THE DECISION TO write this book was easy.
The process to do so was a different matter. For many months I thought through the stepping stones that would be required to record this story. Family history, research on the primary individual, personal army records, Battalion intelligence reports, historical archives, land title records and site visits to venues sixteen thousand kilometres apart.
The first day I sat in front of the laptop keyboard I made a promise to myself that the end result would be as accurate a record of one man’s journey, albeit one hundred years ago, as would be humanly possible. Solid research would be required into subjects that were outside of my expertise, so I would be reliant on others. I would need help.
From the outset I learnt to assume nothing and check everything. For example, I found out the hard way that family folklore might offer up a warm and fuzzy story, but it was not necessarily fact. Even the occasional military record or document would offer a conflicting point of view. It just meant digging deeper or asking someone more knowledgeable for their opinion.
Nic Haygarth, a research officer with Heritage Tasmania was extremely generous with his time and support, helping me to confirm or reject several myths regarding my ancestors, their lives, deaths, and land holdings.
I was most fortunate to receive invaluable support from ex-Beech Forest resident, historian and researcher, Barbara Minchinton. Her expertise in the Otway’s historical land holdings and the sharing of her knowledge was critically important to my research.
Two of the loveliest people I have ever met, Anthony and Jackie Zappelli, Beech Forest farmers and resident historians with the Otway Districts Historical Society. Their enthusiasm to share a mountain of information that would paint the picture of a small town in the 1900’s was truly magnificent. The hospitality they offered in inviting my family and me into their home, feeding us and walking us around my great-grandfather’s farm land went far beyond my expectations. When I stood on the property, the hair on the back of my neck standing up and mist in my eyes, I just wanted to hug them in gratitude. Not in another hundred years could you expect to meet more salt-of-the-earth Aussie farmers.
Good friends, New Zealand cattle and sheep farmers, Keith and Claire Middlemiss shared with me an extensive historical knowledge of the difficulties and expectations of being a farmer. I am extremely grateful for their input.
The AIF records kept by the Australian Government are nothing short of outstanding but sometimes an amateur, like me, requires assistance in knowing where to look. In the early stages of my research, while investigating the venue of where a specific photo had been taken, I was extremely fortunate to cross paths with Alison McCallum BA DipEd (Macq). I cannot count the number of times I received email replies from Alison at ten or eleven o’clock at night with pages of bullet point references, web links, contact details and personnel knowledge of this nation’s World War 1 history. I cannot thank her enough for willingly sharing her passion and guidance to ensure historical accuracy.
The assistance I received from the Director of Passchendaele Museum, Steven Vandenbussche and his dedicated researchers, Annemie Morisse, Simon Augustyn, Lee Ingelbrecht and Karen Derycke was breath taking. I hounded them relentlessly for information on trench maps, map coordinates, Red Cross records, Battalion camps and a hundred other related points that required clarification. They never faulted.
On one occasion they helped me locate three months of missing intelligence reports for the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, a major part of this story. The Australian Government did not have these records. Passchendaele Museum located them within British held archives and gave me contact details. On receipt of these records I forwarded the information onto the Australian Government and have a letter of thanks from them for the archival tidy up.
It gave me enormous pleasure to walk into the research office of Passchendaele Museum in October 2017 and personally shake the hands of those magnificent people.
To the elderly Belgian farmer who owns a property on the west side of Broodseinde Ridge (Beselarestraat), thank you for allowing me to walk onto your property and for showing me around your shed full of WW1 memorabilia that your tractors have dragged to the surface. The lead shrapnel balls you gave me sit with heartfelt pride on my desk with full knowledge of where they were found.
Neville Browning (OAM), author of numerous WW1 books guided me through the early stages of being a first-time author and the minefield known as “publishing”.
To prepare a manuscript for publishing is an art form in its own right. The person required will have outstanding computer skills, patience and a genuine passion for someone else’s work. Ian Andrew, Executive Director of “The Book Reality Experience” is that person. From the first contact, Ian’s drive and enthusiasm was inspirational. His work ethics and attention to detail took an enormous workload off my shoulders, it allowed me to relax and breathe through a difficult and complicated process.
We struck a common cord, a carryover from his own military service I suspect. This became evident in his editing skills and desire to ensure history is accurately recorded and given the respect it deserves. I am greatly indebted to him for his dedication to my work.
The Commonwealth of Australia, Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia can hold their heads very high. This country’s dedication to have recorded and archived our history and to make those archives accessible to the general public is outstanding. It is a legacy that we can all be extremely proud of.
Finally, I offer my sincere thanks to my dear wife, Tracey. She endured five years of family history and war stories. Constantly being asked to proof read or offer an unbiased opinion on work as it progressed. Never afraid to tell me to add detail, rephrase, delete or if I was having a good day, the occasional pat on the head. Her computer skills are also far better than mine!