After travelling south across the Mediterranean he was transferred on 12 October 1915 to hospital in Alexandria.
Wednesday 30 September 2015
30 September 1915 - illness, HMSS Karapara
According to the AWM service records, A.G. Adams was admitted to hospital on Lemnos Island on 30 September 1915. He was diagnosed with 'diarrhoea-slight'. He was transferred to HM Hospital Ship 'Karapara'.
After travelling south across the Mediterranean he was transferred on 12 October 1915 to hospital in Alexandria.
After travelling south across the Mediterranean he was transferred on 12 October 1915 to hospital in Alexandria.
Friday 25 September 2015
Letter - 25 September 1915 - more parcels, a trip to the dentist, wind and rain
Athol writes home to Mother from the No.3 Australian General Hospital on Lemnos Island, Greece.
Athol receives more parcels. He mentions a few people he has come across at Lemnos: Bill and Jack Knox, Dr Stawell and Dr Lockhart-Gibson. He finds the island quite windy and there was been some rain too. He predicts that the winter will be quite harsh on the Peninsular.
Athol receives more parcels. He mentions a few people he has come across at Lemnos: Bill and Jack Knox, Dr Stawell and Dr Lockhart-Gibson. He finds the island quite windy and there was been some rain too. He predicts that the winter will be quite harsh on the Peninsular.
Lemnos Island
25/9/15
Dear Mater,
Nos 20&21 arrived yesterday for which many thanks. Also a parcel which arrived last week and which I think I thanked you for in my last. Please thank Nellie Pateson, whoever she is, for the socks. I had a letter from Miss Adamson enclosing 2 wicks for a cigarette lighter she sent me some time ago. She had quite a lot to say about your state on Australia Day. I'm sorry you were disappointed over the results but you seem to have done pretty well yourself. The parcels of socks arrived safely and 'C' company has had two complete issues so far.
I'm glad you got the photos from the Rickards, I've not seen them myself as Mr R. only took them a day or two before I left. They are an awfully kind couple. She's a good deal younger than he is, and they couldn't do enough for me. They're looking after my suitcase now to save me the trouble of sending it to Cooks.
I saw both Bill and Jack Knox (that would be William Johnstone Knox and possibly his brother Jack Knox - more below) just before leaving the trenches, the former is in the artillery and the latter is in command of one of the Battalions of the 6th Brigade (probably the 23rd Infantry Battalion).
I saw the dentist yesterday, a Sydney man, and my teeth were A1 only two of the amalgam fillings had sworn away a bit so he added a little more to fill the teeth right up and prevent breakages.
I'm going to have my nose cauterized next week. Nothing much the matter but Dr Lockhart-Gibson thought it would be as well to get it done.
Dr Stawell is here in No3 Australian General Hospital as Lieut Col and Chief Physician. He has been laid up but I believe is getting about again now. I had a talk with him the other day.
This is a very windy place and it has rained a fair amount since we came. It won't be too good anywhere about these parts for that matter but I expect we'll find ways of beating the cold as well as the heat etc.
Tell Aunt Puff I didn't get the sox she sent from Colombo, they were probably wrongly addressed also she owes me a letter. Please thank Pater for the papers Australasian and Referee which come each mail.
There is no more news.
Love to all,
Yours Lovingly, Athol.
________________________**__________________________
Some notes about the men mentioned in Athol's letter:
William Johnstone Knox MC, Australian Field Artillery, died of wounds received in France on 20 August 1917. In 1917 he held the rank of major and was awarded the Military Cross. He was a member of the Stock Exchange in Melbourne and attended the Scotch College. His father, Mr William Knox was the member for Kooyong in the new Federal Parliament. William Knox MP was a prominent businessman in Melbourne and generally regarded as one of the key figures behind the success of the early days of BHP, which became Australia's largest enterprise under his stewardship.
I have not found anything on William Knox's brother (?), Jack H Knox.
Dr Lockhart Gibson was a Queenslander who joined the 1st AIF on 1 May 1915 (aged 55). He sailed from Circular Quay, Sydney on 15 May 1915 on the Mooltan. He held the rank of Major and being a specialist eye surgeon at the time of enlistment was in charge of the ophthalmic department of the 3rd Australian General Hospital on Lemnos. Equipment for this section of the hospital was paid for by money raised by the Red Cross, Queensland Division. All the eye casualties from the Gallipoli peninsular were treated by Dr Lockhart Gibson and his team. His appointment was terminated in May 1916. After the war he became president of the Ophthalmalogical Society of Australia. He was much involved in the community through the Presbyterian Church, the Brisbane Grammar School, the University of Queensland and the Returned Services League. He died in Brisbane in 1944.
Saturday 19 September 2015
No 3 Australian General Hospital, Lemnos
This is the 3rd Australian General Hospital 3AGH) on Lemnos Island, Greece in 1915 - a row of tents. Athol was admitted to this facility on 19 September with enteritis.
J01438 - Australian War Memorial image taken by A W Savage on Lemnos Island, Greece, 1915.
The AWM caption reads: 'Medical and nursing sisters of 3rd Australian General Hospital (3AGH) in the tent lines with patients. Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Jamieson may be the officer (left).'
In April 1915, the War Office in London requested the Australian Government provide a military hospital and a month after this request the Moolton set sail from Circular Quay, Sydney (15 May 1915). Australian doctors and nurses aboard were sent first to Egypt and then on to England. They were expecting to be provided with training and equipment and then be shipped to France.
However, in mid-July they were ordered to Lemnos in support of the troops serving on the Gallipoli peninsular.
An Australia/Italian surgeon Dr Thomas Henry Fiashi, was appointed commanding officer of the No3 Australian General Hospital. He was aged 62 at the time of his appointment. (see more about Dr Fiashi below).
The hospital's male staff arrived at Lemnos on 27-28 July, they were followed by the Australian Army Nursing Services (AANS) personnel on 5 August (the Battle of Lone Pine was to take place the next day). When the nurses arrived at Mudros Harbour they were informed that there was no accommodation for them on the island and that the supply ship Ascot had not arrived. Lieutenant Colonel J A Dick noted ' the officers and men are bivouacking among the rocks and stones and thistles of the camp site - there are no tents: no store ship'. The nurses were transferred to another hospital ships: Simla and Formosa. The nurses personal luggage was on the store ship.
By 7 August most of the hospital site was pegged out and a number of tents and 'marquees' had been erected. The hospital was 'opened' on 8 August with the nurses arriving the day before as their tented accommodation had been arranged. Still there was no store ship. These resources were supplied from army stores already on the Island.
Arrival of first detachment of Sisters, 8 August 1915
[AW Savage, photo album, PXE 698, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales]
It is just as well that those in charge had shown considerable initiative and resourcefulness to set up this hospital as the day after the official opening, on 9 August, more than 200 wounded and sick had were admitted. Four days later there were more than 800 patients. This was the influx of wounded as a result of the August offensive.
Colonel Dick wrote: 'the officers mess and all utensils were given up today for wounded as was the orderly office marquee. Still no store ship....AGH personnel still bivouacking...sick and wounded on the ground on mackintosh sheets and blankets or palliasses on floor of tents."
During the next few days thousands of wounded were brought for treatment at the hospitals on Lemnos, most suffering from gunshot wounds. Although it was Australian and unit policy to treat Australian personnel in an Australia hospital, military personnel from all the allied units were treated in whatever hospital was available.
The stores ship, Ascot, arrived on 20 August.
Unsurprisingly, up until the end of August the cause of death in the 3rd Australian General Hospital was primarily 'gunshot wounds'. After August the primary cause of death was disease.
Athol was admitted with enteritis on 19 September. He was not the only one. The hospital staff themselves, no doubt run down by weeks of strain and endless work in extreme conditions also contracted disease and needed to be evacuated. These included the commanding officer, Dr Thomas Henry Fiashi (evacuated to England with Beriberi in November) and Dr Jamieson (in top image) and Dr Lockhart Gibson (mentioned in next letter). It must have been a great loss to have these men leave Lemnos when they were so desperately needed.
_______________________**___________________________
Lt Col Jamieson could have originally come from Tasmania - he attended school there. He went on to read Arts at the University of Sydney and continued his studies in Scotland receiving a Bachelor of Medicine from the College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. He enlisted on 1 May 1915 and after a short stay in Egypt was sent to the No 3 Australian General Hospital on Lemnos Island, Greece. He was taken ill, evacuated to England but in May 1916 returned to Australia.
Dr Jamieson went on to lecture at Sydney University and also worked in an honorary capacity at Randwick Barracks. He died in 1925.
Dr Thomas Henry Fiashi was an Italian-Australian. His mother was English and father an Italian medical practitioner. Dr Fiashi arrived in Australia aged 21 and immediately tried his luck on the Queensland goldfields - a sign of his adventurous spirit evident throughout his life. Perhaps not so successful in the goldfields, he moved to Sydney where he resumed practice as a surgeon at St Vincent's hospital. He married a former nun whom he met at St Vincent's, Catherine Reynolds. They returned to Italy for a time and he went on to practice with the Italian Army in Abyssinia. They traveled to the US where he advanced his surgical techniques and later returned to practice in Windsor, on the Hawkesbury (where he also started a vineyard) and Sydney. He served with the Australians in the Boer War, being mentioned in dispatches twice and awarded the DSO.
In May 1915 he enlisted and embarked on the Moolton with the 3rd Australian General Hospital as its commanding officer.
He contracted beriberi (a serious disease contracted by lack of Vitamin B), probably as a result of the poor quality rations on Lemnos and was invalided to Enlgand in November 1915. He resigned his commission in the AIF and transferred to the Italian forces where he was a surgeon in the military hospital with his wife working for the Italian Red Cross. They returned to Australia in October 1917 where Dr Fiashi joined the Australian Army Medical Corps Reserve. He died in 1927 in Sydney.
The famous boar statue outside the Sydney hospital was erected in his memory and that of his son, Piero, who also served with the 1st AIF as a medical practitioner. This well-loved statue was a gift of Marchesa Clarissa Torrigiani (one of Dr Fiashi's daughter and Piero's sister).
Matron Grace Wilson, the senior nurse in the AAMS. Matron Wilson was a Queenslander who led a team of Australian nurses who expertly cared for and comforted our wounded on Lemnos in the most trying conditions.
Matron Grace Wilson, on Lemnos Island, 1915.
'Australian Heroines Of World War One', by Susanna de Vries.
In the first few days in August when the wounded arrived from the Peninsular, many men were left outside in the Summer heat as there were so few tents. Furthermore, the medical staff lacked equipment, medical supplies, even bandages and clean water were scarce. Matron Wilson started the practice of tearing up the nurses' petticoats in order to make bandages. The injured men could not even be washed and flies/disease quickly became a concern.
Matron Wilson lost her brother, Graham, on the Gallipoli peninsular.
19 September 1915 - enteritis
A.G. Adams was admitted to No.3 Australian General Hospital, Lemnos on 19 September 1915 with enteritis.
AWM service records.
Note:
Enteritis is caused by eating or drinking food and fluids which are contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The small intestine becomes swollen and inflamed. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and loss of appetite are symptoms of the condition which was widespread among the troops on the crowded, unsanitary, Gallipoli peninsula.
Monday 14 September 2015
Letter - 15 September 1915 - arrived safely back at Lemnos
Athol writes home to Mother.
Athol and the rest of the 5th Battalion arrive safely back at Lemnos Island for rest and reorganization. More parcels arrive from his mother and this time he is inundated with towels rather than socks. As usual, Athol distributes some of these supplies to the other chaps. Athol notes some interesting vessels in the harbour including Lord Brassey's yacht, 'Sunbeam'. Brassey was Governor of Victoria from 1895-1900. He describes some souvenirs acquired on the peninsular including a Turkish bomb, a Turkish shell nose-cap and the case of a Japanese mortar gun cartridge. Athol says in the letter that he intends to ship these souvenirs back to Australia. Fortunately I do not have them in my collection.
Athol and the rest of the 5th Battalion arrive safely back at Lemnos Island for rest and reorganization. More parcels arrive from his mother and this time he is inundated with towels rather than socks. As usual, Athol distributes some of these supplies to the other chaps. Athol notes some interesting vessels in the harbour including Lord Brassey's yacht, 'Sunbeam'. Brassey was Governor of Victoria from 1895-1900. He describes some souvenirs acquired on the peninsular including a Turkish bomb, a Turkish shell nose-cap and the case of a Japanese mortar gun cartridge. Athol says in the letter that he intends to ship these souvenirs back to Australia. Fortunately I do not have them in my collection.
Lemnos Island
15/9/15
Dear Mater,
Many thanks for your letter of July 27th also another parcel of clothes etc. There is lots of water here, salt and fresh both and facilities for bathing and washing, though unfortunately the bay is very shallow just here. I'm afraid I can't use two towels a week. If you send a bundle once a month or 6 weeks it would be plenty as I now have a big supply on hand after giving some of the other chaps things. We are here for rest and reorganization and expect to be here at least a month before we have another go at Abdul.
The harbour here is full of shipping, transports, store-ships, gunboats of every description and hospital boats. The great Cunarder the 'Aquitania' (image below) is one of the latter and she looks a sight with four yellow funnels, red crosses and green band on her great white sides. Also Lord Brassey's yacht (image below) is a hospital boat and the contrast is remarkable. I took a stroll through a couple of the villages here, quaint little places but quite clean.
The first chance I get I'll send along a Turkish bomb the nose cap of a Turkish 75mm shell, and the case of a Japanese mortor un cartridge. But please don't put my name on them and exhibit them. I hope you didn't do that with my watch in Glen's on Australia Day or I'll be ashamed to come home at the finish of this show.
No news so good bye. Love to Aunt Puff and Pater. Also anyone I know.
Yours lovingly,
Athol
HMVS Cerberus and Lord Brassey's 48 metre private steam yacht, Sunbeam
Brassey, an Englishman, was Governor of Victoria from 1895-1900.
HMHS Aquitania (left) with an unidentified hospital ship tied up alongside and HMT Olympic (stern)
seen in the Mediterranean during World War 1Thursday 10 September 2015
Athol's friends - Rupert Matthews and others
From time to time Athol mentions in his letters various friends and acquaintances he comes across during the Gallipoli campaign. One such acquaintance was Rupert Matthews. I write a little of his story below.
The Victorian 2nd Brigade (Battalions 5,6,7 and 8) was comprised of men mainly from Melbourne in the 5th and 6th Battalions and those from regional Victoria in the 7th and 8th Battalions. Among these men in the 2nd Brigade were about 60 Old Wesley Collegians (OWs). An important account of their individual histories can be found in Philip J. Powell's 'Come On Lads - Old Wesley Collegians and the Gallipoli Campaign', published March 2015. The book is also available online
http://www.wesleycollege.net/Our-Community/Archives-and-Collections.aspx
One of these Old Wesley men was Rupert MacKay Tyson Matthews. He was born in Bourke NSW in 1887. This is interesting in itself as Bourke, NSW, would have been a very remote outpost in western NSW in those days. Rupert was about 6 years older than Athol. His age at enlistment was 27 years and 1 month on 17 August 1914, and Athol a little over 20. Rupert enlisted in the 5th Battalion on the same day and place (Prahran) as Athol. They would have marched out to the Broadmeadows camp and spent the next few months training together. They had both been in their volunteer cadet corps at their schools.
At the time of his enlistment Rupert had completed his law studies at Melbourne University and was proceeding with his articles at a Melbourne law firm.
Prior to studying law, Rupert attended Wesley College with his two brothers. He was a keen sportsman and a prefect at Wesley College in his final year, 1906. He played in the Aussie Rules football team and was a member of the Athetics team. Rupert also played Aussie Rules football for Melbourne University from 1909-1911. Like Rupert, Athol was keen at his sports and perhaps they played in the games frequently organised at the Broadmeadows camp in 1914 and later at Lemnos in September 1915. Athol also played Aussie rules football, Lacrosse (for MGS and MCC) and was a prefect.
In the early days of August 1914, many of the boys from private schools such as Wesley College (and Melbourne Grammar where Athol attended) were allocated to 'F' company which became known as the Public Schools Company. Both men were embarked on HMAT Orvieto and travelled from Melbourne via Albany, and Colombo to Egypt.
In the re-organisation of the 1st AIF at the Mena Camp, Egypt, in early 1915 these men were mostly transferred to the new 'D' company under the leadership of Captain Harry Carter (OW, 1904). Captain Carter is referred to Athol's letter dated 13 August 1915. Both Athol and Rupert were moved from 'F' company to the new 'D' Company.
We know that Rupert and Athol both embarked on the HMAT Novian which took the 5th Battalion from Egypt to Lemnos in early 1915. It can be assumed that they both took part in the historic landings at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915. However, it is also possible that Rupert was retained on Lemnos either ill or in order to assist with the logistics and support of the early stages of the campaign on the Peninsular. A contemporary account notes Rupert may have arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular as late as June 1915. In a postcard sent home on 19 June by a Sergeant Stephen J. Sweetland he says that he (Sweetland) 'is camped in the same regiment as 'Rajah' Paschal, Flockart, Cyril Marsh and Kent (all OW).....Further along the beach are Bob Lewis, Lester Kelly, Rup. Matthews. The latter has just arrived, and carried a budding black beard.' [P Powell, 'Come on Lads', p.21]. However, it is not known where he arrived from - perhaps elsewhere on the Peninsular rather than from Lemnos or another place.
In a letter dated 24 August 1915 (see earlier blog post) Athol refers to a photograph which depicts himself and some friends riding camels in Egypt back in 1915. Athol's comments on this photograph, which was published in a local Melbourne newspaper, (which unfortunately is not in my collection) says:
The camel group was, I think Jack Melom, Rupert Matthews, Keith McIlwraith and I think Sperry Hill. Melom is missing, McIlwraith killed, Rupert Matthews has a commission in the 4th Battalion
Rupert Matthews was in 'D' company of the 5th Battalion until early August 1915. He held the rank of Private on 5th August. On the next day, 6th August, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to the 4th Battalion. After this transfer he was no longer with his comrades in the 2nd Brigade. This is significant as it was decided that the 2nd Brigade would not be the first to 'go over the top' during the Battle of Lone Pine but would be in the first set of reserve trenches. Rupert was now with the 1st Brigade (NSW troops) and they were in the first wave to attack the enemy at Lone Pine. He was no longer with the men with whom he had built friendships since August 1914 and before.
Rupert Matthews was in the first line of troops which attacked the Turkish Lone Pine trenches on 6 August 1915. He managed to get across no-man's land unscathed that evening. He and 12 other men were cut-off in one of those trenches. Rupert found himself in charge of this small group and directed the defenses of this section of captured trenches. They stayed in that location for the next 72 hours. Athol's company were the men sent to relieve them on 8-9 August.
As was common in that environment, Rupert succumbed to dysentery and was evacuated to Lemnos in late September 1915. Athol too suffered from 'enteritis' in September and was admitted to the hospital on Lemnos at about the same time. They were both in Egypt together after the evacuation of the Anzac forces from Turkey in late 1915.
In March 1916 Rupert was sent to France. Athol never went to France and so the two men would not have seen each other after March 1916.
Rupert was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1916 and later the same year he was awarded the Military Cross at Pozieres. The citation reads:
Rupert survived the war and for a while it is believed that he practiced as a lawyer. In 1924 he married Pauline Clapin (second daughter of Mr and Mrs F L Clapin of Malvern, Melbourne), at Christ Church, South Yarra. The Melbourne 'Argus' goes on to record (in its issue dated Sat 15 March 1924) that they made their home outside Hay, NSW, where Rupert had a station 'Narrawong'.
The 'Argus' lists Mr Fred Knight as one of the guests at the wedding. I actually met this grand old man in 1981. He was a school friend of the Athol and his three brothers and in particular of A. P Adams, my grandfather. It is interesting to note that Fred knew all the people in this story. Fred was also a member of the 1st AIF. I mention Fred Knight in my blog at: http://notmentionedindispatches.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/glimpse-of-school-boy.html
It appears that Rupert and his wife had a daughter on 19 June 1925 (according to the Melbourne 'Argus', 22 June 1925) and at that time the family were still at 'Narrawong', Hay, NSW.
Rupert Matthews MC died on 21 February 1966.
Rupert had two younger brothers, Bertie and Roy who both served in the 1st AIF.
I have not been able to find any photos of any of the Matthews boys.
_______________
I wish to acknowledge:
The Victorian 2nd Brigade (Battalions 5,6,7 and 8) was comprised of men mainly from Melbourne in the 5th and 6th Battalions and those from regional Victoria in the 7th and 8th Battalions. Among these men in the 2nd Brigade were about 60 Old Wesley Collegians (OWs). An important account of their individual histories can be found in Philip J. Powell's 'Come On Lads - Old Wesley Collegians and the Gallipoli Campaign', published March 2015. The book is also available online
http://www.wesleycollege.net/Our-Community/Archives-and-Collections.aspx
One of these Old Wesley men was Rupert MacKay Tyson Matthews. He was born in Bourke NSW in 1887. This is interesting in itself as Bourke, NSW, would have been a very remote outpost in western NSW in those days. Rupert was about 6 years older than Athol. His age at enlistment was 27 years and 1 month on 17 August 1914, and Athol a little over 20. Rupert enlisted in the 5th Battalion on the same day and place (Prahran) as Athol. They would have marched out to the Broadmeadows camp and spent the next few months training together. They had both been in their volunteer cadet corps at their schools.
At the time of his enlistment Rupert had completed his law studies at Melbourne University and was proceeding with his articles at a Melbourne law firm.
Prior to studying law, Rupert attended Wesley College with his two brothers. He was a keen sportsman and a prefect at Wesley College in his final year, 1906. He played in the Aussie Rules football team and was a member of the Athetics team. Rupert also played Aussie Rules football for Melbourne University from 1909-1911. Like Rupert, Athol was keen at his sports and perhaps they played in the games frequently organised at the Broadmeadows camp in 1914 and later at Lemnos in September 1915. Athol also played Aussie rules football, Lacrosse (for MGS and MCC) and was a prefect.
In the re-organisation of the 1st AIF at the Mena Camp, Egypt, in early 1915 these men were mostly transferred to the new 'D' company under the leadership of Captain Harry Carter (OW, 1904). Captain Carter is referred to Athol's letter dated 13 August 1915. Both Athol and Rupert were moved from 'F' company to the new 'D' Company.
We know that Rupert and Athol both embarked on the HMAT Novian which took the 5th Battalion from Egypt to Lemnos in early 1915. It can be assumed that they both took part in the historic landings at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915. However, it is also possible that Rupert was retained on Lemnos either ill or in order to assist with the logistics and support of the early stages of the campaign on the Peninsular. A contemporary account notes Rupert may have arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular as late as June 1915. In a postcard sent home on 19 June by a Sergeant Stephen J. Sweetland he says that he (Sweetland) 'is camped in the same regiment as 'Rajah' Paschal, Flockart, Cyril Marsh and Kent (all OW).....Further along the beach are Bob Lewis, Lester Kelly, Rup. Matthews. The latter has just arrived, and carried a budding black beard.' [P Powell, 'Come on Lads', p.21]. However, it is not known where he arrived from - perhaps elsewhere on the Peninsular rather than from Lemnos or another place.
In a letter dated 24 August 1915 (see earlier blog post) Athol refers to a photograph which depicts himself and some friends riding camels in Egypt back in 1915. Athol's comments on this photograph, which was published in a local Melbourne newspaper, (which unfortunately is not in my collection) says:
The camel group was, I think Jack Melom, Rupert Matthews, Keith McIlwraith and I think Sperry Hill. Melom is missing, McIlwraith killed, Rupert Matthews has a commission in the 4th Battalion
Rupert Matthews was in 'D' company of the 5th Battalion until early August 1915. He held the rank of Private on 5th August. On the next day, 6th August, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to the 4th Battalion. After this transfer he was no longer with his comrades in the 2nd Brigade. This is significant as it was decided that the 2nd Brigade would not be the first to 'go over the top' during the Battle of Lone Pine but would be in the first set of reserve trenches. Rupert was now with the 1st Brigade (NSW troops) and they were in the first wave to attack the enemy at Lone Pine. He was no longer with the men with whom he had built friendships since August 1914 and before.
Rupert Matthews was in the first line of troops which attacked the Turkish Lone Pine trenches on 6 August 1915. He managed to get across no-man's land unscathed that evening. He and 12 other men were cut-off in one of those trenches. Rupert found himself in charge of this small group and directed the defenses of this section of captured trenches. They stayed in that location for the next 72 hours. Athol's company were the men sent to relieve them on 8-9 August.
As was common in that environment, Rupert succumbed to dysentery and was evacuated to Lemnos in late September 1915. Athol too suffered from 'enteritis' in September and was admitted to the hospital on Lemnos at about the same time. They were both in Egypt together after the evacuation of the Anzac forces from Turkey in late 1915.
In March 1916 Rupert was sent to France. Athol never went to France and so the two men would not have seen each other after March 1916.
Rupert was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1916 and later the same year he was awarded the Military Cross at Pozieres. The citation reads:
'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He continued to organize his defences during a heavy bombardment which caused many casualties. He himself was wounded in the face, but stuck to his duty until he collapsed and was ordered back'.A report in the Melbourne 'Argus' newspaper on 22 June 1918, p.17 states that Rupert was wounded again on 5 April 1918 but was soon sent back to the front. Later in June 1918 he was wounded yet again. This time it was necessary to send him back to England to be treated for gunshot wounds and gas.
Rupert survived the war and for a while it is believed that he practiced as a lawyer. In 1924 he married Pauline Clapin (second daughter of Mr and Mrs F L Clapin of Malvern, Melbourne), at Christ Church, South Yarra. The Melbourne 'Argus' goes on to record (in its issue dated Sat 15 March 1924) that they made their home outside Hay, NSW, where Rupert had a station 'Narrawong'.
The 'Argus' lists Mr Fred Knight as one of the guests at the wedding. I actually met this grand old man in 1981. He was a school friend of the Athol and his three brothers and in particular of A. P Adams, my grandfather. It is interesting to note that Fred knew all the people in this story. Fred was also a member of the 1st AIF. I mention Fred Knight in my blog at: http://notmentionedindispatches.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/glimpse-of-school-boy.html
It appears that Rupert and his wife had a daughter on 19 June 1925 (according to the Melbourne 'Argus', 22 June 1925) and at that time the family were still at 'Narrawong', Hay, NSW.
Rupert had two younger brothers, Bertie and Roy who both served in the 1st AIF.
I have not been able to find any photos of any of the Matthews boys.
_______________
I wish to acknowledge:
- Philip J. Powell who kindly provided a copy of his book 'Come on Lads' which gives detailed accounts of Old Wesley Collegians during the Gallipoli Campaign and
- Margot Vaughan, Associate Curator of Collections, Wesley College, Melbourne. www.wesleycollege.net
Wednesday 9 September 2015
Unit diary - 9 September 1915 - pack up and depart Gallipoli
Since early August the 5th Battalion had been on a roster to maintain the captured Turkish trenches at Lone Pine.
The 5th Battalion had been on the Gallipoli since the landing on 25th April. By September, they had endured the Battle of Krithia, the August offensive and the many assaults and counter-attacks in between. Their ranks were depleted not only due to the deaths in battle and the wounded being evacuated, but they were also succumbing to disease and exhaustion. It was decided that the 5th would be evacuated when replacements became available.
In early September, the 23rd Battalion had arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular. They were a new infantry battalion raised in Victoria and their arrival enabled the worn out 5th Battalion to withdraw from the trenches and rest and reorganize on Lemnos Island.
A note in the Battalion diary dated 9 September 1915, at Anzac, says that the 5th Battalion "companies, B, C and D will embark some time after 1930hrs". The companies were ordered to prepare to depart with specific instructions for the sick and wounded. They were to send a runner to Battalion Headquarters to report no later than 1900 and await instructions. The men planned to rendezvous at the corner of Bridges Road and Monash Gully and then proceed down to Anzac Cove 'in absolute silence'.
The voyage involved boarding barges from the Pier at Anzac Cove. The barges were towed out to the waiting ships. After a 5-hour (approx) voyage the ships arrived in Lemnos harbour and the men were again transferred to a paddleboat and put ashore via a pier. This trip took up most of the evening so the men arrived on the Island in the morning of 10th September. The troops then marched about three miles to their camp-site.
From 11 September the Unit Diary for the 5th Battalion is written at Lemnos.
The weather was not good. It rained on 12th and 15th making the ground around the camp-site muddy.
Interestingly, the Battalion commanders then went about trying to re-establish a more formal type of Army discipline and routine. A lot of the diary is taken up with orders concerning: saluting (to be insisted upon), the use of correct forms of address, prompt attention at parades, punctuality, correct wearing of clothing, care of arms, keeping tents squared up, 'not hanging rifles and clothing off the tent lines', 'discipline tightened up generally'. It gives the impression that the men were used to a different culture entirely at Gallipoli.
A good deal of concern was placed on cleanliness and sanitation as many of the men were suffering from gastrointestinal problems as a result of the unsanitary conditions at Gallipoli. Regular bathing in the sea was encouraged.
According to some accounts there was an opportunity to get some rest and recreation on Lemnos. There were the usual church services on Sundays, as well as lots of cricket (weather permitting) and a camp-fire concert, there was a small library on the Island organised by the men attending to the mail, Football matches were also held.
Athol mentions the rain on Lemnos in September. This image was taken not long after the 5th Battalion arrived at Lemnos.
The 5th Battalion had been on the Gallipoli since the landing on 25th April. By September, they had endured the Battle of Krithia, the August offensive and the many assaults and counter-attacks in between. Their ranks were depleted not only due to the deaths in battle and the wounded being evacuated, but they were also succumbing to disease and exhaustion. It was decided that the 5th would be evacuated when replacements became available.
In early September, the 23rd Battalion had arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular. They were a new infantry battalion raised in Victoria and their arrival enabled the worn out 5th Battalion to withdraw from the trenches and rest and reorganize on Lemnos Island.
A note in the Battalion diary dated 9 September 1915, at Anzac, says that the 5th Battalion "companies, B, C and D will embark some time after 1930hrs". The companies were ordered to prepare to depart with specific instructions for the sick and wounded. They were to send a runner to Battalion Headquarters to report no later than 1900 and await instructions. The men planned to rendezvous at the corner of Bridges Road and Monash Gully and then proceed down to Anzac Cove 'in absolute silence'.
The voyage involved boarding barges from the Pier at Anzac Cove. The barges were towed out to the waiting ships. After a 5-hour (approx) voyage the ships arrived in Lemnos harbour and the men were again transferred to a paddleboat and put ashore via a pier. This trip took up most of the evening so the men arrived on the Island in the morning of 10th September. The troops then marched about three miles to their camp-site.
From 11 September the Unit Diary for the 5th Battalion is written at Lemnos.
The weather was not good. It rained on 12th and 15th making the ground around the camp-site muddy.
Interestingly, the Battalion commanders then went about trying to re-establish a more formal type of Army discipline and routine. A lot of the diary is taken up with orders concerning: saluting (to be insisted upon), the use of correct forms of address, prompt attention at parades, punctuality, correct wearing of clothing, care of arms, keeping tents squared up, 'not hanging rifles and clothing off the tent lines', 'discipline tightened up generally'. It gives the impression that the men were used to a different culture entirely at Gallipoli.
A good deal of concern was placed on cleanliness and sanitation as many of the men were suffering from gastrointestinal problems as a result of the unsanitary conditions at Gallipoli. Regular bathing in the sea was encouraged.
According to some accounts there was an opportunity to get some rest and recreation on Lemnos. There were the usual church services on Sundays, as well as lots of cricket (weather permitting) and a camp-fire concert, there was a small library on the Island organised by the men attending to the mail, Football matches were also held.
AWM C02034: The flooded 1st Battalion camp on
Aegean island of Lemnos
September 1915
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