Photographs and Lives of the Fallen
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" Qui jrocul liine, qui ante diem sed miles, sed firo jiatria. ' Photographs and Livés of the Fallen 17 SIGNALLER J. P. ATKINSON, son of Mrs. Atkinson, St. Kilda, besides attending Architectural classes at the Engineer- ing School, completed a course of instruction with the I.C.S. He was articled to H. Black, Esq., of Melbourne, for four years. He enlisted in June, 1915, and landed in Egypt on 27th October. For some time he was at a Signal School at Zeitoun, where he gained an excellent certificate of proficiency. Some time later he was transferred to the 46th Battalion, and arrived with this unit in France in June, 1916. After a year's con- tinuous service in the trenches he was sent to the 2nd Army Signal School, Cassel, where he gained an assistant instructor's certificate. He then rejoined his battalion, and whilst on tem- porary duty at Brigade Headquarters he was killed on the night of 10th November, 1917. 18 SIGNALLER J. P. ATKINSON. D 19 CAPTAIN EDWARD FREDERICK ROBERT BAGS, 3rd Field Company Engineers, was the only son of the late Edward Bage, Merchant, of Melbourne. He was born on 17th April, 1888, and entered the Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne in 1900, where he obtained the Witherby Scholarship in 1901. He left the Grammar School in 190.4 with first-class honours in Physics at Matriculation and a Wardens' Scholarship to Trinity College, Mel- bourne, where he went into residence during his University course. He obtained first-class honours in Chemistry and an Exhibition in Surveying in 1905, and completed the Civil Engineering course in 1909, taking the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Melbourne University, in 1910. During his studentship he was hon. secretary of the Students' Representative Council at an early stage of its existence, and constantly took .a full share in the social side of University life. He rowed in his College eight. He began his military career in 1909 as 2nd lieutenant in the corps of the Australian Engineers, Queensland, and was transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers with the rank of lieutenant in 1911, after serving some time at the Submarine Mining Station, Chowdar Bay, Sydney. On transfer to the R.A.E. he was stationed at the Submarine Mining Station, Swan Island, Victoria, and was for some time in command of the station. In 1911 he obtained leave of absence without pay, and joined the Australasian Antarctic Expedition under Sir Douglas Mawson as astronomer, assistant magnetician, and recorder of tides. His absence with the expedition extended over a period of two years and three months, as he was one of the six volunteers forming the relief party that was left in the Antarctic for a second winter, when Sir Douglas and his ill-fated companions had failed to return to winter quarters at the appointed time. Lieutenant Bage was leader of the southern sledging party, which accomplished a perilous journey of 600 miles, man-hauling their sledge over thee rough blizzard-swept ice surfaces. He was awarded the King's Polar Medal in 1916. On his return from the Antarctic Lieutenant Bage was attached to the Engineers' Staff Office Melbourne, and, on mobilisation being ordered in August, 1914, took up duty at Port Phillip Heads. When the first Australian Division for service abroad was formed, he volunteered for active service, and was appointed second in command of the 3rd Field Company (Engineers), with the rank of Captain, and was killed at Gallipoli on May 7th, 1915. Captain Bage was very popular among both officers and men, and many were the expressions of regret when the news was received at Victoria Barracks that he had fallen. He was an indefatigable worker, a thorough and efficient organiser, and one of the most promising of the younger officers of the permanent forces. 20 CAPTAIN EDWARD FREDERICK ROBERT BAGE. 21 SERGEANT L. P. BASTO, son of J. J. Basto, Esq., was born on 4th November, 1894, in Melbourne, and was educated at the Christian Brothers' School. After passing both Junior and Senior Public Examinations he proceeded to the University, where he took up the study of Engineering. He was a lieu- tenant in the permanent forces, but enlisted as a sergeant from the M.U.R. in " A " Company, 6th Battalion. He left with the first contingent, and served a further period of training in Egypt. He was detailed as a sergeant in charge of a picket in Cairo. He earned high praise for this work, which was often of an exceedingly difficult nature. At the landing on Gallipoli he and a small party advanced almost to the top of " The Narrows," but were surrounded and cut off. His body was found some days later and buried alongside that of his sergeant-major. Colonel Semmens, his C.O.; said of him that his conduct was always exemplary, that he was a good and fearless soldier, and that his death was a real loss to his battalion. He was just 20 years of age when he made the supreme sacrifice. 22 SERGEANT L. P. BASTO. SERGEANT ARCHIBALD HUGH BLACK, born at North Brighton, Victoria, was the son of Lieut.-Colonel A. G. H. Black,-commanding 2nd Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment (late 91st Infantry). He was educated at Devonport Grammar School and Launceston Church Grammar School, Tas. Sub- sequently he entered Melbourne University as an Engineering student. Whilst there he enlisted in the A.I.F., but was trans- ferred to the 40th Battalion, 10th Brigade, A.I.F., with rank of sergeant. Prior to this he was a member of the Senior Cadets (old organisation), and afterwards was a sergeant in 91st Battalion Senior Cadets, from which he was transferred to the Militia, and obtained a commission as Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment. He was recommended for a commission in France with the 40th Battalion, but was shot through the head at Armen- tieres, and was for a long time in hospital. On being passed as medically fit he returned to his unit, and was promised the first vacancy in commissioned rank, but was unfortunately killed in the attack on Passchendaele on October 12th, 1917.. 24 SERGEANT ARCHIBALD HUGH BLACK. 25 CORPORAL R. L. C. BLACK, son of Mrs. Black, of Paken- ham Upper, was educated at South Melbourne College. After matriculation he became a student in the Engineering School. After passing his examinations at the end of 1915, Cor- poral Black enlisted in the A.LF., and went into camp in March, 1916. He was sent to Castlemaine, where he was a training sergeant for some time. He left Australia on July 28th, and after a short period of further training in England left for France, where he joined up with " B " Company, 7th Battalion, and was made a scout-corporal. He saw continuous service with this unit until he was wounded in May, 1918. He rejoined his unit on 1st August, 1918, and only eight days later was killed at Hurleville. During his period of service with the A.I.F. he attended three Schools of Instruction, and graduated from each with great distinction. He was nearly 25 years of age at the time his life was claimed for his country. 26 CORPORAL R. L. C. BLACK. 27 LIEUTENANT LEWIS GORDON BLACKMORE, of New South Wales, studied for some time on the Mining side of the Engineering Course. He enlisted in New South Wales in September, 1914. He joined the Light Horse, and sailed as a lance-corporal in the Sixth Regiment in December, 1914 After further training in Egypt he went to Gallipoli. He was wounded in July, 1915, and sent to hospital in Malta. He contracted enteric, and was invalided to England. He re- joined his unit after they had returned to Egypt, and on obtaining his commission transferred to the 1st Battalion In- fantry. He went to France with the 1st Division in April, 1916, where he served with his unit until he was killed at Pozieres on August 23rd, 1916. 28 LIEUTENANT LEWIS GORDON BLACKMORE. 29 LIEUTENANT W. A. J. BUCKLAND, son of Mrs. M. J. Buckland, Mirboo North, before the outbreak of war held a commission in the M.U.R., but in January, 1916, he enlisted as a private, and sailed with No. 2 Section, 10th Field Company Engineers as a sergeant. After 15 weeks' training in England he went to France, and moved into the front line in November. For the first six months he was in charge of the concrete work of the sector, and later of the construction of gunpits and artillery observation posts, doing front line work in the region of Armentieres, until April, 1917, in which year he applied for transfer to the A.F.C., and was one of the five who were chosen from the whole division. He obtained a lieutenancy, and was attached to the 69th Squadron, which left for France in August. While stationed at Savy he took a course in Aerial Gunner,. In March, 1918, the Germans shelled his squadron out of Bailleul, where they had moved from Savy. Most of his later work consisted in reconnaissance, which necessitated low flying, and was consequently extremely dangerous. On the 6th July, while on dawn patrol with Captain Ralf e, an engage- ment took place, in which Captain Ralfe was killed. The machine crashed to the ground, and Buckland, who had been only slightly wounded in the actual air fighting, was instantly killed. He was a fine soldier, clear headed, courageous, worthy of his breed.