Faces of the Fallen On August 4th, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany and Australia, along with Britain’s other colonies, enthusiastically pledged their support. At the fledgling University of Queensland and the Queensland Agricultural College, Gatton, students and staff followed the ground swell of patriotism and enlisted in large numbers. Nearly four hundred students and staff from Gatton and the University of Queensland were involved in active overseas and home service during the war. Over the ensuing four years of conflict, eighty-four students and staff from both institutions lost their lives in the service of their country. From the beginning of Australia’s involvement in active combat, they paid the ultimate price; fourteen men died during our involvement on the Gallipoli peninsula, two of those on the 25th of April, with two more dying the next day. Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli to Europe the conflict exacted a greater toll on Australia, with thirteen students, three on the same day, dying during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The next year brought little relief as six students died during the battle of Bullecourt in the early months of 1917. Later, thirteen more would perish during the Third Battle of Ypres, also known by names such as Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge, Passchendaele and Zonnebeke. At Zonnebeke, in Belgium, five students died on the same day, 4th October 1917. The final year of the war, 1918, saw seven students die near Amiens, France, during the German spring offensive, tragically two UQ students, both Honours graduates in Classics died on the same th day, the 5 of April 1918. Australian War Memorial E00833 The conflict in Europe was not the only area where Australians fought and died. During several battles in the Middle East, mainly in Egypt and Palestine, eight students died, sadly two students from Gatton died in the same engagement on 7th November 1917. Young lives were not only lost in actual combat. Seven students died from sickness during the war, and five, one from the effects of poison gas, passed away after the war. Four more students died as a result of accidents, one in an airplane crash while a popular lecturer at UQ drowned in Russia in August 1919 during a post war military intervention. Memorials were created to remember the fallen. At St Lucia, a plaque is located in the foyer of the Forgan Smith building, while at Gatton one is at the War Memorial swimming pool and an honour board is in the Past Students’ Association museum. The plaque in Forgan Smith came about from work done by the University War Memorial Committee formed during the war. Originally located on the University’s former site at George Street, it was installed in 1975 in the foyer of Forgan Smith. The Gatton plaque and board drew upon work undertaken by the Gatton Old Boys and Past Students’ Association, resulting in the unveiling of the memorial when the War Memorial swimming pool opened in 1959. We might be forgiven to forget that they were young men, full of life, intelligence and adventure who sacrificed their lives doing what they believed was the right thing. They were more than just names to the people who knew them; they were individuals who were loved by many and missed forever by their families and friends. While their names have been remembered through these memorial plaques, the faces of the fallen have faded from memory. On this, the 100th year since the conclusion of the war, the University of Queensland Archives has attempted to put faces to these names and bring them back into the public eye. To honour them, to remember them, to never forget what they have done. “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them” Laurence Binyon, “For the Fallen” LEST WE FORGET University of Queensland Born 23rd March 1895 in Sydney, he matriculated March 1915. He came to UQ on an Open scholarship. While in high school he won an athletic prize for best all round athlete. He enlisted on 3rd August 1915 in the 9th Battalion and embarked for active service on 30th December 1915. He was promoted Corporal on 12th September 1916 and Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 16th October 1916. Died of wounds at the age of 21 in Flers, France, on the 25th February 1917. Frederick George Pitty Barbour [Australian War Memorial] Born 29th July 1895 in Brisbane, he matriculated March 1914 in Arts. Enlisting on 20th March 1915 in the 25th Battalion he embarked for active service on 29th June 1915 but returned to Australia due to sickness, eventually re-embarking on 4th May 1916. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 20th March 1915 and promoted to Lieutenant on 26th June 1915. He was promoted to Captain on 8th January 1917 and was killed in action at the age of 24, in Belgium, on the 9th October Sydney Stanna Bond 1917. [Australian War Memorial] Born 8th June 1895 in Taroom, he matriculated March 1914 in Arts. He enlisted on 24th May 1915 initially in the 25th Battalion, transferring to the 9th Battalion while overseas. He embarked for active service on 30th December 1915 and was promoted to Sergeant on 12th March 1916. He was killed in action at the age of 21, at Pozieres, France, on the 22nd July 1916. Philip Gerald Browne [courtesy Graeme Brown] Born 29th January 1893 in Brisbane, he matriculated March 1912 in Engineering, and was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering degree on 10th May 1916. He enlisted on 25th July 1915 in the 14th Field Engineers and embarked for active service on 30th September 1916. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 1st January 1916 and Lieutenant on 8th July 1917. He was killed in action at the age of 24, at Zillebeke, Belgium, on the 12th October 1917. Kenneth MacKenzie Brydon [Annals of the Brisbane Grammar School] Lecturer in Classics and Assistant Librarian he was born 4th January 1872 in England, and was a scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He served in the Imperial Yeomanry, South Africa, 1900 -1902. He joined the 13th Service Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross for his Roger James Cholmeley actions at Messines. A published author, he was twice wounded during the war. [University of Queensland Archives] While taking part in the post war North Russia Intervention he drowned on Lake Onega, Russia on the 16th August 1919 at the age of 47. Born 29th October 1894 in Brisbane, he matriculated March 1913 in Arts. He enlisted on 23rd September 1914 and joined the 15th Battalion, embarking for active service on the 22nd December 1914. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on the 23rd September 1914, then Lieutenant on the 1st February 1915. He was killed at the age of 20 at Quinn's Post, Gallipoli, on the 9th May 1915. Leslie Norman Collin [Annals of the Brisbane Grammar School] A member of the University administration, he was born 10th October 1896 in Maryborough. He enlisted on 23rd July 1915 and embarked for active service on the 5th October 1915. Assigned as a Bearer, for the 7th Field Ambulance, he was killed at the age of 19 at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, France on the 26th August 1916. William Arthur Cramb [Annals of the Brisbane Grammar School] Born 11th November 1883 in Dalby. He enlisted on the 20th March 1915 in the 25th Battalion and embarked for active service on the 29th June 1915. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 20th March 1915, Lieutenant on 1st June 1915 and Captain on the 24th February 1916. Wounded at Pozieres in France on 29th July 1916, he was killed at the age of 33 on the Somme in France, on the 14th November 1916. William Frederick Donisch [University of Queensland Archives] Born 24th August 1894 in Horsham, he won a Government Grammar School scholarship in 1908 and a University scholarship in 1913. Matriculating in March 1913, he graduated with First Class Honours in Classics in 1916. He enlisted on the 28th February 1916 with the 42nd Battalion and embarked for active service on 5th June 1916. He was appointed Lance-Corporal on 28th January 1917, 2nd Lieutenant on 28th February 1917 and Lieutenant on 28th September 1917. He Walde Gerard Fisher was killed at the age of 23 near Amiens at Sailly-le-Sec, France on the 5th April [University of Queensland Archives] 1918. Born 25th October 1893 in Maryborough, he matriculated March 1913 in Engineering. He enlisted on the 14th June 1915 with the 9th Battalion and embarked for active service on the 22nd January 1916. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 29th October 1915 and was killed at the age of 23 at Pozieres, France on the 23rd July 1916. The Ford Memorial Prize presented by the University honours both Sydney and his brother Thomas who also died in the Sydney Kelso Ford [Annals of the Brisbane Grammar School] war. Born 8th June 1890 and from Ipswich, he matriculated March 1912 in Engineering. He enlisted on 24th August 1915 in the 9th Battalion, eventually transferring to the 53rd Battalion and embarked for active service on 3rd September 1915. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 24th August 1915, promoted Lieutenant on 5th July 1916 and Captain on 11th November 1916. Wounded in action, he received the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery on Trevor Francis 19th July 1916. He was killed at the age of 28 near Arras, France on the 14th [Ipswich City Council Library] March 1917.