Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On Christmas Day 2023 a letter came into my possession written by Captain McFarlane to the parents of the man who had been his Batman throughout the entire war. It was written on one piece of writing paper folded to make four small pages. It is now 105 years old but his lovely cursive script remains intact and legible. His final words in the letter to Mr and Mrs Holloway parents of his Batman Trp H C Holloway are " His death has hit me harder than anything in this war and has made me very low spirited and lonely". Earlier in the letter he said how he had loved him like a brother. I consider this to be a priceless document and his words have given me an insight into the character of my great Uncle Herbert Clifford Holloway (Bert). Bert's closest sister was my grandmother and four months after his death my Dad was born and given the name Bert Clifford Grosser as a tribute to her brother.

If there are relatives of Captain McFarlane who would like to have a copy of this letter I would be very happy to make that possible. It is also quite poignant that my Great Uncle died on the 3 December 1918 (of Spanish Flu) and Captain McFarlane died on the same date 18 years later. He also sent a photo of the resting place of Bert and had a cross erected and a wreath placed around the cross as a tribute to as he said ' all he has been to me and done for me'
Nerelle Roy grand niece of Trp H C Holloway

From How We Served

Captain Herbert McFarlane MC of North Unley, South Australia had been employed as a manager and buyer when he enlisted for War Service on the 20th of May 1915. Having already served with the 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse during the Boer War, Herbert applied for an officer's commission with 1st AIF. Being succesful with his appliction, Herbert was promoted to Second Lieutenant and was posted to reinforcements for the 9th Light Horse Regiment.

Embarking for Egypt and further training Herbert joined his Regiment and was formally Taken on Stength on the 28th of December. Herbert's service during the desert fighting would be continuous and would seen him promoted to Lieutenant until he was wounded in the right hand on the 12th of December 1917. Following his hospitalisation and convalescences in Egypt Herbert was despatched for service with the Staff of the 4th Light Horse Brigade on the 29th of October 1917 and was promoted to Temporary Captain.

For his work with the Brigade Staff in planning operations carried out against the Turkish Army and his direct service in the field, Herbert was decorated with the Military Cross. Following the end of hostilities Capatin McFarlane MC was embarked at Egypt bound for is return to Australia and demobilisation on the 26th of September 1919. Following his arrival back in Adelaide, Herbert's service with the 1st AIF was terminated.

Herbert's premature death from arterio-sclerosis, auricular fibrillation, which was deemed as being caused by War Service, occurred on the 3rd of December 1936 at the age of 56. Following his passing Captain Hervert McFarlane MC was formally laid to rest within West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia.