Braidwood RSL Roll of Honour

Commemoration for the Lives of the Braidwood and District ANZACS “We will remember them well”

ROLLROLL OF OF HONOUR HONOUR: BEATTY,Meade, WalterArthur Stuart Cusack ServiceService Number: Number: 1604A1501 Rank: SergeantPrivate

From 1914 - 1918, 465 volunteers from Braidwood and the District joined the Australian Imperial Force in World War I. 88 lost their lives, never to return home. This is their story.

terrible conflict ever seen to that time. Australians The axis powers were Germany and Austria. joined their Armed Forces in large numbers. Their Russia and France were the initial allies. When ROLL OF HONOUR motives were as varied as their upbringings, from Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the a need to save the Empire, of which Australia was war on the side of Russia and France. BEATTY, Walter Cusack an integral part, to the desire to have a great Service Number: 1604A adventure. The war was in Europe, the Western Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front was WALTER CUSACK BEATTY Rank: Private Braidwood and district were no exception. Over Russia and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another the four years from 1914 to 1918, from a front because of colonial possessions on that population of about 5000, 465 men and women continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1 Service Number: 1604A – November 1914, the Middle East became from what is now the 2622 postcode area another theatre of war. including Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen, Rank: Private Mongarlowe, Nerriga, Ballalaba and Australians generally thought of themselves as Unit: 13th Australian Infantry Battalion Jembaicumbene joined the Navy or Army. Of an integral part of the British Empire and the these 377 returned to Australia. Sadly, 88 lost Australian Army and Navy were part of the Service: Australian Army their lives. Imperial Forces. In 1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 A varying amount of their history is recorded in Australian support for Britain ‘to the last man and Date of death: 08 August 1915 the Australian War Memorial. Some of their the last shilling.’ The Australian population was names, but not all, are recorded on local less than five million. 324,000 Australians served Place of death: Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire memorials. More is recorded in limited local overseas. 61,720 lost their lives. 155,000 were histories and newspapers, not readily available to wounded. 4,044 became prisoners of war (397 Cause of death: Died of wounds died while captive). the general public; and the people who lived with Place of association: West Maitland, Australia and knew these distant relatives are also passing The first Australian troops were sent to Egypt in on. 1915. The ANZACS – Australian and New Zealand Cemetery or memorial details: New Zealand No 2 Army Corps – were engaged in battle on the Outpost Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch has collected all Gallipoli Peninsula against the Turks to control the Turkey the information available from the Australian War Dardanelles’ and open the way to Eastern Europe Memorial and local sources, including the with their fateful landing on 25 April 1915. Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Braidwood Museum. Families, still resident in Army the district, have added their family knowledge The ANZACS were evacuated on 19-20 December and their precious memorabilia. 1915. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and the wounding of 19,000. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to Location on the Roll of Honour: Walter Cusack Beatty's This booklet is the available story of the heroism, comradeship and valour of the Walter Cusack Beatty, one of the 88 Braidwood name is located at panel 68 in the Commemorative Area soldiers remain a source of Australian pride and at the Australian War Memorial volunteers who did not return from World War national identity. I. It contains his details as recorded in the World War I Roll of Honour, his Enlistment Papers, Field Service records, any Casualty notification, correspondence relating to his death, details of decorations won, any available photos, and, in some instances, family correspondence or recollections.

Walter Cusack Beatty died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to

remember him.

Lest We Forget.

Introduction WORLD WAR I This year, 2015, marks the centenary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign and Australia’s World War I lasted four years, from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. It began after the ROLL OF HONOUR involvement as a nation in the greatest and most assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. terrible conflict ever seen to that time. Australians The axis powers were Germany and Austria. joined their Armed Forces in large numbers. Their Russia and France were the initial allies. When motives were as varied as their upbringings, from Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the a need to save the Empire, of which Australia was war on the side of Russia and France. an integral part, to the desire to have a great adventure. The war was in Europe, the Western Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front was WALTER CUSACK BEATTY Braidwood and district were no exception. Over Russia and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another the four years from 1914 to 1918, from a front because of colonial possessions on that population of about 5000, 465 men and women continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1 Service Number: 1604A – November 1914, the Middle East became from what is now the 2622 postcode area another theatre of war. including Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen, Rank: Private Mongarlowe, Nerriga, Ballalaba and Australians generally thought of themselves as Unit: 13th Australian Infantry Battalion Jembaicumbene joined the Navy or Army. Of an integral part of the British Empire and the these 377 returned to Australia. Sadly, 88 lost Australian Army and Navy were part of the Service: Australian Army their lives. Imperial Forces. In 1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 A varying amount of their history is recorded in Australian support for Britain ‘to the last man and Date of death: 08 August 1915 the Australian War Memorial. Some of their the last shilling.’ The Australian population was names, but not all, are recorded on local less than five million. 324,000 Australians served Place of death: Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire memorials. More is recorded in limited local overseas. 61,720 lost their lives. 155,000 were histories and newspapers, not readily available to wounded. 4,044 became prisoners of war (397 Cause of death: Died of wounds died while captive). the general public; and the people who lived with Place of association: West Maitland, Australia and knew these distant relatives are also passing The first Australian troops were sent to Egypt in on. 1915. The ANZACS – Australian and New Zealand Cemetery or memorial details: New Zealand No 2 Army Corps – were engaged in battle on the Outpost Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch has collected all Gallipoli Peninsula against the Turks to control the Turkey the information available from the Australian War Dardanelles’ and open the way to Eastern Europe Memorial and local sources, including the with their fateful landing on 25 April 1915. Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Braidwood Museum. Families, still resident in Army the district, have added their family knowledge The ANZACS were evacuated on 19-20 December and their precious memorabilia. 1915. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and the wounding of Location on the Roll of Honour: Walter Cusack Beatty's This booklet is the available story of 19,000. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to the heroism, comradeship and valour of the Walter Cusack Beatty, one of the 88 Braidwood name is located at panel 68 in the Commemorative Area soldiers remain a source of Australian pride and at the Australian War Memorial volunteers who did not return from World War national identity. I. It contains his details as recorded in the World War I Roll of Honour, his Enlistment Papers, Field Service records, any Casualty notification, correspondence relating to his death, details of decorations won, any available photos, and, in some instances, family correspondence or recollections.

Walter Cusack Beatty died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to remember him.

Lest We Forget.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion 13th Australian Infantry Battalion returned to Egypt. While in Egypt the AIF was The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late expanded and was reorganised. The 13th September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak Battalion was split and provided experienced of the First World War. The battalion was soldiers for the 45th Battalion. The 4th Brigade recruited in New South Wales, and with the was combined with the 12th and 13th Brigades 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions formed the 4th to form the 4th Australian Division. Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash. In June 1916, the 13th sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the The Brigade embarked for overseas in late battalion took part in bloody trench warfare. Its December. After a brief stop in Albany, first major action in France was at Pozieres in Western Australia, it proceeded to Egypt, August. In February 1917, Captain W. H. arriving in early February 1915. Australia Murray, who had transferred to the 13th from already had an AIF division there, the 1st. the 16th Battalion, earned the Victoria Cross When the 4th Brigade arrived in Egypt it for his actions during an attack near became part of the New Zealand and Gueudecourt. He became one of the most Australian Division. highly decorated officers in the AIF. The 13th Battalion, along with most of the 4th Brigade, The 4th Brigade landed at ANZAC Cove late in suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt in April the afternoon of 25 April 1915. From May to when the brigade attacked strong German August, the battalion was heavily involved in positions without the promised tank support. establishing and defending the ANZAC front The battalion spent much of the remainder of line. In August, the 4th Brigade attacked Hill 1917 in Belgium advancing to the Hindenburg 971. The hill was taken at great cost, although Line. Turkish reinforcements forced the Australians to withdraw. The 13th also suffered casualties In March and April 1918, the battalion helped during the attack on Hill 60 on 27 August. The to stop the German spring offensive. It battalion served at ANZAC until the evacuation subsequently played a role in the great allied in December. offensive of 1918, fighting near Amiens on 8

August 1918. This advance by British and empire troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front, one that German General Erich Ludendorff described as "..the black day of the German Army in this war...".

The 4th Brigade continued operations until late September 1918. On 18 September Maurice Buckley, serving as Sergeant Gerald Sexton, was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour near Le Verguier. At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns fell silent. In November 1918 Members of 13th Battalion, AIF, occupying Quinn's members of the AIF began to return to Post on the heights above Anzac Cove. Australia for demobilisation and discharge.

Ataturk quote at Anzac Cove.

Acknowledgements Everybody responded enthusiastically to the idea of capturing the information about Braidwood’s 88 World War I veterans who lost their lives. The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch is most grateful for the support they received in carrying out this task and would like to acknowledge those of whom we are aware: Karen, Chris and Renee Nelson, Roslyn Maddrell, Karen Shea, Jill Clarke, Rod McClure, Ben and Meaghan Frohling, Diane McGrath, Us On Mondays Quilting Group, Len Mutton & Co and local shopkeepers for their World War I window displays.

Thank you to the students and teachers of Braidwood Central School and St. Bedes School who have embraced these soldiers and have honoured their memories on Anzac Day 2015.

The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch raised a good proportion of the funds for the cost of producing these booklets. The efforts of the members of the sub branch involved are very much appreciated. This money was augmented by welcome funding from the Federal Government through the ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program and the Braidwood Community Bank.

To all those who helped in any way, many thanks. Your efforts have ensured we remember these Braidwood and District Veterans well.

Back Cover: Peace Day, 11th November 1918, Wallace Street, Braidwood. “Wild day in Braidwood: When Braidwood woke up on Tuesday morning to find the ‘glad tidings of great joy’ awaiting it that Germany had signed the armistice and the frightful carnage of the past four years or so had come to an end it simply went mad with delight. No other words could adequately describe the excitement that followed.” “Braidwood Letters from the Front” by Roslyn Maddrell.

Ataturk quote at Anzac Cove.

Thank you to the students and teachers of Braidwood Central School and St. Bedes School who have embraced these soldiers and have honoured their memories on Anzac Day 2015.

To all those who helped in any way, many thanks. Your efforts have ensured we remember these Braidwood and District Veterans well.

ROLL OF HONOUR Alley, Clair Underwood Knight, Charles Oliver Archer, Fred Lee, Thomas James Backhouse, Victor John Lennon, James Barnett, Frederick George Lupton, Spencer Barry, Charles Louis Lynch, James Joseph Beatty, Walter Cusack Matthews, Francis Bell, John Henry Edward McCool, Francis Leslie Neil Black, George Scott McDonald, Alexander Joseph Bruce, Thomas Fraser McLean, Donald Byrne, Cecil John McRae, Finley Arnold Callan, William Henry Meade, Arthur Stuart Catlin, Robert Henry Merton, Thomas David Clarke, Lester Thomas Montgomery, Stanley Cook, Thomas John Moore, William Crandell, Christopher George Newberry, Alwyn (Alwin) Horace James Cregan, Clarence Theodore Augustus O’Brien, Thomas Daniel Cullen, Henry Thomas O’Reilly, John Davis, John Henry Pooley, Edward Davis, Oscar Raymond Stanley Rex, Horace Joseph Dawson, Edric Athol Riley, Frank Dayball, Arthur Joseph Roberts, Frederick Bede Dempsey, Charles Frederick Robinson, William James Dempsey, Charles Rodgers, Albert Dowell, Frederick Robert Seidel, Alfred George Feeney, William Seidel, Henry Edward Fisher, Osborne Sharpe, George Lyle Flack, John Foster Sharpe, Reginald Garnett, Henry James Sherman, Edgar Robert Geelan, Robert Michael Sherman, Percy Frederick Gosling, Fred Simmons, George Gough, James Smith (Greenwood), George Green, Francis Henry Spicer, William Henry Healy, Myrtle James Steele, Alexander Norman Howard, John Alexander Stein, Daniel Godfrey Huggett, William Stewart, David Walter Hunt, Frederick William Styles, Reginald Lucian Hunt, John Torpy, Patrick Edward Hush, Percy Alfred Torpy, Thomas Patrick Hush, Thomas Walker, William Albert Hush, Austin Septimus Watt, James Innes, Henry George Watt, Oscar Harold McClure Kelly, Herbert Albert White, Alister Kemp, Leslie Smith Whitelaw, Thomas Philip Keyte, Robert Wilson, Samuel Charles

Lest We Forget