TADCASTER AUSSIES
THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE MEN WHO WERE BORN IN TADCASTER AND ITS SURROUNDING TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND FOUGHT WITH THEIR NEW COUNTRY IN AID OF THE OLD ONE.
YOU CAN JUST PICTURE A GROUP OF AUSSIES GIVING A SNOBBY BRITISH OFFICER GRIEF IN BROAD YORKSHIRE ACCENTS !
AFTER ALL THE REASON THESE MEN WENT TO START A NEW LIFE DOWN UNDER WAS TO GET AWAY FROM THE OLD EATONION ATTITUDE THAT WAS BRITAIN AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
ALL THE RECORDS HAVE A STORY TO TELL AND PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT HELL THESE LADS WENT THROUGH.
ONE THING IS FOR SURE AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE PROUD OF THESE MEN BUT SO SHOULD THE BRITISH NATION WHO WITHOUT THE HELP OF THESE MEN WOULD NOT HAVE WON THE WAR TO END ALL WARS.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA WHO HAVE RELEASED THE PERSONAL WW1 SERVICE RECORDS OF THESE MEN AS AND WHEN I HAVE REQUESTED THEM.
ALSO TO PAUL WOOD FOR HIS TIME AND EFFORT IN GETTING COPYRIGHT PERMISSION TO PUBLISH THE MENS DETAILS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THESE MEN OR KNOW OF ANY OTHER MEN WHO FOUGHT FOR AUSTRALIA OR ANY OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY WITH CONNECTIONS TO TADCASTER AND THE TOWNS MENTIONED ON THIS SITE PLEASE CONTACT ME.
DAVE.
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CORPORAL ERNEST ABBEY.
SERVICE NUMBER: 1317. REGIMENT: 60th Bn Australian Infantry Force.
BORN: Harewood. ENLISTED: Melbourne Victoria Australia.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/11/1916. AGED: 23.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Bolton Percy.
CEMETERY: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial France.
Ernest was born in Harewood in 1892 to Hannah Abbey, and in 1901 they were living at No 16 Village Street Bolton Percy, with Joseph and Emma Abbey.
By 1914 Ernest was starting a new life in Australia and on the 22nd of December 1914 aged just 22 years and 9 months he swore alliagance to the crown and enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force joining the 8th Bn Australian Light Infantry, and was given the service number 1472.
No photograph of Ernest is available but during his medical examination he is described as being 5ft 8inches tall, weighing 11 stone 2 pounds, with a chest measurement of 33 to 36 inches with blue eyes, dark brown hair a medium complexion and a vaccination scar on his right arm.
Between December 1914 and April 1915 Ernest was in training and on the 4th April 1915 he embarked for Alexandria Egypt to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force,
(a name given in March 1914 by the British to those forces on the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli which in October 1915 became known as the Dardanelles Army with the opening of the Salonika front in Greece.)
On the 25th April 1915 Ernest was part of the landings at ANZAC cove which was the first major battle the Australians had been involved in.
Ernest was wounded from a gunshot wound to the hip and was evacuated to the hospital ship "Clan Mcgillivray", although during the confusion of battle he had been reported as missing in action.
He was then transferred to the Hospital ship "Tigne" which was off the coast of Malta by the 27th June 1915, he then returned to duty with his Battalion at Gallipoli.
It wasn't long before Ernest was wounded once more and on the 05th July 1915 he suffered a serious shrapnel wound to his skull, where he found himself on board the Hospital Ship "Gascon" on the 18th August 1915 he returned to Malta where he was posted to the Chain Tuffahs Camp ?.
Fortress orders were given to the troops on the 21st of May 1915 stating troops were not allowed to frequent local bars after a specific time.
Ernest ignored this and on the 14th August 1915 he was caught in the Advance Bar in Valetta at 20.45pm more than likely worse for wear and received a charge of 3 days punishment.
Ernest was sent back back to Egypt in the district of Mustapha Alexandria which was a convelesant hospital.
On the 18th October 1915 he set sail aboard the Hospital Ship "Borda" to rejoin his Battalion at Anzac Cove arriving on the 27th November 1915.
Ernest had a couple of quiet months at the front and on the 7th of January 1916 was on the move again, this time disembarking from HMS "Empress of Britain" in Alexandria Egypt.
Ernest was then transferred and taken on strength into the 60th Battalion on the 24th February 1916 attaining a new service number 1317 and was stationed in Serapeum an area near Alexandria.
Ernest is then reported to have been detached to Zeitoun School of Instruction for duty at Duntroon Plateau which was an Australian post in the Sinai Desert near the Suez Canal named after the Duntroon Plateau training base in New South Wales.
On the 18th June 1916 Ernest was about to join the war in France travelling on HMAS "Kinfauns Castle" departing from Alexandria and landing in Marseilles France on the 29th of June 1916.
Ernest was reported on the 19th July 1916 as being wounded in action from a gunshot wound.
He was transferred on the 21st July 1916 to No 1 Con Depot and was in Boulogne being marched out to base on the 31st July 1916 his service record describes it as "details Etaples class A".
On the 18th of August 1916 Ernest rejoined his unit, and on the 13th October 1916 was promoted to the rank of Corporal .
Sadly Ernest Gave his life on the 20th November 1916 no record survives to how or where he gave his life indeed Ernest lies where he fell to this day as he was never recovered from the field of battle.
Ernest is remembered on the wall of the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial which remembers all Australians who gave their lives in France and Belgium throughout the war.
Ernests family ensured his name lived on by placing it on the Bolton Percy Village war memorial and on the brass plaque in the local church.
Without that act 85 years ago Ernest Abbey would have just been another name on a memorial wall in France and i would not have found details of a brave Yorkshire man who gave his life for his new country in aid of the old one.
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PRIVATE GEORGE HERBERT COULTAS.
SERVICE NUMBER: 2124. UNIT/REGIMENT: 15th Bn Australian Infantry.
BORN: Bramham. ENLISTED: Port Douglas Queensland.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 25/09/1916. AGED: 35.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Bramham.
GRAVE: L.11.
CEMETERY: Dickebush New Military Cemetery Belgium.
Son of John Born Bramham 1847 a gardener by trade and Susannah Sangwell Born Hull 1848 who married at Bramham in 1869.
George had one brother Frederick Charles who also gave his life in the war and is remembered in the Bramham section of this site.
George joined up on the 30th March 1915 at Port Douglas in Queensland into the 6/15th Battalion Australian Infantry.
At his medical George is described as being 5ft 2inches brown eyes bBlack hair with a dark complexsion, with a tattoo on his right forearm. The record shows despite his height he is fit for active service.
On the 12th of June 1915 George embarked on the troopship " karoola"and joined his battalion in Gallipoli on the 2nd of August 1915.
Georges doesnt give the impression of being particularly happy as his service career is littered with fines and punishments from being absent without leave.
At lemnos on the 26th September 1915 he was fined 3 days pay for being absent from parade.
George was then sent in December of that year to Alexandria Egypt.
On the 31st of January 1916 he missed roll call on was absent until the 5th of February as a result he was fined 5 days pay under rank.
George could not stay out of trouble and was fined 10 shilling's and again 1 days pay for being drunk in Cairo and being AWOL between 5pm and 10.15 pm.
Later that month he missed his parade and was awarded 4 days C.B.?
This continued throughout 1916 including the following.
13/04/1916 Awarded 24 hours F.P no 2.
05/07/1916 awarded 168 hours F.P no 2 by the C.O 0f 15th Battalion.
on the same day George was awarded a further 28 days F.P no 2 by the CO of 15th Battalion.a total forfeiture of 30 days pay.
25/07/1916 Awarded 14 days F.P no 2 by CO of 15th Battalion AWOL whilst still undergoing previouse punishment.
On the 10th of August 1916 George was wounded in action in France and was taken to the hospital in Etaples near Bologne.
He rejoined his regiment on the 25 th of that month and was soon absent again this time on the 9th of September a punishment of 5 days being awarded.
He rejoined the 15th Infantry on the 12th of September 1916 and George returned to action where he gave his life on the 25th September 1916.
However according to a piece of paper in Georges file he was court martialed on the 23rd of September 1916 and was awarded 12 months J.H.R ? in pencil it is written not confirmed.
This court martial is not on Georges official record and he passed away 2 days after the court martial.
After George gave his life Susan his mother had remarried and was named Susan Coucon and was living in Wheatley Road Doncaster.
She was entitled to 30/Shillings war pension. This was increased to 40/ shilling in 1918.
However Susan tried to cancel the pension in 1917 claiming she had adequate pension funds.
At the same time she asked if her sons personal belongings could be returned and the public curater in Brisbane sent a letter to the officer in charge in Victoria barracks Melbourne.
Finally records show that in March 1922 his mum Susan recieved a memorial plaque and a month later a memorial scroll.
Many men went to Australia to start a new life with the promise of money and land if on arrival they joined up into the kings army.
If you have any information on George or the meaning of the codes on the charges please drop me a line.
TO SEE GEORGES SERVICE RECORD CLICK HERE.
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SERGEANT WILLIAM DALTON.
SERVICE NUMBER: 5963. REGIMENT: 22nd Bn Australian Infantry.
BORN: Tadcaster. ENLISTED: York.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 03/10/1917. AGED: 34.
CEMETERY: Ypres Menin Gate Memorial. GRAVE /PANEL: Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Tadcaster.
LEEDS LOCAL PAPER 1917
William was the son of John a Brewerey Labourer Born Askham Richard 1856 and Jane Simpson Born Stillington 1857.
William had brothers Amos, George, John and a sister Jane.
He served in the Kings Own Shropshire Battalion seeing service in India and South Africa in the Boar War between 1899 and 1905, before settling with his wife Isabella and his child near Melbourne living at 17 Victoria Street Coburg Victoria Australia.
On September 5th 1916 aged 33yrs and 7 months he enlisted into the 22nd Bn Australian Infantry, at his medical he was described as being of a Fresh Complexion 5ft 7 and 1/2 inches, with Blue Eyes and Brown Hair. William had a tatoo and each forearm, and a scar on his right hand and left knee.
William was paid 5 shillings per day 3 of which to his wife and child. After training William embarked for Plymouth England on the 2nd October 1916 on Board "HMAT "Nestor from Melbourne.
On the 3rd February 1917 William set sail for France aboard HMS Arundall and was billeted to Etaples near Boulogne the area used fro training troops before joining the trenches. on the 24th February William joined the front line and was promoted to Lance Corporal at the beginning of March 1917.
William was injuered suffering Gun Shot Wounds to his right arm left thigh and face on 20th April 1917, and was evacuated to Hospital in England staying at the Norfolk War Hospital until the 20th may where he reported for training at Perham Downs.
He was charged with being AWOL and forfeited two days pay in June 1917, and was promoted to Serjeant a few days later.
Williams past Army experiance stood him in good stead he was given temporary duties as the Company Serjeant Major at the beginning of September 1917 when the Battalion left England for Belgium.
On the evening of the 3rd of October 1917 near Zillebeke one and half miles from Ypres, William was with Company A Platoon no 11 carrying out burial duties for men who had lost their lives that day.
After they had finished they went back to Muhl Trench and William sat down on the step to light up a cigerrette it was reported that a shell landed killing William from severe head injuries and a leiut Moore of 23 Battalion and eight others died instantly.
The Australian Red Cross interviewed witnesses at the scene, William was described as being called "Bill" "Dolly" and wore South African King and Queens medals.
William had all the papers of the men they had been burying which were reported as being lost. See Eye witness reports Please press back button to return to site.
(http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/1DRL428/00009/1DRL428-00009-0870604.pdf)
William was reportadly buried outside of Muhl Trench, and it can be assumed his body was lost as the fighting still took place, as a result he is recorded on the Menin Gate.
However whilst looking through Williams service record a page came to light for the burial partys and Australian Graves Commision giving details that William had infact being buried in Perth China Wall Military Cemetery.
In 1921 a certificate showing authentation of three photos of a memorial cross Row M Plot 6 are recorded, a copy being sent to his wife Isabella.
Isabella recieved williams effects after the war a pipe, holdall, and a shaving kit, and details of Williams Will.
Isabella recieved a pension as did Williams Daughter Elsie.
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PRIVATE RALPH POOL
SERVICE NUMBER: 345. REGIMENT: 2nd Bn Australian Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron.
BORN: Healaugh nr Tadcaster. ENLISTED: Holsworthy New South Wales.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 20/11/1917. AGED: 22.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: Healaugh. Tootool Australia.
Ralphs Gravesite in 1920 (Copyright AWM.Gov)
CEMETERY: Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. GRAVE/PANEL: Grave. F. 44.
A special thank you to Ralph Mclean of the South African War Graves Project for the above picture.
Ralph surname is spelled Poole on the Australian service records and the Commonwealth War Graves Site indeed the local memorial in Healaugh spells it this way.
However on census records going back to 1851 and his birth certificate it is spelled Pool.
Ralph was born in 1895 to John Pool who was born in the village of Steeton nr Colton Tadcaster in 1856.
John was the son of William born Maryton Yorkshire in 1812 and Marie born Ellerton Yorkshire in 1817. John had three brothers William 1851, Joseph 1853 and Robert 1860.
On the 24th October 1885 John married Kate Huscroft in Healaugh St Johns Baptist Church.
Kate was born in Healaugh in 1862 to John Huscroft born Tadcaster 1820 and Ann born Tadcaster 1823. Kate had two sisters Elizabeth 1850 and Ann 1860.
Ralph had two brothers Fred born 1889 and Frank born 1891 and one of these brothers emigrated to Australia with Ralph.
In 1901 the family were living in Healaugh and Ralphs father John was working as a domestic gardener probably at the Old Vicarage or Healaugh Old Hall.
At the outbreak of WW1 Ralph was in Australia and on the 1st of December 1914 Ralph aged 19 years and 9 months enlisted into B Sqn of the 7th Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron in Holsworthy Sydney.
At his medical he is described as being 5ft 11 inches tall weighing 168 lbs a chest measurement of 37- 40 inches a dark complexion gray eyes and brown hair.
Ralph left Sydney the Ayrshire on the 20 December 1914 presumably for Egypt and in 1915 set sail for Gallipoli on H.M.T Kiteon ?
On the 10th October 1915 Ralph reported sick with Diarrhea and was placed on the hospital ship Assaye which took him to Malta.
On the 16th October 1915 Ralph was admitted to St Patricks hospital on the island and he was transferred to Ghain Tufficha on the 23rd of that month.
In early November Ralph was transferred to Imtarfa Hospital with Enteric fever and in early January was feeling well enough to be transferred to Cairo Egypt on board H.M.T Valdivia.
Ralph had obviously emigrated with one of his brothers as on the 9th of January 1916 a F.Poole of "French Park the Rock Sydney N.SW" sent a letter to the officer in charge of Victoria Barracks Melbourne asking for details of the whereabouts and Health of his brother Ralph.
A reply was sent explaining Ralphs next of kin was in Tadcaster England and an address in Malta was given for any letters to be sent to Ralph. I do not know which brother this was either Frank or Fred.
Ralph was still not well enough to be sent back to the front and was sent home for a three month convalescence onboard the Hospital ship "Nestor" leaving Malta on the 12 February 1916 arriving in Melbourne on the 13th March 1916.
Ralph rejoined the war on the 12th of September 1916 from Melbourne on board "Hymettus" with the 21/7th Light Horse Infantry landing at Moascar.
In December of that year Ralph was taken on strength into the 2nd Bn Machine Gun Sqn.
Ralph fought with the Squadron and the next record of Ralph was noted on the 6th November 1917 where Ralph is reported to have been wounded with gunshot wounds to both thighs and testicles and admitted into the 65th Casualty clearing station at Ismara.
On the 14th of November Ralph was transferred to the 14th General Hospital and was reported to have been dangerously ill.
Ralph was finally moved to the 31st General Hospital in Port Said Egypt and on the 20th November 1917 passed away from his wounds, he was buried on the 26th of November in Port Said cemetery Egypt the service being carried out by Chaplain W.A.Ceayes.
Yorkshire Herald York July 1916
A letter was received by the Australian authorites on the 7th January 1918 from a Mrs Celia Rothery of Northcote Avenue Kilara N.SW in it she explained she had received a letter from Ralphs bother who was described as living up country stating that he was not aware or had received any notification of Ralphs passing.
She went on to say she had received a card from Ralph dated the 14th November 1917 saying he had been wounded and indeed her son who served with Ralph himself invalided on the 9th of November had heard of Ralphs passing.
It was explained that only the next of Kin on the soldiers form would be informed this indeed was his father and mother in Healaugh Tadcaster.
This was done in early 1918 and on the 23rd of January 1918 Ralphs mother Kate was issud with a war pension of 40\ shillings.
On the 20th June 1918 Kate signed for the return of Ralphs personal belongings.
The final chapter in Ralphs story is regarding his pension in that in 1920 Ralphs brother "F" applied to take over the 40\ shillings i can only presume that John and kate, Ralphs parents had passed away.
was it Fred or Frank who was in Australia can you help?
