Orry Farrant and the 107 Howitzer Battery

A 4.5 inch howitzer at Ravine Wood, near Ploegsteert.  AWM Collection.  Orry Farrant is not pictured.

In 1916, 18 year old Orry Farrant changed his desk at a livestock auctioneer's office for a 4.5 Howitzer in the 7th Field Artillery Brigade.  The enemy, of course, was always attempting to  knock out the batteries which did them so much damage, and Orry fell in just such an attack. Read Rod Martin's description of the work of Howitzer Batteries, and Orry's end 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. 

Pte Middleton in Sausage Valley

Australian troops in 'Sausage Valley', as the troops called Pozieres, in 1916.   Private Ellis Middleton of Bowen St, Moonee Ponds, was sent into Sausage Valley with the 2nd Australian Division on 24 July 1916, and never came out.  Read Rod Martin's account of Ellis Middeleton's war service.

Wheatley brothers of Moonee Ponds

Sgt Greg Wheatley on the left, and his brother Pte Horace Wheatley on the right, at
their  family home, 1 Athol St,  Moonee Ponds.  Courtesy of Lorraine Rogers.

When their younger brother Noel Wheatley, only 19 years old, was killed on 26 June 1915 on the Gallipoli peninsula, his two older brothers, Greg and Horace, determined to join the AIF and avenge  his death.  They are picture above not long before embarkation.


"Among the hundreds of recruits who left Melbourne
for Seymour yesterday was Mr J A [sic] Wheatley,
better known throughout the Commonwealth as 'Dad'
Wheatley, once the amateur champion cross-country
runner of Australia. Mr Wheatley represented Australia
at the Olympic games held at Athens several years ago.
His brother, Private Noel Wheatley, a promising black
and white artist, aged 20 years, was killed in action at
Gallipoli recently, and Mr G A Wheatley and another
brother, Horace have enlisted to avenge his death.
They are sons of Mr A E Wheatley, of Moonee Ponds,
formerly assistant registrar of titles."                   
The Argus 3 August 1915        
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1544524

Alex Galland of Ascot Vale

The First AIF boarding HMAT Hororata at Port Melbourne, October 1914

Alex Galland of Bank Street, Ascot Vale, would have been amongst the men boarding the Hororata in October 1914.  He left Australia as a private with the 7th Infantry Battalion, survived the landings at Gallipoli, and the battle of Krithia.  Later in France he was promoted to Temporary Sergeant.  Rod Martin tells the story of his battles in France.

8 Light Horse Regiment training near Broadmeadows, 1915

Private David Peter's family home was "Park View" in Fletcher St, Essendon, but the family farm was "Dunalister" at Oaklands Juction, not far from the military camp at Broadmeadows.  David probably rode past the "Dunalister" gates while training with the 8 Light Horse Regiment.  Within months of this photo being taken in 1915, the 8 LHR was sent, dismounted, to Gallipoli.  David Peter's part in the Great War can be read here.

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.