Bill Yeates returns

Rod Martin wrote about William Henry Yeates in 2012 (see blog post Trench Warfare and Trench Feet)   but recent contract from a family member has allowed Rod to update Bill's story with further insights about Bill's wounds and later life.  The above photo is also new to us, as is the telegram which was sent giving erroneous information of Bill's death.  To see the updated story, click here.
 

Remembering Bill Scurry

 

 Bill Scurry as a Captain, in France, 1917,  seated on the left, with officers of the 15th Light Trench Mortar Battery.  Standing behind on the left is Lieutenant Leonard Frederick Morris, a school-fellow of Scurry's, attending Ascot Vale State School.  Courtesy of the AWM  http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P01786.001

Today an article in The Age reminds us that at this time 100 years ago, the last of the Anzacs were being evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula.  Lance-Corporal William Scurry from Ascot Vale  invented a clever device to encourage the Turks to think that the Anzacs were still in their trenches, though it was only one element of a much more extensive plan, prepared by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Brudenell-White, to get the men off Gallipoli without casualties.

Tomorrow, Sunday 20 December, a plaque will be unveiled at the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery to remember Bill Scurry.

The Families and Friends of the First AIF website has further information about the evacuation.

An account of the evacuation was written by an unidentified Australian officer, but most likely Major Alfred Jackson.

Trench warfare and trench feet

A Vickers machine gun in action at Pozières, July 1916  (AWM P07670.003)

Rod Martin examines the war service of Private William Henry Yeates of 129 Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds. Yeatres embarked with the 22 Infantry Bn, but later transferred to the 15 Machine Gun Company.  He suffered many assaults on his health, including trench feet, scabies, multiple fractures from gunshot wounds, and may have had his left arm amputated, though his record is not clear on this.   Somehow he survived the slaughter at Fromelles.  Read Rod's latest story on Private Yeates.