Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

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Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, 1915.  Courtesy of the Dusek family.

Letter from Chaplain T P Bennett to Gustav Stelling senior, 30 Oct 1915

ANZAC, GALLIPOLI
30th October, 1915

Dear Mr Stelling,

Although we have never met, may I write to you to say how much we sympathise with you in your loss.  Your son only came to us here with the 3rd reinforcements on Monday last - he was in excellent spirits and splendid health and glad to be at last in the firing line.  And yesterday with 5 of our men, his body was laid to rest in Shrapnel Gully Cemetery.  He died a hero's death in a sap which was exploded yesterday morning.  I hope on my return to be able to give your full particulars, the Military authorities prevent me from doing so now.  In my work as chaplain I come into close touch with the men, and I am able to say how much your boy was thought of by his comrades, especially those who knew him best.

May God help you and his Mother is at this time the prayer of

Yours sincerely,

T P BENNETT***

Chaplain, 22nd Battn.

**** Captain Chaplain Thomas Pearce Bennett, clergyman, aged 36, of Stawell.  Joined 14 Apr 1915.

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Letter from Frederick Glide 30 Oct 1915

AT FRONT

30/10/15

Dear Les,

Just a line to let you know that we have all arrived at the Front, and are in the trenches, and both Dave and I are doing alright, trying to sniper some of the enemy.    I am very sorry to have to write to you that your brother, dear old Gus, had the misfortune to be killed while trying to save some of his companions, who were in a bad way, as the result of an accident.  he did not live long, and died in perfect peace, being unconscious in the end.  There were two doctors, and a lot of medical men trying to bring him to, but did not succeed. We had not seen Gus since dinner time, as we were on different duty, and did not know Gus was in the accident, until it was nearly over, then Bill [Liston] and I did all we could for him.  He is looked on as a great hero over here, and it seems so hard to think that only yesterday Gus was laughing and joking with all of us about the good time we would all have we we got back home again.  They have buried him in the Military Cemetery just alongside another Essendon boy, Noel Wheatley. 

Bill and I are going to fix up a cross, and make his grave in order (the pride of the place if we can).  He was the best liked boy in the Company by the officers and men, and was always looked upon as a good worker, and sure to get promotion.  I am seeing the Colonel about his private property, and will do my best to get it all sent home.  I do not know how to write and explain everything, as we are feeling so sad or miserable.  There is one thing I should like you to do, and that is to write to Lieut Wickham, and thank him for the good time he gave Gus just before going to the Front.  Wick was a real friend to us.  I do not think there is any more to say, only that Bill and I regret having to notify you of this, and express our deepest sympathy.   Bill and I are both well, and are now getting used to life in the firing line and trenches and am  getting used to the shooting and shelling.  Of course, it was not very nice at first having to sleep with everything on including equipment, and no chance of a wash.  I do not think there is any more to say but remember us to all.

Hoping you are well,

I am, your dearest pal,

FREDDIE GLIDE
No 1907
"C" Company
22nd Battalion,
6th infantry Brigade
AIF
On Active Service.

__________________

Letter from Will Liston, 31 October 1915

31st October, 1915

Dear Mr Stelling.  No doubt you will have been advised ere this about poor Gus having given his life for  his country.  There was a cry for help, and Gus was one of the first to render first aid, but unfortunately, he was overcome, and I can assure both you and Mrs Stelling that he had a quick and painless death.  You two will be proud to hear that he died a hero, and gave his life in trying to save some of his comrades.  He was well like by all in the Company, and all mourn his loss, and I feel sure that God will recompense both you two in time to come.  If there is anything you want doing over here, I am at your service, and will be only too pleased to do whatever you require.  It is a cruel world, but we all have some burden to bear in times.

I hope all are in the very best of health at your house, and will continue so in the future.  Freddie Glide is keeping in good health, also myself.  Well must close and wish all a merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year.

Yours truly,

WILL LISTON

Address, Reg No 1923
C 22nd Battln
AIF
On Active Service.

Letters from Lieut A Smith and Lieut [Fred] Wickham, published in the Essendon Gazette, 17 Feb 1916

AN ESSENDON HERO

The following letters have been received by Mrs Stelling, of Essendon, regarding the manner in which her son, Private Gus Stelling, gave up his life for his country.

Firing Line, Somewhere

Dardanelles, 2/11/15

Dear Mr and Mrs Stelling,

Some considerable time before this reaches you, you will, I expect, have received the sad news of the death of your son, but I feel I must let you know how heroically he died, and how deeply we, who had him for a comrade, mourn his loss.  Volunteers were called for a dangerous task, the rescuing of men overcome by poisonous gas in a subterranean tunnel.  He was one of the very first, if not the first, to volunteer, and was, with a few others, the means of saving several lives, but, unfortunately, he himself was overcome by the unseen horrors, and although everything possible was done to restore animation, the deadly fumes were too many for him.

But you must comfort yourself with the fact that he died a glorious death for 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends".

We are all proud to have had such a man amongst us,  Please accept the deepest heartfelt sympathy of us all in your sad bereavement. 

Yours very sincerely,

A SMITH, Lieut.

-------

Cairo, 24/11/15.

Dear Mrs. Stelling,

It is with extreme sorrow that so soon has it been found necessary for me to fulfil my contract with the boys of informing you of the details of poor Gus's death. Of course, you will know of the fact by cable long before this note reaches you. It was a great shock to me, hardened as I am by long and close contact with the fighting, when I heard the sad news. I will write a few extracts from the letters I received.

"Poor old Gus was killed while trying to save some of his companions, who were in a bad way, as the result of an accident."

"He did not live long, and died in perfect peace, being unconscious to the end. There were two doctors and some A.M.C. men trying to bring him round, but their efforts were vain."

"If I go out as cleanly and as gamely as Gus, I will be satisfied."

"He was buried alongside the grave of another Essendon boy, Noel Wheatley, and we are going to fix up a cross and make his grave the best in the place."

"He was the best-liked boy in the Company by both officers and men."

"He is looked on as a hero over here."

Dear Mrs. Stelling, do not grieve over the boy. He had wound himself, by his charm of manner, around the hearts of all the men of his company, and proved his nobility and fearlessness by the manner in which he died. How proud you must feel that your boy died so gallantly for his country, and so unselfishly for his comrades. When all this war and turmoil are over, there will be some who will always retain and cherish a golden thought for the boy who sacrificed his life for his comrades, and who proved to the limit of human power the strength of his love for them. Though your mother's heart will be torn with anguish, bear up, Mrs. Stelling, and do not mourn for your loss.

You can justly be proud of your glorious son.

Very sincerely yours,

WICKHAM, Lieut. 

AN ESSENDON HERO. (1916, February 17). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 1 Edition: Morning. Retrieved January 24, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74591931

LIFE GIVEN FOR OTHERS
ESSENDON LAD SUFFOCATED
Mrs Stelling, of Essendon, has received several letters from officers at
the front regarding the plucky, manner in which her son, Private G. Stelling,
met his death at the Dardanelles.

"Volunteers," says one letter, "were called for a dangerous task — the rescu-
ing of men overcome by poisonous gas in a subterranean tunnel, as the result
of an accident. He was one of the first, if not the first, to volunteer, and
with others was the means of saving several lives, but, unfortunately, he
was overcome by the fumes, and although everything possible was done to
restore animation, the deadly gas was  too much for him.

"It was a great shock to us all. There were two doctors and several Army
Medical Corps men trying to bring him round, but their efforts were vain. He
is looked on as a hero over here. If I go out as gamely as Gus I will be
satisfied. He was burled beside another Essendon boy, Private Noel
Wheatley. We fixed up a cross on his  grave, and made it the best in the
place. When all this war and turmoil are over there will be many who will
retain and cherish a golden thought for the boy who sacrificed his life for his
comrades, and proved to the limit of human power the strength of hls love
for them."

LIFE GIVEN FOR OTHERS. (1916, February 26). The Herald

 (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242320354

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