Newcastle Morning Herald transcriptions and Hunter Valley death details for February 24 - March 2,1919.
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AUSTRALIAN GRAVES
An Australian corps has taken up the task of locating and registering Australian graves in France and Belgium. Lieutenant Spedding has been appointed burials officer, with a staff of photographers. About 50,000 Australians were killed in France and Belgium, and 25,000 graves are registered, of which 4000 photographs have been supplied to relatives. It is now proposed to make an extensive search for graves and identifications of all Australian battle areas, and to take photographs of the graves, irrespective of relatives' requests. The Director of Graves Registrations and Inquiries has been hurrying the work, and shortly seven photographers from headquarters will be attached to the photographic staff in France. They will be employed exclusively on photographing Australian graves. The practice adopted by these headquarters is to send the photograph to the next of kin immediately it is received, thus avoiding the necessity of applying individually. The Imperial War Graves Commission has decided to erect headstones of a uniform pattern over all graves in France, but Australian graves will have the regimental badge engraved on the headstone. Relatives may send for inclusion on the stone a short and suitable inscription, which should be submitted for approval to the Imperial War Graves Commission. As full details of the scheme have not yet been arranged, the Director of Graves Registrations and Inquiries has requested that relatives withhold their inscriptions until notice.
AUSTRALIAN AVIATORS
Some of the 1914 Australian flying men are still with their units. Although many pilots are willing to continue flying in the Government service for Australia, nothing is known regarding the Commonwealth's program. Until this is announced, many Australians who came to England early in the war, and joined the Royal Flying Corps, will not be permitted to transfer into the Australian Flying Corps. Pilots who served in France are unanimous regarding the best aeroplane for various post-war purposes in Australia but the Commonwealth consulted fliers in Australia, resulting in conflicting reports. In the meantime no decision has been reached concerning the Australian flying men in England, who are in complete ignorance as to their fate. An officer shortly will be appointed in London to act as liaison between the Air Ministry and the Defence Department, Melbourne.
AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS
The Australian Flying Corps will cease the training of pilots on March 15. There are four training squadrons in England, stationed at Leighterton and Minchihampton. They have trained 65 pilots in the past 16 weeks, averaging four pilots weekly for months past. There are three service squadrons in France and one in Egypt, which are idle, except for occasional postal services, since the armistice. The most recent casualty is Lieutenant Weingarth, of Sydney. His machine crashed, and he was killed. It is regarded as supreme bad luck, as Weingarth fought for months with his squadron, patrolled and duelled daily, and accompanied the Australians on memorable low flying attacks in the neighbourhood of Lille. There are now 52 Australian pilots and observers in Egypt, 160 in France, and 245 in England. After March 15 all flying men will await their turn for repatriation.
CASUALTY LIST
The 459th casualty list, issued Tuesday, contains the names of a number of Australian soldiers, previously reported prisoners of war, who have now arrived in England. Included in the list are the following: Sergeant B. A. Gibbons, West Maitland; Private R. Herbert, Wallsend; Corporal F. C. Mannall, West Maitland; Private W. J. Rooke, Port Stephens; Private A. Slade, Newcastle; Private T. Jenkins, Tighe's Hill; and Private J. S. Whiting, Maitland.
BROADMEADOW
There was a large gathering in the Picture Palace, Broadmeadow, on Wednesday when 17 soldiers were welcomed back. The names of the returned men were: Corporal J. Hawkins, MM., an original Anzac; Sergeant D. Laughton (Anzac), Lieutenant W. Daniels, Privates Heath (Anzac), P. Bruniges (Anzac), J. T. Milgate (Anzac), Kirk (Anzac), B. Millar, D. Murchie, Morgan, Garner, E. Armstrong, J. Carruthers, M'Kenna, A. Barry, J. Edgar, and LindsIey (Anzac). It was explained that the whole of these soldiers were in residence at Broadmeadow, whose record for enlistments was probably equal to that of any other centre in the district. Every one of the men had been through much fighting, seven of them having taken part in Gallipoli.
CATHERINE HILL BAY
Private W. Hancock returned home on Sunday, after being on active service for three years, and was accorded a welcome at the residence of his parents, Mr and Mrs Hancock, on Monday evening. Mr H. Marks presided. The toast of "The King" being honoured, Mr Akhurst proposed the toast of Private Hancock, which was enthusiastically honoured. Mr Bowden proposed the toast of "The Soldiers Abroad." Mr Fox proposed the toast of "The Parents." Mr Hancock, in responding, said he felt a proud man to have a son return.
CHARLESTOWN
An enthusiastic welcome home was tendered to Sergeant C. Fitzsimmons (MSM) and Private Dickinson on Saturday. Mr A.W. Garratt, who occupied the chair, welcomed the soldiers, thanking them for the part which they had taken to uphold the freedom of the Empire. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. M’Geachie, Merritt and Bloomfield, and Captain-chaplain Dains. Gold medals were presented by Mesdames Penman and J. Pascoe, on behalf of the people of Charlestown and the Red Cross Committee to Sergeant Fitzsimmons and Private Dickinson, both of whom returned thanks for the expressions of welcome. They also thanked the local committee for the acceptable parcels sent to the men at the front. Private Dickenson enlisted in September, 1916, and was engaged in the battles of Messines, Passchendaele and Peronne. He was reported missing for some weeks, which fortunately proved to be false. Sergeant Fitzsimmons, who enlisted in January, 1916, fought at Messines, Ypres, Passchendaele, the Somme, Peronne, Albert, Amiens, and Armentieres. He gained his Meritorious Service Medal distinction at the battle of Passchendaele for special and brave efforts in crawling to the enemy's lines, and thereby gaining information which was valuable in the upsetting of German plans.
ISLINGTON
A welcome home was tendered to Private Harold Ashton, 2nd Battalion, at his father's residence, by his relatives and friends. Mr C. Tyler, who presided, on behalf of the family extended a hearty welcome to Private Ashton, after four years and four months on active service. The toast of "The King" was duly honoured. The chairman proposed the toast of "The Guest," and remarked the good service that he had rendered in Gallipoli and France. Private Ashton, in responding, said he was very pleased to be home again.
CONSTABLE LONG
A presentation was made to Constable D. J. Long Thursday night at the Newcastle Police Station, on his return from the front after four years and a half on active service. The presentation took the form of a handsome silver tea service and tray bearing the following inscription: "Presented to Constable D. J. Long by Newcastle and district police on his return after four and a half years' active service." Inspector Cook made the presentation, and welcomed Constable Long back home.
SERGEANT FINNEY
Mr Thomas Finney, of Pelaw Main, has received a letter from Major W. Fry, of the 34th Battalion, tendering him the sympathy of the officers and men on account of the death of his son, Sergeant John Finney, who was killed in the battle of Hem Wood, near the Somme, in August, 1918. In the course of his letter Major Fry says: "For months the division had been fighting hard to prevent the Germans from breaking through to Amiens, and it was in our grand attack of August, the beginning of a series of successes which ultimately concluded with the complete defeat of the enemy, that your son fell. It was entirely due to the superb determination and bravery of men like your son that the battalion covered itself with glory in fighting through the trying months of March to September, with little or no rest."
PRIVATE KELLY
Private J. H. Kelly, son of Mr J. Kelly, of Bulwer Street, West Maitland, returned home from the front on Monday evening. On his arrival at the West Maitland railway station he was welcomed by a large number of friends. Alderman J. B. Thompson, the Mayor, the Rev. A. Killworth, and Mr. E. Nettleship delivered welcome addresses, on behalf of the Central Area Welcome Home Committee. Private Kelly, who was under 16 years of age when he left for the front on November 17, 1916, with the 5th Reinforcements of the 34th Battalion, is now only 18. He saw 18 months' service in France, but was not wounded. In December he was removed from the firing line on account of his youth, and was sent across to England.
PRIVATE TILLITZKI
Private John Tillitzki, son of Mr G. Tillitzki, of Hexham, was welcomed home this week after two and a half years' service in France. Mr D. Walker, who occupied the chair, congratulated the guest on his return, and Mr Tillitzki, senior, on the war service record of his family - two sons and a son-in-law. Private Tillitzki had seen much hard fighting. He took part in the Allies' last great offensive, and was present at the fall of Peronne, where the Australians had a particularly hard fight. He trusted that Private Tillitzki, who was suffering from gas and trench feet, would soon be well again, and be long spared to his wife and daughter. Mr Tuckey, a returned soldier and an Anzac, then presented Private Tillitzki with a silver cigarette case and a gold medal suitably inscribed.
DEATHS
2nd Corporal Joseph Kenyon, Hamilton.