A Wound That Allowed Life To Follow

[moggs]

On the night of 29th/30th August 1916 the Australians were in the middle of the battle for Mouquet Farm, near Pozieres.  Combat was close but the intense mud prevented much rifle fire.  Bombs were the main weapon.  Artillery, of course, created the most damage.

 

My grandpa, Ted Graham, was there with a few of his mates from the 14th Battalion.  Half of his company had been retained to assist the 16th Battalion in their endeavours to take the farm.  During the course of the night, Ted was struck in the hand by a shell splinter, almost certainly from a dreaded minenwerfer.  The x-ray report stated the extent of the wound which included a mass of metal embedded into the back of his right hand with numerous metallic spots surrounding.  To be honest, I don't know how he didn't lose his hand upon impact.  I can only presume that he was hit while holding his hands upon his helmet and that there was some sort of cushioning to prevent the splinter from passing through.

 

Despite his wounded hand, Ted still was able to carry another man, with a serious leg wound, through the muddy trenches to the aid station.  I can't fathom how he found the strength to do so - Ted was only a thin 5' 2" at the time.  Ted was taken through various stages, Puchevillers CCS, Becourt Chateau and finally to the hospital at Wimereux where he had surgery performed on his hand.  The French surgeon (I wish I knew his name) was apparently superb as he not only managed to save the hand but mended it in such a way as Ted eventually recovered to nearly full use.  (In later life he could grasp most things with strength but could not close the hand much more than for a hand shake.  A fist was impossible.  All the fingers worked independently.)

 

Due to the long rehab needed, Ted spent 20 months away from the front and therefore missed the messy campaigns of Bullecourt, Passchendaele and the initial stages of the Spring Offensive.  Ted returned to the 14th Battalion at the end of May 1918 in time for the successful Battles of Hamel and Amiens.  After those he was finally sent home.

 

From a very personal point of view, I am exceedingly grateful to be here today simply due to the fact that Ted survived the war.  His wound, which was not debilitating as so many others, still kept him safe and enabled life to carry on.  I think about that situation from a hundred years ago nearly every day and smile.  His service, along with that from all of his mates and the brethren of all the armies - their sacrifice - has made my life special.  I hope that others in the world can appreciate what has been given to us and maybe, just maybe, we can justify so much of the pain that so many endured and still endure.

 

Thank you Grandpa, always remembered.

 

Jonathan

[gordon92]

A very poignant story, Jonathan.  Thank you for posting.  I assume that Ted recovered enough control of his hand to fire a rifle, or else he would not have been sent back to the line in May 1918.

[moggs]

Yes, that's a fair assumption.  As it turned out, after the war he became a professional musician specialising in percussion.  He played in the pit for JC Williamson in Melbourne, played music for the silent movies and was an occasional player for the burgeoning Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  A fascinating, if difficult, life especially during the depression years.

 

Thank you for your response.

 

Jonathan

[gordon92]

19 hours ago, moggs said:

Yes, that's a fair assumption.  As it turned out, after the war he became a professional musician specialising in percussion.  He played in the pit for JC Williamson in Melbourne, played music for the silent movies and was an occasional player for the burgeoning Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  A fascinating, if difficult, life especially during the depression years.

 

Thank you for your response.

 

Jonathan

 

Did your grandfather live long enough for you to know him?

[moggs]

Indeed.  He died when I was 18.  I was lucky enough to know him well.  He never spoke of the horrors, like so many others, but he let go a few anecdotes when the conversation allowed.  I lived with his wife for a year when I was at university (studying music) and she related more stories and anecdotes as she had heard them.  Having all that in my head for so long eventually found me here at the forum, learning more and appreciating all the men and women who served.

 

Jonathan

[frev]

Jonathan - I'm also very grateful that both of our Grandfather's survived the war, and inspired us to search out their stories, and those of their mates.

I believe your Grandpa Ted would be very proud of all the 'work' you've done to tell his....for the word 'work', I really mean 'labour of love'

 

Keeping their memories alive...

Frev

[moggs]

Thank you.