5th Battery 2nd Field Artillery Brigade at Gallipoli

Group portrait of 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, in old gun pit, Gallipoli. Caption on rear: "This is a snap shot of some of our battery gunners in an old gun pit.  Notice some have no shirts on". Courtesy of the John Oxley Library, State Library of  Queensland Neg No:  OM65-30/50

A number of snaps taken by, or acquired by, Lance Corporal Burdeu of Mascoma St Ascot Vale, have been donated to the John Oxley Collection, State Library of Queensland.  The photos show him and his friends in camp at Mena, on excursions to Alexandria, Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt, and later some scenes at Gallipoli.  Cyril died after only 16 days at Gallipoli, though it may have seemed like a lifetime to him.

Cyril served in the 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, and if you have any relatives who served in the 5th Battery (check the AWM Embarkation Roll to see the names of those who embarked with the 5th Battery) you might see them in some of the snaps.

You might also like to read the article on Driver Douglas Gibbs Baker, by Rod Martin, who served in the 6th Battery, 2 FAB at Gallipoli.  

From the Suburbs to the Trenches

I was  recently pleased to discover this book which describes the war service of two young fellows, one of them, Cecil Seccombe of Ascot Vale who served with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, and the other Ralph Berryman of Hawthorn who served with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade.  The author, Ralph Seccombe, is a relative of both young men, and relates his own thoughts and impressions as he traces their movements in Gallipoli and France.  The book is available through Amazon.  See also this webpage.

Driver Quinton at War

Going into action, by H Septimus Power, 1917 (ART03329)

Charles Edward Quinton was a young man of 22 when he enlisted in the AIF, going into action initially with 2 Field Artillery Battalion at Gallipoli, and later in France.  Rod Martin tells the story of this young soldier, a Driver engaged in hauling guns,  who survived Gallipoli, only to be lost in the second battle of Bullecourt.  You can read his story here.

Buried at sea

Aquitania steaming through Mudros Harbour.

Deaths on Service
BAKER. - On the 29th November, on hospital ship
"Aquitania," of exhaustion, Douglas Gibbs, 6th Bty.,
2nd F.A.B., younger son of J. A. Baker, 19 Brighton
road, St. Kilda. In firing-line since April without rest.
(Inserted by his sisters.)
The Argus 18 Dec 1915
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1586588

Rod Martin gives an account of the actions in which Driver Douglas Gibbs Baker was involved on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and which led to his evacuation and ultimate death. Baker had been born in Ascot Vale, and attended the Ascot Vale State School, and is commemorated on their honour board.