Anzac Day images and songs — 2

But with more text….

Dad’s cousin Norman

Should be N H of course! Wollongong War Memorial

Here is a postcard Norman sent home….

“With kindest regards to Uncle Will from Norman. Left Australia for Rabaul on 18th August 1914. Sailed for Gallipoli and France on July 14th 1915.”

I never met Norman. He died in 1950 — fell under a train. Uncle Will (or Uncle Bill) I did meet several times in Picton. “In November 1950 Norman’s luck finally ran out. He was critically injured when he fell between the platform and a train at Killara Railway Station. He died soon after from his injuries.” — Illawarra Remembers.

Browsing through the CD-ROM of my family history so brillantly researched and presented by a relative, Bob Starling of Wangi Wangi, I note the family’s leading military figure, Norman Whitfield, my father’s cousin. I never met him, but my father was proud of him and talked about him at times. Here is a Bob Starling’s account of him.

Norman enlisted with the Illawarra Volunteers during World War 1 – enlisting on 10 April 1915 – discharged 20 January 1919. [NOTE: My Uncle Ken enlisted with the same mob in April 1917. — N.]

The following words in italics I believe are from a post card (below) sent by Norman Harold Whitfield to Uncle Will (additional information researched by Audrey and Alan Scheumaker): Left Australia for Rabaul on 18th August 1914.

Rabaul, Capital of New Britain, an island off the NE coast of New Guinea was founded in 1910 as a German Colonial Headquarters. By 1914, the Australian and German governments controlled most of the coastal area. Norman was part of the Australian Military Expeditionary Force (AMEF) sent to Rabaul on a 6 month contract to take over German wireless stations. Great Britain having declared war on Germany on August 4th 1914.

Sailed for Gallipoli and France on July 14th 1915.

Norman’s career in WW1 led him to the Rank of Captain and on 29th August 1917 he was decorated with the Military Cross while serving with the 5th Pioneer Regiment. He was then around twenty one years old, held the rank of Lieutenant and carried three chevrons (badge in a V shape) on his sleeve, indicating three years Army service. He had enlisted on 11th May 1915 and discharged on 14th January 1919.

Norman’s WW2 career took him from the Rank of Major to Lieutenant-Colonel and was Director-General of Recruiting. His Bar to the Military Cross (as recorded on the Internet) was possibly earned in France WW1.

Article by Margaret Augusteyne:

Norman Harold WHITFIELD: At one stage he attended Thirlmere school. Following the outbreak of the First World War the call to arms beckoned him and even though slightly under age, he rushed off to enlist. His distraught mother informed the authorities and he was recalled. It was only a matter of time before he paid a visit to his grandparents, Elizabeth and William Whitfield of Upper Picton, to say goodbye. His young cousin remembers seeing him walking along to the little house. She thought he looked very tall and handsome in his uniform, but he hardly noticed her.

I have been told that he fought in Gallipoli and was wounded in the arm. After looking into the was records in Canberra I found he was awarded three Military Crosses (Military Cross plus Two Bars) and mentioned in dispatches. Norman’s Unit was the 5th Pioneer Battalion, 6th Australian Division, 1st Anzac Corps. (Note by Bob Starling: I believe there was Military Cross awarded with 2 Bars).

In 1916, near Gueudecourt on two occasions as a Lieutenant, he set out communication trenches leading to the front line. He was sniped at continuously by the enemy. As a result of his good sightings, the men were able to succeed in their digging. On another occasion he was in charge of the water supply from the front line to the captured positions. This he maintained under the most trying conditions. Through these actions he showed himself to be “a brave and courageous officer” and was awarded his first M.C.

In September 1917, east of Polygon Wood, Lieutenant Whitfield and his company were wiring the front line. Just as they were to withdraw an SOS signal warned them of trouble. Immediately shooting broke out and there were several casualties, including the Company Commander. The injured men could not gain their own line. Despite heavy dire, Norman went out to give assistance and brought back a badly injured man. He returned to assess for him self that there were no more wounded. Two others had to assist him. It was said, “Lieutenant Whitfield showed the greatest coolness and disregard of personal danger”. For this he received a bar to the M.C.

In 1918 near Bullecourt, Norman led his company on urgent forward road work. His coolness and example were said to be responsible for their initial success. Later, in dense fog and under heavy machine gun fire, he took forward a portion of his platoon and drove the enemy from the northern portion of Bullecourt, thereby allowing the road to go through. Later on, he organised a party to disperse the enemy. His courage, initiative, example and devotion to duty were largely responsible for getting the road through. For this he received another bar to his M.C. He returned from the war to a very proud and grateful family. However, he had not escaped the terrible effects of the dreadful mustard gas.

Ironically, after being exposed to so much danger, his life ended tragically in a train accident in the 1950’s, but his memory lives on.

As I noted yesterday, I think it was two not three Military Cross awards, but a total of 2,930 were awarded to Australians, in addition to 188 first bars and four second bars. Of these, 2,403 MCs, 170 first Bars and four second Bars were for World War I. Only 170 first Bars. Australian population 1914–1918: approximately 4.9 million. 416,809 Australians enlisted for service in the First World War, representing 38.7% of the male population aged 18 to 44. (Stats from Wikipedia and the Australian War Memorial.) The account I gave yesterday was from AWM sources.

Dad’s letter from Port Moresby — 1945

Port Moresby — the more I look at the guy in the cockpit the more convinced I am that it is my father!

14390 Cpl. Whitfield J. N.
Group 833
RAAF
Pacific
16-2-45

My Darling Wife

I came to work this morning thinking it was just another day, another hot steaming day, after a terrific thunderstorm last night. About nine o’clock a chap came in with some demands that had to be attended to and on dating them the realisation struck me, this was no ordinary day to me, but a very special one, the anniversary of the day when I made my very bestest pal in all the world mine for keeps, for worse or better. You notice I put the “worse” first, because I am sure many, many happy days lie ahead for us. Yes, we have had more than our share of worries & I have at times very selfishly added to them, sometimes quite unintentionally, because there really wasn’t any need for you to worry at all. I’m a bit of a tease really.

Anyway I promise you darling that I will try to make you just as happy as ever I can. I only hope that I am able to maintain a decent living standard for you & the kids. You are entitled to the best of everything by virtue of the fact that you have always been such a loyal pal always to me. If I can I will try to get some other sort of business going as well as the building so that we will be secure in our old age. Anyway dearest one I will try to do as you wish me to in everything. I have caused you enough heartaches. I can’t always help this of course, but I fully intend to try and make up for any short comings I may have. I can never repay the debt I owe you for giving me three such lovely children. I love them very dearly, and am exceedingly proud of their nice appearance & manner.

Dearest girl, I can only pray that we are spared to celebrate many anniversaries — together, as indeed an anniversary should be celebrated. If, as I hope, I shall be with you next wedding anniversary I will see to it that I have some leave to take & we will go away for a few days together. I am sure someone would take responsibility of the kiddies for just that few days. We could book in at one of the mountain hotels. I will send you home the money as an anniversary present in a week or so & you can save it on one side as a special little cache for no other purpose than to give us our certainly overdue holiday away together. [This did not happen until about 1951, and we kids went as well!] Do not put it in the Bank and then you will not notice it as drawing it out & leaving a depleted sum. I suggest that you put it in your special “precious box.” My! I am looking forward to it, even now, all that long way ahead.

I am sure [my mother’s then unmarried sister] will look after the nips for us, if she isn’t married. … I wonder does she know what she’s missing. [She married in the early 1950s and subsequently gave birth to twins.] To me marriage is worth any sacrifice, having to do without some things that do not matter very much in any case, & learning the hard way self restraint & moderation certainly enriches the character of a person (particularly a woman) [Ouch!] and makes her something understanding–self-sacrificing–grasping eagerly every chance to go out and enjoy life with her loved ones. Yes, I think she becomes, provided she is in the first place a true & not a fair-weather friend–an exalted and beautiful creature. Darling a chasing after rainbows is a horribly empty sensation that causes one to be a frustrated cynic, taxing the patience and at times occasioning the dislike of everyone.

Darling, I am glad you married young, I should have hated you to be like that, instead of sweet & gently, and yet I think I would have been patient and understanding.

Anyway, dearest one, you have with you on this our wedding day my every best love and a very real longing to be with you. I think maybe you’d better be extravagant & use up some of those “packets”. I can sympathise with you–& wouldn’t blame you in the least.

Well, all the very best of luck darling, from your loving Husband

Jeff XXXXXX

Hanuabada Village, Port Moresby — my father’s wartime photo.

Anzac Day images and songs — 1

Family and more

… and SBHS

My Dad’s cousin — from Wollongong

On 1st February 1917 Norman was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and skill in siting a communication trench under heavy fire. Later, he carried out a dangerous daylight reconnaissance. He has at all times set a fine example.’
Source: ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 116; Date: 25 July 1917.

On 29th September 1917 he was wounded in action but remained on duty.

On 17th June 1919 he was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for action on 29th September 1918.

The citation reads: ‘Near Bellicourt, on 29th September, 1918, he led his company through a heavy covering barrage to their allotted work, and was responsible for the initial success of the day’s operations. Later, when the enemy held part of Bellicourt, he took forward a portion of his platoon, under heavy machine gun fire, and drove the enemy out, thereby enabling the road to be got through. Later again, in the absence of infantry, he organized a party and silenced a machine gun, and also dispersed the crew of an anti-tank gun. His marked courage and devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men.’

See also my posts One hundred years ago or thereabouts…, 22 – Whitfields 1915.

And there are more….

c 1943 — RAAF Richmond. Bottom left — Jeffrey Noel Whitfield, my father.

Lest we forget. Anzac Day 2024.

3rd October 1935 – 5th April 2017

My brother — Ian Jeffrey Whitfield

Auburn Street Sutherland early 1940s — L-R John Christison, Eric Christison, Sophia Christison our Great-Grandmother, Roy Christison our Grandfather, Ian

Auburn Street again. My sister Jeanette (1940-1952) and Ian. None of us quite recovered from the loss of Jeanette, Ian especially.

6th Class, Sutherland Public School 1947

Wedding Day 1955. His best man was, I think, named Peter!

In Surry Hills, visiting, Easter 2010

Memory

Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Yesterday I went through a fair range of emotions.

My older brother Ian (the only surviving member of my immediate family) is up in Sydney from Tasmania. Accompanied by his daughter Christine and her husband and their three children (Nathan [12], David [10], Lauren [9]), he called in to see me yesterday afternoon. We went to Cafe Max for coffee.

Cafe Max – Madam and Dimmi 2003

Through distance and circumstances, I had not seen Ian for over 20 years. We have kept in touch, however, especially since the death of our mother in 1996. One funny thing was that we were dressed almost identically, a point Christine noticed, asking if it was the family uniform.

Sitting side by side we looked like two peas in a pod. Two white-haired old codgers. Looking at my brother in profile I could see my father.

I had never hugged him or been hugged by him before. Yesterday we both enjoyed the experience. We both realise that (unless I get down to Tasmania some time) we may never see each other again*. Christine said as much.

The full significance of that really dawned on me only after he had gone. I felt old. I may have been a bit clingy to a current friend subsequently; I hope not, and can just say that I had to turn somewhere for a bit… Very thankful, I am.

Ian is returning to Tasmania and plans never to come back to the mainland. He has been visiting places and people from our youth while in Sydney, and paying his respects at the graves of our parents and sister. It is a farewell journey. Though there are plenty of years in him yet I’d say.

I like my brother. He is a really lovely man.

My grand-nephews and grand-niece seemed a little shy of their notoriously strange uncle. Their part of Sydney is still as it was when I grew up and strange great-uncles (let alone Chinese flatmates) are thin on the ground. In fact the local high school (so they told me) has a refugee from Sydney Boys who fled the Asian hordes there after about four weeks…

2024 reflections on 2002

*I did see him again as the post indicated earlier, and he had 15 years to go… He was 81 when he passed away in Tasmania. I turn 81 in July.

And in the last para I was a tad patronising about The Shire. The student who attended SBHS for just four weeks was indeed somewhat overwhelmed as at that time one in three students was Chinese (even born in P R China!) or of Chinese descent, and that was unusual in The Shire. But maybe he just missed his friends. Nathan, David and Lauren these days have and have had friends from many backgrounds, as befits young 21st century Australians, have been overseas, and as I recall Nathan at least spent time in Japan. Japanese was taught in their high school and there were exchange visits.

2013: Taking Japanese friends to Lowenbrau — Nathan, David and Lauren with Japanese friends