Lieutenant Thomas Anderson, 8th Battalion, AIF

Lieutenant Thomas Anderson, 8th Battalion, AIF, was born in July 1886, the son of F. Anderson from Windermere, Ballarat, Victoria.

Lieutenat Thomas Anderson (in the centre of the picture) February 1918.

He enlisted on the 30th December 1914, aged 28, number 1703 and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion from Melbourne on the 14th April 1915 on board HMAT A18 “Wiltshire”.

He was promoted through the ranks and as a Sergeant he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his incredible work on 4th October 1917 at the battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The citation reads:

“During the attack on BROODSEINDE RIDGE east of YPRES on 4th October 1917, this N.C.O. who was acting C.S.M. did splendid and courageous work during and after the advance. With 8 men he attacked and captured a pill box, inside our own barrage, which was punishing the attacking line with Machine Gun fire. To do this he had to penetrate our own barrage line.

He rushed the pill box and shot the Machine Gunners and captured the Machine Guns and three men, in spite of a strong resistance by the enemy with bombs and Machine Guns. He also rendered valuable work in reorganisation and consolidation showing no regard for his own personal safety."

He was promoted through the ranks to 2nd Lieutenant on 15th October 1917 and to Lieutenant on 28th February 1918.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his work on the 9th and 11th August 1918, the citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack north of ROSIERES on the 9th August 1918.

Lieutenant Anderson was in charge of the platoon on the extreme right of the battalion and when the troops on our right flank failed to advance, he showed fine judgement and tactical knowledge in forming a defensive flank. He led his platoon with fine dash and personally mopped up several pockets of Germans who were putting up a strong resistance.

When his company commander became a casualty Lieut. Anderson took command of the company and led it in fine style, doing splendid work personally supervising consolidation and fighting the enemy back with Lewis Gun and rifle fire.

During the attack on LIHONS on the 11th August 1918 Lieut. Anderson, who was in charge of the right line company, again distinguished himself by fine leadership and courage.

Throughout the operation he sent frequent and accurate reports of the sistautaion to the rear. On reaching his objective he found that his right flank was in the air on account of the troops on our right not having advanced. He skilfully formed a defensive flank and beat off a strong German counter-attack.

He set his men a splendid example of courage, always leading them, taking his share of the hand-to-hand fighting and inspiring them to such an extent by his own courage that they threw back a far stronger body of the enemy numerically that themselves. He personally supervised the consolidation and established same on such a sound tactical basis that with a very weak garrison he was able to repel several attempts of the enemy to drive him back.”

Lieutenant Anderson returned to Australia on 23rd September 1919.

Captain William Barnsley Allen VC DSO MC & Bar, R.A.M.C.

William Barnsley Allen was born in Sheffield on 8th June 1892, and was the only son of Percy Edwin Allen and Edith Allen (nee Barnsley). He was educated at Worksop College and Sheffield University. He gained the Gold Medal for Pathology in 1913 and has also won three bronze medals; M.B., Ch.B, Kaye Scholarship and Second Class Honours.

He joined the Army on 8th August 1914 being gazetted Lieutenant on that date and was promoted Captain on 1st April 1915 (T.F.). In May 1916 at Gainsborough he married Mary Young (“Mollie”), younger daughter of W. Y. Mercer, Esq., of Gainsborough.

In August of that year he gained the Military Cross. Near Mesnil, Somme, France, on 3rd September, 1916, his splendid behaviour under fire in the circumstances mentioned below gained him the Victoria Cross (London Gazette, 26th October, 1916):

“For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.

When gun detachments were unloading high explosive ammunition from wagons which had just come up, the enemy suddenly began to shell the battery position. The first shell fell on one of the limbers, exploded the ammunition and caused several casualties.

Captain Allen saw the occurrence and at once, with utter disregard of danger, ran across the open, under heavy shell fire, commenced dressing the wounded and undoubtedly by his promptness saved many of them from bleeding to death.
He himself was hit four times during the first hour by pieces of shell, one of which fractured two of his ribs, but he never even mentioned this at the time, and coolly went on with his work until the last man was dressed and safely removed.

He then went over to another battery and tended a wounded officer. It was only when this was done that he returned to his dug-out and reported his own injury.”

In July, 1917, he was awarded the Bar to the Military Cross and was invalided to England on 22nd July. On 4th January 1918, he was made acting Major. On 17th October 1918, he was wounded for the third time and invalided for the second time to England, and awarded the D.S.O. on this date. He served in France three years and two months; was transferred to Regular R.A.M.C., and dated back to Captain on 8th February, 1918, which rank he held to the conclusion of the war.

He died on 27th October 1933 at Bracklesham, Near Chichester, Sussex and is buried at Earnley Parish Church, Sussex.

His last resting place in the shadow of Earnley Parish Church.

Earnley Parish Church with Captain Allen's grave in the foreground.

For more info : Earnley Parish Church at Looking at Sussex Churches

& William Barnsley Allen.

Captain Percy Lay, 8th Battalion, AIF.

LAY, PERCY (1892-1955), soldier and farmer, was born on 8 February 1892 at Ballan, Victoria, son of Edward Lay, farmer, and his wife Annie, née Slack, both Victorian born.
Before enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force on 19 August 1914 he worked as a sheep and cattle dealer for W. J. Andrews of Ballarat.

He was posted to the 8th Battalion and embarked for Egypt on 19 October. The 8th landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and from then until the evacuation Lay continually volunteered for dangerous patrols. He was promoted lance corporal in June, corporal in February 1916 and sergeant next August. On the Western Front particularly, in 1916-17, he showed the remarkable coolness, courage and determination which made him a legend in his own battalion and in the A.I.F.

Lay won his first decoration during fighting near Pozières on 18 August 1916. When the 7th and 8th Battalions attacked, he and three others managed to get into the enemy trenches but were assaulted with bombs. When Lay's bombs were exhausted and he realized that the second attacking wave would not reach the trench he left it, carrying one of his men who was wounded; despite heavy fire he successfully brought him in. When his company was relieved in the front trench he remained behind and assisted the relieving company commander. His own company commander recommended him for the Victoria Cross but on 20 January 1917 he was awarded a Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

For his courageous actions during the 2nd battle of Bullecourt on 8-9 May 1917 Lay was awarded the Military Medal. When his unit was exposed to constant artillery barrage and repeated counter-attacks Lay, wounded during the first few hours, declined to go to the rear until the battalion was relieved. During the attack he was of 'invaluable assistance' and at one stage left a newly captured post to bring in six prisoners, 'belting the hide off them with his tin hat'.

At Polygon Wood near Ypres on 20 September 1917 Lay won the Distinguished Conduct Medal. When his platoon commander was wounded he took charge and led the platoon through a barrage to the assembly position, into the attack, and on to the final objective. The success of the attack was very much due to his inspiration. Nine days later, in the field, he was commissioned second lieutenant. At Broodseinde, east of Ypres, on 4 October he was awarded the Military Cross. After all the other company officers had become casualties he took command during a critical period of the attack. During the final fight for the ridge his unit was opposed by a field-gun firing at point-blank range. Ordering his company to take cover he and two other men worked to the right flank of the gun position. They then attacked with bomb and bayonet, killing the entire crew and capturing the gun. General Sir William Birdwood sent him a personal letter of congratulations.

Before the 3rd battle of Ypres concluded Lay was to again show his courage. During the Canadian attack at Passchendaele he reconnoitred the German forward positions on the Keiberg. C. E. W. Bean described Lay's reconnaissance as 'magnificent scouting'. He was detached in 1918 for special duty with Dunsterforce in Persia and in February was promoted lieutenant, A.I.F. On 9 March 1919 he embarked for Australia and was demobilized in June, soon afterwards establishing a small farm at Alphington, Melbourne.

During World War II Lay served in garrison, works and training units in Victoria, reaching the rank of major. He then remained at Alphington until illness forced him to enter Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. He died there, unmarried, on 28 August 1955 of a cerebral tumour and was cremated. His estate was sworn for probate at £19,459.

An archetypal digger, 'Perce' Lay was greatly admired by his mates. Many felt that he was the bravest man in the A.I.F. and he was often compared to Albert Jacka and others.

Lieutenant Leonard George Prentice Errey, DSO,MC, 8th Battalion, AIF.

Leonard George Prentice Errey, enlisted on 16th August 1914, as a private aged 22. In civilian life he had been a carpenter living in Campertown, Victoria. He is listed as being a member of the Campertown Rifle Club.

He received the Military Cross in April 1917, the citation reads:

“During the operations in front of Queant and Phonville, 19th April 1917, 2nd Lieut ERREY’S work was of an extremely courageous and useful nature. His duties included patrolling no man’s land in front of his Company sector. In this he showed great courage and initiative. He went through the enemy’s wire and gained valuable information at great personal risk. On the night of 10th April 1917 he encountered an enemy patrol of 56 strong. His party was only 8 strong and the enemy endeavoured to surround him. Not withstanding this he gave them fight and succeeded in driving them off with bombs and rifle fire. He handled his men with great skill and got back without a casualty, the enemy leaving 4 dead on the field. Lieut. ERREY is a young officer who has been with the Battalion since shortly after its inception and is a splendid leader and absolutely fearless.”

Ron Austin in ‘Cobbers in Khaki’ writes about the incident:

“On the night of 19th April 1917 a patrol led by 2nd Lt George Errey came upon a German patrol of about 30 men. The 2 patrols engaged each other with rifle fire and within a few minutes the Germans withdrew from the encounter leaving behind 4 dead comrades."

Later that year in September, He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, although it was turned down, he received the Distinguished Service Order in its place for his audacious work: The citation for the Victoria Cross reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Polygon Wood on the 20th September 1917, after the third objective had been gained, the consolidation was greatly interfered with by heavy Machine Gun fire from an enemy strong point which caused many casualties and was beginning to disorganise our line. Lieut. ERREY with four men, in the face of very heavy Machine Gun fire rushed through our own barrage and attacked and captured the strong point together with 5 officers, 60 other ranks and 2 Machine Guns. This officer’s most conspicuous bravery, determination and prompt action undoubtedly saved many lives and altered the situation at a critical moment enabling the line to be firmly established.”

But on the 3rd Oct, the eve of the attack, Lieutenant Errey who was now the Battalion intelligence officer and his men laid out the white marker tape on the ground. At 5.30 the enemy shelled the rear trenches, the shelling took its toll with 3 officers being killed, Captains Rudolph Kirsch, and John Davidson and Lieutenant Errey.

He died of wounds received, aged 25 and is buried Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Captain Albert Jacka, VC, MC & bar

Albert Jacka was born on 10 January 1893 at Layard in Victoria. He completed elementary schooling before working as a labourer, first with his father and then with the Victorian State Forests Department.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 September 1914 as a private in the 14th Battalion. After training in Egypt Jacka's battalion landed at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915. Just over three weeks later on 19 May, with the ANZACs now entrenched above the beaches, the Turks launched large-scale frontal assaults against their positions. Some Turks captured a small section of trench at Courtney's Post. Early attempts to drive them out failed, until Jacka, taking advantage of a diversion created by bomb throwers at one end of the Turkish position, leapt in, killing most of the occupants. For this he was awarded Australia's first Victoria Cross of the First World War.

The citation read:
'For most conspicuous bravery on the night of the 19th-20th May, 1915, at "Courtney's Post" Gallipoli Peninsula. Lance Corporal Jacka, while holding a portion of our trench with four other men, was heavily attacked. When all except himself were killed or wounded, the trench was rushed and occupied by seven Turks. Lance Corporal Jacka at once most gallantly attacked them single handed, and killed the whole party, five by rifle fire and two with the bayonet.'Source: 'London Gazette' No. 7279

Jacka quickly became famous - his likeness was used on recruiting posters and his exploits featured regularly in newspapers, particularly in his native Victoria. He began a rapid rise through the ranks, finally becoming a captain in March 1917. Jacka having risen no higher has been attributed to his frequent disputes with superior officers.

After Gallipoli the 14th Battalion was shipped to France, where, at Pozières in August 1916 he won the Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry. He led his platoon against a large number of the enemy, who had counter attacked the battalion on his right. The enemy were driven back some prisoners they had taken were recovered, and 50 of the enemy captured. He was himself wounded in this attack.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62

and at Bullecourt in 1917 he won a bar to the Military Cross .

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy's position, and obtained most valuable information. Later, he rendered invaluable assistance in guiding troops to their assembly positions.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169


The Australian official historian, Charles Bean, described his actions at Pozières, during which he recaptured a section of trench, freed a group of recently captured Australians and forced the surrender of some fifty Germans, as "the most dramatic and effective act of individual audacity in the history of the AIF." He was severely wounded during this action and was hit by a sniper's bullet in July 1917. On each occasion he returned to the front, always furthering his reputation as one of the AIF's most respected warriors. In May 1918 he received the wound that ended his combat career, this time during a German gas bombardment near Villers-Bretonneux.
Jacka returned to Australia in September 1919. Greeted by a large crowd upon his return, Jacka was described in one newspaper as "the symbol of the spirit of the ANZACs." After being demobilised in January 1920 he went into business with two former members of his battalion. He married the following year and he and his wife later adopted a daughter. In 1929 Jacka was elected to the St Kilda Council becoming mayor the following year. His political career was characterised by his strong interest in assisting the unemployed. Meanwhile his business, which had performed well until the late 1920s, was forced into voluntary liquidation in 1930.
At the same time Jacka's health began to deteriorate. He entered Caulfield Military Hospital in December 1931 and died from kidney disease the following month. More than 6,000 people filed past his coffin as it lay in state and his funeral procession, flanked by thousands of onlookers, was led by over 1,000 returned soldiers - the coffin was carried by eight Victoria Cross winners. Jacka was buried with full military honours in St Kilda cemetery.

Se also (http://www.awm.gov.au/forging/australians/jacka.htm).