Kendall - Bullecourt 1917: breaching the Hindenburg Line

Dear Mrs Stewart

I expect that by now you are acquainted with the sad news of Jacks death in action. I know I shall be opening an old wound but felt that I could not let it pass without letting you know of the appreciation of his comrades. I was his intimate pal He had the respect of both officers and all the boys in our Coy. We went out together in the fight on April 11th and Jack won everyones praise in jumping at a machine gun that was troubling us. He probably saved our lives and an officers, who was himself killed afterwards and would have recommended him for bravery. Jack got the machine gun but unfortunately fell. He suffered no pain but his thoughts were of home.

I will not say any more but all that gets out of the fight in our company will remember him as a man who died as good as he lived, helping his pals. I am sorry it was impossible to get his belongings owing to a counter-attack by the Germans.

May God comfort you in your troubles and if in his mercy God sees fit for me to return I will visit you as I would like to see the people of a dear pal.

Letter from Private Bertram Harry Perry to the mother of Private Jack Stewart.

The author and the Jean and Denise Letaille Bullecourt Museum are always looking to gather further information about the battles of Bullecourt. If you are related to any of the participants of these battles and have photographs, personal testimonies, letters, diaries or any relevant information, please contact Paul Kendall at .

This book is dedicated to Jean and Denise Letaille and the villagers of Bullecourt who have ensured that the soldiers from Australia and Britain who perished in the fight for Bullecourt are never forgotten, and to the memory of my great grandfather, Private William Kendall 44291 22nd Manchester Regiment, who was killed at Bullecourt on 13th May 1917.

Such was the first battle of Bullecourt a glorious failure; glorious because the Australians were asked to do the apparently impossible and they did it. They penetrated the great Hindenburg line, and held it for hours. It was an ill conceived venture, and the lives of good Australians were sacrificed.

Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Leane, Commanding Officer 48th Battalion AIF.

Front of jacket: Above, 2nd Lieutenant Harold Clarksons Tank 586; below, the death of Major Black. (Australian War Memorial: ART03558), see .

RFC photograph of the ruins of Bullecourt, 24th April 1917.

First published in 2010 by Spellmount

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2017

All rights reserved

Paul Kendall, 2010, 2017

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This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

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T his book on the battle of Bullecourt is the culmination of many years of research. I am indebted to many individuals without whose help producing such a work would be impossible. I would like to thank Yves Fohlen for his friendship and for sharing information regarding Bullecourt. Yves spent many months compiling the Bullecourt database which lists all British and Australian soldiers who were killed at Bullecourt during March to June 1917 and was generous in allowing me to use it for research and as a source for the appendices within this book. As archivist at the Jean and Denise Letaille Bullecourt Museum he has introduced me to descendants of the soldiers who fought for this village during 1917. I have spent numerous days walking the Bullecourt battlefield with him, which has helped and inspired me to write this volume. I would also like to extend my thanks to the late Jean Letaille, the owner of the Jean and Denise Letaille Bullecourt Museum who has always given my family and me a warm welcome when we have visited Bullecourt. He and his late wife Denise have done so much to preserve the memory of those soldiers who were killed at Bullecourt and I feel that it is appropriate for this work to be dedicated to them and the fellow villagers who promote remembrance and demonstrate that the French do appreciate those who travelled so far to fight for their freedom and liberty nearly a century ago.

I would like to thank the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London for permission to use material from the Department of Documents and Sound Collections, in particular Anthony Richards from the IWM Department of Documents and Margaret Brooks IWM Department of Sound for assisting me in contacting copyright holders. Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders and if anyone has been missed the Publishers apologise and will endeavour to correct the omission on reprint.

I would like to extend my thanks to Major-General Steve Gower, Director Australian War Memorial for his support and advice regarding copyright of AWM documents.

I am grateful to Nicholas Coney at the National Archives for advising me on copyright issues and Judy Noakes of the Office of Public Sector Information for confirming copyright status of London Gazette material. I also appreciate the guidance provided by Cara Downs relating to copyright status of service records held at the National Archives of Australia.

I also thank Bert Innes, from the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Stuart Wheeler, Tank Museum, Bovington, Anne Pedley, archivist at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Major C.M.J. Deedes (Retd), Rifles Secretary Yorkshire, Jeff Elson, Staffordshire Regiment Museum; Martin Starnes, Surrey History Centre, Justine Taylor, archivist at the Honourable Artillery Company, Helen Jones from the archives of the Keep Military Museum of Devonshire and Dorset, Barry Attoe and Rebecca Tomlinson from The Post Office Archives for providing information and photos. I am thankful to Richard Davies for granting me permission to quote from sources held at the Liddle Collection.

The reader will find short biographies of the soldiers who fought at Bullecourt throughout this book. While it is perfectly possible to follow the narrative without reference to these, it is hoped that they make the sacrifice more accessible, more real; and of course these brief notes are intended as their own kind of inadequate memorial.

I am indebted to all the following relatives who have kindly provided photos and information, as well as giving their time to review the relevant draft pieces. I thank them for their generosity and for allowing me to pay homage to their brave forebears:

PRIVATE WILLIAM ARTERY, 13th Battalion AIF: Wilma Artery (Great niece)

SERGEANT GEORGE BEARDSWORTH, 22nd Battalion Manchester Regiment: Shelagh Cheesman (Great niece)

CORPORAL REGINALD STARMER BILLINGHAM MM, 2nd Battalion Honourable Artillery Company: Judith Gardner (Niece) and Gill Maud (Niece)