Historical Society - Stories from the War Years
Stories from the War Years
Lieutenant Clive Stanley Crowley (2/8/1890 – 25/6/1918)
Clive Crowley was from Cobbadah Station. He enlisted in the 33rd Battalion on 4th January, 1916 and left for England on 4th May, 1916. Sadly, he died on 25 June, 1918 aged 27 in Amiens, France, due to an accident. In the Red Cross files, it stated that “……… our own gas shells…. fell short and landed on our own front line instead of the German line.”
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
It is unusual to have letters written by soldier’s families, but in this case, there are at least two letters written by Clive’s mother, Alice Crowley. They may have been returned with Clive’s belongings. However, they were written in March and April, 1918 and Clive died in June of that year. So perhaps they did not reach him before he died?
Alice’s letters included some very poignant words. They were part of the inspiration behind the musical work “An Australian War Requiem”, composed by Chris Bowen. So far, this has only been performed on very few occasions. These words included:
“I am feeling awfully low spirited, dearest, since hearing such very terrible news relating to this fearful war. It just feels too heavy to bear. Whenever will it end, and I am always wondering how you are, my poor dear Clive away over in that wretched place.”
She goes on to thank him for portraits he had sent the family, and this reminds her of the time they spent together before the war.
“We did not sufficiently appreciate those happy days I fear dearest Clive and I would give anything to enjoy such very happy times again together.”
“An Awful Sensation”
Trooper F.L. Spencer
Barraba: Nearly buried alive at Gallipoli
Trooper Spencer, who is 24 years of age, writing to his mother at “Nangarah” Barraba relates the following story concerning himself.
“One night while I was off duty and was sound asleep in the reserve trench, the side of the trench fell in on top of me, completely covering me. It was an awful sensation. I couldn’t move a muscle and it took two or three men over ten minutes to dig me out. When they moved me out, I could only move the top part of my body, the lower part was useless. They carried me down to the doctor and was eventually place aboard a boat and brought here to Luna Park Hospital, Egypt.”
Timeline from 1915
April 14 Zeppelin raids the Tyne Valley.
April 15 Airships and aeroplanes raid Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.
April 18 British capture Hill 60.
April 22 Germany makes another great effort to break through on the Yser front, with
the aid of asphyxiating gases. Allies forced back.
April 25 Germans driven back across the Yser. Allies landing at three points on the
Gallipoli Peninsula begins.
April 27 Allies firmly established on Gallipoli Peninsula.
April 30 Allies regain two-thirds of the ground lost on the Yser front.
May 4 Germany claims to have pierced the entire Russian line in Western Galicia.
May 6 Tremendous assault by Allied troops and warships begun on Achi Baba and
Krithia.
May 8 Further engagements between Allies and Turks in Gallipoli. Great British
attack on La Basses. Frightful massacre by Turks in Persian Armenia.
May 11 Mobilisation of Italy’s first line completed. Anti-German outbreaks and
riots in England.
May 13 General Botha takes possession of Windhoek, seat of government of German
South-West Africa. Strong anti-German outbreaks in England; internment of
alien enemy males ordered. Desperate battle raging in Gallipoli. French
successes north of Arras.
May 14 British battleship “Goliath” torpedoed in Dardanelles. 500 lives lost.
May 16 Russians fall back in Carpathians but take 20,000 Austrians on the Pruth.
Great pro-intervention demonstrations in Italy.
May 17 Further British successes south of Richebourg. Great charge of the Black
Watch and penetration of the German line.
May 19 Lord Fisher and Mr Winston Churchill resign.