The Stockyard, Yarrawonga

29/09/2022

16/10/2021

It’s been a long time between gigs in Sydney, and our musicians and artists need support.

We’re doing our bit on Monday, by awarding $200,000+ in night time and performance grants to venues across the City so shows can go on.

You can do your bit by getting out there and safely enjoying our night time economy.

16/10/2021

– We Remember Sergeant Hugh Barr, MM

Today we pause to remember the life and service of Sergeant Hugh Barr, MM, who was killed in action on the 13th of October 1917 during fighting near Zonnebeke.

Originally from Ireland, Hugh worked as a fitter’s helper before moving to Australia in his mid twenties, working as a seaman on the steamer Western Australia. He enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 18 January 1916 and joined the 44th Battalion, entering the front-line trenches of the Western Front on 29 December, just after Christmas in the bleak winter of 1916–17.

The battalion fought in its first major battle at Messines in Belgium between 7 and 10 June, and in the months that followed was heavily employed in the Ypres sector in costly offensive operations. That same month Barr was promoted to the rank of corporal, the next month he was made lance sergeant, and the next a temporary sergeant.

The next major attack in which his battalion participated took place at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October. It was a just over a week later on the 13th of October that Barr was killed by a shell whilst fighting near the village of Zonnebeke at the age of 31. On 28 January 1918 he was posthumously awarded the Military Medal, for which he had already been nominated.

Lest we forget.

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16/10/2021

Munitionettes were British women employed in munitions factories during the time of WW1.
By June 1917, roughly 80 percent of the weaponry and ammunition used by the British army during WW1 was being made by munitionettes.
The female workers had limited protection against the toxic chemicals they had to use.
Over 200 women lost their lives through accidents, explosions, or poisoning from handling chemical explosives.
Women's contribution to the war effort showcased their capabilities and has been credited with changing the way that women were regarded in society and adding considerable momentum to the women's suffrage movement.
Lest We Forget 🌺

Info from Wikipedia and Imperial War Museum. Image file number IWM HU 96426.

16/10/2021

Lt. Everard Francis Sale Handford - the second brother killed on this day - 15 October 1915.
To read more about the two Handford brothers click on the link here>>> https://www.facebook.com/westernfrontassociation/posts/10158871094606902

16/10/2021

– The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

On the 14th of October at 4am, Sapper Bert Beros wrote a poem paying tribute to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels whilst serving on the Kokoda Track. The poem, below, commemorates the native Papuans who served as porters and stretcher bearers during the fighting along the Kokoda Track in WWII.

As a result of this poem, and a photo taken by war photographer George Silk of blinded Australian Private George Whittington being led to a field hospital near Buna by carrier Raphael Oimbari (below), the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels would be immortalised in Australian Military History as symbols of compassion and cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

Beros’ poem is enclosed in full below:

“Many a mother in Australia,
When the busy day is done,
Sends a prayer to the Almighty
For the keeping of her son,
Asking that an Angel guide him
And bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered
On the Owen Stanley track,
For they haven’t any halos,
Only holes slashed in the ears,
And with faces worked by tattoos,
With scratch pins in their hair,
Bringing back the wounded,
Just as steady as a hearse,
Using leaves to keep the rain off
And as gentle as a nurse.

Slow and careful in bad places,
On the awful mountain track,
And the look upon their faces,
Makes us think that Christ was black.
Not a move to hurt the carried,
As they treat him like a Saint,
It’s a picture worth recording,
That an Artist’s yet to paint.
Many a lad will see his Mother,
And the Husbands, Weans and Wives,
Just because the Fuzzy Wuzzy
Carried them to save their lives.

From mortar or machine gun fire,
Or a chance surprise attack,
To safety and the care of Doctors,
At the bottom of the track.
May the Mothers in Australia,
When they offer up a prayer,
Mention those impromptu Angels,
With the Fuzzy Wuzzy hair.”

Lest we forget.

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16/10/2021

Paratroopers from 2nd (Independent) Parachute Brigade on their way to their drop zone at Megara in Greece, October 1944.
Lest we forget 🌺

16/10/2021

Captain Henry Basil Strutt Handford - one of two brothers killed in the same action on 15 October 1915.
To read more about the two Handford brothers click on the link here>>> https://www.facebook.com/westernfrontassociation/posts/10158871094606902

16/10/2021

– We Remember Lieutenant Frank Massie

Today we pause to remember the life and service of Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie, who died of illness on the 15th of October 1918 in Damascus.

Originally from Sydney, Frank enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 23rd of November 1914, and embarked from Sydney on HMAT Suevic as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant with B Squadron on 15 June 1915 – with his horse.

On 29 August 1915 he was transferred to 7th Light Horse Regiment. He returned to On 13 June 1916 he was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. On 1 January 1917 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, becoming Lieutenant on 2 April 1917.

Frank died of malaria on 15 October 1918 at the English Hospital, Damascus. On 22 January 1919 he was mentioned in despatches for his actions on 1 May 1918, when he had worked under fire to reorganise the positions of the units of his Brigade during the withdrawal from its position astride the Jisr ed Damieh to Es Salt road.

Lest we forget.

Image: Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Frank Raymond Massie, 12th Light Horse Regiment, of Trangie, NSW, with his horse.
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16/10/2021

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16/10/2021