Here's a taste of the camel's hump battle: "The first line having surrendered, the Cameliers pushed on to the second trench. But this left unguarded a number of Turks and Germans in the front line who had yelled for quarter. With Teutonic treachery several of these grabbed the rifles they had thrown down and fired on the backs of the men who had spared their lives."
If you don't like Oliver's poems, miss the first and last couple of minutes, but no more.
]]>Here's a taste of the camel's hump battle: "The first line having surrendered, the Cameliers pushed on to the second trench. But this left unguarded a number of Turks and Germans in the front line who had yelled for quarter. With Teutonic treachery several of these grabbed the rifles they had thrown down and fired on the backs of the men who had spared their lives."
If you don't like Oliver's poems, miss the first and last couple of minutes, but no more.
]]>This one has two parts.
It looks firstly at the YMCA in the Middle East Theatre in World War One.
Secondly a fun look at the Imperial Camel Corps sports day in February 1918 so if you want to learn about 'The Galoot' then listen in.
]]>This one has two parts.
It looks firstly at the YMCA in the Middle East Theatre in World War One.
Secondly a fun look at the Imperial Camel Corps sports day in February 1918 so if you want to learn about 'The Galoot' then listen in.
]]>Be advised: Politically incorrect language and poor pronunciation warnings!
]]>Be advised: Politically incorrect language and poor pronunciation warnings!
]]>Spin doctors were alive and well in WW1 and they worked overtime on the Australian and British public after the disastrous battles around Gaza in the Holyland in early 1917.
Oliver gives a reasonable account of the battles, anecdotes about the troopers and lastly advice to a certain young actress.
]]>Spin doctors were alive and well in WW1 and they worked overtime on the Australian and British public after the disastrous battles around Gaza in the Holyland in early 1917.
Oliver gives a reasonable account of the battles, anecdotes about the troopers and lastly advice to a certain young actress.
]]>Episode artwork is Len in later years courtesy of Murray Jones.
]]>Episode artwork is Len in later years courtesy of Murray Jones.
]]>There is an 'N' word warning for this one.
]]>There is an 'N' word warning for this one.
]]>"The day after the big attack General Birdwood asked one of the 1st Light Horse Regiment if he had killed many Turks, and he answered, "Yes, miles of the cows." As a matter of fact the Australians were almost quarrelling for positions in the firing-line that night. When the fight was at its hottest, men in the supports were offering bribes of tobacco and cigarettes to the men in the firing-line to swap places with them just for ten minutes."
]]>"The day after the big attack General Birdwood asked one of the 1st Light Horse Regiment if he had killed many Turks, and he answered, "Yes, miles of the cows." As a matter of fact the Australians were almost quarrelling for positions in the firing-line that night. When the fight was at its hottest, men in the supports were offering bribes of tobacco and cigarettes to the men in the firing-line to swap places with them just for ten minutes."
]]>The Ballad of Billy Sing is presented with the permission of Mr Jeff Brown.
]]>The Ballad of Billy Sing is presented with the permission of Mr Jeff Brown.
]]>That night enemy planes came over all night long dropping bombs, and several of the men at the rear of us were killed and wounded, by long-range shells..... Sometimes one was safer in the front-line trench than in the back areas!
]]>That night enemy planes came over all night long dropping bombs, and several of the men at the rear of us were killed and wounded, by long-range shells..... Sometimes one was safer in the front-line trench than in the back areas!
]]>Verdi Schwinghammer describes the Battle of Broodseinde, part of 3rd Ypres in this, the second part of his memoirs.
]]>Verdi Schwinghammer describes the Battle of Broodseinde, part of 3rd Ypres in this, the second part of his memoirs.
]]>I watched the place where they had scaled the height,
The height whereon they bled so bitterly
Throughout each day and through each blistered night
I sat there long, and listened - all things listened too
I heard the epics of a thousand trees,
A thousand waves I heard; and then I knew
The waves were very old, the trees were wise:
The dead would be remembered evermore-
The valiant dead that gazed upon the skies,
And slept in great battalions by the shore.
]]>I watched the place where they had scaled the height,
The height whereon they bled so bitterly
Throughout each day and through each blistered night
I sat there long, and listened - all things listened too
I heard the epics of a thousand trees,
A thousand waves I heard; and then I knew
The waves were very old, the trees were wise:
The dead would be remembered evermore-
The valiant dead that gazed upon the skies,
And slept in great battalions by the shore.
]]>We look at the men of the 184th British Brigade, men that were part of the nick-named "Sixty-worst Division". I think this was unfair, see what you think!
]]>We look at the men of the 184th British Brigade, men that were part of the nick-named "Sixty-worst Division". I think this was unfair, see what you think!
]]>Teddy Roosevelt befriended one of the survivors. Hear T.R.'s words and hear his friends description of Fromelles. This is some of what he wrote:
"I lay for half an hour with my arms around the neck of a boy within a few yards of a German "listening post," while the man who was with me went back to try and find a stretcher. He told me he had neither mother nor friend, was brought up in an orphanage, and that no one cared whether he lived or died. But our hearts rubbed as we lay there, and we vowed lifelong friendship. It does not take long to make a friend under those circumstances, but he died in my arms and I do not know his name."
]]>Teddy Roosevelt befriended one of the survivors. Hear T.R.'s words and hear his friends description of Fromelles. This is some of what he wrote:
"I lay for half an hour with my arms around the neck of a boy within a few yards of a German "listening post," while the man who was with me went back to try and find a stretcher. He told me he had neither mother nor friend, was brought up in an orphanage, and that no one cared whether he lived or died. But our hearts rubbed as we lay there, and we vowed lifelong friendship. It does not take long to make a friend under those circumstances, but he died in my arms and I do not know his name."
]]>Corporal Harold Roy Williams of the 56th Battalion wrote a successful book, "The Gallant Company". You'll love the story of "Skinny" Elliott and other real men of the 14th Brigade!
]]>Corporal Harold Roy Williams of the 56th Battalion wrote a successful book, "The Gallant Company". You'll love the story of "Skinny" Elliott and other real men of the 14th Brigade!
]]>"Cold feet yourself," Ted retorts.
And then seeing Bert, who has been missing for some time, Ted produces a note-book and calls, "Here you are, Bert, write your next-of-kin's name and address."
There is no farewell. They grasp their rifles, and Ted slings the phone over his shoulder. "You all set? Come on!" he calls, and away they go.
He shouts "Good luck lads!" as they climb over the parapet. God! what sights they see out there. Huddled and stretched out bodies, khaki heaps that were once men. '
]]>"Cold feet yourself," Ted retorts.
And then seeing Bert, who has been missing for some time, Ted produces a note-book and calls, "Here you are, Bert, write your next-of-kin's name and address."
There is no farewell. They grasp their rifles, and Ted slings the phone over his shoulder. "You all set? Come on!" he calls, and away they go.
He shouts "Good luck lads!" as they climb over the parapet. God! what sights they see out there. Huddled and stretched out bodies, khaki heaps that were once men. '
]]>Apologies for the lateness of this one folks, I have been busy with work and home matters!
]]>Apologies for the lateness of this one folks, I have been busy with work and home matters!
]]>The SS Matinga visits Rabaul on one of her supply missions, but it is her last supply run in 1917 that is interesting when she meets the German raider SMS Wolf!
]]>The SS Matinga visits Rabaul on one of her supply missions, but it is her last supply run in 1917 that is interesting when she meets the German raider SMS Wolf!
]]>This one covers the trip home on the SS Anchises, sight seeing in South Africa, Adelaide and Melbourne. It's a real buzz-buzz, whatever that is!
]]>This one covers the trip home on the SS Anchises, sight seeing in South Africa, Adelaide and Melbourne. It's a real buzz-buzz, whatever that is!
]]>Percy writes something that I have read over an over again in these diaries. To him, Armistice Day was a relief rather than a cause for merriment, and that is not just because Percy isn't a party animal, it was common among the majority of the soldiers.
I love Percy's description of Christmas and the farewell dinners ....
At 6.30p.m. 54 officers sat down, and one glance at the artistic and lengthy menu dispelled all doubt -- if any doubt there had been -- as to the probable quality of the dinner. At each diner's elbow lay a bon-bon cracker, and those of us who were childishly eager to pull our crackers were soon satisfied. The colonel set the ball rolling by inviting the "Beer Emma" (Brigade-Major) to pull his cracker with him. Immediately there followed a crackle around the table, and each of us donned the paper hats contained in the bon-bons. Then we settled down. Maybe I should say that most of us settled down, for the barman had been working like a Trojan in the ante-room all the afternoon!
Pulling crackers, really!
]]>Percy writes something that I have read over an over again in these diaries. To him, Armistice Day was a relief rather than a cause for merriment, and that is not just because Percy isn't a party animal, it was common among the majority of the soldiers.
I love Percy's description of Christmas and the farewell dinners ....
At 6.30p.m. 54 officers sat down, and one glance at the artistic and lengthy menu dispelled all doubt -- if any doubt there had been -- as to the probable quality of the dinner. At each diner's elbow lay a bon-bon cracker, and those of us who were childishly eager to pull our crackers were soon satisfied. The colonel set the ball rolling by inviting the "Beer Emma" (Brigade-Major) to pull his cracker with him. Immediately there followed a crackle around the table, and each of us donned the paper hats contained in the bon-bons. Then we settled down. Maybe I should say that most of us settled down, for the barman had been working like a Trojan in the ante-room all the afternoon!
Pulling crackers, really!
]]>"Suddenly the captain sat up and exclaimed, "It's quarter of a minute past zero and the bombardment hasn't started!" We tumbled out of the dug-out in order to witness the strafe, and, even as we did so, a machine gun started chopping the air on our left, and the next instant the valleys and ridges behind us broke forth into a vast rumbling roar, the sky dancing with the multitude of lightning-like flashes from our guns. I jumped on to the nearest fire-step in time to see the first red light go up from the German lines. It was followed by many more all along our front, and by green ones, and also the pretty orange clusters and the ordinary white illuminating flares. Less than a mile in front of us the barrage from our guns descended in a mighty uproar on the German lines. Great columns of smoke, lit up by the many varied lights, arose from the bursting shells and drifted lazily across to the right"
]]>"Suddenly the captain sat up and exclaimed, "It's quarter of a minute past zero and the bombardment hasn't started!" We tumbled out of the dug-out in order to witness the strafe, and, even as we did so, a machine gun started chopping the air on our left, and the next instant the valleys and ridges behind us broke forth into a vast rumbling roar, the sky dancing with the multitude of lightning-like flashes from our guns. I jumped on to the nearest fire-step in time to see the first red light go up from the German lines. It was followed by many more all along our front, and by green ones, and also the pretty orange clusters and the ordinary white illuminating flares. Less than a mile in front of us the barrage from our guns descended in a mighty uproar on the German lines. Great columns of smoke, lit up by the many varied lights, arose from the bursting shells and drifted lazily across to the right"
]]>I found the best old WW1 song for our Perce, as you will hear.
]]>I found the best old WW1 song for our Perce, as you will hear.
]]>"Jack, if you've got any manhood left in you, cut adrift from that miserable soulless lot of cowards and come over here and do your duty as a man and a true Australian, and as a Christian."
Take that Jack!
Percy finishes his officer training and prepares to go back to France.
]]>
"Jack, if you've got any manhood left in you, cut adrift from that miserable soulless lot of cowards and come over here and do your duty as a man and a true Australian, and as a Christian."
Take that Jack!
Percy finishes his officer training and prepares to go back to France.
]]>
Percy does something to Dorrie and is full of remorse, what it was, who knows? The engagement is on and off.
Nonchalant brother Viv turns up .... Well, it's Viv's way, or.... Luckily, he didn't keep King George waiting!
Finally, Percy passes and gets ready to go back to France.
]]>Percy does something to Dorrie and is full of remorse, what it was, who knows? The engagement is on and off.
Nonchalant brother Viv turns up .... Well, it's Viv's way, or.... Luckily, he didn't keep King George waiting!
Finally, Percy passes and gets ready to go back to France.
]]>Three of the Aussies are suspended from the Officer's Training School at Cambridge. Two for sleeping in and one for swapping a blown light bulb for a good one from the mess.
]]>Three of the Aussies are suspended from the Officer's Training School at Cambridge. Two for sleeping in and one for swapping a blown light bulb for a good one from the mess.
]]>Okay, no fighting, except maybe with his would be father-in-law, but still an interesting look at life during the war, and especially at Cambridge.
]]>Okay, no fighting, except maybe with his would be father-in-law, but still an interesting look at life during the war, and especially at Cambridge.
]]>Okay, so there are no battles in this one, except of the father - suitor kind, but this is probably the most significant thing to happen to Percy in the war. Enjoy!
]]>Okay, so there are no battles in this one, except of the father - suitor kind, but this is probably the most significant thing to happen to Percy in the war. Enjoy!
]]>There is one problem, Percy is still in Blighty, but not for much longer!
]]>There is one problem, Percy is still in Blighty, but not for much longer!
]]>That letter is read in this episode by a real digger not me and that is another reason to listen.
Percy is still in England and the anxiety over his brothers heighten. He loses one then doesn't hear so much from another. Then the letters of condolence sent home are lost when the SS Mongolia his a mine.
Things can only get better and they do in the next episode!
]]>That letter is read in this episode by a real digger not me and that is another reason to listen.
Percy is still in England and the anxiety over his brothers heighten. He loses one then doesn't hear so much from another. Then the letters of condolence sent home are lost when the SS Mongolia his a mine.
Things can only get better and they do in the next episode!
]]>This one covers a three month period in camp and looking around old Blighty. Meeting up with brothers Viv and Vern, but not Bert. Pictures from home and from Vern's new wife.
Meanwhile the 24th Battalion does the Battle of Bullecourt and Viv and Bert almost cross paths at the front.
Vern is injured in the foot and he and Viv both win Military Crosses.
Jump on board for this bumper trip.
]]>This one covers a three month period in camp and looking around old Blighty. Meeting up with brothers Viv and Vern, but not Bert. Pictures from home and from Vern's new wife.
Meanwhile the 24th Battalion does the Battle of Bullecourt and Viv and Bert almost cross paths at the front.
Vern is injured in the foot and he and Viv both win Military Crosses.
Jump on board for this bumper trip.
]]>He recovers fairly quickly at the 3rd Australian Auxillary Hospital and gets furlough, when he finally catches up with brother Bert and meets the alter-matriarch of the family, Mrs Morgan.
Then there is Miss Tess, or is it Tilly, Pugsley, Mrs Caborn, Mrs Cooper, etc etc. Flirting, ...... well Percy is a master at this sport, I think more-so than the skating he also tackles!
He goes to shows, like "The Arcadians", a clip from the Edison Opera Company from around 1910 is added, "A little bit of fluff," yeah right, Percy, and detective plays etc. Also to museums and a foundry that macks mills bombs and aerial bombs.
Lastly, he is at Perham Downs awaiting classification and he learns more about brother, Verne's wedding.
It's a long episode but well worth it. Please enjoy!
]]>He recovers fairly quickly at the 3rd Australian Auxillary Hospital and gets furlough, when he finally catches up with brother Bert and meets the alter-matriarch of the family, Mrs Morgan.
Then there is Miss Tess, or is it Tilly, Pugsley, Mrs Caborn, Mrs Cooper, etc etc. Flirting, ...... well Percy is a master at this sport, I think more-so than the skating he also tackles!
He goes to shows, like "The Arcadians", a clip from the Edison Opera Company from around 1910 is added, "A little bit of fluff," yeah right, Percy, and detective plays etc. Also to museums and a foundry that macks mills bombs and aerial bombs.
Lastly, he is at Perham Downs awaiting classification and he learns more about brother, Verne's wedding.
It's a long episode but well worth it. Please enjoy!
]]>Met young Burrows, and asked him had he seen any Germans while on post. "Yes," he, "had seen a few." One he observed was putting up barbed wire entanglements.
"And did you shoot at him?" I asked.
"No."
"Why didn't you?"
"Well, he was about three hundred yards away."
I was staggered. Burrows, of course, was a new reinforcement, but it seemed incredible that anyone should think three hundred yards too great a distance to hit a man. He had not even thought the matter of sufficient importance to report it. Some people have queer ideas of warfare.
Oh Percy, what can I say? Come experience the worst winter in years.
]]>Met young Burrows, and asked him had he seen any Germans while on post. "Yes," he, "had seen a few." One he observed was putting up barbed wire entanglements.
"And did you shoot at him?" I asked.
"No."
"Why didn't you?"
"Well, he was about three hundred yards away."
I was staggered. Burrows, of course, was a new reinforcement, but it seemed incredible that anyone should think three hundred yards too great a distance to hit a man. He had not even thought the matter of sufficient importance to report it. Some people have queer ideas of warfare.
Oh Percy, what can I say? Come experience the worst winter in years.
]]>"Turned off to the left, to some old disused trenches, near where was a wrecked "tank", one of those Hun-dreaded monsters which are the latest development of modern warfare. This one did not look such a very terrible thing, and was much smaller than I had expected them to be. It was heavily armoured, and had machine-gun emplacements protruding from each side and in front, and had a steering wheel in rear. Side-on, it had the shape of an irregular ellipse, and it moved on two caterpillars, one on each side, running right over and under the machine from end to end. One of these caterpillars was broken, and was doubled up in a loop on top. This was my first view of one of His Majesty's Land Ships, of which we have read so much in the papers, and which did such good work at the capture of Flers, Martinpuich, Courcelette, and Ginchy".
Now, if that doesn't excite you, how about a bit of stretcher-bearing through deep feezing cold mud?
]]>"Turned off to the left, to some old disused trenches, near where was a wrecked "tank", one of those Hun-dreaded monsters which are the latest development of modern warfare. This one did not look such a very terrible thing, and was much smaller than I had expected them to be. It was heavily armoured, and had machine-gun emplacements protruding from each side and in front, and had a steering wheel in rear. Side-on, it had the shape of an irregular ellipse, and it moved on two caterpillars, one on each side, running right over and under the machine from end to end. One of these caterpillars was broken, and was doubled up in a loop on top. This was my first view of one of His Majesty's Land Ships, of which we have read so much in the papers, and which did such good work at the capture of Flers, Martinpuich, Courcelette, and Ginchy".
Now, if that doesn't excite you, how about a bit of stretcher-bearing through deep feezing cold mud?
]]>The boys give their opinion on the Conscription Referendum in no uncertain terms to a couple politicians.
Not so quiet on the Somme, you bet! Perce and Viv take a horse trip to Memetz Wood. "Once, being held up by a block, we left the road to get around the chaos of horses, carts, limbers, motors, bikes and motor transports, and got into some old barbed wire entanglements, in which Viv's horse got caught".
Hey, I should have called this episode "The Plebeian." I almost called it "The Beetle." Now, why did I decide on "Piano Man?"
]]>The boys give their opinion on the Conscription Referendum in no uncertain terms to a couple politicians.
Not so quiet on the Somme, you bet! Perce and Viv take a horse trip to Memetz Wood. "Once, being held up by a block, we left the road to get around the chaos of horses, carts, limbers, motors, bikes and motor transports, and got into some old barbed wire entanglements, in which Viv's horse got caught".
Hey, I should have called this episode "The Plebeian." I almost called it "The Beetle." Now, why did I decide on "Piano Man?"
]]>What does a soldier tell his family about one of the most intense battles of the western front?
]]>What does a soldier tell his family about one of the most intense battles of the western front?
]]>He loses a lot of good mates, Bert Newland and Smith among them.
Come into this most infamous of #Somme battles of #WW1 , #Pozieres
]]>
He loses a lot of good mates, Bert Newland and Smith among them.
Come into this most infamous of #Somme battles of #WW1 , #Pozieres
]]>
What a charming place, Percy describes the dugout he and his Russian born mate, Alex Popoff, find, "There are some bodies buried just in front of our door, and having swollen, they have forced the earth up over them, and it is spongy and springy to walk on."
Percy has hardened to a veteran and is disgusted with the waste of life on the 1st day of the offensive.
]]>What a charming place, Percy describes the dugout he and his Russian born mate, Alex Popoff, find, "There are some bodies buried just in front of our door, and having swollen, they have forced the earth up over them, and it is spongy and springy to walk on."
Percy has hardened to a veteran and is disgusted with the waste of life on the 1st day of the offensive.
]]>Anyway, the boys get a hammering from a heavy barrage and worse than that, some are out in no-man's-land when friendly fire - if artillery can be friendly - kills a bunch of blokes.
Ohh, and Nugget Byrne belts up a poor sniper he captures "Camerade, camerade!" Stiff luck old mate, he had a leave pass to go to Berlin the next day.
]]>Anyway, the boys get a hammering from a heavy barrage and worse than that, some are out in no-man's-land when friendly fire - if artillery can be friendly - kills a bunch of blokes.
Ohh, and Nugget Byrne belts up a poor sniper he captures "Camerade, camerade!" Stiff luck old mate, he had a leave pass to go to Berlin the next day.
]]>Listen to why Private Ogilvie nearly kills Private Williams and how does the 9th Battalion loses a lot of men without ever firing a shot!
And finally Percy catches up with ..... no spoilers, but if you have followed every episode you will know who.
This is the last episode recorded with my old microphone, good things to come.
]]>Listen to why Private Ogilvie nearly kills Private Williams and how does the 9th Battalion loses a lot of men without ever firing a shot!
And finally Percy catches up with ..... no spoilers, but if you have followed every episode you will know who.
This is the last episode recorded with my old microphone, good things to come.
]]>Yes, we finally make it to France!
]]>Yes, we finally make it to France!
]]>Percy does some time near the Suez Canal but when will they go to France?
Oh, and yes he does get that elusive stripe.
]]>Percy does some time near the Suez Canal but when will they go to France?
Oh, and yes he does get that elusive stripe.
]]>He does, he goes to Egypt, meets up with his brother Vern, marches around the desert, looks at old battlefields and studies to become a non commissioned officer.
This episode was re-recorded in May 2019.
]]>He does, he goes to Egypt, meets up with his brother Vern, marches around the desert, looks at old battlefields and studies to become a non commissioned officer.
This episode was re-recorded in May 2019.
]]>Now I used some backing music, here is a link to St Monicas Choir Facebook pageThey are a Maltese Choir and worth a listen.
Okay, so hang a sock on Christmas Eve and see if Percy's Mum leaves half a crown in it!
]]>Now I used some backing music, here is a link to St Monicas Choir Facebook pageThey are a Maltese Choir and worth a listen.
Okay, so hang a sock on Christmas Eve and see if Percy's Mum leaves half a crown in it!
]]>After tea, I went for a walk up to Lone Pine. I met a couple of casualties on the way. They were 24th battalion men. A "75" had got four of them. The first one I met was wounded in several places, and the next was dead. He lay still and silent on the stretcher, and it made me feel quite "skeery" for a while.
]]>After tea, I went for a walk up to Lone Pine. I met a couple of casualties on the way. They were 24th battalion men. A "75" had got four of them. The first one I met was wounded in several places, and the next was dead. He lay still and silent on the stretcher, and it made me feel quite "skeery" for a while.
]]>He meets up with his brothers Bert and Vern. Bert is not so well and Percy starts to get sick himself. Vern has a stellar career and Percy learns of his brave actions at Lone Pine.
]]>He meets up with his brothers Bert and Vern. Bert is not so well and Percy starts to get sick himself. Vern has a stellar career and Percy learns of his brave actions at Lone Pine.
]]>Percy explores the Cheops Pyramid, the Sphynx and the infamous "Wozzer" where ANZAC troops rioted twice in 1915. Percy is a good religious boy, though, and shuns the activites at the Wozzer (The Can Can is evil, my wife will like that comment) and is disgusted when he accidentally drinks a bottle of beer!
]]>Percy explores the Cheops Pyramid, the Sphynx and the infamous "Wozzer" where ANZAC troops rioted twice in 1915. Percy is a good religious boy, though, and shuns the activites at the Wozzer (The Can Can is evil, my wife will like that comment) and is disgusted when he accidentally drinks a bottle of beer!
]]>Before he goes, his unit is set to Obelisk Bay in Sydney Harbour to fight fake Turks for the movie cameras, a clip of that movie is available at the Smythe family website if you care take a look... well worth it!
]]>Before he goes, his unit is set to Obelisk Bay in Sydney Harbour to fight fake Turks for the movie cameras, a clip of that movie is available at the Smythe family website if you care take a look... well worth it!
]]>You join the AIF of course!
This is part one of the diary of Percy Ellesmere Smythe, the third oldest of four brothers who go to war. This is the story of your experiences and those of your brothers through your eyes. Come on a journey through the Dardenelles and the western front with Percy and come home in an officer's uniform with a Military Cross.
You can find out more about the Smythe brothers at the Smythe family website, www.smythe.id.au
]]>
You join the AIF of course!
This is part one of the diary of Percy Ellesmere Smythe, the third oldest of four brothers who go to war. This is the story of your experiences and those of your brothers through your eyes. Come on a journey through the Dardenelles and the western front with Percy and come home in an officer's uniform with a Military Cross.
You can find out more about the Smythe brothers at the Smythe family website, www.smythe.id.au
]]>
Len provides us with more insights into life in the AIF and in wartime England. He gives his opinion on the quality of later recruits to the AIF and of the Americans he meets.
It is also obvious how more mature and reserved Len became toward the end of the war.
Enjoy!
]]>Len provides us with more insights into life in the AIF and in wartime England. He gives his opinion on the quality of later recruits to the AIF and of the Americans he meets.
It is also obvious how more mature and reserved Len became toward the end of the war.
Enjoy!
]]>This episode covers Len's Chapter 8 of his memoirs and is quite long, but that is how he wrote it. Here is some of it:
"In charge of a sergeant, off we went, quite a mob, for Division was also sending up a wireless set. We were loaded with scopes and lamps and we were shelled all the way. Heavy stuff. We missed a lot of congestion going across country, but the ground! It was quite spongy, for underneath were mules, horses, Fritzes and Tommies of 1914 vintage on. And the stench rising from cracked, drying ground was pretty awful. Many of the division chaps, new to this smell, were not looking too good and one chap was promptly very sick over some brand new accumulators he carried. We had some narrow escapes, for we just had to plod on heavily laden. Anyway, he was 'sweeping' all over the place. Looking across to that dreadful Menin Road, I saw mules, men and ammo go up with a roar. Noise everywhere and up aloft scores of planes: Fritz planes, very aggressive. In fact, he seemed definitely to be 'on top', new Fokkers, etc. The dog fights fascinated us but on we went."
]]>This episode covers Len's Chapter 8 of his memoirs and is quite long, but that is how he wrote it. Here is some of it:
"In charge of a sergeant, off we went, quite a mob, for Division was also sending up a wireless set. We were loaded with scopes and lamps and we were shelled all the way. Heavy stuff. We missed a lot of congestion going across country, but the ground! It was quite spongy, for underneath were mules, horses, Fritzes and Tommies of 1914 vintage on. And the stench rising from cracked, drying ground was pretty awful. Many of the division chaps, new to this smell, were not looking too good and one chap was promptly very sick over some brand new accumulators he carried. We had some narrow escapes, for we just had to plod on heavily laden. Anyway, he was 'sweeping' all over the place. Looking across to that dreadful Menin Road, I saw mules, men and ammo go up with a roar. Noise everywhere and up aloft scores of planes: Fritz planes, very aggressive. In fact, he seemed definitely to be 'on top', new Fokkers, etc. The dog fights fascinated us but on we went."
]]>We hear about attacks at Hermies and the Lagnicourt, the German 'retreat' to the Hindenberg line in early 1917, boils, sausage balloons and the Red Baron.
This episode is shorter than the last epic so come along for the ride.
]]>
We hear about attacks at Hermies and the Lagnicourt, the German 'retreat' to the Hindenberg line in early 1917, boils, sausage balloons and the Red Baron.
This episode is shorter than the last epic so come along for the ride.
]]>
We experience the death of the well loved Colonel Howell-Price, amongst other men.
Joe Weger and his mates take prisoners in a trench raid on Hill 60 and Len describes action at Flers and sightings of some beings 'from another planet'.
Meet Sergeant Yorke, Snooksie, 'Cock' and others that Len could never forget.
This is the longest episode in the Len Jones series, so my apologies if it is too long for you. That is how Len wrote it.
]]>We experience the death of the well loved Colonel Howell-Price, amongst other men.
Joe Weger and his mates take prisoners in a trench raid on Hill 60 and Len describes action at Flers and sightings of some beings 'from another planet'.
Meet Sergeant Yorke, Snooksie, 'Cock' and others that Len could never forget.
This is the longest episode in the Len Jones series, so my apologies if it is too long for you. That is how Len wrote it.
]]>My apologies about the variable sound quality in this episode. I had problems with my old laptop!
]]>My apologies about the variable sound quality in this episode. I had problems with my old laptop!
]]>'outback' here means the rear areas behind the combat zone.
'neers' is short for Pioneers. These guys were the engineers or trades specialists in the forces.
Playfair is a cipher based on the alphabet
'duff' means the steamed pudding in this context.
'dripping' refers to animal fat
'well oiled' means drunk.
'bulsh' is short for bullshit.
'Bananalanders' are people from Queensland.
'furphies' are rumours, akin to 'scuttlebutt' and derives from a mobile water cart used by the AIF in large numbers to transport water for the troops. The men would swap rumours, stories, jokes, etc while they stood around the furphy cart.
'their endearing term' refers to the term 'pommy bastard'. To a non-Australian, it sounds downright insulting but it is just as often used as a rebuff to a 'pommy', friend that has said or done something foolish, as it is on a 'pommy' you don't know. A "pommy' or 'pom', in case you don't know is an Englishperson.
'Toc emmas' or TMs are trench mortars.
'star artists' are Lieutenants.
That 'N' word is shortened to 'nigs' here. Inter-racial relations during the early 20th Century would take a whole podcast. So, I won't try, but I will say that we have to remember when we don our rose coloured glasses that sensibilities can change dramatically over a century. No one of any race would have thought twice about using a racist tag then.
IT and HP are signalling devices.
'crook' means sick.
'fags' means cigarettes.
]]>'outback' here means the rear areas behind the combat zone.
'neers' is short for Pioneers. These guys were the engineers or trades specialists in the forces.
Playfair is a cipher based on the alphabet
'duff' means the steamed pudding in this context.
'dripping' refers to animal fat
'well oiled' means drunk.
'bulsh' is short for bullshit.
'Bananalanders' are people from Queensland.
'furphies' are rumours, akin to 'scuttlebutt' and derives from a mobile water cart used by the AIF in large numbers to transport water for the troops. The men would swap rumours, stories, jokes, etc while they stood around the furphy cart.
'their endearing term' refers to the term 'pommy bastard'. To a non-Australian, it sounds downright insulting but it is just as often used as a rebuff to a 'pommy', friend that has said or done something foolish, as it is on a 'pommy' you don't know. A "pommy' or 'pom', in case you don't know is an Englishperson.
'Toc emmas' or TMs are trench mortars.
'star artists' are Lieutenants.
That 'N' word is shortened to 'nigs' here. Inter-racial relations during the early 20th Century would take a whole podcast. So, I won't try, but I will say that we have to remember when we don our rose coloured glasses that sensibilities can change dramatically over a century. No one of any race would have thought twice about using a racist tag then.
IT and HP are signalling devices.
'crook' means sick.
'fags' means cigarettes.
]]>PMG means Post Master General, or a 'telco' in modern parlance;
KIA means killed in action.
A 'bar to his MM' or a 'bar' means he has one that medal twice. 'Two bars' is three times.
'Cleaned the mob up at nap' is unknown to me.
Après la Bataille' is a poem by Victor Hugo and turned into a song, 'bloche beni' and 'Maitre Renard' (Burgundy) are unknown.
CCS is Casualty Clearance Station. These were forward aid posts.
5th Division is the fifth and final division raised by Australia during the Great War, although there was an abandoned attempt to raise a 6th Division.
"Heads" means senior officers.
"Blighted" means wounded to the extent that the soldier is evacuated to England ('Blighty");
'Mills bombs' are grenades;
'bingy' means belly.
'40 Hommes, 8 Chevaux' or '40 men, 8 horses' was printed on the sides of very commonly used open railway trucks used to transport allied troops around the back areas of the western front.
]]>PMG means Post Master General, or a 'telco' in modern parlance;
KIA means killed in action.
A 'bar to his MM' or a 'bar' means he has one that medal twice. 'Two bars' is three times.
'Cleaned the mob up at nap' is unknown to me.
Après la Bataille' is a poem by Victor Hugo and turned into a song, 'bloche beni' and 'Maitre Renard' (Burgundy) are unknown.
CCS is Casualty Clearance Station. These were forward aid posts.
5th Division is the fifth and final division raised by Australia during the Great War, although there was an abandoned attempt to raise a 6th Division.
"Heads" means senior officers.
"Blighted" means wounded to the extent that the soldier is evacuated to England ('Blighty");
'Mills bombs' are grenades;
'bingy' means belly.
'40 Hommes, 8 Chevaux' or '40 men, 8 horses' was printed on the sides of very commonly used open railway trucks used to transport allied troops around the back areas of the western front.
]]>A 'Salvo' is a round from an artillery battery
5.9s, 75s etcetera are various artillery shells. These are commonly known by the calibre with a few exceptions like the 'whizz-bang' and 'coal box'.
'Cherio' means goodbye (like 'hooroo').
'Strafed' means to get a dressing down from a superior.
'Anzacs' in this case refers to a crunchy biscuit or a 'cookie' if you are a 'doughboy' rather than a 'digger'. Anzac biscuits remain very popular today.
'Cawnpore Angels' refers to a monument in Cawnpore, now Kanpur, India to commemorate a massacre which occurred during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
A 'sap' is a trench constructed toward the enemy line.
'Tucker' means food.
'Good night nurse' is from a 1918 comedy by Fatty Arbuckle. It means 'death' here
'Pioneers' or 'neers' are the engineer corps. These men rarely, if ever, saw combat, but were very important.
'Jocks' are Scotsmen.
'Whips of scran' means a lot of food. The AIF provided enough food for the whole battalion, but they were less than half in camp to enjoy it. My apologies, I missed a few of these definitions in the recording.
]]>A 'Salvo' is a round from an artillery battery
5.9s, 75s etcetera are various artillery shells. These are commonly known by the calibre with a few exceptions like the 'whizz-bang' and 'coal box'.
'Cherio' means goodbye (like 'hooroo').
'Strafed' means to get a dressing down from a superior.
'Anzacs' in this case refers to a crunchy biscuit or a 'cookie' if you are a 'doughboy' rather than a 'digger'. Anzac biscuits remain very popular today.
'Cawnpore Angels' refers to a monument in Cawnpore, now Kanpur, India to commemorate a massacre which occurred during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
A 'sap' is a trench constructed toward the enemy line.
'Tucker' means food.
'Good night nurse' is from a 1918 comedy by Fatty Arbuckle. It means 'death' here
'Pioneers' or 'neers' are the engineer corps. These men rarely, if ever, saw combat, but were very important.
'Jocks' are Scotsmen.
'Whips of scran' means a lot of food. The AIF provided enough food for the whole battalion, but they were less than half in camp to enjoy it. My apologies, I missed a few of these definitions in the recording.
]]>Toc Oates had a premonition of death at Gallipoli. Now you can see what happens! But, Len loses several mates at Pozieres, not just "Toc". 126 men from Len's Battalion were killed, a true decimation.
He also describes being blown out of a trench, digger buried men out, holding a man who died in his arms, killing a German with the butt of his rifle and another with a bayonet.
Finally, we go with Len as the Battalion is finally relieved and moves out of the line.
]]>Toc Oates had a premonition of death at Gallipoli. Now you can see what happens! But, Len loses several mates at Pozieres, not just "Toc". 126 men from Len's Battalion were killed, a true decimation.
He also describes being blown out of a trench, digger buried men out, holding a man who died in his arms, killing a German with the butt of his rifle and another with a bayonet.
Finally, we go with Len as the Battalion is finally relieved and moves out of the line.
]]>QM: means Quartermaster;
Backshee: means false;
PH: is a kind of hooded gas mask. I am not sure what “PH” stands for;
Nick: means steal;
Fromelles: refers to the front line sector south of Armentieres. The Battle of Fromelles took place on 19th July, 1916;
Shaking: means stealing;
‘Whizz-Bangs’: are a high explosive shell which has a curious sound caused by the fast moving shell outpacing the sound of the gun being fired.
‘Babblers’ or ‘Babbling Brooks’: is rhyming slang meaning a cook. Babbling Brook is often just shortened to Babbler.
‘Hun’, ‘Fritz’, ‘Jerry’ and ‘Heiny’: are names applied to the German soldiers. Hun and Fritz were most often used by the Australians. Jerry was used by the tommys and Heiny by the Canadians.
Annette Kellerman: was a well known Australian diver. The statue of Mary and child on the steeple of the Albert Basilica were damaged by artillery early in the war. The statute was almost toppled and resembled a diver leaping from the diving board.
‘Hows’: is shorted from howitzer.
‘Dixies’: are metal containers used to convey food to the front line trenches.
]]>QM: means Quartermaster;
Backshee: means false;
PH: is a kind of hooded gas mask. I am not sure what “PH” stands for;
Nick: means steal;
Fromelles: refers to the front line sector south of Armentieres. The Battle of Fromelles took place on 19th July, 1916;
Shaking: means stealing;
‘Whizz-Bangs’: are a high explosive shell which has a curious sound caused by the fast moving shell outpacing the sound of the gun being fired.
‘Babblers’ or ‘Babbling Brooks’: is rhyming slang meaning a cook. Babbling Brook is often just shortened to Babbler.
‘Hun’, ‘Fritz’, ‘Jerry’ and ‘Heiny’: are names applied to the German soldiers. Hun and Fritz were most often used by the Australians. Jerry was used by the tommys and Heiny by the Canadians.
Annette Kellerman: was a well known Australian diver. The statue of Mary and child on the steeple of the Albert Basilica were damaged by artillery early in the war. The statute was almost toppled and resembled a diver leaping from the diving board.
‘Hows’: is shorted from howitzer.
‘Dixies’: are metal containers used to convey food to the front line trenches.
]]>SAA: is small arms ammunition. I wonder if the Turkish authorities ever found that dump!
‘Crimed’: means having someone charged
MG: means machine gun
‘Johnny Turk’, ‘Johnny’ or ‘Jacko’: are the Australian nicknames for the Turkish soldiers. The diggers had a lot of respect for their adversaries, so this was not derisive.
Beachy Bill was a Turkish gun emplacement trained on the ANZAC Cove beach. This is from the 1916 ANZAC Book:
There’s a certain darned nuisance called ‘Beachy,’
Whose shells are exceedingly screechy;
But we’re keeping the score,
And we’re after your gore –
So look out, ‘Beachy Bill,’ when we meet ye.
‘Cripes’ and ‘crikey’ are exclamations. These are occasionally used today. ‘Crikey’ was made world famous by Steve Irwin in recent decades.
‘Dinkum’, ‘dinki di’ or ‘fair dinkum’ mean good or honest. These terms are still used today.
‘Chocolate over green’: refers to the unit identification patches worn on the shoulders.
Chats: are lice.
‘Cocky’s Joy’: is golden syrup, a sugar extract.
OC: is officer commanding (or CO if you watch American movies)
Maconachies is a brand of tinned vegetables.
A ‘Billy’: is a metal bucket with a lid.
Chit: is a written request.
DADOS: is the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordinance Supply. Now, that is a couple seconds of yours and my life we won’t get back!
The ‘Jacks’: were military police.
]]>SAA: is small arms ammunition. I wonder if the Turkish authorities ever found that dump!
‘Crimed’: means having someone charged
MG: means machine gun
‘Johnny Turk’, ‘Johnny’ or ‘Jacko’: are the Australian nicknames for the Turkish soldiers. The diggers had a lot of respect for their adversaries, so this was not derisive.
Beachy Bill was a Turkish gun emplacement trained on the ANZAC Cove beach. This is from the 1916 ANZAC Book:
There’s a certain darned nuisance called ‘Beachy,’
Whose shells are exceedingly screechy;
But we’re keeping the score,
And we’re after your gore –
So look out, ‘Beachy Bill,’ when we meet ye.
‘Cripes’ and ‘crikey’ are exclamations. These are occasionally used today. ‘Crikey’ was made world famous by Steve Irwin in recent decades.
‘Dinkum’, ‘dinki di’ or ‘fair dinkum’ mean good or honest. These terms are still used today.
‘Chocolate over green’: refers to the unit identification patches worn on the shoulders.
Chats: are lice.
‘Cocky’s Joy’: is golden syrup, a sugar extract.
OC: is officer commanding (or CO if you watch American movies)
Maconachies is a brand of tinned vegetables.
A ‘Billy’: is a metal bucket with a lid.
Chit: is a written request.
DADOS: is the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordinance Supply. Now, that is a couple seconds of yours and my life we won’t get back!
The ‘Jacks’: were military police.
]]>The “strong”: means the news of the war. I wouldn’t have understood the Light horseman either!
Liverpool Camp: is now an industrial estate on the eastern bank of the Georges River in the suburb of Liverpool, NSW.
Marmalades: was a derisive term at the Liverpool Camp which was applied to the newest batch of trainees. There was a particularly distasteful brand of marmalade jam named “Pinks” which the “Old hand “ refused to eat. Camp authorities got rid of the stuff by feeding it to the noobs.
Puttees: are a type of leggings wound onto the lower legs like a bandage. These were replaced by socks by WWII
Cobber: means friend but is rarely used today.
CTA Club: is The Commercial Traveller’s Association Club. The building stands at 318 Flinders Street, Melbourne.
Southards: is unknown and probably is of Northern England origin.
Gyppos: is a shortening of “Egyptians”.This was often used as a term of derision and after the war it was applied to a person who cheated, conned or stole. This can be confused with the racist verb form, to be “gypped” which means “to be cheated” even to this day and is derived from “Gypsy”. Either way, both are bad words nowadays, folks!
Piastre: is the local Egyptian currency
Bonzer: means good.
Sigs: means signallers.
Pozzy: means position. In trench warfare, a pozzy was often cut into the wall of a trench or formed by rigging metal or someother weather proofing over a trench or sap.
]]>The “strong”: means the news of the war. I wouldn’t have understood the Light horseman either!
Liverpool Camp: is now an industrial estate on the eastern bank of the Georges River in the suburb of Liverpool, NSW.
Marmalades: was a derisive term at the Liverpool Camp which was applied to the newest batch of trainees. There was a particularly distasteful brand of marmalade jam named “Pinks” which the “Old hand “ refused to eat. Camp authorities got rid of the stuff by feeding it to the noobs.
Puttees: are a type of leggings wound onto the lower legs like a bandage. These were replaced by socks by WWII
Cobber: means friend but is rarely used today.
CTA Club: is The Commercial Traveller’s Association Club. The building stands at 318 Flinders Street, Melbourne.
Southards: is unknown and probably is of Northern England origin.
Gyppos: is a shortening of “Egyptians”.This was often used as a term of derision and after the war it was applied to a person who cheated, conned or stole. This can be confused with the racist verb form, to be “gypped” which means “to be cheated” even to this day and is derived from “Gypsy”. Either way, both are bad words nowadays, folks!
Piastre: is the local Egyptian currency
Bonzer: means good.
Sigs: means signallers.
Pozzy: means position. In trench warfare, a pozzy was often cut into the wall of a trench or formed by rigging metal or someother weather proofing over a trench or sap.
]]>In this episode, Len takes your on a train trip through 1916 France, then into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time. We here about life in the trenches near Fromelles before the famous battle and anecdotes about the Aussie digger mates he has made. Len takes us through the rear areas of The Somme and into the jump off trench near Pozieres. He then leaves us with a cliff hanger as he rushes from the trenches.
]]>In this episode, Len takes your on a train trip through 1916 France, then into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time. We here about life in the trenches near Fromelles before the famous battle and anecdotes about the Aussie digger mates he has made. Len takes us through the rear areas of The Somme and into the jump off trench near Pozieres. He then leaves us with a cliff hanger as he rushes from the trenches.
]]>Tommy: English soldier (Derived from Tommy Atkins)
Poilus: French soldier (It means "hairy" as the French soldiers rarely shaved when on the frontline)
Bluey: Common nickname for an Australian with red or auburn hair (Now quite an archaic nickname)
Lewis Gun: A light machine gun fitted with a rotating ammunition drum and invented in the US in 1911
Hooroo: A now largely archaic Australian word meaning goodbye (The "H" is not usually pronounced and sometimes not written). It may come from "hooray".
]]>Tommy: English soldier (Derived from Tommy Atkins)
Poilus: French soldier (It means "hairy" as the French soldiers rarely shaved when on the frontline)
Bluey: Common nickname for an Australian with red or auburn hair (Now quite an archaic nickname)
Lewis Gun: A light machine gun fitted with a rotating ammunition drum and invented in the US in 1911
Hooroo: A now largely archaic Australian word meaning goodbye (The "H" is not usually pronounced and sometimes not written). It may come from "hooray".
]]>The Australians fought in famous campaigns and battles like Gallipoli, The Somme, Ypres, Pozieres, Fromelles, Passchendaele and in the middle east at Gaza and Beersheba. They also served in less well known places like German New Guinea and at sea.
Background material son the events described by the soldiers and biographical information on the individuals mentioned will be included.
This is the intro redux recorded in January 2017, much improved over the early 2016.
Phil Mannell
]]>The Australians fought in famous campaigns and battles like Gallipoli, The Somme, Ypres, Pozieres, Fromelles, Passchendaele and in the middle east at Gaza and Beersheba. They also served in less well known places like German New Guinea and at sea.
Background material son the events described by the soldiers and biographical information on the individuals mentioned will be included.
This is the intro redux recorded in January 2017, much improved over the early 2016.
Phil Mannell
]]>