Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

An Australian digger searches for his mate's grave amid the shell-torn landscape that was Pozieres. The fact that so many men have no known grave is unsurprising given field burials like these which could be subsequently obliterated by more fighting and shellfire. After the war these ad hoc burials were concentrated into the cemeteries we know today.

An account of one of the many otherwise unheralded acts of courage and the underlying sense of duty that is so evident in so much of the available literature, exhibited from the highest to the lowest ranking soldier.

Official caption reads; "The graves of 13 Australian soldiers from the 10th Battalion who, unless stated otherwise, were killed in action on 19 May 1915. From left to right, the graves are those of 1398 Private (Pte) Charles Olsen; 1037 Pte William Cocks, killed in action on 23 May 1915; 894 Pte Albert Henry Davey; 1751 Pte Joseph Gurry; 984 Pte Charles Henry Allen; 1558 Pte Albert Beswick (actually Baswick); 101 Pte Walter Batley Seaman; 801 Private Arthur Sydney Johnson; 1357 Pte Sydney Brooke Holt, killed on 29 May 1915; 299 Pte Thomas Arthur Atwill; 1184 Pte Benjamin Thomas Thorpe; 1163 Pte John George Murphy; 1452 Pte William Altree, killed on 29 May. Post war investigation revealed that Pte Albert Baswick, coach trimmer, enlisted at Oaklands, South Australia and embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Runic on 27 November 1914; Albert Baswick was an alias of John Routledge, son of Thomas and L Caroline Routledge, of 4 Holt Terrace, Shell Street, Stanley Grove, Manchester, England" This group correlates closely with the CO's account of the battle (see Lock p46) plus three other men PTEs Cocks Holt and Altree who died in the days following the major counter attack. The CO's account indated that 11 men were killed. Ten are thus accounted for in this photograph with the eleventh perhaps succumbing to wounds in the evacuation chain. This group is now all interred in the Shrapnel Gully Cemetery. AWM Image http://www.awm.gov.au/view/collection/item/C02199/

The Tenth Battalion on parade at Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide. It is believed to have been taken in October 1914 just prior to the Battalion's embarking for the Middle East. Torrens Parade Ground is an icon of the State's military history. Having been a militia training area since the early days of the Colony, beginning with the Boer War, many South Australian military contingents have paraded at Torrens Parade Ground prior to embarkation. These days, Torrens Parade Ground is the home of ANZAC House RSL SA State Headquarters.

Arthur Blackburn, VC, arguably Australia's most remarkable citizen soldiers. Among the first ashore at Gallipoli and with another man reached farthest inland, he was later commissioned. He won a Victoria Cross at Pozieres in unrelenting fighting. He had a distinguished career in public life between the wars and commanded with distinction in the Middle East and Dutch East Indies in WWII becoming a POW after commanding 'Blackforce' in Java.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6396132

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rallied and organized his company at a moment when they were suffering haeavily from a continuous bombardment, leading them through a hostile barrage to a successful assault on the enemy's position. Throughout the night he continued to supervise the consolidation, and it was owing to his determination and energy that by daylight his company was entrenched and prepared to withstand the hostile counter attack.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219 Date: 20 December 1917

Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. When his company were caught by heavy machine gun fire during an attack, he at once went out in front of the leading wave, and rallied the sections, which had sustained heavy casualties. Though wounded, he led his men to their objective, and continued to direct the fighting until he collapsed. His determination and courage were an inspiration to his men.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 Date: 23 May 1919

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1205196&c=WW2#R

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8389746

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=663282&c=WW2#R

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART27629/ "Part of an anti-shipping strike wing of Coastal Command, No. 455 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, became highly skilled in this role in sweeps along the French, Belgium and Dutch coasts."

Early in the war, 455 Squadron was equipped with the Handley Page Hampden light bomber, in what were Bomber Command markings

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129323787

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261154571

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3453485

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=252943

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56206110/thomas-john-murrin

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/remembering-the-sandakan-prisoner-of-war-camp-and-death-marches

ASMAN KHAN, AN EMACIATED INDIAN, WHO IS RECEIVING TREATMENT AT 105 CASUALTY CLEARING STATION.

A TUBE BEING PUSHED DOWN INTO THE TRACHEA OF A PATIENT BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN OPERATION AT THE DENTAL SECTION, 105 CASUALTY CLEARING STATION. THE OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED BY CAPT T.H. THOMSON (1).

Cornish_Augustus_19010621_Transcript.pdf

https://www.625squadron.com/

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/the-lonely-anzac

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3029487

MEMBERS OF 8 PLATOON, A COMPANY, 2/27TH INFANTRY BATTALION, GIVING A CHOCOLATE TO A HALF STARVED NATIVE BOY AS THEY PAUSE FOR A REST ON THEIR WAY TO THE TOWN OF SAMBODJA.

The Kings and Regimental Colours of the 2nd/27th Battalion, laid up in Scots Church North Terrace Adelaide