Monthly Archives: January 2015

Joseph PARRISH

Posted on January 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

Joseph PARRISH

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4866), Joseph Parrish was born at Monmouthshire, Wales. He gave his age as 18 years and 5 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as miner. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 118 lbs., with a fair complexion, black eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Methodist. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He joined the Coo-ees at Wellington. He completed his medical on the 16h October 1915 at Wellington, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Orange on the 24th October 1915. A note “Presented consent at Orange 24/10/1915” is written at the top of his attestation paper.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Boolaroo, via Newcastle, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, J. Parish, Boolaroo, via Newcastle, N.S.W.

On 8th March 1916 Private Parrish along with many of the other Coo-ees departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916. On the 16th April 1916 Private Parrish was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.

On the 4th June 1916 Private Parrish left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 11th June 1916. Private Parrish served with the 4th Pioneer Battalion until the 10th of August 1917 when the Battalion was conducting night works on communication trenches in the vicinity of Kemmel, Belgium. Private Parrish was evacuated from the field sick, and on the 12th August he was admitted to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance, then sent to the 4th Division Rest Station. He was discharged on the 22nd August 1917, and rejoined his Battalion on the 28th August 1917 whilst it was resting at Neuve Eglise, France.

On the 17th October 1917 the 4th Pioneer Battalion was conducting road works on the Zonnebeke Road. On this day Private Parrish was charged with ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline, in that he after being placed on a task in the forward area quitted same without authority’. He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment Number 2 and fined 14 days forfeiture of pay.

On the 12th May 1918 Private Parrish was transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. On the 10th June 1918 the 4th Machine Gun Battalion was in action in the vicinity of Villers Bretonneux when Private Parrish received a gun shot wound to his neck. He was admitted to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance. He was moved to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station later that day. On the 11th June 1918 he was placed on the Number 17 Ambulance Train for evacuation to the 53rd General Hospital at Boulogne. He was admitted to the 53rd General Hospital on the 12th June 1918 where he was also diagnosed with Broncho Pneumonia.

On the 27th June 1918 Private Parrish died of his wounds. He is buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, France.

Joseph Parrish's headstone at Terlincthun British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/9/2014)

Joseph Parrish’s headstone at Terlincthun British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/9/2014)

Private Parrish’s name is commemorated on panel 176 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also listed on the Boolaroo District Roll of Honour.

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A year on…

Posted on January 28, 2015 | Leave a comment

OUR RESEARCH A YEAR ON

It has now been a year since I started writing this blog to be a record of the 1915 Coo-ee March, and a memorial to the 263 recruited men who answered the call of “Coo-ee! Come and join us!”, and fell into line in towns and villages along the way of the recruitment march from Gilgandra to Sydney.

I would like to thank those people who have assisted me in this process, who include family members who have sent me photographs and information to include on their Coo-ee’s individual record, and Shirley Marks and Margo Piggott from Gilgandra Historical Society, Brian Bywater from Hitchen House Military Museum, and also Gilgandra Shire Library, and Macquarie Regional Library, who have provided me copies of photographs, newspaper articles and documents, and other information to assist me with my research.

I would also like to thank my husband Stephen, who assists me in my research by summarising service records (and helps me to decipher the abbreviations in them), and delving into AIF unit war diaries, and other resources, and whose GPS plotting skills, route planning, and ability to drive on the right (wrong) side of the road allowed us to visit the graves and memorials of the fallen Coo-ees in France, Belgium, and England last year.

I would also like to thank those who follow my blog by email, and for your comments. It is nice to know that others too are interested in the history of the Coo-ees.

Our research continues on the Coo-ees, and some blog entries I have already written will be updated with photographs and additional information. If you are following this blog by email, please note that these updated blog entries will not be re-posted, so please check this website from time to time to see what changes have been made to the records.

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Terlincthun British Cemetery – France

Posted on January 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY

On Friday 5th September 2014 Stephen and I drove to Terlincthun British Cemetery, which is located near the town of Wimille, on the northern outskirts of Boulogne, Pas de Calais department, France.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org/, this cemetery was begun in June 1918, and was used mainly for burials from the base hospitals, and some burials were for RAF personnel killed in a bombing raid by German aircraft at Marquise in September 1918. Further remains were reinterred in this cemetery following the war. The cemetery was damaged by shelling in 1940 and during the German occupation in World War II.

Joseph Parrish, a miner on enlistment per his service record, who joined the Coo-ees at Wellington, is the only Coo-ee buried in this cemetery. He died of wounds on 27th June 1918.

The photograph below shows Private Joseph Parrish’s headstone (centre in front row) at Terlincthun British Cemetery.

Terlincthun British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/9/2014)

Terlincthun British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/9/2014)

A photograph of the headstone on Joseph Parrish’s grave will be placed on his individual blog entry, and form part of a Roll of Honour for the fallen Coo-ees on this blog.

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Spencer John LETCHER

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

Spencer John LETCHER

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4832),Spencer John Letcher was born at Cowra, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 18 years and 1 month (though he was younger), his marital status as single, and his occupation as painter. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 132 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Methodist. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on the 28th October 1915, and was attested at Bathurst on the 28th October 1915. He joined the Coo-ees at Bathurst.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 15 Busby Street, Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, J. J. [John James] Letcher, 15 Busby Street, Bathurst, N.S.W.

On 8th March 1916 Private Letcher along with many of the other Coo-ees departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.

On the 19th of April 1916 he transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.

On the 2nd of June 1916 Private Letcher left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 8th June 1916.

Private Letcher served with the 45th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France in July 1916, then moved with the Battalion to Pozieres in early August 1916. It was whist the 45th Battalion was in action in the vicinity of Pozieres, France, that Private Letcher was killed in action on the 6th August 1916. He was buried on the battlefield.

After the war Private Letcher’s grave was located and his remains exhumed. He was reburied at the nearby A.I.F. Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers, France.

Private S. J. Letcher's headstone at AIF Burial Ground, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Private S. J. Letcher’s headstone at AIF Burial Ground, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Private Letcher’s name is commemorated on panel 140 on the Australia War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also remembered on the Bathurst South Public School Roll of Honour board.

Research note:  His NSW Birth Certificate shows that he was born on 8th March 1899, so he was actually only 16 years and 7 months when he joined the Coo-ee March, and only 17 years and 4 months of age when he died.[2]

 

[1] NAA: B2455, LETCHER SPENCER JOHN

[2] NSW Birth Certificate, LETCHER SPENCER J 11458/1899 JOHN J LOUISA COWRA

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AIF Burial Ground – France

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

AIF BURIAL GROUND

On Thursday 4th September 2014 Stephen and I drove to the AIF Burial Ground, which is located 2 km north of the small village of Flers, in the Department of the Somme, France.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org/, this cemetery was used by Australian medical units from November 1916 to February 1917. There were other burials made from spring 1917 to the summer of 1918. Further burials were made after the Armistice for soldiers who had buried in temporary graves on the battlefields of the Somme and elsewhere.

There are 3,475 First World War Commonwealth soldiers either buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 2,263 of the burials are of unidentified soldiers.

Spencer John Letcher, a painter on enlistment per his service record, who joined the Coo-ees at Bathurst, is the only Coo-ee buried in this cemetery. He died of wounds on the 6th August 1916, and was buried on the battlefield in the vicinity of Pozieres.   After the war his remains were recovered by the Imperial War Graves Commission and reburied in this cemetery.

The photograph below shows Private S. J. Letcher’s grave 3rd from the right at the AIF Burial Ground. His age is given as 18. The inscription at the bottom of his headstone reads “For Australia”. The two headstones on his right are both for unknown soldiers.

AIF Burial Ground, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

AIF Burial Ground, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

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Lewis LEOVILLE

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

Lewis LEOVILLE

Per his military service record (regimental no. 5489), Lewis Leoville was born at Marseilles, France. He is listed with the alternate spelling of his first name as Louis Leoville on some documents in his service record (and in earlier newspaper advertisements for his hairdressing saloon business). He is listed as being a naturalised British Subject. He gave his age as 41 years, his marital status as married, and his occupation as barber. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 156 lbs., with a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had 3 months previous military service in the French Army. He completed his medical on the 3rdNovember 1915 at Lithgow, and was attested at Lithgow on the same day.

After the march he went to Liverpool Camp as 15th reinforcement for the 13th Battalion. He was transferred to 17th Reinforcement for the 13th Battalion on 29th March 1916.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Binalong, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as wife, Mrs R. Leoville, Wagga Wagga N.S.W.

On 9th April 1916 Private Leoville departed Sydney on the HMAT Nestor A71 (along with Coo-ees Harold Uhr and Daniel Lynch).

After arriving in Egypt he was transferred to the 45th Battalion on the 20th May 1916.

On the 7th June 1916 Private Leoville left Alexandria aboard the transport Huntspill bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 14th June 1916. He was sent to the 4th Division Base Depot at Etaples, France, until the 29th July 1916, when he departed to join the 45th Battalion.

On the 4th August 1916 Private Leoville was taken on strength of the 45th Battalion when it at Tara Hill two miles north east of Albert, France, preparing to move to the front lines.

On the 8th August 1916 the 45th Battalion was in the front lines in the vicinity of Poziers, France when Private Leoville was wounded by a high explosive artillery shell. He was evacuated to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance which was set up in the village of Warloy- Baillon. Private Leoville had suffered wounds to his head, face, right leg and abdomen, and he died of these wounds that same day.

Private Leoville was buried in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Lewis Leoville's headstone at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Lewis Leoville’s headstone at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Private Leoville’s name is commemorated on panel 140 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

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Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension – France

Posted on January 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

On Thursday 4th September 2014 Stephen and I drove to Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, which is located on the east side of the village of Warloy-Baillon, which is about 21 km northeast of Amiens, and 8 km west of Albert.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org/, burials were made in the extension on the eastern side of the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery from July to November 1916 following fighting on the northern sector of the Somme, then some further burials were made after the German offensive in the spring of 1918.

There are 1,331 First World War Commonwealth soldiers buried in this extension.

Lewis Leoville, who joined the Coo-ees at Lithgow, is the only Coo-ee buried in this cemetery. On the 8th August 1916 Private Leoville was wounded in action during the Battle of Poziers, and died the same day after being evacuated to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance set up in the village of Warloy-Baillon.

The photograph below shows Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension. Lewis Leoville’s grave is the first one visible on the left.

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Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

A photograph of the headstone on Lewis Leoville’s grave will be placed on his individual blog entry, and form part of a Roll of Honour for the fallen Coo-ees on this blog.

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Contay British Cemetery – France

Posted on January 12, 2015 | Leave a comment

CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY

On 4th September 2014 Stephen and I drove to Contay British Cemetery, which is located on the outskirts of the village of Contay on the road to Franvillers. Contay is about 19.6 km north east of Amiens in the Somme (Picardie region), France.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org/, Contay British Cemetery was used for burials from the 49th Casualty Clearing Station from August 1916, and later from the 9th Casualty Clearing Station, until March 1917. It was then used again for burials from the 38th and other Divisions from April to August 1918. There are 1,133 First World War burials in this cemetery.

James Crawford, a Scottish born farmer per his service record, who joined the Coo-ees at Gilgandra, is the only Coo-ee buried in this cemetery. On the 31st August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme Private Crawford received a gunshot wound to his back. He was evacuated to the 49th Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds on the 3rd September 1916.

The photograph below shows Contay British Cemetery. James Crawford’s grave is the first one visible on the left, which is in the first row.

Contay British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

Contay British Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/9/2014)

A photograph of the headstone on James Crawford’s grave from our 2014 visit will be placed on his individual blog entry, and form part of a Roll of Honour for the fallen Coo-ees on this blog.

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Visit to Australian War Memorial : Roll of Honour, name projections, and a photograph of the Coo-ees

Posted on January 10, 2015 | 2 comments

Visit to Australian War Memorial 3rd-5th January 2015

Last weekend (3rd-5th January 2015) Stephen and I visited the Australian War Memorial. We attended the Last Post Ceremony on the Saturday evening, and listened to the story presented on a local WWI soldier from Wongarbon.

On Sunday morning we located and photographed the names of the fallen Coo-ees on the Roll of Honour bronze panels.

Leoville L. and Letcher S. J. names on the 45th Battalion AWM Roll of Honour (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/1/2015)

LEOVILLE L. and LETCHER S. J. names on the 45th Battalion Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour (Photograph: H. Thompson 4/1/2015)

I noted the names of Coo-ees Louis Leoville (who joined the Coo-ee March at Lithgow) and Spencer John Letcher (who joined at Bathurst) are next to each other on the Roll of Honour in the 45th Battalion section. We placed poppies next to their names in remembrance of them.

Researching their stories this week I was saddened to learn that they both died within three days of each other, while fighting in the front lines at Pozieres in France – Spencer  John Letcher being killed in action on the 6th August 1916, and Louis Leoville dying of wounds on the 8th August 1916.

Three more Coo-ees on the 45th Battalion Roll of Honour who also died while the Battalion was at Pozieres in this three day period are William Emerton Hunter (who joined at Geurie), Jack Morris (who joined at Parramatta), and Rowland John Wilson (who joined at Lawson). Jack Morris was killed on the 6th August 1916, William Emerton Hunter on the 7th August 1916, and Rowland John Wilson on the 8th August 1916.

The Australian War Memorial during the 2014-2018 centenary period is at night projecting the names of each of the 62,000 Australians who gave their lives during the Great War on the wall of the Hall of Memory, about 30 times over these four years. The names are visible for 30 seconds, and people can search the Roll of Honour database on the Australian War Memorial website to see when a particular name is planned to be projected.

In the early hours of Monday morning we visited the Australian War Memorial to view the Roll of Honour name projections for two of the fallen Coo-ees – Rowland John Wilson at 1.52 a.m., and William Emerton Hunter at 2.44 a.m. We saw only a mob of kangaroos near the entrance gate, a rabbit on the lawns, a friendly black cat who came up to us as we walked back to the car, and a lone security guard wandering around with a torch during our night time visit.

Hunter W E name projected on the the Hall of Memory wall at the AWM (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/1/2015)

HUNTER W E name projected on the the Hall of Memory wall at the Australian War Memorial (Photograph: H. Thompson 5/1/2015)

On Monday morning we met with a curator in the Research Centre to view a photograph of the Coo-ees entering Dubbo in October 1915 that is listed on the Australian War Memorial catalogue (with no image of the photograph). It has apparently only quite recently been donated to the Australian War Memorial collection. I have not seen this particular photograph before so was very excited to see it.

I have placed an order for a print copy of the photograph so I can have a closer look at it, and hopefully a digital image of the photograph will then be placed on the AWM catalogue.

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Edward Joseph MCGARRY

Posted on January 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

Edward Joseph MCGARRY

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4920), Edward Joseph McGarry was born at Kelso, N.S.W. He gave his age as 35 years and 8 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as fuelman. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 9 ¼ inches tall, weight 12 stone, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He joined the Coo-ee March at Bathurst. He was attested at Bathurst on the 28th October 1915, but did not complete his medical until the 13th November October 1915 at Liverpool.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 7th February 1916 he was charged with being absent without leave for 5 days,

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 7 Lord Street, Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as wife, Mrs S. McGarry, 7 Lord Street, Bathurst, N.S.W.

On 8th March 1916 Private McGarry departed Sydney along with many other Coo-ees on the HMAT A15 Star of England, arriving in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.

On the 16th April 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion.

On the 4th June 1916 Private McGarry left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France, disembarking at Marseille on the 11th June 1916.

On the 28th September 1916 Private McGarry was admitted to the 4th Field Ambulance sick. He was admitted with Influenza, and transferred to the Division Rest Staton on the 29th September 1916. He was then admitted to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza.

On the 4th October 1916 Private McGarry was discharged to duty.

On the 12th December 1916 Private McGarry was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to the chest. He died at No. 38 Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly on 13th December 1916, and was buried on the same day in Heilly Station Cemetery, which was adjacent to the Clearing Station.

Edward Joseph McGarry's headstone at Heilly Station Cemetery, France. His name is on the bottom of the headstone (Photograph: H. Thompson, 4/9/2014)

Edward Joseph McGarry’s headstone at Heilly Station Cemetery, France. His name is on the bottom of the headstone (Photograph: H. Thompson, 4/9/2014)

An article titled ‘Died on service Private E. J. McGarry A “Coo-ee’s” sacrifice’ in the National Advocate (29/12/1916, p. 1) noted that before enlisting, he was ‘employed in the locomotive department on the Bathurst railway’, and that he left a wife and two children.

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