Percy and Lionel: Two Local Heroes

Last Sunday marked the Centenary of the Armistice. The ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra was very moving, but no more than the deeply moving ceremony at St Patrick's College for Girls last Friday. A number of stories of soldier's experiences in the Great War were told by the students of St Pats, who had family connections to soldiers, and many a tear was shed. The girls did their school proud. They inspired me to do some research into some of the area's own soldiers and I came across two brothers whose story I had previously been unaware of. Most of their story comes from Lauren Hokin's comprehensive book "ANZACS of Macarthur".

Percy McDonald was 26 when he enlisted in the AIF. He was living in Atchinson Road, Macquarie Fields. Percy was joined by his brother Lionel, who signed up the following day. They both left Sydney on the 8th of October 1915. Things started to go wrong immediately after they arrived in Egypt, when Percy was admitted to hospital with mumps. In June the following year their battalion proceeded from Egypt to the Western Front in France. Shortly after arriving in the frontlines, they participated in action during the horrific Battle of Fromelles. Tragedy was to strike between the 19th and 20th July when Lionel was reported missing in action. Despite his brother's disappearance, Percy had to continue with his duty. Percy and his family hoped against hope for any news. Percy survived Fromelles and by August 1916 had been promoted to Sergeant. Sickness was to follow, including hydrocele and later hospitalization from a hernia from an undescended testicle. On the 4th of May, he was sent back to Australia for home service. He was later considered medically unfit and discharged in August 1917.

Percy McDonald (National Archives of Australia

Percy returned with his new bride to the Ingleburn area. They lived in a house in Fawcett Street, Glenfield named Tillicoultry. At the time, the McDonalds received news that a Court of Enquiry had concluded that Lionel was killed in action in July 1916. Witnesses stated that they had seen him lying dead in the German first line trench. This resulted in years of correspondence and paperwork that had to be filled out and forwarded to the army and other institutions. In 1921 Percy contacted the army and requested that all correspondence be sent to him, as it was "opening old wounds" and he feared for his father's health.

Percy decided to take up arms again in the Second World War! His twin brother Ernest signed up in 1942 and Percy joined him a week later. He was appointed Lieutenant of the 11th NSW Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps. He resigned the following year.

Percy was a keen artist and his unique drawings and paintings were often seen on exhibition. He passed away on the 18th of May 1964. The location of Lionel's remains are unknown.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

HOLKIN, Lauren 2016
ANZACS of Macarthur: the men and women who served in The First World War
Campbelltown: Veterans Recreation Centre

Did a Campbelltown Man Shoot Down the Red Baron?

Photo courtesy Australian War Memorial

There is still argument over who shot down the Red Baron- Captain Baron Manfred von Richthofen in a fierce World War I battle over France on April 21, 1918. Some believe that a Canadian pilot in the Royal Air Force, Captain Roy Brown had the distinction. However two US aviation historians claim that it was Australian gunners that were responsible for the shooting down of the Red Baron's plane. One of those gunners, Rupert Weston, claimed that it was him that shot down the Red Baron. Rupert lived the last 41 years of his life in Campbelltown.

The two American authors published a book in 1969 called "Who Killed the Red Baron" in which they firmly argue that Gunner Weston and G.B. Popkin ended the life of the Red Baron. The battle took place over the Australian artillery lines near Vaux-sur-Somme in April 1918. The authors corresponded with Rupert Weston for seven years before the book was published and a photograph of him appeared in the book. The official war historian CW Bean backed the author's claim by writing that ground fire from the Australian lines brought the Red Baron down.

Rupert Weston was born in Victoria in 1888 and married and moved to Sydney after his return from the war. The couple eventually moved to Campbelltown in 1937 before Rupert tried unsuccessfully to enlist in World War II. His heart condition and World War I injuries ruled him unfit. At the time doctors only expected him to live for three months. He lived, however, until he was 90!

After World War II he became part owner of Weston Son and Curnow, a mixed business and hardware store in Queen Street. He was a keen bowler and had a strong link with the Campbelltown Bowling Club. Rupert died in 1978 still adamant it was him that shot down the most famous war pilot in history.

Members of the Campbelltown City Bowling Club. Rupert Weston is standing in the middle row on the extreme right. (W. Wilkinson Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, July 11, 1978

A Brave Soldier

One of Campbelltown's bravest soldiers was Walter John Hagan. He was born in Campbelltown on the 14th of February 1892. At the age of 23, he decided to enlist in the AIF in January 1916.

Walter left Sydney Harbour on the Beltana on the 13th of May 1916 and arrived in England in July. After further training, he proceeded to the frontlines in France as a runner with the 36th Battalion. In 1917, his unit was moved to the Ypres Sector in Belgium, where they took part in their first major operation, the Battle of Messines on the 7th of June. Following on from this success, they then participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, fighting in the mud around Passchendaele Ridge on the 12th of October. The following day Walter was reported missing in action.

Back in Campbelltown the Hagans awaited for news of Walter for about 6 months. When the bad news eventually reached them of Walter's fate, they were naturally devastated. A Court of Enquiry concluded that Walter was killed in action on 12th of October 1917 at Passchendaele Ridge. A Captain Goldrick gave his report: We were in action at Passchendaele on the 12/10/17 near the Cemetery. Hagan was my Runner. I had just asked him to take a message and he replied "Very Good, Sir", when he fell shot by a machine gun bullet.

No trace of Walter's resting place could be found and the whereabouts of his body is still unknown. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for "magnificent conduct". His name is recorded on the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium. Walter's brother William also served in the Great War and survived.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

HOKIN, Lauren
ANZACs of Macarthur: The Men and Women who served in The First World War
Campbelltown: Veteran's Recreation Centre

Burning the Kaiser

The artwork above was painted by Arthur Streeton on 12 November 1918, the day after the signing of the Armistice to end World War One. It's titled Australian burning effigy of Kaiser in Square, Armistice Day. It depicts a crowd of soldiers gathered around a bonfire with an effigy of the Kaiser hanging from the gallows. The scene summed up the country's feelings towards the enemy after such a long and bloody conflict.

The people of Campbelltown carried out the same 'ceremony' at the end of the war. A large crowd gathered at Mawson Park, still then known as "The Green". They constructed an effigy of the Kaiser made out of straw and other materials and placed it on a large bonfire. The burning accompanied marching and dancing. Crowds massed in Queen street, church bells rang out and many locals took the train into Sydney where they jammed into Martin Place to celebrate.

Unfortunately there are no known surviving copies of the local newspaper to provide a more detailed description of the day's celebration.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Digitised Oral History of Eileen Duguid 1977, Held at Campbelltown City Library

Remembering Lofty

Last Thursday Campbelltown hosted the launch of local author and historian Lauren Holkin's book ANZACS Of Macarthur: The Men and Women Who Served in The First World War. Lauren included in her talk brief stories of a number of local men who served in the war. One soldier that interested me was Harold Edward Ashcroft Fowler, better known as 'Lofty'. His height of 6 foot 3 giving him his nickname.

Lofty was born and raised in Campbelltown to Alfred and Lydia Fowler. He was working as a builder before answering the call and joining the AIF. Lofty was posted to No. 1 Machine Gun Regiment which departed Melbourne onboard the HMAT Port Lincoln on 20th of October 1916. After spending a year preparing for conditions on the Western Front, Lofty and his comrades left for France in December 1917 and upon arrival was marched out to the 23rd Machine Gun Company in Belgium.

For a few months he experienced intense fighting with the Germans as a machine gunner. Then on the 13th of July, Lofty was eating breakfast on the parapet about 10.30am, when suddenly a shell came over and hit the trench. Lofty was badly hurt with multiple injuries, including a severely damaged leg and arm. Unfortunately his leg had to be amputated followed by his arm a fortnight later. Lofty died from his wounds and shock at 9pm on the 26th of July- 98 years ago to the day.

Harold 'Lofty' Fowler is buried at Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy St. Pierre, near Amiens. His name is recorded on a plaque at Dredge's Cottage in Campbelltown.

Lauren's book is available at HJ Daley Library as well as each of our three branches. It's a valuable resource with thorough research and I recommend you check it out.

'Lofty' Fowler can be seen in the back row, 3rd from the left. (Australian War Memorial).

Written by Claire Lynch

ANZACS of Macarthur

Like those from other cities and towns across Australia, the people of Macarthur rallied to support the war effort. Through aiding of recruitment, caring of troops and commemorating the losses, the Macarthur region had significant involvement in the First World War.

Local author and historian, Lauren Hokin, will launch her new book ANZACs of Macarthur: Men and Women Who Served in the First World War at Campbelltown City Library. The book commemorates the Macarthur region's 1000 or so soldiers, sailors and nurses who served in World War I.

Date: Thursday 21 July 2016
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: HJ Daley Library, Hurley St, Campbelltown

Light refreshments will be served. This is a free event, however, bookings are essential on 4645 4431.

Author of ANZACs of Macarthur Lauren Hokin is pictured with Local Information Services Librarian Andrew Allen

William Lyttle King

William Lyttle King, known as Bill, was born in the Campbelltown area in 1894. He attended Minto Public School where his father was stationmaster at Minto Railway Station. He later went to Sydney Boy's High School and then to Sydney University where he studied Economics and Business. It was clear from early in life that he would be a high academic achiever. William would go on to achieve honours at university.

It was during his study at the University of Sydney, aged 22, that William enlisted for the First World War and joined the Australian Flying Corp. He trained as a pilot and soon became Lieutenant and trained with the 4th Squadron based in England. He soon became involved in action with his squadron in Northern France. Here at a small place called Savy, and after flying for a month over the battlefield, William's plane crashed. It was not shot down by the enemy but crashed due to aircraft failure. He received multiple injuries including a fractured arm, smashed teeth and multiple contrusions when he crashed 300 feet to the ground. William lay severely injured and for several days lay unconscious in a French hospital. He returned to Australia in early 1918 and spent some time in Sydney's Garrison Hospital, trying to regain the proper use of his right arm.

When the war was over, William completed his studies in law and married his true love Annette Cook. She was the daughter of a recent Australian Prime Minister Sir Joseph Cook.

On the night of April 6, 1925 William was staying with his sister Mrs Ryder in Oxley Street in Campbelltown. He spoke to Sam Bursill across the road and then decided to go for a walk before returning to his sister's house.

William's mutilated body was found next morning on the railway line somewhere between Campbelltown and Leumeah. To some it seemed that it was a mystery as to how it happened. Was it an accident? How could such a person with what seemed such a promising future take his own life. To others though, it was obvious that William was suffering mentally as a result of the war. There are reports that he had recently suffered a nervous breakdown. He was only 31.

William Lyttle King was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Campbelltown. His remains and headstone were removed to another part of the cemetery when the Moore Oxley bypass was constructed in the 1980s. William's life was featured in my cemetery tour of the Presbyterian Cemetery last week. In attendance was his great great niece Mackenzie King who supplied much of the information on him.

A tour of the Methodist Congregational Cemetery at Campbelltown will happen this Thursday, May 12 at 11am. Enquiries and bookings can be made on 46454431.

Written by Andrew Allen

The Big Gun

If you’ve ever been to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra you’ve probably noticed this gun on display (see below).

 

 

This is the same gun that caused great excitement in Campbelltown when it stopped at the train station on its way to Canberra in May 1923. No doubt the heading on the front page of the Campbelltown News which read ‘The Big Gun’ caught the town’s attention. We know this because the following edition described how “the platform was besieged with children, and a goodly number of adults.” It was at 7.50am on a Wednesday, so the children were on their way to school.

 

The 'Amiens Gun' (William Bayley Collection)

 

This German railway gun, often referred to as the ‘Amiens Gun’, was captured at Guillecourt on August 9, 1918 as a war trophy by Australian Engineers, the day following the battle of Villiers Brettoneaux. It was transported to Australia and was exhibited at Central Railway Station until it was moved to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The Amiens gun barrel weighs 45 tons. It was originally a German naval gun, until it was modified to be used as a railway gun during the war. The gun’s carriage was eventually destroyed however the barrel remains intact.

The gun stopped at Campbelltown station for inspection for only 10 minutes.

 

 

The Amiens Gun after its capture in France in 1918

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown News, May 11 &18 1923

The Kangaroo March

1915. There is no Twitter, Instagram, no TV. The first licensed radio station would not operate until 1922. Mass communication was limited to newspapers which hadn’t anywhere near the distribution of recent times. So after the devastating events of Gallipoli, one of the best ways to gain new recruits was the recruitment marches.

One such recruitment drive came to be known as the Kangaroo march. It began in Wagga with eighty-eight young men who marched through such country towns as Cootamundra, Galong, Yass, Goulburn and Bowral calling men to join the ANZAC forces. Two hundred and twenty-two recruits arrived in Campbelltown where they gained a further five before leaving for Sydney. No more joined after this making it a truly ‘rural force’.

The Sydney Morning Herald described them as ‘sunburnt, hard-looking men…a clean limbed lot full of initiative and resource.’

The water cart accompanying the men had a stuffed kangaroo on display. A sign read ‘Don’t look! Hop on while there’s time.’

The re-enactment of this historic event comes to Campbelltown on Saturday the 10^th of October concluding in Mawson Park. The journey, having taken 36 days, aims to pay tribute to the sacrifices those diggers made during WWI a hundred years ago.

By Michael Sullivan

More information:

http://kangaroomarch.org.au/

http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/AnzacCentenary

Joy Flights

When World War One pilots returned from the war they were faced with the challenge of what they would do now. What does a skilled pilot do, when peace once more rules the skies? They had been used to evading German shells and snipers, giving them valuable flying skills and experience. The challenge was how they could use what they had gained in the war now that they were back home.

For some pilots, the answer was to travel the countryside, offering joy flights to townsfolk. This happened in Campbelltown in the 1920s.

Below are two photographs that show planes landing at Campbelltown locations. The first one is of a light plane that has landed on the flats near "Hollylea" at Leumeah. The one below is another one landed between the railway line and Queen Street shops in 1923. Apparently the pilot offered joy flights at 30 shillings (3 dollars) a time.

Crowds of onlookers would crowd around these aircraft. Imagine the excitement and curiosity of the locals. They mightn't have been able to afford the flight but the thrill of watching one in action was probably enough!

In the 1970s, Marjorie Triglone was interviewed about her childhood memories. She spoke about a plane landing over the other side of the railway. "Everybody was frightened to go. They offered two of the pupils, one girl and one boy, a free flight if they would go up. They wouldn't tell them if they had to loop or what they were going to do. My brother was always the adventurous type and he was chosen. Everyone was out looking at this plane. My mother was out looking, little knowing that her dear little Harry was in it!"

Joy flight aircraft in a paddock adjoining "Hollylea House" (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Another aircraft between the railway line and Queen Street in 1923 (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

History Corner by Verlie Fowler, April 13, 1983

The Other ANZACs

Campbelltown Library is excited about its forthcoming Heritage Festival author talk. Reflecting this year's National Trust Heritage Festival theme of Conflict and Compassion, the Library will host well known Australian author, Peter Rees, for an author talk. Peter will share an insight into his book The Other ANZACs: The Extraordinary Story of Our World War 1 Nurses. If you've been watching the ABCs brilliant ANZAC Girls recently then I'm sure you'll be interested in this talk. Peter will be available to sign copies of his book.

Where: H.J. Daley Library

When: Thursday, May 14 at 1pm

While you're in the libary, stop for a look at our display The Guardian Angels. It features the history of nurses and medical organisations from Campbelltown that aided the war effort.

Harry and Vic Chivers

The Chivers family of Ingleburn were much loved and respected. Harry is best remembered as the former Ingleburn Council's longest serving mayor from 1921 to 1931. His son Vic had a distinguished war record and played a prominent role in early Ingleburn's commercial life.

Harry Chivers as mayor (on the extreme left) is on the platform with 3 other unidentified men

Thomas Henry Chivers, better known as Harry, was born in New Zealand in 1871. He came to Ingleburn around 1907 and joined Ingleburn Council in 1913 before becoming mayor in 1921 and for the next 10 years. He had endless energy and achieved much for the Ingleburn community. Water from the city was connected to Ingleburn homes during his term but his crowning glory came in 1930 when electricity was first switched on in Ingleburn. Harry was listed as a farmer but also had a shop in Ingleburn. The family home was a beautiful old house known as "Dunrobin" in Sackville Street. He lost his first wife Sarah in 1918 and re-married in 1919 to Alice Smith. Harry died in 1935.

Chivers family outside their shop in Oxford Road, Ingleburn 1925-1925. Harry is on the left with 2 unidentified girls. (Verlie Fowler Collection)

Albert Victor Chivers, better known as Vic, was one of two sons of Harry that served in the First World War. He was born in 1897 and was working as a printer when he enlisted in 1915. He served at the Somme but in February 1917 was sent to England with bad trench foot and did not rejoin until August. He served at Ypres and in April 1918 was admitted to hospital ill.    

 Chivers family outside their home Dunrobin, Ingleburn (Verlie Fowler Collection)

After the war Vic worked as a shop assistant. He married Hilda McIlveen, the daughter of a local shop owner. He joined the 4th Battalion in World War 2 and was discharged in January 1945. Vic Chivers lived with his family at 34 Chester Road, Ingleburn. He died in 1976.


L. to r.: "Wac" Allan, Victor Chivers and Bill Hilder at the opening of Ingleburn RSL in Chester Road, Ingleburn (Enid Lowsby Collection)

"Bullah" Vardy

It's difficult to imagine the horror that William Carroll Vardy, better known as "Bullah", went through during the First World War. Like many that joined up from Campbelltown, the young man would never return the same person who first left the town.

William Carroll Vardy was born in Campbelltown in 1891 to Michael and Mary Ellen Vardy. He was the youngest of 12 children. "Bullah" was 24 and working as a bank officer when he decided to answer the call to join the war. His older brother Joe had served in the Boer War.

"Bullah" joined the 13th Reinforcements, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade in August 1915. He would eventually leave from Western Australia bound initially for Egypt and then to France where he was involved in action at Poizieres and later Ypres in Belgium.

Fortunately, "Bullah" kept a diary of his experiences on the Western Front. They provide us with an insight into what conditions he would've experienced in the trenches. One passage reads:

"Last night was hell . . . our boys again attacking and the casualties were heavy. Was buried by a big shell in my dugout.  Men close by killed . . . a sniper shot at me and only missed by a few inches, but got poor chap behind me. Trenches full of dead and wounded."

"Bullah" survived the war but was released on medical grounds and he returned to Australia in 1919. He rejoined the bank, married a local girl named Rita and settled at "Carmel" in Patrick Street. He and Rita produced four children. Sadly, and understandably, the horrors of the war seemed to affect him for the rest of his life. He died in 1971.

I will be speaking about "Bullah" Vardy on ANZAC Day at 1.30pm at the meeting of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society at Glenalvon at 8 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown. Visitors are welcome.

 

 

"Bullah" and his wife Rita in later years (Photo courtesy of Chris Thomson)

 

 

William Henry Etchells

"I only hope it is all a great mistake". This line jumped out at me as I scrolled through the service record of Harry Etchells, a soldier from Campbelltown who died on the Western Front in 1917. Amongst all the formal documents and official wording of the correspondence between the Base Records Office and Harry's sister Rubie Etchells, it was this line from Rubie that brought home to me the personal tragedy of war. As ANZAC Day approaches, I thought I would briefly tell the story of one of Campbelltown's brave men that never returned.

William Henry Etchells, better known as Harry, was the son of Harry and Nellie Etchells who lived at Eckersley about 1890. When his mother died in 1894, Harry and his sister were raised by relatives in Campbelltown.

William Henry Etchells (on right) with an unidentified friend during the First World War. (Clive "Oke" Etchell Collection).

Harry enlisted in the First World War in 1914, reaching the rank of lance-corporal in the 3rd Battalion. He suffered greatly from sickness and injury during his service. At Gallipoli he was evacuated with shell concussion and he suffered a gunshot wound in France in 1916. In England, he married a woman called Florence. He returned to the front in 1917 where he was badly wounded after losing both his legs and died soon afterwards. Unfortunately for his sister Rubie and the rest of the family there was no mistake.

W.H.Etchells' grave in Hooque Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium. (Clive "Oke" Etchell Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

McGill, Jeff    2001
Campbelltown & World War One 1914-1918
Campbelltown: Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Arthur Hill

Arthur Samuel Hill was born locally in 1893. A Leumeah signwriter, he enlisted in the 33rd Batallion in June 1917. On the 3rd of April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneaux in France, he was brushing his clothes when a shell landed close to him and wounded him in the thigh and shoulder. He was taken to the aid post 200 yards away but Arthur's life could not be saved and he died of his wounds two days later. His mate Private England described him as "a very nice chap about 22 or 23, dark." Private Hill was one of the many Campbelltown soldiers never to return from an overseas war. He was buried at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen in France.

Written by Andrew Allen