ANZAC Sons

by Allison Marlow Paterson

  Bill Crossman was 32 when he left the farm at Milloo to enlist in February 1916. He was discovered to have poor eyesight and was discharged a few months later. There his war records inexplicably end. Bill later sailed with Charlie in September 1916. He was allotted to the 59th Battalion and was killed on 29 September 1917, one of the many lost to the fields of Flanders. His name is etched on the Menin Gate. 22 His brother Samuel had enlisted in July 1915 and was a gunner with the 4th Field Artillery. He survived and returned to Australia in March 1919. 23

  Charlie wrote:

  9th Dec 1917

  My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

  Yesterday I received the money you cabled to London, I had it sent on to Ida and she sent it to me. I thank you very much for it and will give it back to you when I get back. Today I got a photo for each of us of Geordie and when I look at it it breaks my heart to think that I will never see him again and to think that he should die of wounds like he did. I wrote to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to find out all I could about his death later on I will send you the letter also a letter that the sergeant of the Trench Mortars wrote I want you to keep them for me, the first note said he was hit in the stomach and left hip and died on the 22 Sept but this is wrong he died on the 21 Sept the note said he received every consolation at the time of his death and where he is buried I will look up the map and will give you the exact place I am writing again to the burial people and if I get near I will try and put a cross over him. I told you before that I went and saw Albert’s grave that was about a fortnight ago, the cross is not erected and now to my mind it will not be done, so I am going to see what I can do myself, of course it is hard to get away but if I have the money I will get the Pioneers or Engineers to do it and the same with Geordie’s. I would like to put a nice cross over them both, and would have liked to have had them both buried together, it seems hard to think that they are gone, I cannot get any information as to how Geordie died, or whether he was conscious or if he said anything, I think I will write to the Chaplain of the 3rd Canadian CCA. Percy may get leave to England shortly he was very cut up over Grandfather dying but I partly expected it, as he was so old and could not last much longer but still I was very sorry to hear the sad news I would have very much liked to have seen him again. I heard that one of Pearl’s brothers have died, we seem to be having our share of bad luck. I hope that it will change for the better now and that we will have no more bad luck. We are out of the line again and will be out for Christmas and I believe a rest, but this Christmas will be a sad one for us all and I hope for better days to come and that the three of us will be spared to return again. There is to be another referendum on the war business over here. I am sending one of the letters that the Sergeant wrote to me about Geordie, you may show it to anybody or put it in the paper but keep the letter for me. And about the photos of Geordie I got Ida to send them home to you I want you to send one to Pearl for me Geordie told me he did not make a will in Victoria but I understood him to tell me that he made one while he was on leave in England and I think that will be sent on to you from Horseferry Road London or from the base in Victoria. Every soldier over here is issued with a will form to make a will if he pleases whether Geordie made it on that I do not know, the form they give us is useless to make a will on as it is too brief, but if he made it on that, it will be sent on to you. Albert, I think made a will on the issued form, he also made a will in his paybook, but if he made one on the issued form the paybook one would be cancelled, the forms were given to us the day before the advance on 7 June. You asked who was killed with Albert, Lieut, A.G. Abbey, Lieut Windham, Serg N. Onians, Serg P.J. Cunningham. I hope you will be able to read this but I am writing this in an uncomfortable place. Last night I wrote the Chaplain of the Canadian C.C.S. for information I will let you know as soon as I can what he has to say. I am sending this with a letter to Pearl she will send it on to you let me know if you get it, we are near where Albert is buried. Well I will close for this time I will write soon, I share with you all the sad loss of dear Geordie and I know you will feel it the same as I do.

  I will say goodbye

  With love to all

  I am your loving

  Charlie

  One of Charlie’s letters appeared in the January edition of the Pyramid Hill Advertiser. The article began with an introduction:

  Sergeant Chas E Marlow. Who has recently gained promotion from temporary corporal and corporal has recently received the following letter in the field:

  France

  1.12.17

  Dear Charles

  Your letter of Oct 31st to hand. The delay was caused by me being at a school and the letters being sent on after I had left, so they had a trot round until they landed back here again. Your letter also reached the C.O. of the Battery and I believe he wrote to you recently. I am sorry indeed to have to tell you that George was wounded 20.9.17 and died of wounds 21.9.17 at 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. The wounds were Gun Shot wound in the Stomach and right Leg. I cannot give you the place of burial, but if you wrote to the O.C. Anzac Section, 3rd Echelon GHQ. BEF. I think he would be able to give you it. I had known George for nearly 18 months and he was a fine type of manhood. Quiet going, honest and as straight as anyone I know. He was well liked and highly thought of by all the Battery, and to gain the respect and admiration of your comrades is something to be proud of, which I think you know only too well. I cannot express my feelings I have for you and those of your home — words seem empty — but I want you to know that your late Brother George has left a name behind him in this Unit which you should be proud of. Please accept these words and thoughts of mine in your great loss.

  Yours very sincerely

  Norman Day

  Lieutenant Norman Day had served in the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery with George, having signed up in June 1915. He was shot near Herleville Wood on the Somme on 25 August 1918 and died from his wounds in a London hospital on 21 September 1918, exactly 12 months to the day after the death of George.24 At Mologa, Jim received word from his mate, Tom Alford, who had earlier been listed as missing. He appears completely unaware that there was any question over his whereabouts. What is certain, however, is that, for Tom, the excitement of the grand adventure is over …

  December 10th 1917

  Dear Jimmy

  Well how is the old sport going along. Expect you will be looking for another letter. Haven’t done much writing lately as things have been up to shit judging by this last few days rain will be worst but so far this winter has been a king to last not near as cold as last but it is young yet. Haven’t had any letters lately but expect they are lying about somewhere. Suppose you will be up to your neck in work by this. What sort of a year have you had. I don’t seem to have heard anything about the prospects at all lately. Haven’t been fortunate enough to strike any of the boys lately. I thought I might when we all got on the same front. I have had a lot of pals killed lately, am just getting that way that I don’t give a damn. Wish to God it would finish. Didn’t like going back after having leave. Don’t know if I told you before but I met the two Stone boys. They hadn’t been on the line then but expect they have had a gut full before now. I say Jimmy what is doing at the P.O. I still get letters from that way but they are mostly about Fred Bramley & Myrtle doings. Is he got a leg in with her now. Well good luck to ‘em. Your only young once is about all I can see in it. Well don’t know what to write about damn me if I do, so with best regards to your people from you old pal

  Tom Alford

  Allan wrote two letters to his parents on the same day, the second after receiving news that his grandfather had passed away. The letter conveys his sense of melancholy as thoughts of home on his birthday and the prospect of Christmas spark a longing for the life he once knew at Mologa. He asks his mother and father to pass a message regarding ‘minnies and pineapples’ to Frank Dee who had now arrived back in Australia after suffering a gunshot wound to his abdomen. A German ‘minnie’ or minenwerfe
r was a medium trench mortar. A ‘pineapple’ was a light German trench mortar shell that was grooved into sections and would fragment on bursting. Both had distinctive sounds and both were deadly.

  Belgium

  10.12.1917

  My Darling Mum & Dad,

  … I have had 3 parcels from you in 3 weeks. They were all bonzers. Well mum I got a terrible shock just now. I asked the captain what was the date and when he said the 10th I said why hell I am 22 today. I am getting old now. I have had 2 birthdays in France now. Well dear Mum we have just came out of the trenches again, we had a pretty rough run. We have had our first snow for the winter. This time last year it was dreadfully cold but now its not bad at all. Last night I was up in the trenches with a fatigue party of 50 men we were repairing trenches. It was a brute of a job. Tonight I am not going up 2 other officers go up. In a few days we go back for about a month. So that means we will be out for Xmas (Hurrah). We will be soon having a vote for the Refer-. A big yes from me. Fancy old Frank Dee being back. Remember me to him when you see him. Tell him we are still getting Minnies & Pineapples. Charlie Fyffe is back too. Some boys are lucky. Tell Jim I have another Fritz watch to send home also a bonzer revolver. I have not got my Paris leave yet but I am trying to work it in for Xmas. Do you remember the team meeting at the hall. Weren’t they tra bon. I suppose you don’t have them now. I met Wilson Townsend a few days ago. He looks well. I had letter from Les too. He is in England on leave. He got slightly wounded in our first stunt at Pashendale. I cant find out anything about Bill Street. I think he is gone. But mum dont say a word about until I get official news. I got a letter from poor old Geordies officer. He wrote such a nice letter. Mum don’t worry so much. It is terrible hard you know. Fancy Mick Grant ah. It is awful about him I cant hardly believe it you know. Mum I have some photo of different people cousins & so forth They are only getting broken & ruined so I am going to send them home will you keep them until I return. It makes me laugh when I hear anyone use the underlined word I think the only way we will end the struggle is by peace. Well dear mum this is all the news to day so I will close with best love to all.

  From your loving

  22 year old son

  Allan

  … I suppose Jim is on the old harvester and you can’t see him for dust. Dad on the bags and mum on the lunch. Just picture me at the lunch. Well I hope the crops turn out well I think we will be home for next Xmas so keep an extra bag of wheat for the fowl. Mum get those ducks in good order. I think we will have the old black rooster last. We will have some rabbit and hare sausages to. Ask Jim does he remember the ones we made on Sunday when you was in Bendigo & Dad said, “None to much fat in them now Jim”. By jove I have laughter at times when I have thought of our little incidents.

  Well hurrah dear mum

  … Just another few lines to let you know how very sorry I am to hear about poor old Grandad’s death. I got [a] terrible shock when I heard the news from Percy. But you know mum he was a big age. We seem to have our share of trouble lately, but I sincerely hope it is ended now. So mum cheer up dear. Lets have a cheery letter now. We [will] all soon be home again eating those ducks etc. We are out of the line at present but we go up every night on fatigue work but in a few days we will be moving back again. I hope to be able to get a few little things to send home to you I wrote you a letter this morning and told you all the news…

  Allan’s letter to Jim illustrates the intensity of his hatred for the enemy; ‘for King and Country’ is now secondary to avenging the deaths of his brothers. He is pessimistic at the prospect of an end to the war and his reflections of home are tinged with the melancholy of longing for the life he once enjoyed.

  Belgium

  10.12.17

  Dear Jim,

  …We have just come out of the trenches. We had a pretty ruff turn too. Now we go up every night on fatigue, repairing trenches so forth. In a few days we will be moving back clear of the line for a little while. We had our first snow the other day. This time last year it was brutal cold but now its not to bad. I received your welcome letters the other day. I was terribly sorry to hear about grandfather but you know Jim he was a big age. Percy is taking it pretty bad. We had some letters from poor old Geordies officer. Oh Jim it is awful to think that both him and dear Albert have gone. We will realise it more when we get back. We have had a terrible bad run. I have given Fritz no mercy since dear Albert was killed and I can tell you we have been in pretty close quarters at times too and I have had the good luck to come off best. Our boys absolutely stonker them all now. They will never do us any good I have seen [a] good many of his tricks on the battle field and seen lads lose their lives through being too easy with them. I have seen some of their doing with the poor women of Belgium and when they tell you about it, [it] would break your heart. So when you think of it what are we here for. To kill. No doubt Jim you will be pleased to hear that I am a 2nd Lieutenant now and I hope to get higher too. Jim tell mum all will soon be home cheer her up as much as you can. I had a letter from Les Townsend the other day. He is on furlough in England having a great time. He was slightly wounded in our first stunt at Pashendaele. That is where we had terrible fighting. Fancy Tom Gibson enlisting. His people are dam fools to let him go. We hold our referendum to morrow. I am one of the authorised witnesses. I am cursing it as I wanted to write letters. I hope it goes through. How are the Johnson’s. I would like to see u u u in the front line. It would take all the dancing out of him. Well Jim I suppose you are terrible busy with the harvest now I suppose you cant see your self for dust. How is it for a job of bag sewing. I bet you get some lunches ah. A man ought to be there even if it only for the lunch …

  It was Allan’s day for letter-writing with three letters home, while twin brother Percy wrote an unusually long letter to Jim:

  In the field

  Dec 10th

  Dear Jim,

  Received your ever welcome letter, with the sad news about Poor Grandad, of which I was very sorry to hear about, it gave me a great shock especially not long before hearing about Poor Geordie. Well Jim, things are going just the same, the war seems no nearer an end than ever it was. I suppose you heard before this that Allan has a star, some boy now eh. We are out of the trenches now, just behind the line doing fatigue work at night. I miss it, being number one on the Lewis Gun, have to clean the gun in the day time, does me Jim, I have had my share of fatigue. The night work is a sod of a job, a long way to walk to it, and when you get there, its so dark to see what you are doing. We had a livelier spin in the trenches this time than before, he gave us a bit of hurry up with shells at times he can make it feel very uncomfortable for you if he likes. The nights were terrible long, about fourteen hours and a nice frost in the bargain. The trenches we were in are not very old and there are not many dugouts in fact where we were there was not any and when we have to sit up all night, you wish for morning. We had two raids in one night on our sector, not our Battalion went over, a raiding party from two of the other Battalions of the Brigade they wake old Fritz up. I see by your letter you have had a visit from Mrs Stone who brought with her a couple of girl friends well known to me especially the latter Selina “don’t quite get you Jim”. Well, I will admit I know her Jim, but that is about all. Better give you the good oil. You remember that turnout at Stones before we left; well I could not get rid of her and I did my best. She could not see who I was paying the best regards to for the night I don’t know why. The first dance she thought I was going to have with her, only one thought it. Never want to take any notice of Mrs Stone, she would tell you anything, so as not to stop talking. Ruby Lee is a hard case Jim. We had snow the other week first for the winter. I think we are going to have a better winter than last. I suppose you will be well on with the harvest now. Like to get to England for Xmas Jim, I ought to get leave soon. I have had a fair run …

  In the field

  Dec 11th

  My Dear Mother & Father,

  Well Mum, its terrible sad ab
out Poor Grandad. It gave me a great shock I never thought such sad news would come so soon. It breaks me up to think that I will not see him anymore, my sympathy is with you Dear Mother in this time of sorrow…We have not heard from Bill Street since he has been wounded. Harry Street who is back with the battalion was trying to find out he has written to England. I am expecting leave anytime now I would like to get it for Xmas it ought to be good in England Xmas time. We have had some lovely frosts this last night or two, when you get a frost here it is one. I suppose you are well on with the harvest now you will be having hot weather while we will be having just the opposite. I don’t think this winter will be as bad as last. I think I told you in my last letter that Allan has a star some head now. Some of Fritz aeroplanes came over today and our planes set on to one and set it alight. Fritz dived for the ground but did not reach it before the plane fell to pieces there were two men in it they got a terrible fall. When it caught alight he tried to get to his lines but he did not succeed. Well Mum I have run out of news so I will close hoping this finds you all well as we are at present.

  I remain your ever loving son

  Percy

  Charlie wrote a detailed letter describing his promotion to lance sergeant and Percy’s to lance corporal.

  In the field

  15-12-17

  My Dear Mother Father & Jim

  … You will be pleased to hear that I have been promoted from Temporary Corporal to Corporal and from Corporal to Lance Sergeant. I do not know whether you know what a Lance Sergeant is but a L Sgt does not get Sgts pay like a Temporary Sgt, but is entitled to wear 3 stripes and sgts mess and cannot be reverted to Corporal like a Temporary Sgt. If a Temp Sgt goes to hospital sick or wounded or if reinforcement NCO’s come in he goes back to Corporal, A.S. was a Temp Sgt once and reinforcement Sgt came in and he had to go back to Cpl, but I will not be reverted if the above was the case. Address my letters Sergeant C.E. etc they never mention the lance. Percy was made a Lance Corporal the same day 12.12.17, he should have been a lot higher, they put some shady work in and sent a chap that was below him on the gun away to a school and made him a LCpl the same fellow is now a Temp Sgt, it was through the Lewis Gun Officer then that P.P. got his stripe. A.S. will be a First Lieut after he has had his first star 3 months. We have been out of the line about a week and will be here for some time so there is no need for you to worry. I have written again to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station this time to the Chaplain to try and get information about poor Geordie. I feel it very much not being able to find out anything about him I wrote to the sergeant who wrote to me from the Trench Mortars. I sent the letter home to you through Pearl. When I get the reply from the Chaplain I will send you word…