Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Lt Reginald Bede “Rex” Stocks

The men and women from Ballarat and district who served during the Great War fought in every major battle; they served with all the Allied countries, and in nearly every theatre of the war itself. However, when you least expect it, another story presents itself – one that takes you on a journey through some of the less well-known aspects of the conflict. The chance discovery of a newspaper article on Ballarat’s Rex Stocks added yet another dimension to the growing volume of amazing stories

The son of two State School teachers, Reginald Bede “Rex” Stocks was born at the family home at 149 Victoria Street in Ballarat East on 10 October 1886. His parents, Manchurian, Ernest Decimus Stocks, and Cornishwoman, Isabella Webb, had met whilst both were teaching at the Gold Fields School. After marrying in 1870, their first four children were born at Durham Lead. Their next eight children were born in Ballarat East. Rex was their youngest.

Ernest Stocks was teaching at the Eureka Street State School during this period, but it is not known if that was where young Rex began his education. With a mother who had been a teacher it is possible that he was home-schooled. His education was definitely effective.

There was certainly a strong impact from both his parents. Ernest Stocks, in particular, seems to have had a strong genetic influence over his children. A talented water-colourist, Ernest often had his work shown in exhibitions around the country. Both Rex and Mildred showed definite artistic leanings.

The family moved to Drouin in the mid 1890’s and settled on the property Dutton Lea (situated on what is now known as Stocks Road), with breath-taking views of Mount Baw Baw. When Mildred began contributing to a regular column in the Melbourne Leader newspaper, “Children’s Corner”. A letter writing competition was part of the column, known as “Cinderella’s Letterbox”. When Mil-dred was successful in winning a number of prizes, it was an incentive for Rex to write to “Cinderel-la”, too.

It was a wonderful insight into the mind and life of a little boy in the 1890’s. His first effort was noted in January 1896, and talked about how much he liked to play hoops. He also spoke about a flat with a big drain that the children called the “Till”, ‘and when it has been raining the water rushes down with great force.’ There was also a nice hill that they loved to run down, but when he men-tioned that his sister had slipped over and hurt her back, the editor for the page was moved to comment, ‘…Cinderella hopes that it was not the little girl who draws such nice pictures for her sto-ries…’,

Rex continued to write his chatty little letters to “Cinderella”, which are delightful – and sometimes quite alarming – in their childish innocence.

‘…Dutton Lea, Drouin, April 8th, 1896.
Dear Cinderella,—
I am going to write another letter and hope
to get the prize.

We had a trip down to Warragul last Thursday
and I enjoyed it very much but as we were coming
out of Drouin we had to come down a road about
a yard and a half wide, and after some men were
mending the road, and we had to go down on the
grass, and nearer Warragul there was a very long
bumpy corduroy piece.

There are a lot of parrots about now and our poor
apples are badly pecked.
I will now close with love from
REGINALD BEDE STOCKS
Age, 9 years.
P.S.— Did you like my card I sent you for
Easter?

[That was a very nice card you sent, Rex; Did
you paint it yourself?]…’

Still searching for that elusive prize, Rex wrote again…

‘…Dutton Lea, Drouin July 8th 1896
Dear Cinderella,—
I am going to write you another letter and I
hope it will be nice enough for the prize.
I had a ride on a pony called Nellie the other
day and I just had to kick its ribs with my heels
and it would begin to canter.

The book l am reading now is The Boy Makes
the Man, and I have read The Swiss Family
Robinson, The Coral Island, The Gorilla Hunters,
and Up the Tapajos.

I have got a bow and arrow and there is a piece
of poetry in the "Nursery Rhymes" —
A was an archer who shot at a frog,
B was a butcher who kept a bull dog.
I did do that Easter card by myself and so did
my sister do hers by herself.

I like playing marbles, do the little boys and
girls in fairyland play marbles?
I remain with much love from
REGINALD BEDE STOCKS.

What was particularly revealing in this little letter from a 9 year-old boy, was his love of adventure, his precocious reading, and his ability to ride – these were things that would eventually shape his future life.

It seems that Rex had just one further attempt to win a prize from “Cinderella”…

‘…"Dutton Lea," Drouin, Feb. 12th, 1897.
Dear Cinderella, —
It is a long time since I wrote you and this
time I hope to get the prize.
We had a whirlwind to-day, it made such a
noise, and it got under a tree and blew a
branch off.

We have got a lot of chickens, but only one
Malay. We set 12 eggs, and only one hatched
out.

The Malay will lot you stroke it, and yesterday
It got on my sister’s head.
We have got three cows. Their names are
Strawberry, Beauty and Baldy. I and my sister
are learning to milk them.

On New Year’s Day we went fishing and caught
a lot of fish, one eel, and one crab.
Our cat Tiger used to catch the chickens and
eat them so we had to drown him.

Our neighbour Mr. Hardy was burning off, and
it is such a pretty sight to see the fire blazing.
I remain with much love from
REGINALD BEDE STOCKS…’

(I’m STILL upset about the poor cat!)

In July 1910, Rex travelled to South Africa to join his older brother Arthur and sister, Caroline. By this time, he had studied draughtsmanship, but he appears to have been eager for adventure, and the exploits he had enjoyed reading about as a boy.

It wasn’t long before Rex was to experience more excitement and adventure that he ever dreamed possible.

At the beginning of the Great War, an armed insurrection was led by Boers who wished to re-establish the South African Republic in the Transvaal. Known as the Maritz Rebellion (after Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz), the Boer revolt – jeeringly referred to as the Five Shilling Rebellion – quickly resulted in a significant number of British and Commonwealth residents joining the South African Defence Force. Amongst their number was Rex Stocks, who enlisted as a trooper on 10 October 1914.

After the rebellion was suppressed by forces under the command of Generals Louis Botha and Jan Smuts, the ADF pursued the ringleader, Maritz, into German held South-West Africa. Rex arrived in the region around the beginning of March 1915.

When Rex landed back in Australia in September 1915, his story was so thrilling it was printed in numerous newspapers…

‘…WITH BOTHA IN AFRICA
AUSTRALIANS JOIN IN WAR ON REBELS AND GERMANS
150 MILES DASH IN 3 DAYS GIVES HORSEMEN VICTORY
Private Rex B. Stocks, a native of Ballarat, reached Melbourne on Wednesday, after fighting for ten months against, the South African rebels and the Germans in West Africa. He has had stirring experiences, but nothing daunted by perils and hardships, is enlisting in Victoria for service in Gallipoli. Long, swift, wearing "treks," often without food, water or sleep, sudden alarms and fierce, short-range fighting, were the leading features of the campaign in which Private Stocks took part. He was one of a number of Australians who volunteered for service as soon as the war broke out. He gave up a good position in the Johannesburg municipal council, and with his fellow-Australians, joined the Natal Light Horse, under Colonel Royston, who had many of these Australians under him when he helped to put down the last Zulu rising.

CHASING THE REBELS
There were 300 Australians in a force of 800 men, and in the chase after Generals Maritz and Kemp there were many exciting incidents. Still more interesting was the work against the Germans. The force was sent to Lüderitz Bay, just in time for the general advance.

"Very soon," said Private Stocks, "we had a taste of German methods. As we proceeded, we found Aus, the town on which we marched, deserted, and the water had been poisoned. Evidently carbolic acid had been poured into it. However, we drank it, though it burnt the lips a good deal.

"At Kuibis and Bethanien, also, we found that the wells had been poisoned. Five Germans who had been left to poison the water in the latter place were chased by our scouts, but just managed to get clear — we were sorry to miss them. "You will feel inclined to smile when I tell you that the Germans left behind them, among their musical Instruments, many records of British songs, including 'Rule Britannia' and 'Soldiers of the Queen.'

TRAPPED BY WIRE TAPPING
"On one occasion the engineers with the Union force caught the Germans in a clever, but rather, lucky, fashion. They came across a telephone wire intact, and proceeded to tap a message which was sent through. It showed that the German force was close by on the Fish River, and were under the impression that the Union soldiers were short of rations, that their horses were dead beat, and that it was a physical impossibility for them to be anywhere near. The Germans did not reckon with such trekking as the Union forces were accomplishing. Sometimes the South African troops rode 50 miles a day for three consecutive days, the men having only a couple of hours sleep in the day. This was often in terribly rough country. "When we blew up the railway, between Gibeon and Windhoek," remarked Private Stocks, "the Germans were forcibly Informed of our exact position. At 2 o'clock in the; morning, as we were advancing on foot to Gibeon, the Germans rushed eight Maxim guns into position.

They were about a thousand strong, and were so close to us that the machine gun bullets went, to a great extent, over our heads. Still, the fire was fearfully hot. "Some of our force had got under the shelter of the railway embankment, but the Germans enfiladed us.

The Second Imperial Light Horse and two squadrons of the Natal Light Horse were able to retire after they had sustained numerous casualties, but two other squadrons of the N.L.H. were so completely enfiladed that they had no alternative but to hoist the white flag or be annihilated.

"The Germans grew frantic with delight when they saw that they had captured about 150 prisoners. At first they were under the belief that they had bagged the whole force against them. They did not know that in the locality there was a total of 3500 Union men. They were undeceived as morning dawned, however, for General D. McKenzie came up with his force and opened fire upon the Germans with his big guns. Our own force, after withdrawing, had extended and now advanced on the right, routing the Germans.

PRISONERS AS SCREEN
"Here;" continued Private Stocks, "I saw another example of German methods in warfare. As they retreated they formed a screen of the prisoners whom they had captured, and a number of our own brave fellows caught our fire. Under the circumstances, it was impossible to avoid it. I am glad to say, however, that so hard pressed were the Germans in the retreat that they were unable to take their prisoners with them, and they escaped.

"This fighting, it should be explained, was done after a forced march of 200 miles, made in 10 days. In the last five days the troops were without rations, though all round were abundance of sheep and cattle. They had, therefore, the novel experience of living on meat as the only item on the menu —an experience which has probably never before befallen troops marching through an enemy's country. This was because the convoys had failed them.

"The other serious fight, apart from skirmishes, in which Private Stocks took part, was at Keil's Drift against the rebels on November 18 last, when he and his comrades trekked 150 miles in three days, and went 48 hours without rations. Kemp had 1200 rebels with him, while the Union force numbered only from 300 to 400 In that particular engagement.

HEAVY ODDS FACED
"Though surrounded on three sides, and with a river at their back, the Australians and their comrades kept this large force at bay until the rebels retreated. "Private Stocks remarked that if the rebels had had pluck enough they could have annihilated the little force opposed to them. "It is Impossible to give to the German any credit for chivalry at all," said Private Stocks. "We found that they had placed mines along the roads which we were expected to traverse," he said, "but, of course, this might have been anticipated. But the treatment of Lieutenant Du Meillon was unpardonable.

MINES ROUND GRAVE
"This officer fought against the British in the Boer war but a residence in German West Africa made him so disgusted with the German character that he returned to South Africa. He was one of our scouts, and put up a gallant fight in company with five of his blackboys against about 70 Germans. He was shot, and there perished a true soldier. The angry Germans, however, actually placed contact mines round his grave, and when his wife later visited the grave one of these mines exploded. Fortunately, no one was hurt."

It should be explained that a contact mine Is one which Is exploded by a person striking, accidentally or otherwise, a pin which peeps above the ground where the mine is laid.
Private Stocks' parents live in Drouin, Gippsland. It may be noted that toward the close of his experiences In Africa he was promoted acting corporal…’

True to his word, Rex immediately enlisted in the AIF. He volunteered in Melbourne on 24 September 1915. His months of active service certainly made him an ideal recruit. Physically, Rex had no difficulty passing his medical examination – 5-feet 7¼-inches, 12-stone 7-pounds, and a 40-inch chest – and, other than his fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, the only other noted distinguishing feature was a scar on his right knee. He was immediately posted to the 24th Depot Battalion at Royal Park.

On 10 November, Rex was transferred to Seymour Camp to join the troops destined for the light horse. He was finally assigned to the 17th reinforcements for the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment on 28 April 1916.

Nearly eight months after joining the AIF, Rex boarded the troopship Clan McCorquodale at Port Melbourne on 6 May to begin the voyage to Egypt.

Following a brief time with the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Rex was transferred to the ANZAC Mounted Division on 25 June. He was taken on strength of the 1st Field Squadron at Kantara. As a unit, they were to see service in Egypt, Sinai and as a support for the famous charge at Beersheba.

After the success of Beersheba, and having handled himself well as a corporal with the unit, Rex was sent to the Cadet School in Zeitoun. He was appointed a cadet at the school on 14 December 1917. Three months later, on 9 March 1918, Rex was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
During March and April, the ANZAC Mounted Division made major raids across the Jordan River.

On 20 July, Rex was promoted to full lieutenant. The following month the AMD participated in the Second Battle of Amman and the final breakthrough that captured the largest city in Jordan.

Units of this division also reoccupied Gallipoli in December 1918.

On 2 February 1919, a confidential report was written about Rex Stocks’ capabilities, de-scribing him as ‘…a good sound officer, draughtsman with constructional experience in civil life; capable, careful and methodical. Good disciplinarian. No staff training, but suitable for “A” or “Q” work. Recommended for promotion…’

Returning to civilian life, Rex moved to the small town of Poowong in 1919, and continued to work as a draughtsman.
In 1921, Rex married a young widow, Laura Dickeson. Her story was one all too common of women who married men who served during the Great War.

She was born Laura Elizabeth Waugh Robinson at Kempsey, New South Wales, in 1892.

On 25 February 1915, at St Matthais Church, Centennial Park, in the heart of Sydney, Laura married Colin Addison Dickeson. Dickeson had been in London having just completed his degree in architecture when war broke out. He immediately joined the British Expeditionary Force, but, when the decision was made to enforce a three-year term of enlistment, “colonials” were given the option of discharge so they could return to the home countries. A native of Kaikohe in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Dickeson enlisted at Whanganui in January 1915.

Laura and Colin’s son, Colin Philip Dickeson, was born at Woollahra on 30 July 1916. By this time Laura’s husband had sailed for the front.

In October 1917, Captain Dickeson showed incredible courage under fire ‘…when cable burying operations were in danger of being stopped owing to difficulties, through to rain, mud, darkness, and enemy shelling, of getting materials formed to the work. His party preserved, and so enabling the work to proceed…’ For his bravery, Dickeson was awarded the Military Cross.

Tragically, he was killed in action on 26 April 1918 – never having seen his baby son.

It is not known how Rex came to meet Laura Dickeson, but by marrying her he also inherited the responsibility of raising her son. This is something he seems to have done extraordinarily well.

By 1924, the new family had settled in Huon Road, Cranbourne, and Rex recreated himself as an orchardist. When his stepson was old enough to undertake his own career, Colin, followed Rex’s lead. It was evident that there was a strong bond between the pair.

During World War II, Rex Stocks enlisted once again, serving briefly as a captain with the 3rd Engineers Training Depot.
Meanwhile, Colin Dickeson had joined the Royal Australian Navy and was serving as lieutenant onboard the corvette HMS Snowflake.

‘…MELBOURNE MAN'S PART
IN FIGHT WITH U-BOATS

Second-in-command of the corvette Snowflake, which took a prominent part in beating-off a U-boat pack which menaced an Atlantic convoy (reported in yesterday's Herald) it Lieut. Colin Phillip Dickeson, of Cranbourne (Vic.). Snowflake has spent 244 days at sea in the past 12 months. "The sea was so thick With German submarines that we seemed to be "tripping over them," Lieut Dickeson wrote in a letter to his stepfather. Capt. R. B. Stocks (RAE), of Cranbourne.
Lieut Dickeson, who is 27, and was educated at Trinity Grammar School at Kew, described vividly many features of the battle in May, which proved the turning point of the struggle against the U-boats.

EIGHT-DAY FIGHT
The battle raged in light and darkness almost without Interruption for eight days, and soon after it began the sea "smelled of submarine engines and practically nothing else," he wrote.

This is a portion of Dickeson's story in letters to his family:
"We had dropped a full load of depth charge on one U-boat, then almost simultaneously saw torpedoes coming at us from another. Seven were discharged altogether. She submerged, and we ran over her, then almost fell over another one Immediately afterwards. They both cleared off and we went round to the first one again preparing to ram. She had been blown to the top and was turning in a circle, presumably to avoid us. Her crew were climbing all over her yelling to each other and to us and chucking rafts into the water. One chap was trying to have a last go at us with the 4in. gun. We gave him the works at 100 yards. It was all up with the sub. His periscope was smashed and his bows began to go up. Men were swimming about waving torches."…’

Colin was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 7 Dec 1943. He finished the war as a Lieutenant-Commander, married in 1946, and returned to the family’s Cranbourne orchard to settle back into civilian life.

Throughout this time, Rex continued to represent men who had served in Australia’s forces. He was president of the Dandenong RSL 1945-1947; and worked with the Repatriation Committee between the years 1945-1948 as honorary secretary and treasurer.

However, the death of his beloved wife, Laura, on 29 January 1956, was a particularly hard blow. She died at their home in Huon Park Road.

After a life of great excitement and adventure, Rex chose to retire following Laura’s death. He chose a quieter existence living in a hostel in Frankston to be near to his stepson and his family. He died there on 20 May 1963.