A little Poem

As I sit in my hospital room which has been my home for the last 20 days, I have been looking for something to occupy my time. I was unfortunate to have a fall on the 16th December which resulted in a break of my arm and pelvis, so here I stay until I can get home. There is supposed to be internet service here, but it is very "iffy"! Sometimes it is there and sometimes it is not.

But I really don't have anything to complain about.   Australia is in the grips of the worst bushfire season I have ever seen. So many towns are under the threat of flames and many are being evacuated to other areas, only to get there and find that they face evacuation again. There have been loss of lives and many losses of wildlife. If you are a person of faith, please add the gift of abundant rain for Australia to your prayer list.

Carrying on from my previous post in regard to my Great Uncle Peter Brandt I remembered that I had received a poem from one of my sisters who is gifted in poetry. I asked back in September 2019 if I could add it to my blog and she agreed. So thank you Kay Isabella Walters for these beautiful words.

PETER ANDERS BRANDT 

4th October 1874 - 10th June 1917

Our unsung heroes of war, why because of neglect, apathy or lack of knowledge of their existence.

This maybe the case of an unknown by me of a great uncle Peter Brandt. Why he was unknown is because of age but he appears to have died, in war, unknown by his family.

Peter's plaque under Eucalypt Tree in King's Park Perth, Western Australia.

Unsung heroes mere unknown

Why & where had time flown

Did anyone grieve?

I like to believe 

That his life did make a difference

Even though we were ignorant

To his sacrifice 

His life’s price

For our ultimate freedom.

When war was won

A price beyond none

An unknown great uncle

Did he ever grumble

At his lot

I think not

Recorded yet not known

Can we hear his moan

Would we have come to his aid

Would we have been as brave

Our unsung hero

Leaving no widow

Yet we now grieve

From his story now weaved

Into our present

His life well spent.

(© Kay Isabella Walters)

Honour Avenue Dedication Ceremony

The 18^th May 2019 dawned in Western Australia with a chilly morning.  My nephew Martin reported that it was 2 degrees while he and his partner and three children were getting ready to head out to Kings Park, for the Dedication Ceremony.

Meanwhile over 3500klms away it was with mixed feelings that I went about my weekend activities. I would have loved to be there but distance was just too much of a barrier. I spent the day in various activities. I had to vote! I had to find my craft supplies for my annual week away with girlfriends, filled with lots of laughter, food, wine and craft activities and binge watching of our favourite TV series “Call the Midwife”. 

But as I would not be taking my laptop with me(only an iPad) I hoped that I would be able to give a report on the Dedication Service, before I left.

I had been asked to provide information on Peter Brandt to the Dedication Committee of the Honour Avenues.  The information I provided was used to introduce Peter to the audience at the Service, which can be seen below. I did not include his military service in my blurb, as the committee had access to this already and I felt that they could add this of their own accord, which they did.

“ PETER BRANDT 1874-1917 

Peter Brandt was the third son born to Louisa Barker and Alfred Brandt in 1874 in Lowes Paddock, Home Rule in the District of Gulgong, NSW. 

His parents had moved here from Tasmania sometime after the birth of his eldest brother Alfred in 1870 in Launceston, and before his second eldest brother Magnus’ birth in 1872 In Gulgong. 

After his birth the family relocated north, where his father became the Publican of the Sugarloaf Inn near Gunnedah. 

Another three brothers John(1876), George(1878), William(1880) and a sister Ethel(1882) were all born in Gunnedah. 

His father tragically died by falling down a well in 1883 when Peter was just 9 years old. His mother, left to bring up seven children on her own took over the Publican’s Licence to support her family. 

She then married August Engstrom in 1886. A stepsister, Frances was born in 1887 in Gunnedah. In 1888 Peter was again left fatherless when his step-father died from inflammation of the lungs. 

In the early 1890’s Peter’s mother moved the family into Gunnedah where she supported them by continuing her Publican’s License, at various establishments. 

It is not known whether Peter had the chance to attend school and his career path is uncertain. 

There are documents yet to be verified that he may have followed in his father and mother’s footsteps by becoming a Publican in Sydney in the later part of the 18th century. 

His documented job records according to Electoral Rolls, place him in various towns in WA from 1903 to the time of enlistment in 1916 in the village of Menzies, where he is also remembered on the Cenotaph.”

Ceremony Committee 

Peter's Plaque

Recipients of the day

Martin beside Peter's plaque

Peter's plaque under Eucalypt Tree

My nephew and his partner took some photos and also videoed the service.  I have viewed all of these and I am very grateful for the lovely videos that they took, enabling me to see the service and feel part of it. It was a very moving service with the Last Post being played under brilliant WA sunshine.  When Peter’s history was read I noticed many of my own words being repeated.

I am not going to relate Peter’s Military Service, I have already done that in a Uni Essay that can be read on this blog.

My husband and I were honoured that we were able to do this for my ancestor and we are grateful that as Peter never married that a descendant of the Brandt line was able to receive his plaque on the day.

Honour Avenues and Family History

In 2018 my husband and I travelled to Western Australia for a holiday. While in Perth we visited the Kings Park. This park is enormous and a great place to visit, but beware it is hard to see everything in just one day. If you have time to allocate more than one day I would advise doing so.

So what does Kings Park,Western Australia have to do with my Family History?

The Honour Avenues. 

While driving around the park we came across rows of Eucalypt Trees with plaques circling them at the bottom. On closer inspection we found each plaque inscribed with the name of a deceased service personnel, their Unit and rank, date of death and where and how they had died, along with who had dedicated the plaque.

All dedicated plaques represented those who died during war service or were buried overseas or who have no known grave and who enlisted in Western Australia.

As we drove around these avenue of trees I found myself being drawn to find out more about this memorial. I had not long finished a University Essay on my Great Uncle who had died in 1917 and who’s body had never been recovered and who had no known grave. He was calling me to find his name.

We made our way to the Visitor’s Information Centre where we asked how we could find if he had a plaque. A very helpful volunteer looked up the database for us and we found that my Great Uncle was not honoured. As yet!

We continued our exploration of the park and as the day wore on I knew what I had to do. Later that night at our accommodation, I researched the internet and found the website with all the relevant information. It was a wealth of information and I soon found who to contact to set in motion the dedication of a plaque for Peter Brandt. 

https://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park/visit/history/honour-avenues

I am proud to say that this Saturday 18th May 2019, nearly 102 years after his death, Peter will have his own plaque dedicated in the Dedication Ceremony. As we live approximately 3,700 km away we are unable to attend the ceremony. But I am very fortunate that I have a nephew who has agreed to represent the family.

Peter was 43years of age and single when he died. Piecing his story together from what records I could find, I was concerned that there had been few to remember him. But not anymore. He will be remembered in this lovely “Avenue of Trees”, in Western Australia. RIP Peter.

My next post will hopefully be a short report as relayed by my nephew and maybe some photos. I know I am looking forward to receiving them.

#52ANCESTOR CHALLENGE WEEK 21 - MILITARY

The Week 21 theme is "Military." Memorial Day is coming up in the US, so this makes a perfect time to write about someone in the family tree who served in the military. Another way to approach this would be to write about someone who didn't serve (but should have) or how a war affected an ancestor's life. 

As I am in Australia I am choosing to post this on the Anniversary of one of my Ancestors. 

Private Peter Brandt is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, along with 54,000 others with no known grave.⁠[1] 

Somewhere on the fields in Belgium, Peter and his fellow soldiers are together, as they fought! 

Peter is my Great Uncle who fought in World War 1.

He was “killed in action” on the 10th June 1917.⁠[2] 

I have written about Peter elsewhere in this blog (Utas Essays). So this post will be a pictorial, in memory of his sacrifice.

Memorial at AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA.

MEMORIAL AT MENIN GATE

ENTRANCE TO MENIN GATE

__________

1 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cemetery Details-Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery Accessed 20 March 2017

2 Service Record of Peter Brandt, B2455, p. 12, National Archives of Australia

Families at War Assignment

I am posting another Essay from my Diploma in Family History. It is not in order of Units done. This essay was for my most recent Unit - Families at War, which I completed last month.

It is about my Great Uncle for fought in World War 1. Tomorrow the 10th June 2017 is the 100th Anniversary of his death..."Killed In Action."

I thought it was fitting that I paid tribute to him, here. I am not expecting anyone to read this or remember him. I never met him or any of the Ancestors in this Essay.

But..." I will remember him. Lest We Forget."

RIP....Peter.

 'Biography of Private Peter Brandt'  ©

                                                 May 2017

How does one depict war time experiences and consider some of the uncertainties many faced, within the boundaries of limited records? Unfortunately Private Peter Brandt's, Regimental Number 18911, WW1 Service Records indicate that: he kept mainly to himself; didn't keep a diary; so consequently deductions have been based on readings, military and service records.

Peter was the son of Louisa and Alfred Brandt.2 In 1916 he was a 42 year old single, labourer from Woolgar, in Western Australia (WA).3 He was from a large family in Gunnedah, with seven adult siblings;4 his parents were deceased.5

Research reveals limited information regarding Peter. Records do indicate that Peter enlisted at Kalgoorlie on 7 February 1916 in the51st Battalion 3rd Reinforcements, as a Private.6

Historians paint vivid pictures of reasons for enlistment. Newspapers urged men to enlist in support of those already fighting.7 Posters in towns were emotive and pulled at men’s heartstrings and feelings of guilt.8

It is unlikely that research will ever reveal why Peter enlisted. Was it guilt, patriotism, duty, adventure or did he receive a White Feather? Historians have reported that the White Feather Campaign, originated in England, then made its way to Australia. Australian newspapers of the time, indicate incidents of White Feathers being posted or given to men.9 The purpose of this practice was to publicly belittle and humiliate non-enlisted men. Though it is reported as backfiring on occasions as feathers were often given to soldiers in “civies,” home on leave or men having exemptions for other reasons.10

Peter may have been challenged or ridiculed in this way, leading to his decision to enlist. He had no dependants, so why was he still not enlisted? Although from a large family it appears that he wasn’t close to them. This is indicated on his Enlistment papers, where he listed his next-of-kin as his brother, with only the town and state as the address.This indicates that he may not have known his brother’s address, leading to his next-of-kin not being found in later years.11 Enlistments for 1916 numbered 124,352, the second highest number in wartime.12 The Recruitment Committees were diligent in their efforts with volunteers. Hence increasing the pressure on individuals like Peter to enlist.13

After enlistment Peter was sent to Blackboy Hill Training Camp,14 where over 32,000 volunteers were trained.15 His days consisted of the routine of rigorous marching, rifle drills, bayonets, learning to use muskets and other basic military tasks.16 

After four and half months, Peter embarked on the Seang Bee on 18 July, sailing to Plymouth, disembarking on 9 September 1916.17 He spent two months at the Salisbury Plains Training Camp, building on his training with advanced infantry tactics.18

Peter’s Battalion sailed to France on the Princess Henrietta spending two weeks at Etaples before proceeding to bring the 51st Battalion up to strength after the heavy losses and casualties at the battle of the Somme.19 By this time Peter had spent nine months training.20

What part Peter played in battles in the next six months, is unclear. Unit Diaries indicate his first battle was on 2 April 1917.21 His Battalion was very active in the taking of the village of Noreuil, where they received heavy losses.22 Research shows men coped with the atrocities of war however they could and new recruits learned on the job, their training not preparing them for the horrors to be endured.23

Peter’s Battalion spent the winter in the trenches. The troops suffered the bitter cold, wet, trench feet and unimaginable conditions. History books are littered with accounts of these conditions and soldiers’ attitude in regard to their duties, but the spirit of camaraderie, is evident throughout my readings. Historians have written about the deplorable conditions in the trenches, tunnelling, explosions, No-Mans-Land, Messines, artillery fire, shells, poison gas, to name a few.24 It is impossible to know what Peter’s feelings and expectations would have been. However, Martin Shaw, indicates that feelings changed as the war progressed, soldiers coped with long stretches of waiting and boredom, feelings of intense terror and revenge for those lost in battle with many fighting for their mates as well as King and Country.25 

The Battle of Messines is documented as a major victory for the Allies.26 The 51st Battalion is reported in the Unit Diary as acting as reserve.27 However, this is contradicted by an additional note in the diary, that states:

Although the Battalion, as a complete Unit, did not take any part in the fighting yet [initially] at one time practically the whole of the Brigade Front was held by the four Companies of the Unit Battalion...28

Research indicates that Peter fought in conflicts to reinforce outposts, when his battalion came under high explosive artillery rounds.29

Private Peter Brandt, was killed in action on the field near Fanny Farm on 10 June 1917.30

On the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website the Burial Return lists 26 names and:

In memory of officers, N.C.O’s and men of the 51st Battalion A.I.F. who fell at Messines 7th-13th June 1917. R.I.P.31 

This form records “no remains.”32 

Of this list of twenty six names, twenty were from WA and three of them had been on the Seang Bee with Peter.33  It is reassuring to think that the bonds forged through mateship and combined endurance would have been strong.

Records indicate that Peter was awarded two medals; the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, however the Memorial Scroll indicates that they were untraceable.34 These medals were never claimed by his relatives.35 His Service Record also indicates he chose not to leave a Will.36 

It is comforting to know that there were some enquiries about Peter. Research shows that three letters received by Base Records between July and December 1917, show two from a Mrs Ethel Jones in WA requesting Peter’s next of kin and if he left a Will.37 The Base Records, Officer in Charge(O/C) replied to these letters stating that they were only allowed to give this information to the next of kin.38

Research doesn’t show evidence that this writer was related to Peter. Peter lived in WA at the time of enlistment, maybe the writer was his Landlady or a girlfriend.

A further letter received from a Mrs P. Brandt, 28 Gulliver Street, Hamilton, Newcastle, though signed E. Brandt, enquired about Peter’s next of kin and his nationality, stating that Peter was thought to be her husband’s brother.39

Peter’s next of kin was listed as brother, Alfred Brandt, Newcastle.40 Alfred married an Eleanor Smith, so this may be a legitimate request for information.41 This letter was replied to by the Base Records O/C in September 1917.42 Dates on letters in Peter’s Service records do not marry up with each other, making research in regard to them difficult. All correspondence to the next of kin were eventually returned marked “unclaimed.”43

The District Pay Office wrote to the O/C Base Records in 1922, advising that all efforts to trace Alfred Brandt were unsuccessful and the Military Estate of Peter remained un-administered and no claims had been received for the War Gratuity.44 These letters and responses seem to indicate that Peter did not have a specific loved one. It raises questions as to the location and fate of his siblings.

Private Peter Brandt is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, along with 54,000 others with no known grave.45 Somewhere on the fields in Belgium, Peter and his fellow soldiers are together, as they fought!

Menin Gate -Photo courtesy of Aaron Pegram, taken May 2017

 One hundred years later a lineage relative is learning about him and others who gave their lives in a futile war. It saddens me that he appears to be such a solitary member of such a large family.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Pegram taken May 2017

“They're not heroes. They do not intend to be thought or spoken of as heroes. They're just ordinary Australians, doing their particular work as their country would wish them to do it...”46

1 Service Record of Peter Brandt, B2455, National Archives of Australia

2 Marcia Moon Introduction to Family History, Assessment Task 4-Research Plan, p. 2, original held in author’s possession.
Ancestry, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #14877 Peter Brandt; http:// www.ancestry.com.au, Accessed 12 August 2015.
3 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.1.
4 Marcia Moon Introduction to Family History, Assessment Task 4-Research Plan, p. 2, original held in author’s possession. Ancestry, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 , Index Reg # 44 Alfred Brandt,Index Reg #135592 Magnus Brandt; Index Reg #15707 John Brandt; Index Reg #22850 George Brandt; Index Reg #25169 William Brandt; Index Reg #17610 Ethel Brandt; Index Reg #22638 Frances Engstrom; Accessed 12 August 2015
5 Death Certificate Transcription of Alfred Ludwig Brandt, died 28 July 1883, NSW Death Registration Transcription, 1883/8157.
Death Certificate Transcription of Louisa Engstrom, died 4 December 1915, NSW Death Registration Transcription, 1915/15291.
6 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.1.
7 Advertisement, Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces, Kalgoorlie Miner (WA: 2895-1950, 2 February 1916, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87270620, Accessed 28 April 2017.

8 Poster -Vaughan, A. (Alfred) & South Australia (1915). "You're proud of your pals in the Army of course! But what will your pals think of you?" Think it over!. A. Vaughan Government Photolithographer, Adelaide,http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/47502410, Accessed 18 April 2017

HAA 107- Families of War (Hobart:University of Tasmania, 2017, Course Content, What’s the Advertising Strategy, Chapter 2.
9 ‘The Order of the White Feather’, Brisbane Courier (Qld.:1864-1933) 2 November 1914, p. 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1584066, Accessed 29 April 2017.
10 “An Explanation”, The Southern Cross Times (WA: 1900-1920) 5 February 1916, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page22616320 Accessed 29 April 2017
11 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.1.
12 Australian War Memorial, Enlistment statistic for First World War, https:// www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/enlistment/ww1/ accessed 27 April.
13 ‘War Council of WA - Recruiting’ Southern Times (Bunbury, WA : 1888-1916) a January
1916, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page18686570, Accessed 18 April 2017.
14 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.3.
15 Monument Australia, Blackboy Commemorative Site, http://monumentaustralia.org.au, Accessed 19 April 2017
16 The Road to War and Back, “Blackboy Hill is Calling’ Blog- Claire Greer, http:// roadtowarandback.blogspot.com.au, Accessed 19 April 2017.
17 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.7.
18 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 11.
Aaron Pegram, Senior Historian/Military History Section, AWM to Marcia Moon, email, 1 May 2017.

19 Aaron Pegram, Senior Historian/Military History Section, AWM to Marcia Moon, email, 7 April 2017.
20 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p.11.
21 13th Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM 23/13/15, April 1917, pp. 4,5.
22 Pegram to Moon, email 7 April 2017.
23 Australian Government, ‘Australians on the Western Front’. http:// www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/australians-on-the-western-front, Accessed 4 May 2017.
24 Army- Australian Army History Unit, ‘Battle of Messiness 1917’. http://https:// www.army.gov.au/our-history/history-in-focus/the-battle-of-messines-1917 Accessed 4 May 2017.
Army- Australian Army History Unit, ‘Battle of Messiness 1917 Part Two’, http://https:// www.army.gov.au/our-history/history-in-focus/the-battle-of-messines-1917 Accessed 4 May 2017.
Horne, C. F. 1870-1942. Source records of the great war, Chapter XIII, pp207-215, [New York]: National Alumni,1923.
25 Matthew Shaw, World War One, ‘How soldiers cope with war’, https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war, Accessed 6 May 2017.
26 Army- Australian Army History Unit, ‘Battle of Messines 1917’. www.army.gov.au/our- history/history-in-focus/the-battle-of-messines-1917 Accessed 4 May 2017.
Army- Australian Army History Unit, ‘Battle of Messines 1917 Part Two’, http://https://

www.army.gov.au/our-history/history-in-focus/the-battle-of-messines-1917 Accessed 4 May 2017.

AWM Battle of Messines
27 51st Infantry Battalion Unit Diary, AWM 23/68/15, June 1917, p. 7.
28 51st Infantry Battalion Unit Diary, p. 7.
29 Pegram to Moon, email 7 April 2017.
51st Infantry Battalion Unit Diary, p.8.
30 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 12.
31 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Find War Dead -Casualty Details
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty, Accessed 20 March 2017
32 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Find War Dead -Casualty Details, http:// www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty, Accessed 20 March 2017
33 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Find War Dead -Casualty Details
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty, Accessed 20 March 2017.
Australian War Memorial, Advanced Search - Roll of Honour, 51st Battalion, 10 June 1917, for cross referencing soldiers KIA, https://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search roll_of_honour/preferred_name=&name_aliases=1&service_number=&unit=51&fate_date%5Bday %5D=10&fate_date%5Bmonth%5D=6&fate_date%5Byear%5D=1917&conflict=First +World+War%2C+1914-1918&Search_Mode=advanced&op=Search, Accessed 20 April 2017.
The AIF Project, AWM Roll number: 23/68/3, Embarkations from Fremantle, Western Australia on board HMAT A 48 Seang Bee on 18 July 1916, https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showUnit?unitCode=INF51REIN3, Accessed 20 April 2017. 

34 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 47.

35 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 32.
36 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 23.
37 Service Record of Peter Brandt, pp. 14, 26. 
38 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 15.
39 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 17.
40 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 1.
41 Ancestry, Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Index Reg #8039, http:// www.ancestry.com.au, Accessed 20 August 2015.
42 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 16.
43 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 38.
44 Service Record of Peter Brandt, p. 32.
45 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cemetery Details-Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial ,
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery Accessed 20 March 2017
46 Australian Government, Quote from C. E. W. Bean, journalist, war correspondent, historian and author of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918 . http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/australians-on-the-western- front, Accessed 20 April 2017. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Army, Australian Army History Unit, ‘Battle of Messiness”, Accessed 4 May 2017.

A.I.F. Project, ‘Embarkations from Fremantle’, Accessed 20 April 2017.

‘Australian, Birth Index’, Ancestry, Accessed12 August 2015. ‘Australian, Marriage Index’ Ancestry, Accessed 20 August 2015. 

Australian Government, ‘Australians on the Western Front’
www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/ australians-on-the-western-front, Accessed 4 May 2017.

Australian War Memorial.
Bean C.E.W., Offical History of Australia in the War 1914-1918.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘Find War Dead’, Accessed 20 March 2017.

Greer, Claire,'The Road to War and Back' http://roadtowarandback.blogspot.com.au. Accessed 19 Aril 2017

Horne, C.F, Source records of the Great War, [New York] National Alumni, 1923.

Kalgoorlie Miner.

Monument Australia, Blackboy Commemorative Site, http:// monumentaustralia.org.au, Accessed 19 April 2017.

‘New South Wales Family History Transcription Pty. Ltd. 

National Archives of Australia, Trove.

Service Records, B2455, National Archives of Australia. 

Shaw, Matthew, British Library, ‘How soldiers cope with war’, Accessed 6 May 2017.

Unit Diary 13th Infantry Brigade, 23/13/15, April 1917.

Unit Diary 51st Battalion, 23/68/15, June 1917.

University of Tasmania, HAA 107-Families at War, Course Content.