Gow
Newspaper Indexes
World War 1 - Hawkesbury Heroes
(volume 1 & volume 2)
Compiled by Rod & Wendy Gow & Val Birch
e-mail : rgow@gownewspaperindexes.com.au
Book : A4, soft cover, 154 pages, indexed. Volume
1 isbn 0 9577847 2 4
Book : A4, soft cover, 156 pages, indexed. Volume 2
isbn 0 9580997 0 7
$35 (each volume) postage free within Australia
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These two volumes highlight the enlistment, rejections, send-offs, welcome
home functions, and the community support given to the servicemen and women
of the Hawkesbury and surrounding districts. They feature letters from
the front written to family and friends at home which describes the war
through their eyes, and the celebrations of the Armistice in the various
villages of the Hawkesbury district.
The indexes from these two volumes are available on line. If you wish
to view them click on the following links ....
Hawkesbury Heroes ( INDEX ) - volume 1
Hawkesbury Heroes ( INDEX ) - volume 2
Paul Roberts, Managing Editor of the Hawkesbury Gazette newspaper, in
his foreword to these two volumes states...
"These extracts, which appeared in the then Windsor and Richmond Gazette
published between 1914 and 1919, are some of the most chilling ever presented
in our newspaper's history. From the triumphant departures, to the growing
trepidation in north Africa, to the sheer terror in the austere environment
which is war, these messages kept our district in touch with a fight no-one
here could even begin to understand. However, their accounts did put a
human face to the war in Europe, their graphic descriptions made even more
powerful because they were our friends, our families, our lovers, our workmates.
While their messages, stories, poems, and love letters vary drastically
in content and style, one common thread is apparent - our boys wanted to
come back home, back to the Hawkesbury where the rain of bullets, the distant
chatter of Johnny Turk, and the stench of death were memories better left
to die in the trenches with their fallen mates. But thanks to their very
words, some things will never die in the Hawkesbury - our human spirit
and Aussie mateship."
Extracts ...
Sgt. O. D. Ward
We have received the following interesting letter from Sergeant Oscar D.
Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ward of 'Claremont' Windsor. Sergeant Ward
went to Turkey with the 1st Field Ambulance 1st Australian Division : H.M.T.
Ascania. 12 June, 1915. "As you have already seen by the papers, it is
a terrible affair, but although one of the expedition I make bold to say
that the names of the brave lads who made the first landing at Fisherman's
Hut on Gallipoli, should be passed down to history, for it was indeed a
magnificent feat, and I feel proud that although not among the fighting
lines, I belong to that glorious army. The men of the navy here were absolutely
astounded at the way the Australians charged up that precipitous hill,
for it looked like a precipice several hundred feet high, and however our
men managed to make a footing there beat not only me but military experts.
The firing was awful, it seemed like hurling bullets out of hundreds of
corn thrashers, it was one continual rattle. I am only a youngster yet,
but if I live to be a hundred years of age I will never forget Sunday the
25th April, 1915. Where the bullets were thickest there you would see our
men, and as one wounded Scotchman on our boat said, it would be hard work
to award a V.C. on that day, for he considered every man was deserving
of that honour
Pte. C. Jurd
Pte. C. C. (Sid) Jurd, son of Charles Jurd, of Central Macdonald, has been
reported wounded in the head by a bomb and was admitted to Alexandria Hospital
on August 30. He had been fighting 3 months at Gallipoli before being knocked
out.
Back from Gallipoli
Five returned soldiers were given an enthusiastic welcome in Windsor on
Saturday night. The procession which formed up at the railway station after
the arrival of the 7:15 p.m. train, and marched along George Street, must
have been half a mile long, and from a spectacular standpoint was the finest
thing Windsor has seen for a long time. The torches added effect to the
scene, and viewed from the hill at the "Gazette" office, the spectacle
was an inspiring one. On the arrival of the train the Windsor Municipal
Band played "Home Sweet Home". An immense crowd had assembled. The
Lancers, mounted and wearing their red-faced uniforms and plumes, followed
the band. The returned soldiers were Major (Dr.) Fullerton, returned through
illness, Major (Dr.) Cecil Pye (illness), Private Cecil Turnbull, (wounded
in the right hand), Private Jack Kenny (wounded), and Private Thomas Jenkins
(illness). On behalf of the citizens, the mayor then offered a hearty welcome
to the returned soldiers. They all ought to be proud of the large gathering
that had assembled to do honour to the brave men who had gone to fight
the enemy, at the risk of sacrificing their lives, and to endure hardships
greater than anyone present could imagine - all for the benefit and safety
of those who remained at home.
Davies Brothers
Pte. Arthur Davies, son of Mrs. Davies of Annangrove, came home from the
war about Easter time. He was ill, and was sent to Wentworth Falls sanatorium,
where he died last week. The remains were buried in the Church of England
cemetery at Rouse Hill on Wednesday of last week, Rev. W. J. Roberts performing
the last sad rites. Sympathy is expressed for the widowed mother, who lost
her husband about 9 months ago. Another son, Lieut. W. L. Davies, is still
in the firing line. He went away as a private 4 years ago and gained his
commission on the battlefield.
Kurrajong Heights & Bilpin Boys
Many of the boys from Kurrajong Heights and Bilpin have suffered during
the past few weeks while fighting in France. Signaller Raymond Smith, son
of Joseph Smith, was recently wounded. Four nephews of Mrs. Thomas Walker,
the Hyslop boys - there are only four sons in the family - are at the war.
Sgt. Harry Hyslop is a prisoner of war in Germany, and has had a leg amputated,
his brother Robert, has been wounded a second time, and now has an arm
and shoulder blown away, another brother, Alex, is in hospital with trench
feet, while the fourth boy, Arthur, is in hospital with appendicitis. Sgt.
George Young, who married Miss Hazel Harpin, has been wounded in the forearm.
Pte. Harry Cobden, son of Mrs. Percy Brown, is severely wounded in both
hands, and Pte. John Hanlon, of Bilpin, has been wounded. Only four boys
from Kurrajong Heights and Bilpin have so far gone through unscathed, and
they have all been through some fierce engagements. The lucky ones are
- Ptes. Victor Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Walker (his brother George
was wounded some time ago), Harvey Peck, son of H. E. Peck, Rupert Smith
son of Joseph Smith and James Ashwell.
Pte. Juergens
Pte. C. F. Juergens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Juergens, of Riverstone, is returning
home shortly after being over 3 years with the A.I.F. on the western front.
He is expected to reach home about the end of next week. It was this young
soldier who brought himself into great prominence in London during the
latter part of 1917, by his prompt action in extinguishing an incendiary
bomb that fell on a house in London, the bomb was dropped by a German aeroplane
into a room in which their were 3 young children. Pte. Juergens immediately
picked up the bomb and threw it out into the street. His prompt and brave
action undoubtedly saved the lives of those 3 children while at the same
time taking a great risk with his own. The bravery and great presence of
mind of this young soldier was most favourably commented upon by London
newspapers at the time. His photograph taken with the 3 children, the eldest
being a girl 15 years of age, appeared in the "Daily Sketch", a London
pictorial publication.