The Lost Diggers of Fromelles

A Joint Project by St Clare's College and St Mary's Cathedral College

The network for St Clare's College and St Mary's Cathedral College student research on 'The Lost Diggers of Fromelles'

Latest Activity

Robert Griffith commented on Chris Clark's blog post Leonard Broadhurst
"Chris, I am researching Leonard Broadhurst to prepare an article for the Fromelles Association of Australia's website.  We write personal stories for the soldiers from the battle.  I have been trying to find out who the family members…"
Mar 31
JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON) replied to Sue-Ellen Nash's discussion Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion
"Hi Jonathan, I would love to love to obtain a link to our family tree that goes back to John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. I just realised that I hadn't replied to your last message. My email is still the same janie_hallows@hotmail.com Look…"
Feb 4
Josephine Shelley and JENNIN are now friends
Mar 24, 2023
JENNIN left a comment for Josephine Shelley
"Hi,  My great uncle was Henry Alfred Cressy, 54th Bn, B coy, killed on 19th July 1916 at Fromelles. He disembarked at Marseilles on 29th June and was killed at Fromelles. I wonder if we could exchange. Thank you for your reply. Alain"
Mar 19, 2023
JENNIN commented on Katrina Forrest Giebels's photo
Thumbnail

Private John Robertson Forrest Service No 3046 54th Battalion AIF

"Hi,  My great uncle was Henry Alfred Cressy, 54th Bn, B coy, killed on 19th July 1916 at Fromelles. Like John Robertson Forrest, he disembarked at Marseilles on 29th June and was killed at Fromelles. I wonder if we could exchange…"
Jan 27, 2023
JENNIN left a comment for william cressy
"Hi William, Great that we can exchange information. Nice of you for posting all these pictures of Fromelles. I'm trying to trace Harry's last days and his journey from Marseilles to the front by completing and correcting the typed…"
Dec 27, 2022
JENNIN replied to Sue-Ellen Nash's discussion Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion
"Hi, I am related to Henry Alfred Cressy  killed on July 19, 1916  in Fromelles. I am trying to trace Henry Cressy's last days in France. we have already been able to retrace his journey from Alexandria onboard the Caledonia, and then…"
Dec 22, 2022
JENNIN left a comment for chantal maille
"Bonsoir, Mon épouse, Yvonne Cressy est la petite nièce d'Harry Cressy tué à Fromelles en 1916. J'aimerais vous contacter pour connaitre le parcours de Harry en France. Merci pour votre réponse. Alain…"
Nov 13, 2022
Roderick HILLIKER is now a member of The Lost Diggers of Fromelles
Oct 8, 2022
Michael Burden posted videos
Jan 11, 2022
Robert Griffith is now a member of The Lost Diggers of Fromelles
Dec 15, 2021
Michael Burden posted a video

The First World War - Attack at Fromelles

On the 19 of July 1916 the Australian 5th and British 61st divisions attacked the German defences in front of the French village of Fromelles. Some 7,000 wer...
Aug 24, 2021
Michael Burden posted videos
May 31, 2021
Jonathan Williamson replied to Sue-Ellen Nash's discussion Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion
"Hello Jane, Yes, I am also descended from John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. They were my Great great great grandparentsP1010122.JPG This is the family grave in the old graveyard in Templepatrick. My Great-Grandfather David worked in…"
Mar 24, 2021
Michael Burden posted a video

Discover the incredible story of the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles

During World War I thousands of foreign soldiers came to France. Many of them never came home. In the heart of a first-of-its-kind scientific and archaeologi...
Mar 22, 2021
JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON) replied to Sue-Ellen Nash's discussion Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion
"Hi Jonathon, hope this message finds you well. I realise that I haven't replied to your message for some time. My direct line is John Williamson born 5 Feb 1780 in Tyrone, Northern Ireland and died 17 Jun 1867. He married Hanna Birkmyre. They…"
Mar 6, 2021

Members

 

THE LOST DIGGERS OF FROMELLES RESOURCES

This is where the students of St Mary's Cathedral College meet to explore the lives of those men who have become known as "The Lost Diggers of Fromelles'.

A group of SMCC students visited France in 2017 to spend time exploring the Western Front. Their magnificent History teacher, Steve Garry accompanied by three other teachers led the students on a tour of many of the significant battlefields as well as spending time in Paris. It was a most memorable experience for all. Steve set up a site for the trip.

Channel 7 did a nice story on the group while they were visiting various sites.

One of the highlights for Steve has always been his trip to the museum at Fromelles. This trip was no different. In fact Steve has made another connection through the museum. There is a wonderful site set up called, 'Recovering the Past' by Ian Alderman. 

Lambis has been keeping us up to date with all the latest on what has been happening around the identification of soldiers.

Living History Podcast with Lambis and Mat McLachlan

2017.03 Newsletter.pdf

Apple have just released a collection of resources to commemorate the centenary of WW1. Click on the image below to go to the resources in the iTunes Store.

The ABC have also released a collection of resources to support the centenary commemorations. iView on ABC also has a great collection of stories celebrating the centenary of Anzac. They have also just released a new site for students to explore the battles of the Western Front.

With the centenary being celebrated recently a number of stories have appeared across all forms of media.

ABC News, Federal Government, NSW Vets, Fromelles Blog, Orange NSW, Inverell Times, Hawkesbury Gazette, Western Advocate, Herald, 4BU, Bundaberg.

There have been many other sites and resources created since we began the project. Here are a sample:

The Australian War Memorial

The Lost Diggers of Fromelles Facebook

Australian Army

Friends of the AIF

The Sydney Morning Herald

Shaping Our Sorrow

ANZAC 360 App

Beginning in 2010, students from our Year 9 History classes created video profiles of a number of the soldiers who had been listed as missing following the Battle of Fromelles in 1916. In pairs they worked to bring a number of the soldiers' stories back to life and pay tribute to these courageous men who had been buried at Pheasant Wood for almost a century.

A small group of students created profiles for the Commemoration Ceremony in France in July. This was a great honour and the video profiles were very well received.

TASK STRUCTURE FOR YEAR 10 HISTORY STUDENTS

We will be producing more video profiles of the soldiers killed at Fromelles in 1916. Again the Year 10 History classes will undertake this challenge. Our aim is to have created a profile for each of the soldiers as a tribute to their courage and selflessness.

The AIF database is a good place to start looking.

We have been fortunate to be supported by Lambis Englezos throughout the journey. This has meant a great deal to the staff and students involved in the project. Some of what Lambis has done can be seen in this SBS documentary.

 

Herbert Thomas Bolt from St Mary's Cathedral College on Vimeo.

The soldiers we created video profiles for previously are obviously not to be done again. They are HERBERT BOLT, HENRY CRESSY, VICTOR SAMPSON, ALLAN BENNETT, COLIN ARNOTT and RAYMOND PFLAUM.

As are the soldiers who were selected by students in 2010. Those soldiers are BERROL MENDELSOHN, JOHN JACK BOWDEN, CLARENCE TIMBRELL COLLIER, WILLIAM WASS, HENRY BELL, WILLIAM JOSEPH CUCKSON, ROBERT COURTNEY GREEN, IGNATIUS BERTRAM NORRIS, HARRY LOWRY MOFFITT, EDWARD HENRY DIBBEN, CLIFFORD DAWSON HOLLIDAY, JUSTIN BREGUET, HENRY NELSON, VINTON BAKER, REGINALD WILDMAN

*Article about Jack Bowden

*Article about Ignatius Norris

These soldiers were completed by students in 2011. GEORGE PAGAN,

DAVID GEORGE IRVIN , ERIC HARDING CHINNER, HERBERT GEORGE POLLARD, LESLIE WILLIAM HART, EDWARD NASON BURNEYTHOMAS JOSEPH COSGRIFFHENRY VICTOR WILLISWILLIAM POLDING RYAN

*Recent story about the search for David Irvin (April 2016)

These soldiers were completed in 2012. ALBERT WILLIAMSON, JOHN GOULDINGFRANK HEWARDLESLIE LEISTER, HASSALL KENDALL, HOWARD JAMES RANDALL, JOHN TURNER, CHARLES HAWCROFT, LAWRENCE HARRIOTT, HAROLD JOHN BOURKE, ERIC FLOYD HANCOCK

These soldiers were completed in 2013. NORMAN ARTHUR HALE, WILLIAM CULLEN, GEORGE LUCRE, ERIC WILSON, ALFRED VICTOR MOMPHLAIT

      Due to changes to the syllabus no profiles were constructed in 2014.

These soldiers were completed in 2015. EDGAR WILLIAM PARHAM, ARTHUR WEIR, JOHN CYRIL WYNN, WILLIAM ALEXANDER JAMIESON, WILLIAM BRUCE HIGGINSERNEST FRANK WILKIN

In 2016 only one profile was considered worthy of inclusion on this site.

LEONARD WILLIAM BROADHURST

In 2017 two profiles stood out.

ALBERT ERNEST PRATT and ALFRED GEORGE TUCK

In 2018/19 the students from St Clare's College in Waverley began creating video tributes to the soldiers missing following the Battle of Fromelles. Under the guidance of Lambis these are the videos they created which will feature in the upcoming documentary on the battle:

HERBERT BOLTALEXANDER CLINGAN, JOHN GOULDINGHERBERT JAMES HASLAM, HAROLD GEORGE WOODMAN, JOHN STANLEY LEES, WILLIAM CHARLES TUCKER,HENRY MAYER, GEORGE DUNCAN, BENEDICT DUNSTAN, THORNTON GAINSBOROUGH CLARKE, THOMAS SHERIDAN, ERNEST JENTSCH, ALAN MITCHELL

SOLDIER RESOURCES

JOHN (JACK) P. PHILLIPS *(Anne Stewart who is a member of the Ning is a relative)
ARTHUR DONALD LEIGH, 

ALFRED MOMPHLAIT(resources from relatives of Alfred), 

VICTOR SIMON, 

FRANCIS JAMES WILLIAMS *(Francis Margaret Gregory is a relative and a member of the Ning), 

ALEXANDER THOMAS O'DONNELL (Mr Burden has a contact for Alexander), 

JOSEPH EDWARD LEE, 

FREDERICK GEORGE USHER (Mr Burden has a contact for Frederick), 

JAMES PLOZZA (Mr Burden has a contact for James), 

MATTHEW HEPPLE *(Jon Andrews is a relative of Matthew and is a member of the Ning), 

PERCY GEASON, 

ALBERT CLIVE BROMLEY, 

WILLIAM ANDREW CRAIGIE, 

CHARLES WILLIAM MURRAY, 

FREDERICK FLETCHER *(Bill Wright from the Oatley Sub Branch can assist with the profile on Frederick. Mr Burden has his contact details)

MAURICE LESLIE REID, 

ARTHUR RUSSELL, 

GEORGE HUNGERFORD

DAVID FREDERICK LIVINGSTONE, 

DANIEL BERNARD RYAN, 

LESLIE GORDON WALSH, 

PERCY WEAKLEY

 

CREDITS

We would like to thank Chloe Wootten from the Dept. of Defence, Damian Madden from the Virtual Fromelles Museum and Chris Munro from the Friends of the AIF for all their help in providing resources and links to assist in constructing the stories. A very special thanks to Chris Reason from Channel 7 for the inspiration and setting up of the project through his involvement in reporting on Fromelles and his links with the Dept of Defence.

 

Thanks also to all the boys for giving up so much of their own time and to Mr Steve Garry our History teacher for all his wisdom and insight into the various battles of WW1. His advice, guidance, enthusiasm and ongoing commitment to the project ensures the program will be ongoing.

 

Steve and the students involved have been asked to present this project at a number of venues. It is wonderful recognition of their skill, knowledge and commitment to keeping the memory of these men alive. 

 

In 2010 they presented at the Teaching and Learning Conference at Macquarie University while in March of this year our project was the feature presentation at the Archdiocesan eLearning Conference at Marcellin College, Randwick.

 

Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference Presentation from St Mary's Cathedral College on Vimeo.

 

 

The following link will take you to images of the ceremony released by the Department of Defence.


There has also been a release of photos through the Commonwelath War Graves Commission.

Forum

Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion 21 Replies

Born in the NSW town of Canowindra , Albert Williamson was the tenth child of Joseph and Cecilia Williamson. A 22 year-old labourer he was living at Rose Villa with his mother, his father having…Continue

Started by Sue-Ellen Nash. Last reply by JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON) Feb 4.

Berrol Mendelsohn 1 Reply

This was a diary entry from Francis Armstrong: A friend of mine, Private A.E Rodda, received a communication from you , asking for particulars of the death of Lieut. B. Mendelsohn of this battalion…Continue

Started by Michael Burden. Last reply by Michael Burden Aug 17, 2010.

Profile on Allan Bennett 1 Reply

I have just accessed the profile on Allan Bennett via the link on this site. It has an unfortunate omission in that it doesn't mention Allan's other brother who was serving in the AIF. Happens to be…Continue

Started by Peter Thomson. Last reply by Michael Burden Jun 28, 2010.

Allan Bennett 4 Replies

Here is an article about Allan Bennett from a WA newspaper

Tags: Bennett, Fromelles

Started by Michael Burden. Last reply by Michael Burden Jun 28, 2010.

Blog Posts

Letters from Indigenous soldiers in WW1

Letters from Aboriginal men who served Australia during the First World War are extremely rare.

But as the history of Aboriginal military service during the Great War is given greater attention, their firsthand accounts illustrate better than anything the sacrifice and the emotional cost of war.

The letters and postcards, some held privately, tell a moving, if laconic, story tinged with longing, gallows humour, bravado and sadness.…

Continue

Posted by Michael Burden on April 25, 2017 at 17:00

Leonard Broadhurst

Leonard Broadhurst is my Great Uncle, I have his birth certificate and to the best of my and other family members knowledge, he only had 1 christian name, Leonard. Birth Certificate shows only Leonard.   Uncle Len was born 2 Feb 1894.  The 3 brothers, all moved their birth dates by 1 yr so that the youngest (Bert) could enlist and the brothers would not attract undue attention due to age discrepancies.  I am also intrigued as to where the information about injury to the knee was sourced? …

Continue

Posted by Chris Clark on April 8, 2017 at 22:48 — 1 Comment

The Pte. Henry (Harry) Alfred Cressy Memorial Service

Hi to everyone,

A Memorial Service to honour the supreme sacrifice of Harry Cressy, 54th Battalion, and 23 1st A.I.F. soldiers who are memorialised or should be memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery, will take place on the 19th July 2016.

I am looking for a guest speaker to give a short history of the Battle of Fromelles. Two other guest speakers will talk about Harry's life and service and also read extracts from his diary.

Please email me at garwood@live.com.au if you…

Continue

Posted by Gary Mitchell on June 23, 2016 at 6:21

William Wass MM and Richard Alfred Yardy

Hi everyone,

I am wanting to say that I am so pleased to have found this site. The battle of Fromelles was particularly poignant for my family on both sides. We lost two boys, William WASS "54th Battalion" and Richard Yardy "53rd Battalion" during this operation.

.

From what I understand William Wass was an Englishman, a veteran of both the Boer War and Boxer Rebellion. William was a relative of my Great Grandfather and came to Australia following the Boer War with the…

Continue

Posted by Peter Kennedy on December 13, 2015 at 19:45

 
 
 

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