his many parts…

The Wunhym name was synonymous with sport and community involvement during the early decades of 20th Century Ballarat and district. Originally the surname was divided as Wun Hym, no doubt written down by a non-Chinese speaking official who documented the arrival of a young man from the Shunde district in the Guandong Province. In order to assimilate, Wun Hym would adopt a more acceptable form of address with the English given names of David William. Quietly fitting in was the safest way of adapting to life on the goldfields. And Wun Hym, like so many of Ballarat’s vibrant Chinese population, adapted very well. They became an essential fibre in the warp and woof of the city – especially in Ballarat East.
When David Wunhym married Gloucester-born Isabella Martha Sully, there was more blending and merging of cultures. Their nine children would certainly guarantee the passage of the Wunhym name. Their second son, Frederick, was to marry at a young age – he was just 20 years old. His bride, Annie Chisholm, appears to have been even younger, perhaps just 17. Their first child, John Alfred, was born at Ballarat East on 18 January 1898. They would eventually have five children together, with the youngest, David Lyel, born in 1911.
The extended Wunhym family all lived in Young Street, Golden Point, within easy walking distance of the major gold mines where the men worked.
By the time Jack was enrolled at Golden Point State School, Fred and Annie had their own home in nearby Durham Street. Jack started at Golden Point in February 1904 and continued through until 1910, when he completed his formal education.
After their eldest two sons, Jack and Alex, had been hospitalised, Fred and Annie used the public platform of the local newspaper to express their gratitude in March 1910.
‘…To the Editor of "The Star."
Sir,- We wish to sincerely thank the doctors and nurses of the Ballarat Hospital for their great skill and kind attendance to our sons. Jack and Alex, whilst inmates of that institution. - Yours, etc., F. and A. WUNHYM, 45 Durham Street, Ballarat East…’
Evidently, Jack was to develop a familiarity with the hospital. April Fool’s Day 1912, was a painful one for young Jack. After falling from the back of a lorry, he dislocated his shoulder. He was transported to the Ballarat and District Hospital, where the dislocation was reduced and his shoulder returned to its rightful position. For the casual observer, the cause behind these hospitalisations may not become clear until much later…

The death of Fred Wunhym on 11 May 1912 came as a terrible blow to his children. Nothing can prepare a child for the loss of a beloved parent, nor can they understand the possible hardships involved with the passing of the sole bread-winner. And 1912 was a very different time to anything we can now possibly comprehend – especially for a single parent.

When Annie Wunhym remarried in 1914, it was to bring about further disturbance in the lives of the Wunhym children. Her new husband, Francis Augustus Ballinger, was several years younger than Annie. However, an In Memoriam notice published on 11 May 1914, seemed to indicate that a separation was occurring within the family.

‘…WUNHYM - In loving memory of our
dear father, Frederick Wunhym, who
passed away 11th May, 1912.
A painful shock, a blow severe;
To part with one we loved so dear,
Our loss is great; we'll not complain,
But trust in God to meet again.
-Inserted by his loving children, Jack,
Alex, Mavis, Florrie, and Dave…’

Soon after the marriage, Annie and Frank moved to New Zealand. Some of the children were apparently left in the care of Isabella Wunhym, who was given legal rights as their guardian.

It was a turbulent time for Jack Wunhym. Both his parents were gone and the threat of war was an ever-present topic of conversation. The love and support provided by his grandparents became a calming mainstay for the teenager.

Clearly, Jack was soon caught up in the war fever that gripped the country – his first enlistment was on 17 September 1914. Jack presented himself at the Melbourne Recruitment Depot, claiming to be aged 19-years and 8-months. In fact, he was just 16, but being a substantially built lad, it appears that no questions were asked.

In completing his paperwork, Jack said that he was a labourer and had some military training with the local Citizen Forces. He named his grandmother, “Mrs Chisholm, of Channel Street,” as his next-of-kin.

His medical examination was very revealing; it was easy to see why the medical officer did not question his age. At 5-feet 6½-inches tall, Jack was only of average height, but he weighed 11-stone 3-pounds and could expand his chest from 35¼-inches to an impressive 38-inches. His appearance owed much to his Chinese forebears – he had a dark complexion, with brown eyes and dark brown to black hair. It was noted that Jack had been vaccinated as a child and that he’d been raised as a Presbyterian.

The following day, Jack signed his oath and was ostensibly a member of the AIF. However, it seems that someone discovered his deception and Jack was sent home to his grandparents.

Two days before the AIF landed at Gallipoli, Jack Wunhym, who had thought to be alongside those troops, found himself at the Ballarat Hospital being treated for a cut arm. It was decidedly less dangerous.

His determination to join the colours may have been delayed, but it was only a matter of time before Jack was back in front of a recruiting officer. This time he did so with the permission of his grandmother, Isabella Wunhym.

On 4 January 1916, Jack presented himself at the Ballarat Recruiting Depot to have Captain-Doctor J. B. Crawford conduct his medical. Since his last examination, Jack had grown half an inch, but he was still two weeks short of his 18th birthday – despite claiming to have turned 19!

When replying to the questions regarding previous military training or rejection from His Majesty’s forces, Jack said no on both counts. There was no mention of his previous foray in the AIF – nor of his claim to have trained in the Citizen Forces.

The note containing consent from his grandmother was brief and illuminating. It showed that her generation still wrote their surname as “Wun Hym,” and that Isabella had not been afforded an extended education.
‘…this is to singfy (sic) that I am Willing to let Jack Wunhym go to War. Isabella Wun Hym granmother (sic) his guindain (sic)…’

On this occasion, Jack named his sister, Mavis, as his next-of-kin. At that time the 11-year-old was also living with her grandparents at 21 Young Street.

After signing his oath – for a second time – on 10 January, Jack immediately went into camp at the Ballarat Showgrounds with the 14th Depot Battalion. Ten days later, he was assigned to the 15th reinforcements allotted to the 5th Infantry Battalion with the regimental number of 4965.

Jack received less than two months training before he embarked from Melbourne on 7 March. The troopship Wiltshire had already made a number of trips carrying troops from Australia to Egypt, but in her previous life she’d been a refrigerated steamship owned by the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Limited, of London. It was a quick, if not overly comfortable trip for Jack’s first sea voyage.

On arrival in Egypt, many of the 15th reinforcements were moved across to the newly raised 58th Battalion. Jack was assigned to his new unit and formally taken on strength at Ferry Post on 20 April.

A brief bout of undiagnosed illness resulted in Jack being admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance. He was discharged to his unit five days later. (Once again, the issue may have been ongoing and would be revealed at a later time).

Amongst the last of the infantry units to transfer to France, the 58th spent the next few months training and the new recruits learned much from the veterans who had been used to build the battalion. Jack Wunhym was one of many who needed this input to help them cope with the coming battles.

On 16 June, the 58th left Moascar on a troop train bound for Alexandria. They arrived in the city at 6:00am the following morning and immediately boarded the transport Transylvania. Sailing from the harbour on 18 June, the Transylvania wended its way through the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean, with men on constant watch for German submarines. The voyage was made without incident and the Transylvania docked at Marseilles on 23 June.
Within weeks of arriving in France, the 58th was deployed in its first major battle on the Western Front. Their role in the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July involved providing carrying parties and a reserve force for later in the fighting.

Everything involved in the planning for the attack (which was merely a feint to draw attention away from the British on the Somme) was flawed. Not least was the timing for the “hop-over.” In mid-summer 6:00pm was still in full daylight, thus the attacking troops were exposed to the enemy from the beginning. By 9:30pm the reserve force of the 58th, approximately half of the unit, was ordered to charge in support of the 59th and 60th Battalions. The relentless German machine-gunners cut them down in droves. The dead and dying lay everywhere. It was a hellish experience for young Jack Wunhym, who was just 18-years-old.

Despite their losses, the 58th continued to man the trenches opposite Fromelles for the next few months. Jack was still at Fromelles when, on 25 October, he reported sick to hospital. After being admitted to the 88th Field Ambulance, Jack was placed under observation as the doctors attempted to ascertain the source of his illness. On 30 October, he was transferred to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station, having been diagnosed with pyrexia, but the origin of the fever was still not confirmed. Clearly, Jack was very unwell.

After being transferred by ambulance train to the 11th General Hospital at Camiers on 2 November, Jack was finally diagnosed as suffering from pleurisy. He spent the next month convalescing, first at the No6 Convalescent Depot at Étaples and then the No5 at Cayeux.

He was discharged to the 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Étaples on 7 December. However, within days, Jack was admitted to the 26th General Hospital. Although no immediate diagnosis was made, it seemed that he was suffering from ongoing debility from the severe bout of pleurisy. Once again, Jack was given rest and a chance to recover at the convalescent depots at Étaples and Cayeux.

Finally, on 24 February 1917, Jack was considered fit enough to return to his battalion. He rejoined the 58th at Barley Trench in the frontline system near Bapaume.

Over the following month the 58th was in and out of the frontline trenches, passing through villages and landmarks west of Bapaume. During March, the men moved frequently – through Villers-au-Flos, and Haplincourt, Delsaux Farm and then Morchies.

In the early hours of the 26 February, the 2nd Division to the right of the 58th Battalion, attacked Lagnicourt as the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line. With the successful occupation of the village, the 58th was able to advance their line to the road running directly from Lagnicourt to Beaumetz. Further progress was hindered by enemy machine-gunners and then a counter-attack could be seen massing by 10:00am. The Australian machine-gunners successfully drove off the German counter-attack and the 58th was able to push forward and establish their position on the Lagnicourt-Doignes Road.

Throughout the day, the shellfire from the enemy lines was relentless and caused multiple casualties. Amongst the 19 men of the 58th Battalion killed that day was 19-year-old Jack Wunhym.

According to witnesses, Jack, who was in C Company, XI Platoon, was evidently digging in about 300 yards from Lagnicourt, when he was killed by the concussion of an exploding shell. A number of men were at pains to point out that he was not ‘disfigured’ and ‘there were no marks on him.’ Private Walter Blyth said that Jack was killed around 3 o’clock in the afternoon – Private Matthew O’Connor had just given the lad a cigarette.

Most of the witnesses knew nothing about Jack’s burial, but Walter Blyth claimed that he helped to bury his body to the right of the village.

The men interviewed knew Jack Wunhym well and offered evidence as to his identity by mentioning that they were aware the boy had ‘Chinese blood in him.’
Perhaps the most alarming information though came from Walter Blyth who stated that Jack was ‘a man subject to fits.’ This appears to indicate that Jack suffered from undisclosed epilepsy and, no doubt, the traumas of battle would be more than enough to trigger seizures. This underscores further Jack’s determination and bravery to serve. It may also illuminate his previous hospital visits, both in Ballarat and Egypt.

News of Jack’s death reached Ballarat on 21 April: Mavis Wunhym was informed of the news, but the date that he was killed was initially given as 23 March. On the following Sunday, the flags were flown at half-mast from the City Hall ‘as a civic tribute of respect’ for those whose deaths had been recorded during the week – amongst the seven names was that of Jack Wunhym.

Following Jack’s death, there was the usual paperwork to be attended to – his personal effects (his identity disc, wallet, letters, photos and Testament) were all returned to his sister, Mavis. The young girl was immediately granted a pension of 10-shillings a fortnight, with her aunt, Florence, acting as trustee. Eventually the two service medals, memorial plaque and scroll due to Jack, were also given to Mavis.

The War Gratuity, which Jack had earned for his service, was paid to his grandmother, Isabella Wun Hym. His mother had also lodged a claim for the gratuity, but this was rejected. It was apparent that she had had little contact with her late son: not only did she not know his regimental number, she believed he was serving with the 24th Battalion. As this was the basis for an address for any letter written, clearly there had been little if any communication during Jack’s time at the Front.

At the conclusion of the war, combing of the battlefields to locate remains and isolated graves became paramount. It was believed that Jack Wunhym had been buried in the Lagnicourt Cemetery, but, by August 1922, it was concluded that it was unlikely his body would ever be found. In a letter from Australia House, London, to Base Records in Melbourne, it was concluded, '…Although exhaustive searches and investigations have been made with the object of locating the grave of the above named, it has not been possible to either locate his actual burial place or obtain any information which might indicate his probable original or present resting place.

Therefore, this office's records in connection with that late member of the AIF are being marked "no trace on research". Similar action has been taken by the IWGC London…' As a result, his name was later added to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
‘…Somewhere in France he is lying,
Somewhere in France he fell,
Did we think the morning we parted,
Would be our last farewell…’

Footnote: Isabella Wun Hym, nee Sully was the sister-in-law of my great-grandaunt, Susan George. Susan had married Isabella’s younger brother, Solomon. Their son, my maternal grandfather’s first cousin, George Matthew Sully, was killed in action on 4 October 1917.