Correspondence

"A letter has been received from Corporal F Drew, of Essendon, in which he expresses pleasure at receiving the "Essendon Gazette", and to see the names of those in the district who are serving the Empire, his own being among them.  He tells of his experiences after leaving Egypt.  He sailed for Lemnos Island, and when within two hours of this destination the boat was torpedoed by an Austrian submarine.  Everything on board was carried out in orderly fashion, the men being quite calm.  Orders were given to take to the boats, and the troops formed  up in military fashion.  As soon as the boat in which Corp Drew was in touched the water it overturned, precipitating its occupants in the water.  They swam clear of the sinking vessel, and after being in the water for about five hours were rescued by a torpedo destroyer.  While floating on his back Corporal Drew could see nothing but upturned boats and men mounted astride.  Despite the seriousness of the occasion and their precarious situation, he says the men were singing heartily "Australia will be There" and vowing vengeance on the enemy.  Corp Drew landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula early in September and was amazed at what the Australians had done.  He describes the place as a mass of large hills and gullies, and on the first day our boys captured four of these almost impregnable positions.  Corp Drew thinks the Turks are losing heart, as their rifle and shell fire are not so accurate.  He describes them as fair fighters.  Corp Drew was invalided to Egypt with a dislocated cartilege of the right knee and a slight bullet wound in the arm.  He expresses the wish that there will soon be an end to this "vast murder".

OUR SOLDIERS. (1915, November 4). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590716

Death of a Brave Officer.

Corporal Frank Drew, of 53 Raleigh street, Essendon who was on board the transport Southland when that vessel was torpedoed in the Aegian Sea, returned home on Monday by the s.s. Borda. The returned soldier is invalided home as the result of a decayed cartilege of the knee and shock following his being five hours in the water before being rescued. Corporal Drew, who is compelled to use crutches, was yesterday  disinclined to give full particulars of the disaster. He did not see the submarine which torpedoed the  Southland, but states that fragments of the torpedo bear distinctively Austrian brands. Corporal Drew was in the same boat as Colonel Linton* when they pushed off from the transport. Their boat was capsized, and Drew, under orders from an officer, swam clear of the ill-fated transport, which was after wards beached. Corporal Drew, who was attached to the headquarters staff of the 6th Infantry Brigade, is loud in his praise of the heroism displayed by Colonel Linton, who was two hours in the water. When the rescue boat arrived on the scene Colonel Linton absolutely refused to enter the boat until every member of his staff had been placed in it. Then he was taken into the boat, and within five minutes died in the arms of Private George Tetlow**, of B Company, 21st Battalion. Corporal Drew, in relating the pathetic end of the brave Colonel, said he was very  anxious to deny a silly rumour which gained currency in Egypt, and  had even reached Australia, to the effect that Colonel Linton jumped over board when the transport was struck. The rumour referred to, he said, had  given the men of the 6th Brigade much pain, and roused their indignation. "He was one of the bravest officers that ever left Australia," concluded the returned soldier. "After being two hours in the water he placed the safety of the men under him before his own life, died as the result of exposure and shock, and was buried with full military honours at Mudros. On the day following the funeral, I attended an In Memoriam  service held at the grave. The late Colonel Linton was a father to us. Every man had a good word to say of him, and he was loved by every lad in the brigade."

Gurney's Running Grounds. (1915, December 16). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74591210

*  Colonel Richard Linton, aged 54, merchant, of Normanby St, Middle Brighton.

** 6 Pte George Tetlow, baker of Geraldton in Western Australia, sailed in the same 6 Brigade Headquarters Company as Frank Drew and Colonel Linton.