"Eternal honour given to those who fell, that we might live"
FIELD, William Edward
FINCHAM, Randall Wabe
Sergeant Harold Findley, D.C.M.
News has been received by Mrs E. Meeking, of "Mena" Hemming street, Dandenong, from the Canadian Records Office,London, that her only brother, Sergeant Harold Findley, D.C.M., 27 years of age of the Canadian Scottish Battalion, has been posted as missing. Sgt. Findley, who is a native of Stratford, left this State some years ago with John Bennett, his cousin, to seek his fortune. Mr Bennett is also a Stratford native. The two eventually settled in Canada, where they became fairly prosperous. At the outbreak of the war they responded immediately to the call for volunteers, sacrificed all their prospects in civil life, and were part of the first contingent to leave Canada for France, where they have been fighting ever since .Bennett has been twice wounded, and has now returned to the trenches for the third time. Until October 8 last Sgt. Findley had never received a wound, or been ill for a single day, although he had taken part in 16 battles and many night raids. He won the D.C.M. for a signal act of bravery. He recovered and brought in from No Man's Land the bodies of Col. Lewis (the inventor of the famous Lewis machine-gun), and Capt. Gale, both of the Royal Flying Corps. They were killed, through their machines being brought down by the enemy. Pte. Bennett, in a letter to his cousins, Mr Meeking and Mrs Warriner, graphically described the engagement which led to Sgt. Findley being posted missing; He wrote :" No doubt you have already received the official notification that Harry is wounded and missing. He was severely wounded on October 8, just at a time when the remnants of our battalion were forced to retire from a German trench which they had captured. Harry, like several others of our brave lads, was too badly injured to be taken out except by the special means which the stretcher bearers have. In the teeth of the battle these could not be procured. I cannot tell you how much I wish I had been at his side. I should have got him out had it been humanly possible. But I was in England at the time, just having got over the wounds I received on June 13" It was a very hard blow to me when I returned yesterday to find Harry was not here. I have spoken to two of the chaps who were with him, and they gave me all the information they could. Our battalion had reached the German trench, though we lost heavily. The attack failed on our right and left, and this enabled the enemy to counter attack on both flanks. "The remnants of our brave lads held on for many hours without reinforcements, but superior numbers forced them to leave the trench. It was while leading his men in trying to hold off the Hun that Harry fell. Our little band had to retire across the open, literally scrambling from shell-hole to shell-hole under a withering fire, and it was impossible to take the wounded with them. They assured me that they bound Harry up and did all they could for him before they left the trench, and that, if he had been picked up and tended by the enemy, he had a reasonable chance of recovery. I think it quite reasonable, though prepared for the worst, to still hope for the best. If it should prove the worst, it will always be a source of comfort to know that your soldier-brother was one to be proud of. As a comrade he was loved by all, and as a non-commissioned officer he was a favourite, admired and trusted by his men, and liked by everybody. Those who are left are full of praise of his fearlessness and energy in battle."I feel a warrior's pride in him, and if the God of Battles sees fit to call me I only hope to go out as Harry did, and to give as good an account or myself. Surely our cause is worth falling for, and I feel sure all the numberless heroes who suffer and die for it will yet meet again when Gabriel sounds his last rally."
Stratford Sentinel and Briagolong Express Friday 18 February 1917 page 2
News has been received by Mrs E. Meeking, of "Mena" Hemming street, Dandenong, from the Canadian Records Office,London, that her only brother, Sergeant Harold Findley, D.C.M., 27 years of age of the Canadian Scottish Battalion, has been posted as missing. Sgt. Findley, who is a native of Stratford, left this State some years ago with John Bennett, his cousin, to seek his fortune. Mr Bennett is also a Stratford native. The two eventually settled in Canada, where they became fairly prosperous. At the outbreak of the war they responded immediately to the call for volunteers, sacrificed all their prospects in civil life, and were part of the first contingent to leave Canada for France, where they have been fighting ever since .Bennett has been twice wounded, and has now returned to the trenches for the third time. Until October 8 last Sgt. Findley had never received a wound, or been ill for a single day, although he had taken part in 16 battles and many night raids. He won the D.C.M. for a signal act of bravery. He recovered and brought in from No Man's Land the bodies of Col. Lewis (the inventor of the famous Lewis machine-gun), and Capt. Gale, both of the Royal Flying Corps. They were killed, through their machines being brought down by the enemy. Pte. Bennett, in a letter to his cousins, Mr Meeking and Mrs Warriner, graphically described the engagement which led to Sgt. Findley being posted missing; He wrote :" No doubt you have already received the official notification that Harry is wounded and missing. He was severely wounded on October 8, just at a time when the remnants of our battalion were forced to retire from a German trench which they had captured. Harry, like several others of our brave lads, was too badly injured to be taken out except by the special means which the stretcher bearers have. In the teeth of the battle these could not be procured. I cannot tell you how much I wish I had been at his side. I should have got him out had it been humanly possible. But I was in England at the time, just having got over the wounds I received on June 13" It was a very hard blow to me when I returned yesterday to find Harry was not here. I have spoken to two of the chaps who were with him, and they gave me all the information they could. Our battalion had reached the German trench, though we lost heavily. The attack failed on our right and left, and this enabled the enemy to counter attack on both flanks. "The remnants of our brave lads held on for many hours without reinforcements, but superior numbers forced them to leave the trench. It was while leading his men in trying to hold off the Hun that Harry fell. Our little band had to retire across the open, literally scrambling from shell-hole to shell-hole under a withering fire, and it was impossible to take the wounded with them. They assured me that they bound Harry up and did all they could for him before they left the trench, and that, if he had been picked up and tended by the enemy, he had a reasonable chance of recovery. I think it quite reasonable, though prepared for the worst, to still hope for the best. If it should prove the worst, it will always be a source of comfort to know that your soldier-brother was one to be proud of. As a comrade he was loved by all, and as a non-commissioned officer he was a favourite, admired and trusted by his men, and liked by everybody. Those who are left are full of praise of his fearlessness and energy in battle."I feel a warrior's pride in him, and if the God of Battles sees fit to call me I only hope to go out as Harry did, and to give as good an account or myself. Surely our cause is worth falling for, and I feel sure all the numberless heroes who suffer and die for it will yet meet again when Gabriel sounds his last rally."
Stratford Sentinel and Briagolong Express Friday 18 February 1917 page 2
FISHER, Cecil
FISHER, Cyril HectorService no 10607
Corporal 3rd Divisional Signalling Company Son of Joseph FISHER Of 'Windemere' 62 Electra St., Williamstown, Vic. Occupation prior to enlistment Mechanic Enlisted 18 January 1916 Awarded Military Medal Returned to Australia 1919 www.awm.gov.au DAOD1709 |