An ode to Anzac Day

 This week's blog is written on the eve of Anzac Day 2022, the first one to be commemorated in the manner of the past for the first time in three years. 

It is particularly poignant at this point in time to remember the many conflicts that Australians have been involved in over many, many decades with the horrors of war playing out on our television screens on a nightly basis. One can't help but ponder upon what we have learnt from war over hundreds of years - nothing much at all....

On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. They became known as ANZACS and the pride they took in that name continues to this very day.

Norman Lindsay "A Trumpet Calls" c.1918 AWM  - image ARTV00039

In 1916, the first anniversary of the landing was observed in Australia, New Zealand and England and by troops in Egypt. That year, 25 April was officially named 'Anzac Day' by the Acting Prime Minister, George Pearce. By the 1920s, Anzac Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia.

Image from National Library

Anzac Day crowds Sydney 1929 - Dictionary of Sydney 

It was the day to mourn the war dead, the young man and ladies (nurses) who went to War "for King and Country" who wanted an adventure and to see the world in a conflict that was only expected to be over by Christmas 1914 but slogged on for four years resulting in countless deaths. 

WW1 saw some 38% of the Australian male population aged between 18 - 44 who enlisted losing their lives with an average of approximately 38 members of the Armed Forces dying every day of the War's duration; some Battles accounted for much greater daily losses, Fromelles in 1916 comes to mind. These numbers resulted in thousands of widows and orphans. Those who survived came home to a living hell of illness and disability from loss of limbs, respiratory illnesses from gassing and severe psychological trauma which resulted in reduced income and in many cases alienation from society.

Those that died far away from home were buried near where they fell, many not being found after the guns stopped firing and still lie somewhere in the fields of France and Belgium. Many died in hospitals overseas and were buried in Cemeteries there.

As a result, families had nowhere to mourn their loved ones in Australia and there was little hope that family members would ever make the journey overseas to their graves. War memorials in towns and cities soon sprung up in the 1920's and in many cemeteries commemorations were made upon family graves.

In Rookwood Cemetery there are thousands of commemorations upon headstones at family graves for those that didn't return. Over the years I have written many blogs about various individuals who lost their lives but I think the stories that affect me most are the ones involving brothers who died for their country and the dreadful ordeal their parents endured trying to get details of their deaths and any personal items of their child or children.

One story of brothers from WW1 I wish to share with you involves two young men from the nearby suburb of Lidcombe (formerly known as "Rookwood" until 1913) with unique names.

 Volo Vincent Adams & Clio Claris Vale DINGLE

Volo and Claris were the fourth and fifth and youngest sons born to Benjamin and Mary Ann Dingle who together had produced a family of five boys and three girls.

Clio Claris Vale Dingle - AWM - Image 4060011

Volo Vincent Adams Dingle - AWM - Image 4062969

All the boys had names from another age; Oswald Winifred, Vivan Nelson and Lance Clive Cornwall.

The family moved to Lidcombe from the NSW country area of Quirindi and Volo and Clio enlisted in July 1915 soon after arriving. One can only speculate why the boys all had such exotic names with a nod to ancient times, perhaps to toughen them up, who can tell. Interestingly the daughters names were those popular at the time.

Both Volo and Clio enlisted within a few days of one another and were attached to the 13th Battalion. Volo was the elder of the two at 28 and is listed as a Factory Foreman, Clio was 22 and employed as an electroplater. The brothers were both 5ft 4in with dark complexions, brown eyes and black hair.

From their Australian War Memorial files it is becomes apparent that the brothers were never ill or injured, surprising as many succumbed to wounds or debilitating illness, and both were promoted to Corporal, Volo to Lance Corporal on 16th July 1916.  

As it was to be expected for those with "fancy" names they were known as Billy and Thom!

On the 12th August 1916 in heavy fighting at Mouquet Farm Volo (Billy) was killed by stray shrapnel. Eyewitness reports state that he had been sitting in the dugout when suddenly his head fell forward, not saying a word. He was buried nearby but due to continued heavy fighting his burial place was obliterated and his body was never found. He is commemorated with other missing men with no known grave at Villers-Brettoneux Memorial in France.

Clio (Thom) met a similar fate on 29th August 1916 also in the area of Mouquet Farm by a shell whilst in an advanced area. In a statement given by Private H. Rolling, an eye witness, he states that he saw Clio giving final orders to his men in a dug out and just as he passed through in his capacity as a runner, a shell fell killing Clio and eight of his men instantly. Due to the heavy fighting further eyewitnesses state that it is unknown if the men were buried or not. Clio is also commemorated on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial. 

Their father wrote to the War Office in December 1919 with an impassioned plea to request any kit that the brothers possessed to be forwarded to him. Sadly no ID discs or kit was ever found for either brother. 

With the ongoing findings of remains in France one can only hope that the brothers are found and reburied in a marked grave. 

They are commemorated on their parents grave in the Methodist area of the Cemetery. They died never knowing where their youngest sons were buried.

Photo of grave taken in July 2016

Anzac Day has been held every year and as those that fought pass away they are replaced by others who have fought more recently.  I believe that Anzac Day does not glorify war as many argue but is a day when we stop and pay respect to all those Armed Forces that have fought for freedom. A word that we often take too much for granted.

7th Australian Infantry Forces in training for WW2 - AWM image

In high grass with a watchful eye in Phuoc Tuy Province South Vietnam July 1970 - AWM image

I'll be thinking of my father fighting for our freedom during WW2 in Papua New Guinea and all the other family members who fought for this country from WW1 and onwards. Thank you all.

At the going down of the Sun, we will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

If you wish to comment on this blog and are unable to do so, please find my facebook group titled "rookwoodcemeterydiscoveries" and comment (nicely) there.

There are many references to Anzac Day via a google search but many images etc are available at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) site.