My Favourite Music for the Week

I decided to start a thread regarding music.

This week my favourite song is Turn Me On by Norah Jones

A World War I Soldier – FG Rolls

Below is an article based on a World War I soldier from NSW, Australia who took part in the Soldier Settlement Scheme on his return at the end of the war. It is a brief overview of his war record and what happened to him regarding the scheme in ways of it being a success. This was part of a research assessment for a history unit in my History major. Since it is ANZAC Day I thought it fitting that I would post it here.

All my sources are referenced and I did all the research myself. As an extra part of this assessment I decided to put together a power point presentation which I have since sent off to the Mosman Library Historical Society along with a bound booklet of all the records I have collected. I would like to thank Donna Braye who was able to supply me with a photograph of the solider. This allowed me to see the soldier as 3 dimensional reality not just a name on a record. It made me realise that this man was one of many 100,000s of men who put themselves in danger for our freedom.

As with everything else on this blog site, all material is copyrighted by myself and you need to seek permission to re-use any original work.

 

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Power Point Presentation frederick-george-rolls.ppt

This will only work if you have power point installed on your computer.  Select slide show and it should play on it’s own.

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From May 1915, with the Anzacs in Gallipoli and the atrocities of war not fully known due to censorship, many Australian men enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Conscription was not a problematic issue at this time so there was no pressure to enlist – apart from meeting certain standards that had to be fulfilled as part of the physical requirements of becoming an AIF soldier.[1] It was during this time that Frederick George Rolls (Fred) enlisted in the AIF.[2]

Fred was born on 24^th June 1894 at Mosman, Sydney and was the oldest of three children.[3] He was a bank clerk in Sydney[4] before spending two years at Childers, Queensland working on the land.[5] Records show that he enlisted in the AIF on 17^th August 1915 in Brisbane, Queensland possibly in response to Gallipoli.[6] He was accepted into the 3^rd Field Artillery Brigade – 12^th Reinforcements (3FAB) as part of First Division.[7] Embarkation on the 9^th November 1915 saw Fred sail from Melbourne to Egypt.[8]

Upon his arrival in Egypt he was seconded to the 7^th Battery 3FAB.[9] At the end of March 1916, the First Division sailed to Marseilles for the Western Front.[10] It was not until Battle of the Somme from July 1916 in France that Fred encountered the real face of war. The Somme was known for its heavy fighting and high casualties and in August, Fred received a gunshot wound to his left leg.[11] He then sailed from Calais to England for medical attention and spent time convalescing there until March 1917.[12] He was seconded to the 2^nd FAB and began fighting once more.[13]

Apart from a bout of influenza and an incident where he went AWOL from a parade march, Fred seems to have survived the horrors of the war as well as expected.[14] His hard work throughout his service with AIF resulted in Fred being promoted from the rank of gunner to sergeant.[15] He eventually returned to Australia in May 1919[16], leaving the AIF when his period of enlistment was completed.[17]

Not much is known about Fred after World War I. In late 1921 Fred – along with two other soldiers – applied for a Soldier Settlement Block in the shire of Gilgandra known as Jones Estate.[18] The land consisted of three farming blocks situated near other working farms.[19] Jones Estate appeared to contain among other things – adequate housing and water tank[20] should rain be scarce even with the Castlereagh River close by as a natural water source.[21] Yet despite this, the land was deemed to be worth less than the vendor’s asking price.[22] The application was rejected.[23] The vendor seemed surprised by the valuation and wrote a letter detailing his case but no to avail.[24]

Due to lack of information after this time, we only know that Fred passed away 11^th December 1977 in Brighton, Victoria[25] – buried at Cheltenham, Victoria.[26] We also know that Fred was married to Florence who died in 1981.[27]

There were many men like Frederick George Rolls. They all have a similar story to tell as ordinary men put in the extraordinary situation of war. Through researching and learning about whom they are and their experiences, we will keep their memory alive – they will not be forgotten.

 

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[1] R. Mallett, ‘First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918’, Australian Commonwealth Military Forces internet site, [http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/index.html]. (March 2006).

[2] National Archives of Australia (NAA), Series No. B2455, Barcode No. 8034846. ‘Record Search Frederick George Rolls – Digitised Copy’, NAA internet site, [http://naa12.naa.gov.au]. (March 2006).

[3] NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, ‘Historical Index Search’, BDM internet site, [http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au]. (March 2006).

[4] NAA, op. cit.

[5] State Records NSW, ‘Soldier Settlement Scheme’, Closer Settlement Promotion File (CGS 8052), Box 10/37123, Reg. No. 1045.

[6] NAA, op. cit.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Australian War Memorial (AWM), ‘First World War Unit Embarkation Rolls’, AWM8 Database internet site, [http://www.awm.gov.au/database/awm8/name.asp]. (March 2006).

[9] NAA, op. cit.

[10]Ibid.

[11]Ibid.

[12]Iibid.

[13]Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15]Ibid.

[16]Ibid.

[17] State Records NSW, op. cit.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Department of Lands NSW, Map Barcode No. 137160. ‘Parish Maps – Boebung’, Department of Lands internet site, [http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/OnlineServices/ParishMaps/default.htm]. (March 2006).

[20] State Records NSW, op. cit.

[21] Gilgandra Shire Council, ‘Gilgandra and District’, Council internet site, [http://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/farming.htm]. (March 2006)

[22] State Records, NSW op. cit.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25]Dr. G. Whitehead, Kingston Historical Society, (email), April 2006.

[26] University of NSW, ‘AIF Project’, ADFA internet site, [http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=260441]. (March 2006)

[27] Kingston Historical Society, op. cit.

ANZAC Day

 

Today is ANZAC Day, the 25^th April. Why is it important? This day is in memory of the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and the soldiers of both countries became known as ANZACs.

For Australians the 25th April is a time for national commemoration. At the time of the original landing at dawn, commemorative services are held across the Australia with the biggest one held at Martin Place. Most of these commemoration services are followed by veterans marching throughout the town centres.

Australia had only been a nation for 14 years when war broke out in 1914 and she was keen to prove her worth and capabilities to the world. In 1915 the ANZACs formed part of an allied force whose aim was to capture the Gallipoli peninsular in order to open the waterways for the allied navy. The ANZACs landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, with a both up of where they were supposed to land. The Turkish offered strong resistance, which made this campaign last over 6 months. There were heavy casualties on both side with 8,000 Australians killed at this site and an evacuation of the allied forces at the end of 1915. Even though this campaign was a failure it was the birth of the ANZAC legend and is part of Australia and New Zealand’s national identities. This day is where Australians remember the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

ANZAC Day services which begin at dawn which is symbolic for the time the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli. These services include an introduction, hymn, prayer, laying of wreaths, the last post (http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/images/last_post.wav) by a lone bugler, a period of silence and the National Anthem. After the services and the marching, veterans and their families meet at the local RSL (Returned Services League Clubs) and have breakfast, take part in reunions with fellow soldiers and play games such as two up.

The last Australian ANZAC, Alec Campbell (http://www.anzacs.org/campbell.html), went to the final front on Thursday, 16th May 2002, at the age of 103, dying of pneumonia. He was the last living link we had to Gallipoli. This does not mean the end of the ANZAC but rather immortalises them as a legend. The legend also lives on with the pilgrimages of ordinary Australians to Gallipoli and the Western Front in Europe.

Watching an ANZAC Day dawn service is an emotional experience along with the visions show through popular media, I always end up with a tear in my eye, imagining the horrors these soldiers faced and seeing the bravery with which they fought to defend our freedoms. To every soldier who has served or is serving…thank you.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

A short hi

Hey everyone,

Just a brief post to say hi and I hope everyone is well.  Life here has been pretty hectic to say the least.  University is pretty frantic with so much due in this week.  I have two tutorial presentations, one forum/debate and one essay all due in by or on Wednesday.   Needless to say I’m feeling a little stressful.

I’m feeling a lot better compared to a week ago.  I was on 2250 mg of penicillin a day for my toothache.  The infection has cleared but the tooth will need to come out at a  later date in hospital.

I can’t really comment on any current or topical issues at the moment because I haven’t really been watching the news.  So I’ll keep this short and comment more after Wednesday when I will have more space to breathe

I added a video of me on my videpod and I want to apologise for looking so tired.  You know when you start something and you want to do it just so you can finish it and say you have done it?  My video was one of those things.  I actually made it around midnight when I was taking a break from studying.  I’ll see if I can make another one that is more coherent later on.

I will end here and will post some more in a few days.

Cheers!

Savannah.

Still here…

Hey…

Just a quick check in.  I’m still here just not blogging for the moment as I’m a very sick girl Wisdom teeth trouble at 36! who would have thought.  I’m usually tough and have a high pain threshhold but this has knocked me for six.  I’m trying to keep up with  my studying but I think I’m fighting a losing battle.  Essays to write,  a debate to research and tutorial presentations to be created…novels to be read…I think I need a holiday in there somewhere…on a tropical beach…with bar service…and Scott McGregor from Temptation…(how hot is he!)…maybe I’m not as sick as I thought lol

I’m visiting the dentist tomorrow afternoon so keep your fingers crossed they can get this tooth out soon

Will post when I’m back on deck …

Cheers!

Savannah Rose….