Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Police Station, Carlton, Victoria

Operating a wine shop, as well as refreshment rooms, in the Zoological Gardens, Royal Park , caterer James Gillespie [1856-1913], shared eight children with wife, Mary [1859-1924], nèe Gallagher, an Amherst, south of Maryborough, Victoria born daughter of Francis Gallagher and Bridget Dunlea.

Having joined, on 22 March 1909, the Victoria Police Force, 22 years of age caterer, Constable David Francis Gillespie 5453, the eldest twin son of James and Mary Gillespie, commenced foot patrol duty from Russell Street on 15 June 1909, however worked from Carlton police station only a few days later.

Resigning six years later, on 21 July 1915, 178.4cm [5’10¼”], 95.25kg [15 st], Dave Gillespie became one of several Victoria Police members, including Constables Sid Green, of Collingwood, together with Tom Owen of St Kilda, assigned to 7th Battalion 10th Reinforcement, as well as youngest brother, 18 years of age electrician, Wallace William Gillespie. Within days of enlistment, Dave Gillespie was provisionally promoted to Corporal whilst performing duty with 10th Battalion 6th Reinforcements.

Embarking, on 29 September 1915, from Melbourne aboard HMAT RMS Osterley, upon arrival at Tel Kebir, Egypt, Dave Gillespie was, on 28 February 1916, reverted to the ranks upon transferring to the 59th Battalion. However, on 4 March 1916 at Ferry Post he was promoted to Sergeant, prior to, on 9 May 1916, being promoted to Company Sergeant Major [Warrant Officer II]
Steaming from Alexandria, Egypt, on 18 June 1916 to disembark at Marseilles, France on 29 June 1916, the battalion was introduced to the Western Front in the British held French Flanders, close to Armentieres-Belgium border in what was known as the Bois Grenier or Fleurbaix sector.

By this time, Spring 1916, this area had seen little serious fighting for almost a year, resulting in its nickname the ‘nursery sector’ where new formations could be introduced to trench warfare. However, the war on the western front was a stagnate, muddy, bloody stalemate, with mighty enemy artillery, 10-20 kms behind the front line, causing horrific death and destruction.

Arrival on the Western Front exposed the AIF to precision enemy artillery bombardment and sniping, the nursery sector enduring frequent sorties as well as attacks by German aircraft, together with gas attacks as well as the highly effective German Minenwerfer medium trench mortar.

On the 5 May 1916 there was heavy German bombardment on the 20th Battalion holding the Bridoux Salient to the south-east of Bois Grenier, causing about 100 casualties.

Raiding was of course conducted by both sides. During a trench raid on the Germans opposite their position on 13 June 1916, Captain Percy Douglas Moncur MC [Constable 5766 Bourke Street West police station] commanded a successful raiding party raid on the enemy trenches taking six prisoners, as well as mortally wounding twelve German soldiers; bombing others in their dugouts with unknown results.”

The Battle of Fromelles, on 19 July 1916, was a bloody initiation of Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders, the attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme the scene of a large Allied offensive commenced on 1 July.

Commencing with the first soldiers climbing the 2 metre parapets in broad daylight at 5.30 p.m., the infantry attack of the Battle of Fromelles was a disastrous failure; with Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground under direct observation as well as heavy, sweeping machine gun fire over ‘no man’s land’.

During the three hour assault over 5,533 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action, as well as some 400 captured. Believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War, some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history.

Reported ‘Wounded and Missing in Action’ on 19 July 1916, together with his Victoria Police colleagues, Corporal Sidney Frank William Harold Green [Carlton police station], together with Sergeant Edwin Joseph Morley [Wallan police station], the fate of Sergeant Athol Halliday McDowell [Bourke Street West police station] was subsequently, on 13 September 1916, determined to be ‘Killed in Action’.

Sustaining, on 19 July 1916, gunshot wounds to his right arm, as well as severe shell inflicted buttock wounds, Dave Gillespie was admitted to 35th Military Hospital Calais, France. Transferred, on 2 August 1916, to England in serious condition, Dave Gillespie returned to Australia on 31 December 1916 to undergo colostomy repair surgery, on 26 January 1917, at No 11 Australian General Hospital [AGH], Caulfield.

Attracting peritonitis, Company Sergeant Major [Constable] David Francis Gillespie died, at midnight on 27 March 1917, in the AGH to be buried with full military honours in the Coburg ‘Lone Pine’ cemetery.

All five Gillespie brothers served in the First AIF: David Francis Gillespie [1887–1917], gardener, Douglas James Gillespie [1887–1947], labourer, Gordon Charles Gillespie [1890-1937]; plumber, Robert Bruce Gillespie [1895–1969], as well as Wallace William Gillespie [1898–1967]; all returned to Australia.

David Francis Gillespie

On the 27th March, at Caulfield Hospital, from peritonitis, caused through wounds received at France on July 19, 1916, Company Sergeant Major David Francis Gillespie, twin son of Mary and the late James Gillespie, 112 Gatehouse Street, Parkville and Zoological Gardens, brother of Douglas [twin], A.I.F.; Eva, Gordon A.I.F.; Hilda, Olive, Bruce, A.I.F.; Wallace [wounded]. Aged 29 years.

Extended Family

Mary Gillespie, [mother of David], shared two brothers, Francis junior, along with Manus, as well as a sister, Ann Cecelia Gallagher.

Enlisting, on 11 March 1916, Lexton, Victoria born, 25 years of age, labourer, Francis Patrick Gallagher, elder son of Francis Gallagher junior, assigned originally to 38th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement, served with the 14th Battalion. Returning to Australia on 5 March 1919, Private Francis Patrick Gallagher, was, for 20 months, a prisoner of war, following his capture at Riencourt, northern France.

Enlisting, on 21 March 1916, Evansford, Victoria born, 22 years of age, farmer, John Francis Gallagher, younger son of Francis Gallagher junior, assigned originally to 39th Battalion, D Company, served with the 8th Battalion. Private John Francis Gallagher, on 27 November 1916, was killed in action in northern France.

Buried in Guards Needle Dump Cemetery, Lesboeufs, on the road to Flers, along with 23 soldiers from Australia and four from the United Kingdom, killed between October 1916-March 1917, Private John Francis Gallagher was posthumously awarded a Victory Medal as well as a British War Medal.

John Francis Gallagher

The sad intelligence that Private John Francis Gallagher had been killed in action in France came as a severe blow to his parents and relatives, and created the deepest regret amongst the residents of the surrounding district, who join in sympathy with the bereaved relatives of one who willingly made the supreme sacrifice for his King, and country. The late Private Gallagher, who was in his 23rd year, was always of a most cheerful disposition, and possessed of characteristics that marked him as a favourite with all. He was educated at the Evansford school, and had spent, the whole of his life in the district prior to his embarking with the 39th Battalion. He was ever foremost in all forms of recreation, and was a fine specimen of an athlete. Francis Patrick and Thomas Bernard, brothers of the deceased, are also on active service.

A third son of Francis Gallagher, 21 years of age, labourer, Thomas Bernard Gallagher, enlisted on 11 April 1916. Originally assigned to 7th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement, Private Tom Gallagher served, on the Western Front, with the 37th Battalion.

Sustaining, on 6 February 1917, a gunshot wound to his lower left jaw, Private Tom Gallagher returned to Australia on 19 October 1917.

Enlisting, on 23 January, 1917 Warrnambool, Victoria born, 18 years of age, butcher, John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher, son of Manus Gallagher, was assigned to 8th Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcements. Sustaining gunshot wounds to his back, on 3 May 1918, at Es Salt, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, Trooper John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher MM died of such wounds on that day to rest in eternal peace in Damascus British War Cemetery [Row 6], Damascus, Syria.

John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher

Died of wounds in Palestine on 5 May 1918, No. 3237. Trooper John J. Gallagher, 8th Light Horse, beloved second son of Manus and Lizzie Gallagher, loving brother of Dan, Tottie [Mrs. Carling, Grace, Vera, Dillon, Verney and Dymphna, aged 19 years

Walter Henry Jenkins, the 22 years of age, Clunes, Victoria born son of Ann Cecilia Gallagher, was the fifth nephew of Mary Gillespie to enlist. Assigned, on 13 May 1916, to the 59th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement, Lance Corporal Walter Henry Jenkins, on 30 September 1918, died of wounds received on the Hindenburg Line, France, to be buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, [Plot V, Row F, Grave No. 13], France.

Walter Henry Jenkins

Officially reported died of wounds on 30 September 1918 at 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, France, No. 2423, Private Walter Henry Jenkins, youngest son of Cecilia Jenkins, 134 Cubitt Street, Richmond, and the late Walter Henry Jenkins, of Clunes, dearly loved brother of Mrs. Gearman, Leonie and Frank, beloved brother-in-law of B. Gearman, Launceston. Aged 24.

Providing three sons of her own to serve their country in the Great War, twins, David Francis and Douglas; Wallace as well as Gordon, joining their five cousins, Mary Gillespie, on 8 February 1924, died at Carlton. Sixty-five years of age, Mary, of 4 McVean Street, West Brunswick, and Melbourne Zoological Gardens, the was dearly beloved wife of the late James Gillespie, the loving mother of David, Douglas, Eva, Gordon, Hilda, Olive [Mrs. D. McArthur, Abbotsford], Bruce, Wallace.