Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Nutt W T Driver 1462 William Thomas 2 FAB 30 Labourer Single C of E
Address: Murchison East
Next of Kin: Nutt, M, Mrs, mother, Murchison East
23 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds by 5 Jul 1915
67 Railway Place, Newmarket by 5 May 1917
Enlisted: 18 Sep 1914
Embarked: A21 Marere Oct 1914
Relatives on Active Service:
Nutt-W-A-Pte-2649 brother
Nutt-J-F-Pte-1713 brother
Newey-A-G-Pte-3149 brother in law
Claimed by a Brother
The Nutt Family
Before and During the Great War
by Marilyn Kenny
Ammunition Carrier Buttress sculpture by Rayner Hoff ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney.
The ammunition carrier is an Australian artilleryman on Gallipoli in the summer of 1915.
George and Maria Nutt had five sons and two daughters. Three of their sons and one son-in-law served in the AIF and (*spoiler alert) all returned. Together they served for a total of 4499 days in the AIF. Yet the tragedies that afflicted this family all happened at home rather than abroad. Their war years were bookended by two unexpected deaths - young family members with their futures before them.
London born George Nutt arrived in Victoria as a babe in arms at the end of 1858, his family being bounty immigrants on the Shooting Star. The family settled at Moliagul, a thriving gold mining settlement where father William (Billy) became a well-known quartz miner.
Sentenced by Mr. Justice Barry
Shortly before Christmas 1867 Billy Nutt was taken into custody. He had been involved in a drunken argument with another miner and later lay in wait for him with a pistol. Luckily his shot was deflected, however the assault did lead to the man having his arm amputated. Billy stood trial and in February 1868 was sentenced to two years hard labour which he served at Bendigo and Pentridge. George, aged nine, stayed in Moliagul together with his five siblings ranging in age from 19 to 5 years.
Miners and their wives posing with the finders of 'The Welcome Stranger' nugget.
Photo courtesy State Library of Victoria Collection.
The Nutt family would have observed and shared the universal excitement that accompanied the discovery of the world’s largest nugget at Moliagul in February 1869. Billy Nutt was back with his family by June 1869, but two months later his wife Ann, aged 45, died at the Dunolly Hospital. Indications are that the children stayed on with Billy with at least two of the sons becoming miners in an increasingly more complex industry. Billy took to market gardening, staying on at Moliagul, and looked in on by neighbors, living on credit from Ah Loy’s store until dying in 1896.
The next record of George shows him, in 1883, marrying Maria Louisa Miller at Kinggower. Maria was the eldest in a large family. Her father Thomas Henry Miller had been born in Massachusetts and arrived in 1852 as an early gold seeker on a Canadian ship. He had fairly quickly married Irish born Catherine Langgan. Maria was born in Collingwood in 1853 then the family moved northward, with births at Black Forest and Benalla. The registration of more births at Dunolly shows where George and Maria’s lives intersected before the Miller family settled finally in Rushworth.
George entered Railway service on 13 November 1884 as a line repairer. Maria entered into producing seven children in eleven years. The first child was born at Dunolly, others at Romsey, with the last in 1895 at Watchem, a settlement on the railway line to Mildura. About 1897 the family moved to Murchison East. George was promoted ganger in 1902 on a daily wage of 9 shillings. A ganger was a line foreman, being responsible for the way and works on a ten mile stretch of rail. George sometimes used his work title in personal correspondence indicating pride in his role. It was common for the sons of railway workers to become part of the railway family. Third son Alfred George became a railway porter. It might have been this employment security that allowed him to be the first to marry in 1907 aged 21 years.
The family seemed to have become firmly established in the township. George took part in fund raising for the family of a railway navvie murdered in 1911, and Alf became a vestryman. Another wedding of 26 year old James Francis took place in 1913, his first son being born in early 1914.
War
War was declared on 4 August 1914 with the Murchison Advertiser announcing that The long-expected has happened. It presciently predicted that war would develop into the greatest and most dreadful in history of the world. Less correctly it forecast that that it will be short, sharp and decisive, thereby assuring the peace of the world.
The Nutt family was preparing for a happier occasion. On 19 August eldest daughter Alice married Arthur George Newey. He too was a railway worker and had been so for two years, on 8 shillings a day. Alice entered Christ Church, Murchison on her father’s arm with several family members of the bridal party. Afterwards the guests, who had given numerous and costly gifts were entertained at the Nutt home. The Neweys settled in Newmarket near Melbourne.
Christ Church, Murchison built 1884.
Photo courtesy Australia's Christian Heritage.
A week later it was announced in the newspaper that William Thomas, the eldest Nutt son had volunteered. Will Nutt was not quite up to enlistment standards. He was single but at 30 years was in the upper range of acceptable age. Will also was only 5’ 4’’ in height, two inches less than the minimum and barely reached the required chest measurement. Will however may have had a secret skill. He gave his occupation as labourer but given his future trajectory he may have been working on a property with horses. As such, his skill set was in demand by the newly formed AIF, so much so that advertisements were placed seeking such men.
The Herald 19 August 1914.
The role of a Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC)) was to supply artillery shells and small arms ammunition to front line troops and to back up artillery gunners. The newspapers in the first months of the war played up the motorization of the DAC. The bulk of the work, however, was done with heavy draught horses, ridden by gunners, both pulling the gun limbers and wagons.
Will may have had a yearning for adventure that caused him to step up or made a decision to go along with his mates. He may also have been inspired or urged on by the family’s pastor. The Rev Frederick William Wray had officiated at Alice’s marriage. Wray, the sporting parson, had served as Chaplain in South Africa and had been active since in the militia forces. He had been serving in northern Victoria and had become Rector of the Murchison district in mid-1913. Wray often gave well attended public lectures on his war time experiences. See also Chaplains at War
Chaplain Frederick Wray
Will was one of six volunteers to enlist from Murchison. The newspaper praised them for helping make up Murchison’s quota, being fine young men that the town could ill afford to lose. One hundred locals gathered at the station to farewell the noble six as they left on the train headed for the Broadmeadows camp. They returned a few weeks later on pre-embarkation leave for a formal farewell at the Mechanics Institute. The Rev Wray was one of the local officials who made congratulatory speeches. In responding the soldiers said that they had been well treated and their experience of camp life had not been unpleasant.
While their thoughts were focused on the safety of their soldier son, the Nutt family experienced an unexpected blow. On 5 October Alfred George, Alf Nutt’s eldest son, aged six, died at his grandparents’ home at Murchison. Georgie had been well and at school when he experienced an acute attack of bronchitis which brought on heart failure. The Rev Wray conducted the graveside funeral service.
An unidentified sergeant encourages a recalcitrant horse up the gangway onto
A21 HMAT Marere. October 1914. Photo courtesy Australian War Memorial
At the Broadmeadows camp Will and his mates joined his Unit, the 2 Brigade Ammunition Column, consisting of five officers, 241 men and 291 horses. In mid-September their pre-embarkation orders were cancelled causing confusion as baggage had already been forwarded and had to be returned. A month later the orders were real and on 19 October Will was part of a group, separated from the main body, of one Officer, 44 men and 256 horses to embark on the HMAT Marere, sailing with the First Convoy.
GABA TEPE
Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915. Sailors offload mules from a landing barge onto the beach at Gaba Tepe. The animals will be used to carry water and other supplies to troops in the front line.
Photo courtesy Australian War Memorial
The ship left Albany on 1 November and life on board followed what was to become a familiar pattern, tending to the horses, drill and church parade. They arrived and settled at the Mena Camp in mid-December. On 8 April they moved to Alexandria then Mudros leaving there on HMAT Armadale for the Gallipoli Peninsula. The Unit landed at Gaba Tepe in three tranches of 50 men between 4 am on 25 April and 28 April. Will indicates in his letter to his parents that they moved quickly from being under fire to dugouts. The group was exceptionally fortunate in not experiencing a death until 5 May.
The preparation for the landings at the Dardanelles had been such that it had not been realized that the terrain was not suitable for horses. Lying off shore in their transports were 6000 horses. All of these had to be turned round and returned to Alexandria. Mules, donkeys and their handlers now had to be sourced and eventually 1889 of these animals arrived for service. Although they could be used on the beach and lower levels, only men could scramble up the higher reaches. Ammunition supply staff donned canvas vests with deep tube like pockets and so lugged the artillery shells up the steep zig zag paths to the gun positions. Most of this work was done at night. Will may have met up with the Rev Wray, again an active Army Chaplain, who against orders had slipped ashore at the Dardanelles on 26 April. He was everywhere - tending the injured, burying the dead, providing food and comfort to the living.
Jim and Wally Nutt Enlist
By early May 1915 the news of the Gallipoli landings, the deaths, casualties and achievements had burst upon an unprepared Australian public. Probably as a consequence, enlistment numbers rose dramatically to peak at 165,000 for 1915.
One of those to step forward was second son James Francis Nutt. Unlike his brother, Jim did meet enlistment standards, being 5’ 8’’ and two stone heavier. He also was married, aged 29 years, with a two year old and another child on the way. Jim was assigned to the newly formed 22 Battalion. Two months after going into camp Jim embarked on the HMAT Demosthenes. After a short time in Egypt the Battalion arrived at Gallipoli in September 1915. James served there until withdrawn, returning to Egypt in late December.
Walter Arthur Nutt, the family’s fourth son, enlisted only a month after his brother. Wally, a railway employee, enlisted in Melbourne and was posted to the 8 Reinforcements 5 Battalion. He was single and at 22 years of age, 5’ 7” in height and 10 stone in weight was more typical of volunteers, even though his eyes were yellowish. Wally was longer in camp, not embarking until September 1915 on the SS Makarini.
Troops on board SS Makarini prior to departure. 10 September 1915.
Photo courtesy Australian War Memorial C1043140.
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Wally on his journey from Melbourne to the Mediterranean saw the toll taken by the sea war, his ship rescuing some survivors of a submarine attack. Wally too served on Gallipoli, though his time there was short. He joined his Battalion in early November on Lemnos where they were regrouping and quarantining after an outbreak of diphtheria. Before embarking they were inspected by Lord Kitchener who was returning from Gallipoli after deciding the troops there should be withdrawn. On 14 November the 5 Bn returned to the Peninsula, being delayed by heavy seas. There they served during the last bitter weeks, pulling silent stunts, and enduring snow, frost and a severe water shortage before being evacuated.
Moving to Melbourne
The Victorian Railways was the largest employer in the State and vital to the economy, highly regulated and innovative. The hours were long, the work demanding and, as a motivation, the Railway Commissioners annually offered cash prizes for workers who achieved high standards. The monetary reward would have been welcome, and it also meant preferential treatment when applying for transfer. Employees who were awarded prizes had their service records endorsed with commendations and were given preference regarding promotion. In 1907 George Nutt had been commended in the competition for best kept Departmental residence. In October 1914 he and his gang were award the district’s prize for maintenance of track in first class condition in the best kept length of gravel ballast category.
In 1912 the Railway Commissioners had decided to electrify the suburban rail network, requiring a tremendous investment of money and resources. Despite the demands of the war on railway manpower it was decided to proceed with the plan. It was decided to first electrify the Broadmeadows line, servicing the stockyards and its industries, the Flemington Racecourse and Showgrounds and also being within the electorate of Premier William Watt. George Nutt may have been specifically recruited in the role of inner suburban ganger, on a higher daily wage, for this now critical stretch of the network.
In July 1915 the Nutt household, consisting of George, Maria, Fred, Nellie and James’ wife Emily and child, moved to Moonee Ponds, near Melbourne. They first settled in Macpherson Street on the west side, to the north of Bent Street. It was a modest single fronted five room weatherboard but it was newly built and gave the family their first experience of living with sewerage, running water, trams, electricity, gas and made roads. The next move was to a brick cottage, 30 Elizabeth St, Moonee Ponds, off Ascot Vale Road.
Undoubtedly George and Maria were proud of their three sons and wanted the fact of their service recognized. They were a transient part of the population, not permanently rooted in any of the communities in which they lived. A month after they had moved to Moonee Ponds one or other of the parents took pains to ensure that this district knew of the brothers’ service. In August 1915 part of William’s letter to his family concerning the Landing was published in the Essendon Gazette and his name added to the columns of With the Colours. Over the next few months the Gazette published several extracts from the letters home of the Nutt brothers, including one in February 1916 which made clear that three sons were serving. Jim and Wally’s names at this time were also added to the 'With The Colours' list now covering ten columns. Maria Nutt also wrote to The Murchison Advertiser with news about and from her sons, some of these items being picked up and thought worthy of republishing in areas as far afield as Geelong.
Claiming a Brother
Writing in 1967, collecting his ANZAC medallion, Jim explained his change of Regimental Number …Gallipoli ………. was there until the evacuation. On arrival back in Eygpt I was claimed by my older brother to his Unit, unknown to me.
Will had stayed on the Peninsula until September 1915 when he was invalided out to the 1 Australian General Hospital. After a month he was sent to a Convalescent camp at Alexandria. In mid-November he was at the camp in Heliopolis caring for the horses. During his 14 months service he had time to become acquainted with the Kings Regulations. Within the more than 600 pages there was a clause that allowed an older brother to claim - request that the younger brother be transferred into the elder’s unit. Will, without apparently asking or informing Jim, invoked this clause. On 16 January Jim left his unit to become a member of the 2 Brigade Ammunition Column and received a new regimental number. This transfer stuck, with both Will and Jim becoming Drivers with Unit 2 of 1 Division Ammunition Column with the reorganization mid-May. By this time both were in France, Jim having sailed in March, perhaps with Will. In June 1916, in France, Wally also became a member of the 1 DAC so perhaps he too had been claimed. * (See further below).
Ammunition column work life in France as shown in images from the AWM
Having delivered ammunition supplies to the guns, unidentified members of
an Australian divisional ammunition column gallop past a dangerous crossroad.
Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, EZ0073
General service wagons of 4 DAC along the road after a heavy fall of snow. The soldier
standing in snow a foot deep is a Driver. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial C04563
1 Divisional Ammunition Supply Column carrying 18 pounder shells along the
corduroy road in the Ypres sector. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial E02018.
The Great War was an artillery war and it is estimated that 1.5 billion shells fired, with 60% of the casualties being caused by these. Each Brigade had a supply unit - the Ammunition Column. Personnel were ranked Drivers but also trained as Gunners. A description of the role of the Ammunition carrier on the Western Front is best left to the official historian Charles Bean:
The shell supply came up on pack animals. The total labour may be judged by the fact that on October 9 the 1 st Division ammunition had 50 pack mules and their drivers working to the 101 st Battery, 94 to the 102nd, 80 to the 2nd and 25 to the 6th, besides 12 general service wagons and 6 pack teams carrying ammunition to the forward dump. Even on the roads the animals constantly floundered in deep shell holes impossible to detect because of liquid mud. In some cases it took 17 hours to make the journey from wagon lines to battery position. In normal times this trip could be done comfortably in an hour. Ammunition became coated with mud and unusable until cleaned. Less well realized was the fact that the experienced personnel living in sodden shell holes quickly dwindled through exhaustion and sickness…At the wagon lines. . for many nights the men slept on wet blankets or at best on sodden straw. . This existence soon had its effect. Influenza and dysentery cases were numerous. .
The AIF in France 4-12 Oct 1917, p906
It was dreary, drudging work, done nocturnally, with the return journey normally being as slow, carrying wounded or collecting salvaged items. As well as the privations there was also the constant danger. Ammunition could explode spontaneously and needed to be sandbagged and the Column of course was a prime target. The journey had to be completed whatever the weather and often roads needed repairing before proceeding. Handling the horse teams well made high demands on the soldiers’ skills and this became more difficult if the animals became terrified with shell fire. Wounded animals had to be dealt with on the spot. And at the end of the journey the horses had to be cleaned, fed and groomed before the soldiers could rest in preparation for next nightly journey.
Shell pack horses France. The two horses are each loaded with18-pounder shells carried
in canvas shell carriers. Septimus H Power, Australian War Memorial ART92142.
Kicked by a Horse
Each DAC had over 1000 horses and mules needing care. At the end of June 1916 Jim was kicked by a horse. Jim received head wounds requiring suturing as well as nerve injuries to eye and ear. His service record indicates that he had facial paralysis so severe that he was evacuated to the UK. His mother thought that he would be returned to Australia, however Jim spent 12 months at St Luke’s Hospital in Yorkshire. For part of this time he may have been on Home Service as he had a period of six months as a Corporal. Will and Wally continued on in France. The 1 DAC War Diary indicates that the men and animals of the Unit were relentlessly employed in numerous different locations. Will had several periods in hospital with trench fever and rheumatism as well as time in a rest camp and leave in the UK. Wally received 30 days leave in 1917 and 1918 which he spent in the UK but remarkably remained well. Jim returned to the 1 DAC in France in mid-1917 but had then several local hospital admissions.
On the Home Front
In May 1917 the Nutt family moved to 67 Railway Place West, Newmarket. This was a larger double fronted weatherboard facing the railway line. This accommodated Mrs. James, her now two children, George, Maria, Fred, Nellie and the family poodle Max. The parents continued to share their sons letters.
The Age 12 June 1917, p4.
They also maintained links with Murchison with their boys names appearing on the local State Schools Roll of Honour. Maria Nutt at this time would have applied for her NFR badge, issued to the Nearest Female Relative of a soldier on service abroad. Her medal would have had three bars indicating three servicemen sons. Mrs James (Emily) would have received a separate badge in respect of her husband.
The Murchison State School Honour Board unveiled August 1917 lists
all three Nutt brothers. Photo courtesy Monument Australia
In June 1918, Nellie, a dressmaker, married at St Georges, West Parkville. Her groom John Edwin Austin was a railway porter. He had tried to enlist in 1916 but had been rejected because of heart troubles. The couple settled in Gippsland. Nellie's place in the household was fairly quickly taken by Alice and her daughter. On the 15 May 1918 Alice's husband, Arthur Newey, a railway fireman, enlisted, joining the Railway Unit. Arthur’s enlistment was probably linked to the recruiting efforts of local MLA Thomas Ryan. Ryan had been acting as a Recruiting Sergeant for the district before himself enlisting with the Railway Unit on 17 June.
Gored by a Bull
Collision between a heavy engine and a live stock train at Newmarket in the early morning
1. The Heavy Engine, Showing the Tender Badly Damaged. 2. The Crane Lifting the
Engine on to the Rails. 3. The Scene of the Collision, Taken from the Street,
Showing Portion of the Embankment. The Leader 10 August 1918
In August 1918 at 4 am the residents of Newmarket were woken by a tremendous crash that shook houses. This noise was followed by the sounds of distressed animals. George Nutt ventured out on the dark, very foggy morning to investigate. A stock train had collided with an engine with tender but no wagons. Both trains had found themselves on the same track near the station, smashed together and derailed. Many of the stock wagons had overturned and one containing six bullocks broke open. The bullocks kicked their way out of the wreckage and stampeded. George, trying to assist the drivers, was charged, knocked down by one of the animals, gored and sustained face, head and neck injuries. The animals continued to run amuck until rounded up by stockmen or shot by police.
By 1918 the Victorian Railways had lost 4382 men to enlistment with a fatality rate of 7%. It was feeling the shortage of staff but was still proceeding with the electrification programme. Newmarket was a hub for installation and trial of equipment. George probably felt the pressure to return to work quickly.
One Thousand Days
The Age July 1918.
In July 1917 the original ANZACS had completed 1000 days of service. The State Recruiting Committee informed local branches of the names of their boys who had reached this milestone. Appeals were made for an increase in enlistments allowing ANZAC veterans to be relieved. It was proposed that 1914 men be given a special one month furlough at home. This would deplete forces on the front and place heavy demands on shipping. For these and other operational reasons the British Government opposed the granting of what became known as ANZAC Leave. As time elapsed, pressure mounted. The AIF at the front were notified in May that leave was being granted but there was no formal announcement. A trickle of men began to arrive in Australia but again there was nothing official. George added his voice to the demands that his boys come home. By September 1918 the 7000 survivors of the 1914 men were being processed for return. Will was transported down through Italy across to Egypt and thence on the Port Sydney to home. There would be no return journey as the Armistice was declared while they were at sea. Will disembarked in Melbourne on 2 December 1918.
ANZACS returning home on furlough on the Port Sydney —incidents on ship and shore 1. Going ashore at Colombo. 2. ANZACS going for rickshaw drives. 3. Boxing match. 4. Church Parade 5. Sports the egg and spoon race. 6. Landing at Portsea-seven days in quarantine. 7. ANZACS waiting to enter the inhalation chamber at quarantine station Weekly Times Sat 28 Dec 1918
There were complaints that the food, equipment and accommodation on board the Port Sydney was substandard, a function of the quick make do origin of the scheme.
Homecoming
In January 1919 Wally and Jim left France for the UK. They were due to take immediate passage on the Cluny Castle but this was delayed due to strike action. In Adelaide further delays were encountered so troops were entrained to Melbourne, met by private cars and taken to the Depot.
Two thousand eight hundred sets of Australian brothers had died in the War but on Sunday 23 March 1919, George and Maria had all three safe home.
The following Friday, their eldest daughter, 29 year old Nellie, gave birth to a still born daughter. Six days later she also died.
Peaceful be thy rest, dear sister.
It is sweet to breathe thy name;
In life I loved you dearly.
In death I do the same.
A Nutt Family In Memoriam Notice 1920
*Claiming a Brother
Jim Nutt made an intriguing reference in his 1967 letter to being claimed by his brother. Never having come across this reference before the author sought clarification in the Official History, Unit Diaries, Battalion Histories, Service Records and the web. Nothing could be found. However searching on TROVE brought forth many references in newspapers contemporary to the Great War. There were confident answers to questions from readers that an elder could claim and younger but not vice versa. There were references to soldiers planning to claim a brother once they were settled. There were references, perhaps apocryphal, to Adjutants improving the quality of their Regimental Band by recruiting musicians after providing them with the necessary relatives.
An appeal to the Australian War Memorial Research Centre confirmed that no references could be found in official secondary sources. Historians at the Memorial believed that the process of arranging for brothers to serve together in the same unit was not official AIF policy, but was rather an unofficial arrangement that could be made if circumstances permitted.
The Research Officer at the AWM however persisted with this inquiry, contending with some difficulties in accessing material. He discovered a reference to an application for a Transfer that quoted the Kings Regulations. Exploring these uncovered the relevant Clause. Many thanks to David Gist for his work and discovery.
p69
The King's Regulations and Orders for the Army. 1912
Transfer to other Corps
Special Instructions
333
Special instructions regarding certain classes of transfer are contained in the following table
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Special instructions regarding certain classes of transfer
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Classes of transfer
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Competent Authority to Transfer
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Special Instructions
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(iv) To enable a younger brother to serve with an elder brother both units being in the same country)
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O. C.
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The application will state if a bona fide relationship exists between the men as shown by the entries of next of kin and also if the conduct of both has been good. If the OC the unit in which the younger brother is serving objects to the transfer, the GOC in C. on appeal, may transfer either brother to serve with the other. When such a claim is allowed between two different arms of the service, the soldier will be transferred on probation for three months except in the case of transfer to the Infantry
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References
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Australian War Memorial Bean C E W Official History of Australia in the War Volume VI – The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918 Angus and Robertson 1942
Australian War Memorial War Diary
Gladwin M Captains of the Soul -the historical context of Australian Army Chaplaincy Australian Army Chaplaincy Journal 1 2013
Newspapers Essendon Gazette, Flemington Spectator, Age, Argus, Murchison Advertiser
Public Records Office Victoria. Wills and Probate, Shipping Records, Inquests, Criminal Trial Briefs, Prison Records, Land Records
Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Index
Sands and MacDougall Directories, Electoral Rolls, Police Gazettes, Victorian Government Gazettes, cemetery records, MMBW plans, rate books
National Archives of Australia Service Records, Embarkation Rolls
Web Sites
Australians on the Western Front https://anzac100.initiatives.qld.gov.au/remember/western-front/index.aspx
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/OrderOfBattle/Artillery.htmlAmmunition Columns
https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/282819-driver-for-field-artillery-brigade/
©M Kenny November 2022
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Essendon Gazette 12 August 1915
OUR SOLDIERS
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LIFE IN THE DUGOUTS
Writing to his parents at Moonee Ponds, Private W. T. Nutt, who left with the First Expeditionary Force, describes the country in which the Australians are fighting at Gallipoli. "We raced up to near the landingplace in destroyers at a speed of about 21 knots an hour, and then transferred into punts, from which we landed amidst a hail of shrapnel. Soon the party was safely housed in dugouts on the hill. Everybody is his own cook here, but there is plenty food. A sea bath serves to buck us up, and there is not a terrible lot to do except carrying ammunition at night. The beach is only a chain in width at the widest part. Hills rise almost directly, covered with prickly scrub from 3 to 5 feet high. None of our horses are here, as the country is too rough for their use, and mules do must of the transport work".
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OUR SOLDIERS
Driver Will Nutt writes on 11/12/15 to say he is well. He was looking after the horses, and did not go back to Gallipoli. He was stationed at the Oasis Camp.
- OUR SOLDIERS. (1916, February 10). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 24, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74591860
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War Service Commemorated
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours
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