The brothers continued to put pen to paper and with each letter they revealed more of their experiences at Messines. Charlie wrote:
13th June 1917
Dear Mother Father & Jim,
… I said before that Tom Roberts was killed I wrote to his brother a day or so ago and sent them a £1 which Tom gave me the night before he was killed, the Adjutant has his wallet which he will send home to his people, I heard since that Lorrie Taylor from near Cheynes was also killed the same day and heard that Les Cant was wounded but I think it was only slight, we had several narrow escapes when we were going over. Al got hit on the back and was knocked down but after a while he was alright later on in the day we had several close shaves, Percy was not in it he was kept as a reserve with others. About two days afterwards the General that commands our Corps said that our brigade was the best and did the best work under his command later on he told our Colonel that our battalion was the best in the brigade and that he was proud to have us under his command, our Major told us that our battalion was the first battalion in the A.I.F. to capture a field gun which I understand will be brought back to Australia. We have not had a mail from Australia for a good while but they say there is a mail at the brigade P.O. and I hope so this is not a very long letter but I will answer your letters when they come. Albert met one of Jack Price’s battalion and he said that Jack was killed on 11 April Geordie wrote some time ago and said he heard Jack was either killed or missing, it is hard luck for his people. I saw Jack when I landed in France.
The roll call of mates who fell at Messines is sobering:
Tom Roberts, who had handed Charlie the pound note before they went into battle, had left the farm at Durham Ox to enlist in April 1916 at the age of 25. In February 1917 he was wounded, hit in the forehead by a bullet. A month later, on 1 March, he returned to the front. He was listed as missing sometime between 7 and 9 June and, a week later, reported killed in action. His mother wrote numerous letters but received no official report of his death, although her letters explain that his mates wrote to her. His name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. 11
Harry Harnell was a labourer from Heathcote and is pictured in the postcard Albert sent home in March.12 He enlisted on 12 May 1916 at the age of 40, joining the 38th on the Western Front in March 1917. He was killed by machine-gun fire sometime between 7 and 9 June. Official documents report that he was buried in a large shell hole 1500 yards south-south-west of Messines. His body was never recovered and his name also appears on the Menin Gate Memorial. 13
Lorrie Taylor was also buried in a shell hole in the same area as Harry Harnell. His death occurred sometime between the blowing of the mines and the withdrawal. He was 20 years old and an orchardist from Shepparton. According to one report, ‘whilst asleep in a shell hole which he had previously fortified, he was killed by shell fire’. Menin Gate is also his memorial, his grave a lost shell hole at Messines.14
Tom Burt was 27 when he left the farm at Heathcote; he is also pictured in Albert’s postcard.15 He was wounded by gunfire at Messines but survived to rejoin his unit in September for the disaster of Passchendaele. An official telegram home to Tom’s family listed him as missing on 13 October 1917. After a Court of Enquiry hearing in 1918 the family was told that he had been killed, lost in the mud of Flanders Fields. His name also appears on the Menin Gate. 16 Bert Jeanes had enlisted at the age of 21 and sailed with Albert, but had not been killed as Albert had thought. He had sustained multiple wounds to his face, arm and leg, but had survived. He returned to Australia in November 1917. Whether he lived much longer given the severity of his wounds is uncertain.17
Les Cant lived on a farm a short distance from the Marlows at Pine Grove. He was 25 years old and was shot on the day the mines exploded. He recovered to rejoin his unit in August and survive the carnage of Passchendaele, returning to Australia in May 1919. 18
Peter Owens, another farmer from Pyramid Hill, was 34 years old when he enlisted on 13 January 1916. He was wounded by gunfire on the second day of the battle but recovered and returned in December 1917. A bullet found him again on 14 June 1918 and he never returned to the Western Front. He was repatriated in January 1919.19
George Collison of Bealiba had sailed on the Shropshire with Charlie. He sustained a gunshot wound to the chest but returned to the front in October. He was wounded again on 11 June 1918 and his leg was amputated. He returned to Australia in January 1919.20
Other mates were more fortunate, as were the Marlows:
Tom Dickinson was a 26-year-old farmer from Nhill who also appears in Albert’s postcard.21 His war service records indicate that he survived the war years without serious physical wounds. He returned to Australia in May 1919.22
Corporal Joe Reid was a 22-year-old Irishman; his father’s home was in County Cork. He listed his occupation as a labourer on enlistment and joined the 38th and later the machine-gun section which he led into Messines. In August 1917 he left for several months of training in England, returning in February 1918. He was discharged from service in November 1919.23
In Allan’s following letter he predicts that the Battle of Messines would long be remembered as a significant battle in the ‘history of the world’. It certainly proved its significance in the history of the war.
In the field
13.6.17
Dear Old Jim,
Just a few lines to let [you know] that I am still standing on the ground and am well so are the other boys. We are still having bonnie weather and I hope it continues as we are taking part in some big jobs. We have just come out of the battle of Messines which I don’t think will be forgotten in the history of [the] world. As you know the troops have taken it twice before but lost it again anyway we succeeded in holding it. For 2 solid hours before we hopped it, he rocked the gas into us but anyway the lads stuck to it well and then we went over the top. We had some hard fighting at times and the bombardment was terrific. Well after we had taken our objective 2 ½ divisions of Fritzy attacked our brigade but without success. I believe the bombardment for that was the worst ever in the whole war. Well Jim now we are out for a spell for a few days and it is lovely to get a rest. We were supposed to go back to the trenches the other [day] but after the good performance we put up, they are giving us a few days spell. I have put in for Blighty leave and if I get [it] well I am going down to Devon. I think I stand a good chance I hope I am there by the time you get this letter. Think I wont have a good time. Well Jim I am corporal now I was made that a day before we hopped the top so I am satisfied now. Percy was not in the advance. Well Jim I think I have told you all the news so I will close with best love to all.
I remain
Your Loving Brother
Allan
Albert wrote home to his mother when a chance meeting confirmed that his mate had been killed:
In the field
June 19th 1917
My Dear Mother
… I wrote to you before telling you we were in the fight at Messines and got through alright. Since we came out we have had an easy time. It has been very warm lately and yesterday and today it has been raining a bit, the first rain since I’ve been here. The country looks grand now, all the crops are coming out in ear now. Well dear Mum, things seem to be getting a bit livelier in Mologa, everybody round there seems to be getting married. Fancy old Joey not giving the hall. I reckon they ought to kick him out of the district … Since I’ve been out this time I’ve wrote such a lot of letters. We can always fill in our spare time writing. Well Mum, I suppose it is getting a bit cold in “Aussie” now. Everybody that writes to me thinks that the war will be over soon, but I am afraid it will go a bit longer yet. Dolly Rowe’s brother and two step brothers are over here. They are very decent chaps. A fellow feels quite at home here now with all the local boys. We only heard here last week that Jack Price was killed. I met some chaps out of his company the other day and as I hadn’t heard from him for a long time I asked them and one of them showed me a list with Jac
k’s name and number on it. He told me that Jack was killed on or about the 11th April. Then two days after Geordie wrote and told me about it. It’s sad for his people …
He added in a note to his father:
… The country looks grand now and the crops are all coming out in ear, the cockies will be cutting them soon. The farmers here have a lot of potatoes, beans and peas in and they will soon be ready for eating. They are great ones for weeding in the crops, women, kids and old men are at it from daylight till dark. We often go to the farm houses and get a feed of eggs and coffee, but the eggs wont satisfy you unless you eat about half a dozen. They charge pretty hot for anything they sell. Well Dad, I got a letter from Joe Stone today, it took over two months to come from England [to] here, I suppose he and Jim will be over here soon. Bill McKinnon is sitting near me at present writing letters, he is a Sergeant now. Bill Street is a Corporal and Eddie Kerr a L. Corporal. There is a lot of our district boys here, but I havent met any other local boys other than those in the battalion. I get a lot of letters from England. Flo Wilson’s father had a bad accident but is getting on alright now. I had a letter from my Auntie in Devon a while back. I sent them all a photo. Well Dad it was pretty hot about old Joey not giving them the hall. I heard that Mrs Gamble gave him a bit of a talking to. Its easy seen he hasnt got any relations at the war. I am in the same platoon as the boys. I am supposed to be in the Lewis Gun section, but have not had any training on it yet. The officer doesnt want four of us in the one section, so if I do join the Lewis Gun I will have to go with Eddie Kerr in another platoon. Anyway we will always be together whatever I am in. Percy was not in the stunt we were in, he was away for a spell, but has been back with us some time now. I suppose you have read about the Battle of Messines. We were very lucky as usual to get through alright, the worst part of it being the gas that Fritz sent over. There is talk of air raids on Germany, so that will put the wind up the huns a bit and perhaps help to end the war sooner…
Bill McKinnon was 39 years old when he left the farm at Pyramid Hill. He was farewelled by the townsfolk at the same evening function as Allan. He was allotted to B Company of the 38th Battalion. Bill survived the war without serious wounds to eventually return to Australia.24
On the same day that Albert wrote to his parents, Allan was providing a very precise prediction of when the war was to end. Just where this date came from is a mystery, perhaps it was yet another furphy. What we do know is that the war did not end on 3 November 1917 as Allan had predicted.
In the field
20.6.17
My Dear Mum & Dad,
… I told you in my other letters about the great battle of Messines, but I never told you why Percy and a lot more of the boys were sent back. The boys that were sent back were old original battalion boys and it was because if we were smashed up, they would have something to form the battalion on again. But we had the good luck to get through pretty right. We are out of the trenches at present but I am afraid not for long. When we go over the top again there will be one of the boys go back again it is a splendid idea, but I will never have the luck to go back. Well Mum I told you in my last letter that you will be getting extra pay but it wont be a while yet I got a pleasant surprise the day when I got my pay book back that I have £18 in the bank. On the 6.6.1917 the Major read out that I was to be corporal so you can see what back pay I got. I made a new allotment but it is no good until another corporal is struck off strength but the pay is still running on in my pay book. I have not heard anything of my blighty leave yet. I am anxious to get down to Devon. Auntie says things are lively there. I get any amount of letters from our relations and Geordie. I got a parcel from Auntie Lizzie it was tra bon. Well Mum I am sending home souvenirs what I got in the battle. I do hope you get them alright, I am registering the parcel. Well Mum I suppose you have finished cropping by now everything is look[ing] lovely over here but things are very lively.
Well Mum the war will end about November third I think. All the boys are well. Les Townsend has gone down on 14 days leave to a part in France which I cannot mention. He put in for Blighty leave but this is where he was sent. In the letter you will find some German notes and a photo. The German on the right is the one that was stonkered in the big push. He is an officer. I got some useful information papers off him and handed them into our officer the rest of the souvenirs I got off him too which you will get later on. He was a Doctor. Well dear mum I will let you know when my new allotment comes through. I am satisfied now that I am a corporal but I don’t know if I will get any blightie.
Well dear mum dad & Jim I will close with best love and say goodbye for the present.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Allan S.
All the boys have wrote. I hope you have got my letters by now.
Photo of German troops, possibly at a hospital.
The soldbuch (paybook) of Georg Salomon.
Whether the above items are related to those Allan mentions is unclear. He appears to be referring to an additional photo which is not in the collection. A paybook and identification book, known as a Soldbuch, belonging to a German soldier, Georg Salomon, recipient of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, was also found with these photos. Allan and his brothers frequently sent home ‘souvenired’ items from front-line engagements.
Percy wrote home to Jim:
In the field
June 21st
Dear Jim
Well Old Sport, once again I am writing in answer to your most welcome letter, which I received by the last mail, was glad to hear you were well. Well Jim, as regards the girls, I am like yourself Jim, you know we have a lot to think of at times, especially when there is a lot of shells flying about. I suppose the elections would cause some fun, as they generally do. You would be set at Jones party, they tell me you are a little fond of Eva, her age is the only trouble Jim, isn’t it. Old Squires is a real nark, what is his idea for not giving you the hall. You are having a terrible time with the mice Jim, they are a real pest. Charlie has not got the tin yet, but it will be along soon, it never comes as quick as letters. There was a bit of a go, a little time back, all the boys came out all right, you ought to have seen the place after it, there was shell holes every where, our artillery done great work, old Fritz is getting the worst of things now Jim. Some of our Battalion are getting leave. Les Townsend has got it, not out of France, you ought to have seen him, he was pleased. I have put in for English leave, but it will be some time before I get it, as there is only one a week getting it. Well Jim, I suppose you will be finished with the cropping now, and be having a spell, before ploughing. The crops over here look real well, they are out in head in most places you ought to see them working in the fields, they only have one horse teams; in some cases two the plots are very small; there are a lot of peas about here Jim, none fit for eating. Allan has got two stripes now, there has been a lot flying lately. Peter Owens got wounded not serious, he will get to England. I suppose Frank Dee will be back to Australia soon, Spuddy Kerr has got a stripe, and also Bill Street got another. We are out of the trenches now, for a spell we are on fatigue work every day, fairly easy Jim. It was sad about Jack Price getting killed, his people will feel it; most of his Battalion have been near us lately, Geordie is at a school, he says it is a good spell, its about time he had a good one, he ought to get further promotion I believe Amos Haw and Uwin Johnson are wounded, Geordie did not hear whether it was very serious … Fritz shelled us out of our billets last night, it was funny to see them getting out, men everywhere! I had a Bendigonian sent to me from a girl, in Bendigo, a bit of a fancy of yours, well she was when I was in Australia, you might think of her, you remember you and I met her and another girl near the Fountain opposite the fish shop, and you said after we left, what a pity we did not ask them to the pictures …
He added in a note to his parents:
… there was a hot time here a bit back, about the 7th. I was not in it, I and a lot of others were sent back, so many were sen
t back out of each battalion, well they got through it all right, our artillery cut the Germans up, it done great work, it was a big set back to Fritz, he has gone back a long way and they are still on to him. Our Battalion had 48 hours of it, and then they came out for a rest, and all of us that were away joined them up. Charlie, Allan and Albert came out all right. Peter Owens got wounded, not very serious, he has gone to England, I think he got hit in the head. You knew Tom Roberts from The Ox, well he got killed it was a pity, he seemed to have had bad luck ever since he came here … There is a terrible lot getting married over in Australia, something seems to be urging them on …
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