Edward Joseph Connop Sgt. 2621 My Great Uncle

My Great Uncle Sgt. Edward Joseph Connop was the son of John and Margaret Connop of Little River Victoria, he attended Cocoroc West School and was a Labourer before enlisting in 1915 and he served with the 7th Battalion on the Western Front. Edward died of wounds he received at Passendaele Ypres Belguim on the 11th of October 1917 and is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery France. Edward’s brother John Edmond Connop died four days later from wounds he receeived at Polygon Wood Ypres Belguim and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Belguim.Edward was aged 22yrs and John who served with the 29th Battalion Reg. 3523 was aged 24yrs.

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My Great Grandfather the Light Horseman

Like many Australians, I decided to look up my great-grandfather’s First World War Record. I have enormous pride in knowing that he served with the 9th Australian Light Horse regiment. When I was a child I heard many stories about him. Some were myth and some were true. His war records put paid to many of those myths. For example my grandmother (my great grandfather’s daughter) told me as a child that he had served in Gallipoli, yet the record told me otherwise. There was also the story that he had shrapnel lodged in his hip as he always walked with a limp. After looking at the record I cant find any reference to that type of wound. The thing that was obvious to me as I looked at his service records was “context”. A couple of things..One, unlike the myth of a young strapping bronzed ANZAC lighthorseman, my great-grandfather was married, had 5 children and was aged 40. I asked myself why did he leave his wife and family to go overseas at that age?. Another thing puzzled me was that his next of kin wasn?t his wife, but his brother Horace. Why did he do that? Was he unhappy with his marriage? did he enlist to get way from his wife? did he have a sense of patriotic duty?. A family member has told me he wasn’t in a happy marriage and that it was a good chance he left to get away. The sting in the tail of this story is this. In late November of 1915, news of the death of my great-grandfather’s wife is received by the Army and it forwards the bad news to my great grandfather. It must have been devastating news to receive considering he was thousands of miles away in Egypt. I wonder what he thought. His records also disclose that he applied for immediate leave on Christmas Day 1915. Heart-wrenchingly, it stated that his five children had no-one to look after them and that he was the only one who could do so. His young children lived in the bush and were isolated. He was granted leave and he returned home. I notice in his records he waived his pension, again I have no idea why. On his medals and their whereabouts, I found out that he had received all three medals, (the 1914-15 military star, victory and service medals). I wonder what happened to the actual medals. I keep a keen eye on EBay medal auction listings in the remote hope they one day may show up. I have a set of replicas made and I proudly wear them on ANZAC DAY on my right side with a great deal of pride. I thank the National Archives for making public these records as they add so much to the fabric of family history. Whilst date of birth and service numbers can be mere functionary administrative items, it’s the context, the places and events penciled in the service records that engage ones imagination and has one asking why, how, where etc. Again I’m very proud of my great-grandfather, even though he wasn?t a strapping bronzed myth of a light horseman. Even though he didn’t clamber in the hills of Gallipoli or cling to a trench in Northern France, he did one thing that mattered most. He put his hand up regardless of his personal circumstances and said like many ordinary Australians, “I wish to serve my country”. by Jodie Newell 2009, William Kennedy’s great-granddaughter.

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William Heyer

This is my father’s uncle. He died in France of wounds. His brother Henry also died in France. Young and fighting for what they believed in.

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Lachlan Talbot Bell

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William John McKinlay BAIRD Military Record

William John McKinlay BAIRD (1901-1981) First World War Army Record

Regimental No. 3271 Unit 8^th Reinforcements/35^th Btn A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Forces)

Reallotted Regimental No. 3271A when transferred from 35^th Battalion to 33^rd Battalion (24 April, 1918)

15 June, 1917 Enlisted at Coonamble, NSW. Stated his age 18 2/12 years

Date of Birth: 17 April, 1901 (actually 16 years 2 months 11 days)

17 June, 1917 Joined Camp

18 June, 1917 Urgent Telegram from Cootamundra from Mother (Martha Forrest?) – Will not give consent, too young to enlist

28 June, 1917 Medical examination

28 June, 1917 to 20 July, 1917 Recruit Private Show Ground Camp Sydney, N.S.W.

20 July Assigned 8^th Reinforcements 35^th Battalion

2 August 1917 – Embarked on H.M.A.T Miltiades at Sydney (H.M.A.T. A28 – His Majesty’s Australian Troopship)

2 October, 1917 – Disembarked Glasgow

3 October, 1917 – Marched into 9^th Training Battalion Durrington from Australia ex HMAT A28 (Miltiades)

From 1899, part of Salisbury Plain to the north west of the village was used for artillery practice and a camp was set up on Durrington Down. By the beginning of the First World War there were three tented camps known as Durrington, Larkhill, and Fargo Camps; which were later replaced by permanent brick buildings. The military expansion caused a decline in all types of farming as the army occupied most of the land, however, the rapid rise in population brought about the establishment of many shops and business.

7 April, 1918 Pte. Proceeded Overseas to France ex Fovant via Southampton

8 April, 1918 Pte. Marched into A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) from United Kingdom ex Reinforcements (35^th Battalion)

10 April, 1918 Marched out to Front Place Rouelles

12 April, 1918 Taken on Strength 35^th Battalion

From the Diary of 35^th Battalion A.I.F.

10 April, 1918 – Place Villers-Bretonneux. Overcast and a little rain during the day. 2 men killed and 3 wounded by shell-fire.

10 April, 1918 – Marched out to Front Place Rouelles

11 April, 1918 – Place Villers-Bretonneux. The day was bright at intervals. Very little shelling. One man killed.

12 April, 1918 –Taken on Strength 35^th Battalion

12 April 1918 – Place Villers-Bretonneux. Very bright day. Aircraft active. At 10 am received instructions to move into position of readiness west of GENTELLES in T.11 (Sheet 62?) The move was complete by 2pm. The night was cold.

13 April, 1918 – Place Gentilles. Remained in position in T.11 till 3 pm when the Bn. Moved to storgpoint in T.9. Men built dugout, shelters, etc. Very misty day. Visibility poor. No shelling. A little rain during the night.

14 April, 1918 – Place Gentilles. One company today was employed wiring strong points. The day was very cold and windy. No casualties.

15 April, 1918 – Place Gentilles Still cold and windy. At 5.30 pm the Battalion moved to reserve line extending from GENTELLES north to O32a. centra. Bn. Hd Qtrs. In BOIS D’ABBE at N36b1.3. The move was complete by 7.30 pm.

16 April, 1918 – Place Cachy. The Companies spent the day improving their own trenches. A little shelling was experienced, but without casualties. Bn. Hd. Qtrs today moved to a more central position at o.31.a.7.3.

17 April, 1918 William John McKinlay Baird’s 17^th Birthday

17^th April, 1918 – Place Cachy. From 4 am till 6 am enemy bombarded wood at o25, 26 amp;amp;31 with gas shells. D’Coy (Major Blake) suffered 36 casualties as a result, notwithstanding the fact that all gas precautions were taken. A further heavy gas bombardment took place from 4pm to 6pm. The weather was dull and a little rain fell during the day.

18^th April, 1918 – Place Cachy. Quiet day. Dull. R.S.M. killed at Bn. Hd. Qrs. by shell fire. There were also 3 other casualties from the same shell. Seven more men from D’Coy evacuated from the effects of gas on the previous day. 30 men returned to the Bn. Including several original N.C.Os from the Training Bn. Lieuts Wyndham, McLennan and Lt McConaghy also returned from hospital today.

19 April, 1918 – Place Cachy At 11.30 am billeting parties left for LAHOUSSOYE. The day was dull and quiet. 5 more men were evacuated as a result of gas.

20 April, 1918 – Place Cachy. The Bn. was relieved at Cachy trenches by an English Regt at 2 pm and proceeded to LAHOUSSOYE by march arriving there at 5 pm. The billets are comfortable but not very clean. The day was cold and snow fell at intervals.

21 April, 1918 – Place Cachy. 10 am Church Parade was held in the Aerodrome at LAHOUSSOYE. It was a bright warm day. Lieut. Darcy and Lieut. Burns returned from hospital this afternoon.

21 April, 1918 – Pte. T.O.S. (Taken on Strength) 35^th Battalion from 8^th Reinforcements

22 April, 1918 – Place Cachy. 11.30 am General Sir W.R. Birdwood and Brig. General Rosenthal visited the Bn. And inspected Billets and training grounds. They were well satisfied with the spirit of the men and the Lewis Gun training which was being carried out. Half the Bn. Were today bathed at BONNAY.

23 April, 1918 – Place Lahoussaye. The men are now very comfortable and contented. Lewis Gun range practice was carried out today. At 11.30 pm instructions were received to “Stand To”. The day was foggy, but the night was fine and clear.

24 April, 1918 – Heavy bombardment heard on front. 10.30 am Instructions received to be ready to move immediately. 12 noon. Instructions are now to move on 1 hours notice. Enemy attacks at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX at 6.30 am and at 1 p.m. was in possession of the town and the ground to the south as HANGARD. By midnight the 13^th and 15^th Aust Brigades had retaken the lost ground and captured 1200 prisoners 100 machine guns and 2 field guns.

24 April, 1918 – Pte. (Private) Transferred from 35^thBattalion to 33^rd Battalion

From Diary of 33^rd Battalion A.I.F.

24 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Reinforcements (1 Officer and 5 O.R. (O.R. = other ranks) marched in at 12 noon. ?? work of salvaging the packs of casualties were continued and finished at 4 pm. The personal belongings, etc were tied together in bundles and the clothing salvaged. During the afternoon the Battalion took guards from 35^th Battalion on ammunition dumps in the area.

25 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Dull in the morning, but fine in the afternoon. Owing to most of the fit men being on guard or other duties no parade was held. A number of men are still sick with gas. Enemy seems to be very quiet on this front. Further south at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX the 15^th ? Brigade, A.I.F. who counter-attacked last night repulsed a strong enemy counter-attack. The counter-attack was very successful the captures being roughly 1000 prisoners, 100 machine guns, 2 field guns and 2 tanks. This is the first time we have heard of the enemy using tanks.

26 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Dull and very quiet along the whole front during the day. Reported counter-attack by the enemy resulted in the capture of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX. No confirmation yet to hand. Men not engaged on dumps are still being trained in the Lewis Gun.

27 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Very dull day ? Quiet during the whole day. Still guarding dumps and training the remainder of the Battalion in the use of the Lewis Gun. One Officer and 39 other ranks (reinforcements marched in from the other Battalions of the 9^th Brigade. These were men who had joined up their Battalions from 1.4.1918.

27 April, 1918 – Pte.Transferred from 35^th Battalion to 33^rd Battalion A.I.F.

27 April, 1918 – ReAllotted Regt. No. 3271A

28 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Very dull, rained in the evening. The 35^th Battalion Padre held a Church Service in the Aerodrome at 10 am. which was attended by the whole Battalion. No training was done during the day. A number of men are still suffering from gas, but most of the cases are improving and have been doing light duty. The Battalion Lewis Gun and Intelligence Officer reconnoitred a good site for a Lewis Gun range during the afternoon where any number of targets can be used with a range of 100 yards.

29 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Very dull and misty ? All men available fro duty were employed in digging a pipe drain from the river at PORT HOYELLES to LA HOUSSAYE. The C.O., and Intelligence Officer went forward during the afternoon and reconnoitred part of the forward area, visiting the support Battalion H.Q. (43^rd Battalion) where it is expected we will take over 9n a few days. During the night a very heavy bombardment lasting about an hour opened on a large front both north and south of the Somme.

30 April, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Day very dull and windy ? working party engaged as on previous day digging pipe drain between PORT HOYELLES and LA HOUSSAYE. At 4 p.m. 3 Companies of the 36^th Battalion, together with their Headquarters were transferred to the Battalion thus bringing it nearly up to establishment. The 36^th Battalion now ceases to exist. The Battalion goes into support to support the 34^th and 35^th Battalions on the night 1^st/2^nd May, 1918. This afternoon all Company Commanders and a number of Platoon Commanders mad a reconnaissance of the route in and our positions. We take over from the 43^rd Battalion, 11^th Brigade, also 4 posts of the 44^th Battalion. During the night our guns were very busy the result no doubt of reported enemy relief. W.G. Mason Lieut.

Australian Imperial Force War Diary of 33^rd Battalion, A.I.F. for May, 1918 Officer Compiling W.G. Mason Lieut. Officer Commanding L.J. Morshead Lt. Colonel Commanding 33^rd Bn. A.I.F.

1 May, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. Morning broke misty, but cleared up in the forenoon. Tha Battalion was preparing for the relief of the 43^rd Battalion in support to the front line in the MORLANCOURT sector. Battalion moved off from LA HOUSSOYE at 7.30 p.m. and crossed the AMORE? Immediately to the north of BORNAY ? by the Emergency Route. Relief was completed without casualties by 11.30 p.m. Battalion was in bivouac on the slope of a steep bank in J.21.b. which afforded excellent shelter. Nucleus garrisons completing of 1 N.C.O. and 4 men with a Lewis Gun were put in platoon posts which formed the line of resistance for the Battalion in case of defensive action. The kitchens were located at J.13.d.30.70 from here hot feed was sent to the Battalion as soon as darkness permitted the limbere? To move along the road.

2 May, 1918 – Place La Houssaye. J. 21. b. The night was very dark and passed quietly. Stand To was ordered at 4 a.m. An observation post was established at J.27.b.60.70. The day was spent in improving the bivonne? A.A. Lewis Guns were posted by each Company and Bn. Headquarters. The C.O. and Company Commanders went forward at 7 p.m. to reconnoitre the trenches held by the 34^th Battalion which was the Right Battalion.

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296a Pte (ex-A/Cpl) Asser, Verney

This man (probably a pseudonym, see Brig.-Gen. Verney Asser) stowed away on the troopship and enlisted in Cairo. On 05.03.1918 he was hanged at Shepton Mallet for the murder of his hutmate 5372 A/Cpl Durkin, Joseph Harold, in their hut at Sutton Very on the evening of 27.11.1917.

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My Grandfather

Donald Taylor, born in Coonbilla NSW. Married Charlotte Green (Dyson) my Grandmother in Newcastle, 1946. Donald was the Step Grandfather of Ben Lexcen (aka Robert Miller) of King Street Newcastle. Died in Concord Hospital, Sydney 1976. RIP

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Robert Hayward Barber

Born: 21st May 1894 86 Rushey Green, Lewisham, London
Christened: 29th July 1894 St Mary’s, Lewisham
First born childamp William John BARBER and Eliza HAYWARD

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