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.
 

Local sportsman answers the call

Bill Liston of Lincoln Rd, Essendon answered the call for recruits to help in the Middle East.  While in France he was struck by the number of locals whom he saw.  "It is just like walking up Puckle-st here, at times: you run across so many chaps from Essendon way."  Rod Martin tells Bill's story, and the struggle of the 22nd battalion in the very bad winter of 1916-17 against trench feet in the wet and muddy trenches.

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.