Tim Cook - Snowy to the Somme: A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918

As a boy in the 1960s, I often visited my grandmothers house in Braidwood, a small community in rural New South Wales. In a hallway hung a mildewed parchment adorned with imagery of God and Empire. It spoke of the death of my great uncle, William, at Polygon Wood in 1917 as a member of the 55th Battalion. In the guest bedroom, the mantelpiece supported a coaster-sized bronze disk, a dead mans penny, embossed with Williams name and the reassuring epitaph that He Died for Freedom and Honour. These two artefacts were enough to spark a childs interest in his dead relative and the men who fought alongside him.

Over the decades since then, it has been my privilege to tramp alongside the ghosts of the 55th Battalion. I have spent the past few years attempting to capture the humanity of these men in the most inhumane of environments. This book is the progeny of those labours.

This undertaking would not have been possible without the assistance of many people. Id like to begin by thanking a number of the descendants of men from the battalion for providing me with many of the stories I have used: Pamela Grolsch (still researching the life of her father, Bert Bishop), Daphne Bishop, Richard and Gaewyn Hurst, Darrel Cunnington, Sally-Ann Twardochleb, Alan Cheers, Barbara Brady, Bob Buckingham, Sally Twardochleb, Mandy Keevil, John Pearson, Ondrae Campbell and Desley Woodcock. One of the true delights and surprises of researching and writing this book was the unconditional friendship of these wonderful people who are quietly proud that their relatives wore the colour patch of the 55th.

Professor Peter Dennis kindly assisted me to compile the nominal roll; Professor Bill Gammage helped me navigate the resources of the Mitchell Library. Nick Fletcher and Craig Tibbetts at the Australian War Memorial assisted me by sharing much of their research on the 56th Battalion, and introduced me to the national treasure that is the AWM. Damian Maddens creativity and drive to tell the stories of the AIF to a new generation stimulated me. The Families and Friends of the First AIF helped me connect with others sharing my passion for the AIF. Glenn Mason and Mick Martin from Regimental Books were generous in their advice on the publishing industry, as well as pointing the friends and relatives of the 55th in my direction.

The hospitality extended by Michael Woods and his wife Kate during my many stays in Canberra can never be repaid thanks mate. Ben Waugh helped me with some of the technology. Natalie Le Hanie showed me the Somme flowers on a bright Sydney winters day. Jodie Siganto reviewed my early drafts and urged me to persist.

Dr Andrew Richardson and staff of the Army History Unit provided me a grant that supported my visit to the battlefields of France and Belgium. One can read many books, but a true understanding of the manner in which a battle unfolded and the reasons many decisions were made is only possible after walking the course. I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to do so.

My manuscript was polished using the editing advice I received from Kathy Stewart and Cathy McCullagh who offered expert and impartial guidance to the amateur author I am. I appreciate the time you spent assisting me to shape this book.

My son, Andrew, offered his critiques on early drafts of the manuscript thanks for your pertinent comments and constant attacks on my overuse of the comma and the word that. Amelia, my artistic and talented daughter, spent many hours drawing the maps. Mum and Dad never failed to ask after the progress of my endeavours.

Finally, my wife, Jane-Louise was happy for me to disappear into the study most evenings after dinner, and accompanied me as I traipsed through the muddy fields of Flanders. Thanks for putting up with my hobby and keeping the home fires burning. I could not have completed this book without your love and support.

In spite of the varied assistance I have been offered by many people, I alone am responsible for any errors or omissions in this book. Should these be drawn to my attention, I will make every effort to have them rectified in any future editions.

Timothy J. Cook

March 2014

Australian War Memorial (AWM)

5th Australian Division War Diary, AWM4, 1/50.

14th Infantry Brigade War Diary, AWM4, 23/14.

15th Infantry Brigade War Diary, AWM4, 23/15.

55th Infantry Battalion War Diary, AWM4, 23/72.

55th Infantry Battalion Nominal Roll and Next of Kin, AWM 9, 87/28.

55th Infantry Battalion, Statements made by Prisoners of War, AWM30, B14.6, B14.7, B14.8.

Allen, H.D., 55th Australian Infantry Battalion: History 12 Feb - 30 Sep 1916, AWM224, MSS183.

Bean, C.E.W. Notebooks, AWM 38 /3DRL 606/178/2.

Law, Francis, Recollections of the Battle of Fromelles, France, July 19th 1916 by No 246 Sgt F. Law, Platoon Sergeant, No 2 Platoon, A Coy, 31st Btn, 8th Inf Bgde, 5th Div. AIF, 3DRL606/243A/1.

Sheppeard, Alfred Edward, Extracts from an account written at Ferry Post 27th May.

Stegemann, William C., The Snowy River Marchers, their war effort and afterwards, MS50821.

Thomson, Alistair, Oral interview with Mr F. Farrall by Alistair Thomson dated 7 July 1983, AWM S01311.

Personal files held by the AWM

Barker, James, PR86/367.

Bean, Charles Edwin Woodrow, AWM38.

Berryman, Gilbert, PR88/210.

Bishop, Raymond Charles, 1DRL/0123.

Brown, Frank Cecil, 1DRL/0160.

Buckingham, Arthur E., PR04782.

Campbell, Rupert J., 3DRL/5087(B).

Chapman, Percy Wellesley, 1DRL/0198.

Chapman, Percy Wellesley, PR86/389.

Cosgrave, William Patrick, 1DRL/0215.

Farrall, Frederick, PR84/327.

Farrall, Frederick, S01311.

Gardiner, Reginald Scott, 1DRL/0304.

Gibbins, Norman, PR02053.

Giblett, William Norman, PR83/095.

Gulson, Kelvedon, 3DRL/7294.

Harpley, Robert W., 3DRL/3663.

Hinson, Rupert Sykes, PR86/277.

Horniman, Lancelot Vicary, 1DRL/0357.

Horniman, Robert Geoffrey, 1DRL/0358.

Hunt, Sinclair, 2DRL/0277.

Lynch, Arthur Leslie, PR84/077.

MacCallum, Hector Archie, PR89/022.

Marshall, John James, 1DRL/0481.

Moriarty, Merion Morton, PR86/277.

Murray, James E., PR83/166.

Nicholson, W.E., PR89/107.

Smith, Darcy Benedict, PR86/264.

Stewart, James C., 3DRL/1459.

Street, Edmund Harrington, PR85/179.

Sykes, John Cyrus, S03732.

Vogan, Arthur Henry, PR82/007.

Willis, Ubert Victor, PR04786.

Winter, Archibald Thomas, PR89/163.

National Library

Hunt, Atlee, Unidentified newspaper clipping, 1914, Papers of Atlee Hunt, NLA MS 1100.

McCallum, John Archibald, MS 9872.

Mitchell Library

Gill, George Thomasson, ML MSS 2765.

Harris, Herbert Henry, ML MSS 2772.

Walker, John, ML MSS 7328.

Private Collection

Hardy, Charles B., Diary.

OGrady, John Joseph.

Official Histories

C.E.W. Bean, Official History of Australia in the War of 19141918, Vol. III, The AIF in France, 1916, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1941.

C.E.W. Bean, Official History of Australia in the war of 19141918, Vol. IV, The AIF in France 1917, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1941.

C.E.W. Bean, Official History of Australia in the War of 19141918, Vol. VI, The AIF in France May 1918 the Armistice, Angus & Robertson, Sydney 1942.

Books

Bean, C.E.W., Letters from France, Cassell, London, 1917.

, Anzac to Amiens, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1946.

Bishop, Walter Herbert (Bert), The Hell, The Humour, The Heartbreak: A Privates View of World War 1, Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, 1991.

, Dear All; Letters from World War 1, compiled and edited by Pamela Goesch, Brynwood House, Sydney, 2010.

Cobb, Paul, Fromelles 1916, Tempus Publishing, Stroud, UK, 2007.