History Notes - WW1 and some locals who served
This week is Market Day again on Saturday with all the usual stalls. There will still be lots of books on the Society Stall for any bookworms to explore. There are lots of titles - cook books, children's books, romances, sporting people and plenty more. Check the advertisement for more market details.
This week we remember our servicemen who have served around the world at various times for more than a century. We especially remember those who did not return to their families.
Long before we were born our grandfathers and great uncles went to World War 1 in Europe in 1914/18. Personally, three of my great uncles did not come home and thus I never knew them apart from listening to grandparents talking about them especially on days such as Remembrance Day.
My grandfather's brother, Sid Witten, from Barraba Station joined the 33rd Battalion and sailed to England on the Marathon in 1916. Sadly, two years later he was wounded at Hangard Wood in April, 1918. His parents were told that he had been wounded but it was June 1918, before they received word that he had died the day after he was wounded. His mother wrote many letters to the Army, Red Cross and other such organizations for more information with little success.
Another uncle, Harold Spencer, grew up at Nangarah and also sailed on the Marathon in 1916. He was wounded several times and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917, promoted to Lieutenant and was sadly killed in action near the Hindenburg Line on 1/10/1918.
The third great uncle was Clive Crowley from Cobbadah Station who also sailed on the Marathon in 1916. He was promoted to Lance/Corporal in Australia before leaving for Europe and served in France for two years being awarded the
D.C.M. before finally being gassed at Villers-Bretonneux in June 1918.
Clive's mother, Alice, wrote letters to him and some have been preserved as well as his replies. He was obviously yearning to get home and help with the shearing as both his older brothers were married and running their own land leaving their elderly father and a brother running Cobbadah Station.
There would be lots of Barraba residents descended from soldiers who went to war in Europe especially in 1916 and the later wars but I wonder how many people know the story of these brave men especially the ones who never returned home - perhaps now is the time to write their stories before we all get older and the memories are forgotten.