Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"CAIRNS SOLDlER RETURNS. A Veteran of Sixty-two Years. How He Fought at Gallipoli. A Fine Example to the Younger Men.  

There recently returned to Cairns Private Herbert Foot, a soldier who was invalided home some time ago, and who has received his discharge after taking part in the Gallipoli campaign with the Australians. Private Foot has seen 12 years' service with the Imperial army, having fought in the Afghan war, and been in India. He enlisted in Cairns at the end of March last year, and is now 62 years of age. Private Foot came to Australia from India in 1888, and was a ship-mate with Acting Sergeant Murphy, the well-known keeper of the Cairns gaol. When chatting with Private Foot on Tuesday morning, a "Post" representative naturally asked him how he managed to get into the Australian army, being well over the age limit. "I told them I was 45," replied the old soldier, "and I think it was a justifyable falsehood, because I had had previous service, and I wanted to take a hand in this fight. I joined the Australian army because I hated the Germans. Is it not natural to thing that Englishmen, as I am, should hate the Huns? I was the only recruit to leave Cairns on Saturday, March 29th last year, and I had a right royal send-off by the band and the choir at the Cairns wharf. I went to Enoggera and joined the ---- battalion. From there we went to Egypt, and after some training went to Anzac. We had a good time there under the hills for three or four days. It was also a lively time, as Beachy Bill would shake us up now and again. We had to get in our dug-outs quick and lively, I was with a party digging saps for nearly six months. We went to Lone Pine and Walker's Ridge. It was nothing but fighting all the time." Private Foot was on the peninsular right up to the evacuation, and after that went to Egypt, where he became ill with dysentery, and was subsequently invalided home. He speaks in glowing terms of the fighting qualities of the Australians. "You simply cannot hold them back," he remarked with pride. If you say anything to them they will shout out, 'Come-on, let's get at them.' They knew no fear and charge like lightning. The Turk is a fair fighter. We did not mind him. He was led by German officers, but these gentlemen watched things carefully so that they could save their skins or evade capture." The cheerfulness of the Australians, when wounded, was also remarked on by Private Foot. "I saw a bomb strike one man," he said, "and put over 30 bullets in his side. A stretcher bearer came along, but the wounded man wanted to walk to the doctor, and he did too, He afterwards walked to the base hospital, where he was operated on. I would also like to say that the hospital arrangements over there were simply perfect. The sisters of the Red Corss are angels, and cannot do enough for you." 

Private Foot is anxious to get back to the firing line again, but his age prevents that. "We are going to win," he added, and knock the Germans right out. What a splendid fight our Australians are putting up in France? As I said before, you cannot hold them back." The returned soldier made some scathing remarks about young eligible men who would not volunteer to help their comrades in the firing line. If there had been sufficient men at Gallipoli, Constantinople would have fallen long ago. When he was recently in Brisbane he daily saw a number of lounging louts who were holding up verandah posts. These men should be at the front. There were also shirkers, whose sole occupation in life seemed to be "two-up." They should be taught their duty to their country,  and to those who were away yonder in France risking their lives for the cause of liberty. Continuing, Private Foot said that when the soldiers on active service read of strikes in Australia, it had a maddening effect on them. They could not understand why the comrades they had left behind should indulge in industrial disputes while they were fighting with rifle and bayonet to prevent any invasion of Australia by the hated Hun. In the opinion of the returned soldier, conscription was the remedy to obtain adequate reinforcements for the men who had gone. When our solders left here they were told they would have all possible support, yet all over Australia to-day were to be seen young men who never gave the welfare of the soldiers a thought, and apparently did not care so long as they themselves were far from the sound of hostile guns. Private Foot has secured employment at Babinda, for which place he left on Tuesday afternoon. He is an example to many who have not yet considered the all important question of whether they should go to the front. When an old soldier, who has more than 60 years behind him, shoulders a gun and endures what he did for the sake of the Empire he loves, surely it shames those who are younger, and so far have shirked their responsibilities. It is hoped at the next recruiting meeting in Cairns that Private Foot will be among the speakers." - from the Cairns Northern Herald 18 Aug 1916 (nla.gov.au)