THEIR NAME LIVETH for evermore

Transcription

1 THEIR NAME LIVETH for evermore Australia s Military Graves- Memorials and War Graves and those of other Nations Matt Walsh Table of Contents

2 Topic Introduction Honouring our Military (War) Dead Honouring those who gave their life in Military Service of their Country Early Military Graves - St Johns Cemetery Parramatta - Sutton Forrest (near Berrima NSW) - Liverpool NSW - Melbourne - Sudan - Boer War South Africa Commonwealth War Graves Casualties of Australia War Graves Information Other Forms of Remembrance - Remembrance Driveway Other Nations Military Cemeteries and War Graves - Preamble - The Somme and the Western Front WWI - Introduction - German Langemarck Soldatenfriedhof Belgium - German- Maisseny Soldatenfriedhof France - World War II -German- Crete - World War II Japanese Singapore - World War II Japanese -Cowra NSW - World War II- Italian -Cowra NSW - World War I - France Author Page This booklet is an initiative of the Defence Reserve Association (NSW) Inc and the Military Police Association Inc as part of their Schools Military History Program. Written and compiled by Matt Walsh JP. MLO ALGA (MCAE) Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) 2007 Published by Matt Walsh 115 Leacocks Lane Casula 2170 Australia. Revised 2008 Introduction

3 In times of war it was the responsibility of the Military to establish cemeteries for the burial of their dead of all Services. These cemeteries could be located in many diverse areas, and on many occasions were in enemy territory or enemy occupied territory. An example of how a military cemetery can develop is in Wiltshire in the United Kingdom. On a hillside near the Town of Fovant which is near the Sailsbury Plains Military Training area of WW I will be found the Regimental Badges of units who trained in the area. These Badges have been carved into the Chalk of which the hillside is formed. One of these Badges is the Rising Sun Badge of the Australian Imperial Forces. Each year on Anzac Day a Service is held in the Parish Church of Sutton Veny when the schoolchildren place flowers on the graves of the Australian soldiers who died of influenza and are buried nearby. Honouring our Military (War) Dead One aspect of war often forgotten or given very little thought is what happens to those who have paid the Supreme Sacrifice in defending their Nation/Country during times of war, irrespective of what country they fought for. Right or wrong they were fighting for the defence of the rights, cultures or beliefs of their country. The War Cemeteries and the Military Graves most familiar to Australians are those where Australian s and their Allies the United Kingdom; Canada; New Zealand; South Africa; India /Pakistan rest in peace having given their lives in the defence of their country. To ensure that our gallant men and women are remembered for their deeds the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established to build and maintain cemeteries and memorials on the worlds Battlefields to provide a final resting place for the dead of the Commonwealth Troops. Honouring those who gave their life in the Military Service of their country or nation We are all aware of what action has been taken to remember those who lost their life during declared Wars ie World War I & World War II etc but what about those soldiers who gave their life whilst serving overseas but not necessarily on war service but certainly on active service. The development of the Colony of New South Wales (Australia) is a prime example of this situation. - 1

4 Many of the soldier who arrive with the First Fleet and afterwards who died during their service in the Colony of New South Wales are buried in St. Johns Cemetery Parramatta, whilst not necessarily being classified as War Graves they certainly are Military Graves.. The Graves of Staff Sgt. Stokes 20 th Regt. & Sgt Daniel Humm Snr & Daniel Humm Section Row Grave No. Name Rank Regiment 1 D 9 Moffatt Helen Captain 17 th Regiment D 8 Baylis Wift. Captain 13 th Regiment E 14 Stokes Augustus Staff Sergeant. 20 th Regiment H 4 McDonald Q.M. Sergeant 18 th Regiment H 6 Weatherall Veteran J 1 Alt Baron Lt./Captain Guards M 2 Grimstone Royal Veterans M 9 Humm Daniel Snr. Sergeant Old Veterans M 9 Humm Daniel 73 rd Regiment N 14 Palmer Comm. Gen First Fleet N 14 Palmer R.N. U 3 Hamilton Sergeant 17 th Regiment W 17 McArthur Lieutenant R.N. 2 D 5 Wilson Private 11 th Regiment G 2 Pryke Colour Sergeant 80 th Regiment J 1 Mason Sergeant Royal Staff Corps K 4 Wentworth Major 63 rd Regiment Q 18 Baxter Sergeant 73 rd Regiment - 2 -

5 Section Row Grave No. Name Rank Regiment 3 B 4 Domms Lieutenant Royal Sussex Light I 7 Masters Lieutenant 58 th Regiment K 1 Harris Surgeon R.N. L 1 Dale Sergeant 99 th Regiment L 10 Porter - 57 th Regiment Hassall Rowland Sergeant Parramatta Loyal Association The Grave of Sgt Rowland Hassall Parramatta Loyal Association Sutton Forest (near Berrima) The next Military Graves to be located are at Sutton Forest (near Berrima) are in the Graveyard of the Sutton Forest Church some 90 miles from Sydney, apparently many Military Personnel were buried in the Graveyard but only three (3) gravestones remain today. They were all members of the 50 th Regiment of Foot who served in New South Wales from and These Graves are: Patrick Connelly (1833) Michael McGee (1833) Private Thomas O Brien- His headstone reads:- Sacred to the Memory of Thomas O Brien Private in H.M. s 50 th or Queens Own Regiment who was Barbarously murdered on the 19 th Feby near Berrima 1837, aged 24 years. This stone erected by his comrades to his memory as a testimonial of the high character he bore both by his Officers and Comrades. It is believed he was murdered by one of the convicts in his working party. Liverpool (NSW) Memorial to Pte Albert Smith who served in the Boer War - 3 -

6 It would appear that members of the 50 th Regiment were unlucky on the Tombstone in the Old Liverpool Cemetery the following is recorded in respect to Pte Alexander McCullock. Sacred to the Memory of Alexander McCullock, Pte soldier of Capt F.C. Montgomery s 50 th Company of the Queen s Own Regt. who was mortally wounded by a musket ball by means of a spark communicating with his firelock when on duty in the smith s forge over the Iron Gang. This Stone was erected by his brother soldiers. He departed 18 th September, aged 20 years. The Tombstone of Private Alexander McCullock Liverpool Cemetery Melbourne There are two (2) graves in the Melbourne General Cemetery of a Surgeon and an Ensign of the 40 th Regiment (2 nd Somersets) the Ensign shot the Surgeon and shot himself at the Royal Prince s Bridge Barracks 22 nd October Sudan (1885) Private Robert Weir was the first Australian Soldier to die whilst serving overseas. Pte Weir s body lies under a cairn of stones at Suakin. Boer War South Africa The first Queensland Contingent (Queensland Mounted Infantry) sailed on the Cornwall from Brisbane on the 1 st November 1899 and arrived at Capetown South Africa on the 12 th December They suffered their first casualties Pte Victor S. Jones and Pte D.C. McLeod on the 1 st January 1900 at Sunnyside and their fellow troops erected a monument in their honour near the Belmont Railway Station in South Africa

7 Private Jones whilst on patrol was shot through the heart in an ambush by the Boers. In the same attack Private McLeod was also shot. The Canadians who were nearby paid tribute to their Aussie mate by erecting a Cross over his grave, bearing the inscription:- To the Memory of Private D.C. McLeod, the first Queenslander to fall. Erected by his Canadian comrades Commonwealth War Graves The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter of 21 st May I t was established to mark and maintain the graves of the members of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth who died as a result of war service defending their Country/Nation and to also build and maintain memorials to the dead whose graves are unknown. The Commission is made up of six (6) nations:- Australia; United Kingdom; Canada; New Zealand; South Africa; India/Pakistan. Casualties of Australia War Graves and Monuments of Australian s looked after by the War Graves Commission. These Graves and Memorials are situated in: War War 61,919 40,467 France Belgium Turkey Australia Papua/ New Guinea 33,838 12,952 7,260 12,181 8, War War War War Identified Burials Commemorated on Memorials Identified Burials Commemorated on Memorials 45,382 23,388 28,364 12,099 BCOF (Japan) Korean Malayan Emergency Vietnam Graves 61 Graves 291 Memorials 44 Graves/Crematoria 53 Memorials 3 Terendak Military Cemetery Malaysia Kranji War Cemetery Singapore Australian Cemeteries & Crematoria Gardens of Remembrance 24 Graves 1Grave includes 6 MIA - 5

8 War Graves There are 149 countries in which there are Commonwealth War Graves for most of these War Graves it is possible to obtain an Information Sheet about a particular cemetery. -6-

9 It is also possible to obtain a list of a particular Corps or Regiment or Battalion members who are Buried/Commemorated in each War Cemetery

10 Other forms of Remembrance In many theatres of war those who were killed in action (K.I.A) and have no known grave their sacrifice has been recorded in a number of ways. These may take the form of a Memorial Wall or a Cenotaph or a Memorial Building such as the Menin Gate in the town of Ypres (Iper) in Belgium. The Menin Gate at Ypres Belgium or the Wall of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial Canberra. - 8

11 Remembrance Driveway Or as in Australia by the construction of a Remembrance Driveway (a living memorial) such as the one that links Sydney New South Wales with Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. You are aware that you are on the Remembrance Driveway by the following sign:- The Driveway is lined by Australian Trees and Scrubs as a living memorial to those Australians who served in the Australian Defence Forces and it remembers all servicemen and women both living and dead. Various sections contain a memorial to a particular unit sauch as the 18 th brigade and BCOF. The Drive way is unique in that along its length there are various Resting Places dedicated to the memory of the twenty four (24) Australian Victoria Cross Winners in World War II and Vietnam. Each Resting Place bears the name of a Victoria Cross Winner and it is hoped that those who stop and rest during their journey will take time to reflect on the courage and actions of these Australian Heroes

12 Other Nations Military Cemeteries and War Graves Other Nations

13 Preamble Apparently it was a condition of the Armistice Agreement signed at the end of World War I that German War Cemeteries were to be kept simple in that No flowers were to be used in the Cemetery. This policy was followed in respect to World War I Cemeteries, thankfully commonsense prevails and this requirement does not occur today. The old approach The enlightened approach The Somme and the Western Front World War I Introduction Visitors to France and Belgium War Cemeteries will find that these cemeteries have been donated in perpetuity, in remembrance of the sacrifices by the Australians to save France and Belgium. The land on which these cemeteries are located is considered to be Australian Territory and in France it will be notices that the Australian Flag take precedence over the French Flag. The situation was not the same in respect to German Military Cemeteries. Originally the German Military Cemeteries (Soldatenfriedhof) were as numerous as those of the Allies. However the land on which they were situated was rented for a period of 30 years. After World War II and agreement was reached between the French Belgium and German Governments that in Belgium agreed that they would allow four (4) cemeteries which would be concentration cemeteries and that this land would be given on a permanent basis. Langemarck Soldatenfriedhof (German Military Cemetery) Langermarck Soldatenfriedhof (German Military Cemetery)

14 is one of these Cemeteries, the entrance is constructed of red Weser and has two rooms. One with oak panels which shows the names of the missing and the other contains the register and visitors book, there is also a map which shows where all the original cemeteries were before the concentration. The German Army during the battle for Langemarck consisted of 15% of students and high school graduates, professors and teachers who had volunteered en-mass and were at this point in time untrained. Unfortunately, they were to be opposed by the only professional Army in Europe the British and were shot down in their thousands. Most of these students lie at Langemark and for this reason the cemetery is often known as the Studentenfiedhof- the Students Cemetery. The cemetery is under the sponsorship of various student organisations. There are 44,061 German soldiers buried in the cemetery under oak trees (this will be found in many German Military Cemeteries as it represents strength). Within the cemetery there is a mass grave of 24,917 soldiers whose names are inscribed on blocks around the cemetery. In some parts of the cemetery the graves are marked by granite plaques bearing up to 20 names. The graves are watched over by the statues of four comrades of the dead. It is believed that the inspiration for the memorial may have came from a photo of a funeral service of the Rhineland Reserve Infantry Regiment 258 at the Bouillonville Cemetery in The Cemetery also contains bunkers from the Langemark Line with divisional memorials on the blocks between them Maissemy Soldatenfriedhol German Military Cemetery (France)

15 This cemetery is situated just outside the village of Maissemy near the town of Peronne it contains the remains of 30,478 German soldiers and is the second largest German Military Cemetery in France. It is also a concentration cemetery. The vast majority of those buried in the cemetery died during the Battle of the Somme during 1916 or in the German Spring Offensive of The graves contain up to four soldiers and are marked with an older style cross in Belgium granite. As in all German cemeteries the graves of Jews are marked with a headstone, with the Hebrew characters which mean: Here rests buried.his soul enwoven into the circle of living persons. The cemetery contains two mass graves which contain 15,000 remains all but 956 of whom are unknown. It also contains a chapel which inside is a bronze tomb surmounted by a mosaic using 340,000 pieces. Along the central walk up towards the chapel are a number of steles bearing the crests of German towns and cities of the Ruhr district which sponsor the cemetery World War II

16 An example of the Worlds enlightenment in regard to those who gave their lives for their country can be seen at the German Military Cemetery at Maleme Crete, where the members of the British Parachute Regiment visit the Graves of their German counterparts each year and place a Wreath in memory of their fellow Parachutists as soldiers with a common bond and not as enemies. A lesson we could all learn. Maleme German War Cemetery Crete Japanese War Graves Very little is known about the Japanese and their Military Cemeteries. However one example can be found in Singapore at the Japanese Cemetery Park. This cemetery was established in 1891 for the use of the local Japanese Community. During World War II it became a Military Cemetery where many of the Japanese War dead were interned. - 14

17 Field Marshal Count Hisaichi Terauchi Supreme Commander, Japanese Southern Region is buried in this Cemetery. He was to hand over the Japanese Forces at the Surrender Ceremony on the 12 th September 1945, but was unable to do so due to ill health. He died shortly after in Johore. The Grave of Field Marshal Count Hisaichi Terauchi Many Japanese soldiers who died in Singapore had their ashes interned at Syonan Churetio (a Shinto Shrine) in the Bukit Batok Nature Reserve. After the War they were re-interned in the Japanese Cemetery Park. Cowra New South Wales Australia

18 On the 5 th August 1944, 378 Japanese POWs broke out of the Cowra POW Camp and as a result the following casualties were incurred. Italian War Dead Officers Other Ranks Killed A memorial also exists at the site of the Cowra POW Camp to commemorate those Italian soldiers who died whilst interned in the Camp. French War Cemetery Battle of Le Verguier On the 27 th August 1914 the citizens of Le Verguier were defended by the French Cavalry and Artillery under the Command of General Bridoux. By the 20 th September the village was occupied and under the control of the Germans. After the war the deeds of the French and the British 24 th Division and the memory of the Battles for the Village and to honour those who fell were remembered by the erection and dedication of a War Memorial. The author

19 Matt Walsh JP. MLO ALGA (MCAE), Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) was called up for National Service in 1957 and received a deferment by late 1958 he had become tied of waiting and enlisted in his local Citizen Military Forces (CMF) Unit, 19 Coy (Tipper) Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) at Ashfield. He was to later find out that this was the same unit that his grandfather had served in during World War I. In 1959 he was finally called up for National Service with the 13 th National Service Training Battalion at Ingleburn, on completion of his full time training he was posted back to 19 Coy RAASC until the cessation of National Service in In 1961 he re-enlisted in the CMF with 5 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and in 1963 transferred to 1 Division Provost Company (Military Police) and then to 2 nd Division Provost Company until his discharge in 1969 with the rank of Sergeant. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Defence Reserves Association (NSW), the Military Police Association of Australia and the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, the Reserve Forces Day Council, the Ashfield RSL Sub Branch and the NSW National Serviceman s Association and is a Director of The Army Museum of New South Wales Foundation. He has been awarded the Australian Defence Medal and the Anniversary of National Service Medal In January 2006 he was awarded the Australia Day Achievement Medallion by the National Australia Day Council. In November 2007 he was made a Member of the Order of Liverpool by Liverpool City Council. In 2002 he wrote the History of Ingleburn Military Camp