Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Having spent sometime researching my family tree and confirming through registered documentation my father was born on the 30th of January 1895. Therefore he was 20 years old when he signed up for WW1. Having discussed with my older brothers Dad never discussed much about the war like many of those that returned. He served in the 9th, 49th and 47th Battalion throughout his time going to Gallipoli initially then onto France from 1915 to 1919 when he returned to Australia.
He arrived at Gallipoli on August 4th 1915 and 100 years to the very day, I stood on Turkish soil where once he was. The Australian and New Zealand Army were there at Lone Pine practising their parade on the 6th August ready for the 100th Commemoration of the Battle of Lone Pine. I had organised a floral wreath which I laid in remembrance of him especially and his brother Vincent who had been killed at the first Battle of Bullecourt in France on April 7th 1917. As the I started to lay the wreath down the practise parade started and it was as if this tribute was for him. It felt very special and poignant that I should be there.
My remembrances of my father are very scant as he died when I was 11 years old and didn't loom large in my early years. From my researching I have shed some light on who my father was.