33rd Battalion AIF

[kerind]

Would be grateful if someone could direct me to the records from The Bustard at Larkhill. Trying to find records for my great uncle who trained there.

[River97]

Have a look in the Australian National Archives as the vast majority of Australian WW1 service records can be accessed on line.

Also, at the Australian War Memorial, there are war diaries for the Battalion. The link is provided here.

Cheers Andy.

[kerind]

Thanks. I already have his service records. Wanting to know if records were actually kept of the 33rds training schedule and records of the soldiers while they trained.If so, where would they be? Thanks again.

[Waddell]

Kerind,

I can't give a definitive answer but I would be surprised if those records of the training camps (including the ones within Australia) are still in existence. A few items come up on a search for Larkhill on the National Archives site, but they do not appear to be records for individual soldiers. It might be worth contacting the AWM directly and asking about them?

Were you looking for any aspect in particular as I can think of one or two memoirs that mention time spent there- mainly boredom and soldiers enjoying their leave from the place.

Scott

[tony paley]

Kerind,

I don't know if it is of any help. I have recently attended a talk by a Martin brown, who is a Ministry of Defence Archeologist. The result was I have purchased his book 'Digging up Plugstreet'. Written in co operation with Richard Osgood published by Haynes Publishing. Yeovil,UK. Briefly Martin Brown works in the MOD Training areas on Salisbury Plain. The first part of the book deals with 'digs' in the area of Larkhill ( Bustard) Training area. There are lots of photographs of the Australians in the training area. The text then moves to the Ploegsteert area where a further dig has been carried out at Factory Farm the area attacked by the 33rd Bt. AIF on 7th June 1917, the Battle of Messines. You may well be aware that during the course of the dig an Australian soldier has been found and details of his unit have been established and I believe an announcement may be made soon, if not already done so, as to his identity. The book deals entirely with the Australian presence in the Bustard Training area and subsequently in Ploegsteert. Apologies if you are already aware of the book.

Tony P

[kerind]

Scott and Tony
Thanks, this is helpful. Have ordered Digging Up Plugstreet and it should be here anyday. Have also contacted the AWM. Have contacted Richard Osgood and he suggests Plain Soldiering whish is hard to find but I'll keep looking. My goal is to write a book about the short life of my great uncle who was killed on June 7 1917 at the Battle of Messines. Late that night he was in a shell hole waiting to be relieved, when he was hit by a shell. He's buried in Toronto Park Avenue Cemetery. I'd be interested in the titles of the memoirs so I can chase them up.Am interested in any reading material re Larkhill and Messines. The book Monash was helpful as well. Thanks again for your assistance.

[frev]

Hi Kerind - have you read the Unit Histories?

The 33rd Bn History has a good description of the camp itself from Gordon Betts's diary, and the 37th Bn Hist has a fair bit of detail on the actual training, and the 38th UH has a few interesting snippets. No doubt the other battalions that made up the 3rd Div also have some info in their histories.

Cheers, Frev

PS Your G/Uncle's final resting place is in one of the tiniest, most secluded cemeteries in Belgium, I remember we spent a lot of time there as the atmosphere was so peaceful (& Andrew P was researching a 33rd Bn Soldier buried there, Pte Luff)

[Waddell]

Kerind,

The two memoirs I'm thinking of are firstly Edgar Morrow's "Iron in the Fire" (ISBN 0 85905 360 1). He writes about Rollerston (on the Salisbury Plain), Weymouth Depot (Montevideo Camp), Perham Downs and Sutton Veny. He spent quite a bit of time at some of these camps as he recovered from wounds. He served with the 28th Battalion and his writing style is of short detailed chapters based around letters he had sent home at the time. He also goes into a lot of detail about his doubts and fears as well as camp life- it is an insightful read.

The other book is one I'm currently reading, which is a book of letters written by a Lewis Gunner who served in the 43rd Battalion AIF and incidentally was killed in action on July 31st 1917 (at Warnerton, Messines I believe). It is called "The Eager Soldier, Theodore Willard Wright- An Australian Journalist's account of his life and the Great War". Compiled by Laurel Kathleen Mc Intyre and Barbara Adams. (ISBN 9781 740084222). It is self published by a specialist printing company and I'm not sure how you would obtain a copy but it is an interesting book.

There are about 70 pages of letters sent from Larkhill Camp and Theo was a good with the pen. He talks alot about route marches, bayonet drill and his Lewis Gun training. The authors are Theo's sister and niece.

Either of these books will give you an insight into camp life and trips to London. If you dig around in a few more memoirs of the time you will find some details.

Scott

[kerind]

Thanks Frev and Scott - I'll chase these up. The unit histories are expensive , so will go for the history of the 33rd for a start. Thanks again. By the way, Digging Up Plugstreet arrived and that will keep me busy for a few weeks.

[tony paley]

Kerind,

Travelling tommorrow to Poegsteert staying for a week. Will visit Toronto CWGC. always do. Will pay my respects to your Uncle and his comrades.

Tony P

[tony paley]

Kerind,

Many thanks for the information I am leaving in one hour and will pay my respects to your Great Uncle. My grandfather, an Irishman , was in the Heavy artillery that day supporting the attack a little further North than the Anzacs. I always visit this peaceful little cemetery I hope to take a photograph and will send it on via a pm. if that's ok. cheers for now

Tony P

[Richard Osgood]

Dear Kerind,

as you have that very fine book 'Digging Up plugstreet' you will know most of this ( ) but Michael Molkentin has also written a piece in 'Wartime' tha magazine of the AWM - Issue 33. Trench Warfare 101: Training at the Bustard trenches.

http://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/33/index.asp

Good luck with your research!

R

[kerind]

Thank you - this article and another about Messines, both written by Michael Molkentin arrived a few days ago from the AWM. Yes, DUP is a very fine book! The more I read the more interesting it gets! Thanks for your help.

[Richard Osgood]

For those that followed this thread - you may not have seen the link attached which highlights the discovery of one of the missing men of the 33rd Btn. Recovered 2 years ago and identified just now. Pte Alan Jame Mather.

all things good

richard

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/0...site=newengland

[Andrew P]

What a great photo, it's always good to put a face to a name. Thanks Richard

Cheers

Andrew

[Scotty]

Must agree with Andrew. A fine portrait. Thanks for posting it here Richard. Great to see one of the boys from New England found and identified. An amazing combination of research and science. Scotty.

[Tyrim]

What a terrific photo of a great face!

It almost looks as though he's saying, "I've finally been found!"