Anderson, Marcus

4633 Corporal Marcus Anderson - 11th Battalion & 2nd Army Field Survey Company BEF

Marcus Anderson was born at Broken Hill NSW on the 22^nd March 1892 to George & Margaret. The Anderson family soon moved to Meranburn NSW and in 1895 took up residence in Jamestown South Australia. In 1902 George headed to Western Australia & was closely followed by Margaret with their 5 children who arrived in Fremantle on the 16^th May 1902. Upon arrival the family lived for a time at King William Street South Fremantle but later moved to 167 Forrest Street East Fremantle (later renumbered to 90 Forrest Street). 

Marcus attended Beaconsfield, Plympton Primary Schools & White Gum Valley State School. In 1906 Marcus began his teacher training while still himself a student. In 1907 Marcus joined the staff of Fremantle Boys School and in 1911 was admitted to Claremont Teachers College. In 1912, Marcus and his mate Jim Morgan were posted to the staff of Perth Boys School. A move to the goldfields then occurred when Marcus was sent to Kalgoorlie and later Boulder school.

On September 14^th 1915 in Boulder at the age of 23, Marcus enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was initially trained at No.29 Depot Company and then at Blackboy Hill Camp was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the 14^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion.

I left Fremantle on the troopship Miltiades on 11^th February 1916. It was a cranky vessel, caused by having about sixty feet added to the middle of the vessel. The well decks were fitted with showers enclosed with very strong timber. The second morning out of port a little after daybreak when the showers were crowded with men, a huge storm struck these buildings and shattered them like fruit cases. Some men were killed outright and many were badly injured. This was followed by burials at sea when the bodies were tightly sewn in canvas and heavy weights placed at the foot of the enclosed canvas which allowed the body to slide gently down the plank and be committed to the depths of the sea. This was to all of us a very solemn and reverent rite. Due to this storm and the unseaworthiness of the vessel in general, it limped across a calm and peaceful Indian Ocean to Colombo where repairs of sorts were affected. Because of this repair work the troops had quite a stay in Colombo.

Upon arrival in Egypt, Marcus did not join the 11^th straight away as their complement was full, so he and other reinforcements was initially sent to the Base Depot at Alexandria, moving to France in early April 1916 and joined up with the 11^th Battalion on the 17^th May 1916.

The weather was bitterly cold, the forests were bare, like our ringbarked land in Australia. Etaples was a small fishing village surrounded by sand dunes, no camps-just bare ground. It seemed to me that our arrival was a very great surprise to the powers that were. Bell tents from somewhere were erected and a camp set up. Later floorboards were found and we had a bit more comfort.

After a short stay at Etaples a number of us again entrained for the battle zone. We travelled by train to the railway station of Bailleul where we were given a road map with directions to a place Sailly Sur La Lys, a march of about 5000 yards. I had charge of this reinforcement.

Sailly was typical of those villages in the North of France – shops and dwelling erected on both sides of the cross roads with the building line on the cobbled street. Most buildings were of two storeys. As I marched along one of these streets soldiers looked down from the windows of the second storey and hailed us with all sorts of greetings. From one of these windows I heard my name called. The caller was Mort Allen, the son of Reverend Tom Allen, at one time Minister at Fremantle Wesley Church. I knew Mort very well. He was a pupil at Fremantle Boys School. I never saw Mort again. Another valuable life sacrificed on the bloody altars of Mars.

I reported to the Battalion headquarters and after the men had been sent to their various companies one of the officers of the Orderly Room in the presence of the Sergeants told me to remove the three stripes from my arm – that rank was only provisional and now I was a private. I suggested another tunic as the very big difference in the shade of the khaki showed to all that I had held a certain rank. It was suggested that I was silly so then I reported to ‘C’ Company but had forgotten the platoon. ‘C’ Company was billeted in a flourmill where men filled the various floors of the storage building and each floor was reached by ladders. The floorboards were badly jointed so that liquid spilled on the floor dripped onto the floor beneath – when a Dixie of liquid was spilled “Under Below” was the warning. A similar reception to that-which I received on my arrival continued and it was this hostility which saved my life. The “Third Brigade” consisting of the 9^th, 10^th, 11^th & 12^th Battalions, in a very orderly movement relieved the English soldiers who had occupied the sector. It was allegedly a quiet sector. Up to our arrival near side disturbed the other.

The River Lys drained into this area and flowed through Armentieres into Belgium and through the huge industrial areas of Lille & Tourcoing. The destruction of the drainage system caused the land to become waterlogged. Trenches could not be dug as the water level was close to the surface. Hence all defence works were above the normal surface of the ground. To the rear of our formation of breastworks were the remains of La Cordonnerie Farm, a trig point for the Germans. Our defence works consisted of a parapet on an average of five to six feet high under which were recesses supported by timber. Troops inside these recesses considered themselves safe from enemy fire. What a fallacy! In front of the defence in “No Mans Land” was the barbed wire. We used two methods of securing this wire. One method was by driving stakes into the ground and then meshing the wire, which was a long and tedious job. In the other method, hurdles were used. These were constructed behind the parapets and then in the dark lifted over the parapets and quickly and quietly staked to the ground.

The enemy used similar methods. In between this wire and the enemy defence system and ours was a land known as “No Mans Land”. To gain entrance to “No Mans Land” a small trench was dug under the wire and through this trench the troops reached “No Mans Land”. At the end of the trench was a sally post usually occupied by three men. Their job was to admit soldiers who had been on patrol and to see that no enemy approached our defences. All movement was done in the dark. In the day time the troops kept themselves out of sight but the night was action.

In our sector and very close together were two mine shafts. The miners were driving shafts under the enemy parapets and strong points. In No Mans Land a huge crater had been formed from some previous mine.

Each night there were parties who had to do the following duties; ration parties, wire netting parties, fixing duckboards (like ladders with rungs a few inches apart and placed on stumps at the bottom of the trenches where water was either still or flowing). Troops travelled through the winding communication trenches back to the rear, picked up their loads and continued back to the front. Outside in no mans land, wire parties repaired or extended the wire cover. Patrols crawled on bellies and looked for signs of the enemy activity.

A number of men remained under cover of the parapets and rested. Their job was to be ready to ward off any enemy attempt to infiltrate our lines. At near sunset the Sergeant visited the various troops & gave them the orders and particular duties for the night. On this particular night of May 30^th 1916, the Sergeant appeared and was followed by half a dozen men. He ordered the chaps who were with me out of the breastwork and the troops took our places. He told me to wait where I was while he brought some others. I was about to tell the Sergeant that I would be happy to be present at his father’s wedding when the whole area exploded with flames, smoke and flying metal. The enemy range was perfect…I dropped to the ground and snuggled up close to the earth and watched and waited. During a temporary lull a chap by the name of Sparks came through the smoke and fumes. He was a runner with a message for one of the officers. We looked in the direction where he had to go and saw men moving about so he hurried off with his message. Suddenly the quiet was again broken and another fierce bombardment rocked the earth and then except for a spasmodic firing quiet again rained. Those of us who were left manned the parapets and waited for the attack, which did not come. It was over. The enemy had raided our trenches and had attempted to blow up the mineshaft leading to the underground saps. I was sure Sparks had been blown to pieces until in 1920 I met him in Fremantle. In brief, those men we had seen moving about were Germans and Sparks became a Prisoner of War. The stretcher bearers had a busy time tending the wounded. The dead were left until all the wounded had been removed. The Breastworks were a mess and for a few days we were all busy doing repairs. That breastwork where I wanted to spend the night had been hit by a heavy shell and now was just a big crater with the mangled remains of the men who had occupied it just prior to the attack. I learned a great lesson. I never afterwards complained about being roughly treated.

A few days later our battalion was relieved and we occupied billets around the village of Sailly…A Lieutenant Syd Forbes, an old friend of mine (he was at teachers college 1912 and 1913) came to me and told me that Frank Berthold and I had been chosen to go to the Second Army and be trained in observation and Field Survey Work. Sad to record that Syd was killed shortly afterwards in the Battle of the Somme.

We were given orders to report to a building in Armentieres. There began a service which lasted from May 1916 to May 1918, when the enemy broke through the Portuguese troops on the old Fromelles sector. The field company to which I had been attached was sent back to rest near the City of St. Omer.

Marcus spent the next two years on detachment to the 2^nd Army’s Field Survey Company which was only broken up by a period of leave to England.

At the outbreak of war in 1914, Jim Morgan and most of the staff at Perth Boy’s enlisted immediately and entered Blackboy Camp for training as soldiers. Jim was among the first to land in the attempt to capture the hills of Gallipoli facing the Dardanelles where he was badly wounded and his name appeared on the list of missing soldiers. He was later found in a Malta hospital, from where he was able to return to Western Australia and eventually be discharged from the Army. As he was unable to rejoin the AIF he paid his own fare to England where he obtained a commission with the Second Welsh Regiment.

In 1917 I obtained leave and went to England. Jim Bridge, my sister Jessie’s husband was by now in Lon don using his skill in the construction of planes and war material for the army. Soldiers of the AIF who crossed to England for leave had to report to the AIF depot at Horseferry Road London where passes were checked and money issued for the leave period. Here were issued clean clothes etc. To be brief, after a bath, new clothes were issued. The underclothing was a fairly good fit but the army tunic and trousers were a bit difficult. It was the policy for the Sergeant to look at the soldier and make sure that the tunic and trousers was a terrible fit and then offer a perfect fit of clothes on the passing over of an English one pound note. I abused the Sergeant, grabbed my old clothes and set out to see Jim Bridge at the house where he was staying.

Jim Morgan was living with his Uncle who was the Mayor of Ealing and a prosperous businessman. I made an appointment with Jim Morgan. Jim Bridge and I travelled to Ealing.

The main street is very wide and as Jim and I walked on the footpath I glanced across the road and saw three men walking in our direction but on the opposite footpath. Two of these men wore the uniforms of officers of the English Army and the other was in civilian clothes. As I glanced across the road Morgan and I recognised each other immediately and crossed the road where we met in the middle. Jim Bridge looked and saw the two of us grasping hands. The civilian and the other officer kept walking and suddenly saw Jim Morgan with an Australian soldier, and soon a group, three with uniform and the other two in civilian dress formed in the middle of the road. Jim Morgan was always very particular in reference to clothing. From him I received a dressing down. I was a disgrace! I told him what had happened at Horseferry Road. We all turned and proceeded to the home of Jim Morgan’s uncle. As Jim intended to spend some time in London with me I had to be well dressed. To do this he provided me with his perfectly good Australian uniform and I left him my old rags.

In order to distinguish the soldiers who had war service experience from others a red and blue stripe were sewn on the sleeve of the left arm near the cuff. Jim Morgan didn’t wear any and neither did I. On one occasion after being with Jim Morgan at his Uncles house, Jim went with me to the tube station. Young women acted as station clerks to issue and check tickets. We arrived some time before the train and struck up a conversation with one of these patriotic women. Jim had a way with him. He admired the patriotism of those women who so unselfishly served their country. Jim had the rank of Captain and I was private-number 4633. In order to show our appreciation of the girls services, Jim suggested that he would like to show it by taking her to one of the shows in London. There were plenty of theatres and music halls. The girl was very indignant. She had a boyfriend who was a soldier and as she looked for the service stripes on our sleeves and seeing none, very cuttingly reminded us that her boy was in France. Jim did not like France and he reminded her of the grave risks and dangers. She agreed about grenades, bullets, shellfire and gas. Jim teased her by remarking that he did not mean those things-there was something else in France far more dangerous than being gassed or wounded and that was the mademoiselles. She replied that her boy would be true to her. She finished the conversation by suggesting that we should go to France and find out for ourselves the dangers of the various lethal weapons. I wonder what she really thought and in writing to her boy soldier would inform him of those two cold footers who wanted to take her out to see the sights of London.

It was the last day of my leave. Jim suggested that I go to Horseferry Road and apply for an extension of leave. This was a ridiculous idea, extension of leave was never granted. Jim assured me that he would get me extra leave. On the appointed time I met Jim and together we entered the headquarters. In one long room with a long counter and several smaller compartments where senior officers seemed to be secreted, we approached a sergeant and I made my request for extension of leave. From that moment Captain J Morgan of the 2^nd Welsh Regiment took control. N.C.O’s and other ranks in London jobs were very subservient to Commissioned Officers and this particular Sergeant listened most respectfully to Captain Morgan. He explained to the Sergeant with my leave pass in his hand that a couple of our relatives, soldiers, had just arrived from Archangel and were anxious to meet me. It would probably be the last time we would have an opportunity of meeting each other and he was sure the officer in charge would be sympathetic to this request. The sergeant left the counter from the rear entrance, entered one of those enclosed cubicles and we heard voices. On his return he politely told Captain Morgan to enter the cubicle and interview the officer. I was left at the counter but after a few minutes Jim returned with the leave pass and told the sergeant that I had been granted two days extra leave. The sergeant was a bit amazed and called out to the officer asking him if the leave had been granted and received reply in the affirmative and my pass was endorsed. When we were clear of the building I asked Jim how he managed the officer. Jim said that after a fair amount of talking, the officer told him that I could be granted 1 day extra. Jim told the Sergeant two days, hoping that no further inquiries would be made. Jim was a bit annoyed with himself for not telling the Sergeant I had been granted 4 days leave, but the risk was great and he did not expect to get the two days. We had the extra two days in London together.

Marcus was fortunate to be attached to the Field Survey Company as the 11^th Battalion had large casualties during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and at Third Ypres in 1917. By early 1918, a German offensive had been expected and finally came on March 21^st 1918 against the Third & Fifth British Armies. Marcus, with the 2^nd Army was further north towards Belgium and soon had to contend with a German breakthrough on their front.

The German Armies broke through the trench defences to the south of Armentieres in which was part of the front covered by the 2^nd Field Survey Company to which I had been attached since July 1916. In this period of time I had become very familiar with a large part of land in our territory extending from Armentieres to Hazebrouck; to the Belgian territory of Neuve Eglise, a high piece of land we classified as Hill 63 to Messines which we captured in 1917.

In addition to travelling this area on a pushbike, on a motorcycle – a twin Douglas, issued to our Major’s chauffeur and who often permitted me to use it, and walking, I spent a lot of time studying maps, charts and aerial photographs.

The observers were located at Trig points situated in certain advantageous positions, such as a chimney top, a church tower or a farmhouse ruin on the side of rising ground. A moveable telescope mounted similarly to a theodolite with degrees and minutes marked and fixed on a solid base, was used to locate enemy positions, using bearings. Each post was selected in an area free from any other likely targets such as Sun positions,, army camps or major roads. Both range of vision and concealment were two vital factors in determining the site of the post.

Attached to each headquarters were soldiers who in civil life were tradesmen, carpenters or general workers, bricklayers, stone masons etc. They had the task of constructing the post, and while making the post weather proof and bullet proof it could not be made safe against a direct hit from a shell. It was interesting to watch these craftsmen at work on the inside of a high chimney, probably part of a peace time factory or a kiln, removing parts of bricks and fitting bearers on which to place floor boards. Inside the chimney were rungs up which the sweep climbed up in peacetime to clean the chimneys. These rungs were made secure and others added. Except for the small opening through which the enemy was observed by means of a telescope, it was essential that this chimney look no different from the others. On the completion of the post, the electricians installed the necessary communication instruments and connected them to secret headquarters. In order the give the observer a quick means of descent should the enemy shell the chimney, a long rope hung down the entire centre of the chimney giving the observer a chance of a quick descent. On one occasion, the observer on duty, noted shells bursting in the vicinity of his chimney. He got the bearing on the gun blast, phoned the bearing through to headquarters, followed quickly by another report that a shell had struck the base of the chimney. He then slid down the rope. He reached the base which was filled with explosive fumes and brick dust and crept out through the oven. He escaped but with burnt hands and buttocks caused by the friction of the rope. Major Coates recommended him for the Military Medal, which he duly received.

Headquarters was also very carefully concealed, by sandbagging, a nisson hut or using ruins of an old building or even an undamaged farmhouse. Inside were fitted various electrical devices, telephones and a large drawing board on which maps of the district were glued. On each board on the exact site of each post was fitted a cord, and by placing this cord, and by placing this cord across a large protractor, a bearing was drawn into enemy territory. From this bearing and from others from other posts, exact positions of enemy positions were located.

At the beginning of 1918 our headquarters were in a nisson hut near Westhoef Farm in Belgium and very heavy fogs blanketed the land surface and visibility was nil and we felt like blind men. One day the major received a report from Headquarters that the enemy had broken through the trench system in the Fromelles Bois Greiner sector to the south of Armentieres and had advanced many miles. We were instructed to collect as much of the equipment and records as possible and destroy what could not be taken away and be ready to retire when ordered. We were dumbfounded, this was incredulous. However the Major obeyed the orders and personnel of three posts with much equipment, after destroying the post reported to headquarters at Westhoef Farm and awaited orders. I suggested to the Major that the whole position was crazy. We had no evidence of enemy action – not even a rifle shot. What about a patrol to find out the situation. After a lot of hesitation he agreed to send me and another to do a bit of scouting. If we saw any indication of the enemy we were to return immediately. We listened to his instruction and promised to obey. Away we went, across fields, along ditches very carefully observing before crossing any road or track and worked towards the Bailleul Armentieres Road, which we carefully crossed and then decided to proceed in the direction of Bailleul.

As we approached that town we saw soldiers busy with spades digging trenches. We carefully approached them, were recognized as friends and were escorted from place to place, by officer after officer until we were introduced to the Brigade Major to whom we told our tale. I emphasized the fact that the 2^nd Field Survey Company was under direct control of 2^nd Army headquarters and not under the control of any Brigade or Division. I suggested that he get in touch with Army Headquarters and through to Major Coates, the officer in charge of the 2^nd Field Survey Company. After waiting for an hour or more he gave us permission to leave. We thanked him and hurried over the road and back to Westhoef where we received a cold welcome. The whole Company had been assembled for some time with orders to move and was waiting for our return. The Major I think felt relieved with our report of no enemy seen so we moved along a high road to a chateau near Bailleul.

This area was highland forming a part of the watershed of the Lys River. The escarpment overlooked the very large level are of the Lys Basin. On one part of this escarpment several acres of ground were enclosed by a high stone wall where monks had established the monastery of Mont des Chats consisting of many large and grand building, with land cultivated to produce grain, vegetables and fruit. Inside the main entrance gravestones marked the burial places of German Uhlans-mounted infantry who apparently roamed the area during the early days of the war.

One evening I stood on one of the higher spots and by the many fires on the plain marked the progress of the enemy. Numerous fires glowed marking the destruction of the farms and villages of those industrious and would be peaceful people. In this area a division of French troops had been hastily thrown in to help stop the German advance. On one occasion I noted an area of land where many French soldiers were digging row after row of graves. As I watched, a French transport wagon drawn by mules pulled up, and from it, like piles of logs were the canvas enclosed bodies of French soldiers who had been killed in this action. As each body was laid to rest I felt grieved but this grief was soon replaced by anger.

From here we were transported in trucks to the outskirts of the big city of St Omer. Here we were billeted in farm buildings situated on the banks of a very peaceful stream. It was ideal – free from the sounds of battle with comfortable sleeping places and good food and for amusement the nights in St Omer. Within 24 hours I received orders to report to Major Coates. I obeyed and found Berthold also there. The Major was most solemn when he opened up with the statement, “I have bad news for you”. I remember that word “bad” and as soon as we received his further statement did not consider the news as “bad” but just inevitable. Our attachment to 2^nd Field Survey Company had ceased and we were to report back to the 11^th Battalion. However if we chose we could transfer permanently to the Air Force. To fly in the air in crates of bamboo and paper was not for me. Give me the ground anytime. Berthold accepted the Air Force transfer and I went back to the P.B.I. (Poor Bloody Infantry or Foot Sloggers).

During our retirement in the Lys sector and the advance of the enemy in the Somme the five Australian Divisions had helped to halt the enemy advance in this area while the valley of the Lys was being overrun by the German Army. French troops had been used to halt the enemy advance on the high land of Belgium and to stop the advance of the enemy on the Lys. The First Australian Division was ordered north where they encountered the advancing enemy in the region of Hazebrouck.

From the haven of rest at St Omer I travelled by Army motor truck to some place where the First Division had its headquarters and duly reported to the officers orderly room. Here I had a comfortable bed and dined at a table and had visions of being appointed either to Division or Heavy Artillery where I could serve without further training. Soldiers in Brigade or Division were known as staff and distinguished by plenty of ‘red’ on posh uniforms. They did not crawl around on their bellies or eat bully beef direct out of the cans or eat hard dog biscuits or fill up with unsavoury stew. I had an interview with one of the high ranking officers, a colonel in the Artillery. At the interview I did not have to stand to attention and observe protocol but instead sat and chattered. He questioned me on the work I had been doing, observations, map reading, directing gun fire and the use of instruments and as we proceeded I had hopes that I may not see the Infantry but be found a job at Division headquarters. He finally drew out a map of the area, spread it over the table and handed me a piece of paper on which was a map location and asked me if I could find that spot. I did so with hope and alacrity. He seemed very pleased and remarked “Good. That is the site of the headquarters of the 11^th Battalion. You will report there immediately.” When I stood up, saluted “Yes Sir” I hoped that he was not able to read my thoughts. He had put me up a tree, got me out on a branch and then sawed it off.

And now for the second time I reported back to 11^th Battalion. However I well remember my first reception to the orderly room of that unit. This time however the camp was in a wood and under trees. Bell canvas tents with floorboards housed the troops. I reported to the orderly room and as I announced my arrival to the Orderly Room Sergeant, a voice which I recognized, called “Come in Marcus”. It was John Archibald, an old friend of mine from Perth and Perth Boys School, an original Anzac, and now Captain and adjutant of the 11^th Battalion. He and Jim Morgan were great friends. I had not seen him since 1914 and it was now 1918.

We talked, not as Captain to Private but as friend to friend. I often wondered what that Orderly Sergeant thought of this interview. After a lot of personal reminiscences we came back to earth and the war. The Colonel had received from Major Coates a letter stating his great appreciation of my work and my ability while serving with him in the Second Field Survey Company and had I not been attached but a member of his unit, my rank would have been very much different. The interview being ended I took my place as 4633 Private Anderson of C Company who were making preparations to capture a small sector of the enemy trenches, a small rise on the outskirts of the village of Merris called Mont de Merris. It was essential to take this area because it commanded a wide view of the area. This was a very successful attack but I must say how very sorry I felt for the Germans in our hand to hand combat. None resisted and they begged and pleaded for mercy and offered gold coins, watches etc. to be spared. They were spared, gifts and all.

After a couple of days we were to be relieved by troops of the 9^th Battalion and one of us had to go back over the conquered territory and guide the relief to our position. I was to get these men safely to the first line. The quicker way was over the well made roads and known tracks. I always avoided such places. Our artillery knew the enemy roads and tracks which he would use and he knew ours. The ditches and by-ways were neglected and were not subject to enemy fire, but a bit more difficult to cover. I led my relief over rough passages of ditches and old trenches where several had a few tumbles but quickly recovered. It was in the dark and the track was not always clearly visible. In due time I reached my objective and in reporting to the officer felt highly satisfied because not one man had been killed or wounded. I knew that other who followed the roads must have had casualties due to the shellfire. But I was greeted by a gruff request asking me where the hell had I been. These troops were anxious to be relieved and out of the line. I replied that I had been guiding the relief to this spot and had not lost a man so far. I was told to finish my job and get ready to move out. I was just as anxious and pleased as any of the troops to get to the back areas.

After this attack I was posted to Battalion Scouts to replace a chap who was a Corporal. In a short time I was again transferred to Brigade Scouts… The division remained in the Lys area, attacking and advancing until a new line of trenches were consolidated. In the Somme area gigantic preparations were made for a final assault on the German Army. August 8^th 1918 was the date. We did not know this preparation but at the beginning of August the 1^st Division was again entrained and moved to the Somme.

Before the attack we Scouts were briefed and our particular duties explained. Our chief duty was to follow the attack and report the progress of our infantry and the location of the enemy. In the early morning before dawn in the thick foggy mist we attacked. Tanks were used, many of them dummies drawn by mules but from the distance these dummies among the genuine tanks presented a terrific force, such as to strike terror into the enemy. The ground over which our troops had to attack was the scene of some of the fierce battles of 1916 and 1917. Villages were rubble but had concealed strong points, ruins of farms, houses and orchards, now overgrown with weeds and shrubs and woods stripped of all growth and appearing like one of our burnt out forests.

When following an attack in the vicinity of Proyart, we reached a party of our foremost troops who had established a strong point in an old German communication trench on top of some rising ground. The first attempt to capture this post had been repelled by the German machine gunners who had inflicted many casualties in our troops. The bodies of the dead lay on the ground where they had fallen. Among the dead was the body of Lt Gordon Gemmell, another friend of Teachers College days.

The Germans had retired up this zig zag trench which followed the slope of the hill up to the summit. They closed the saps by using sand bags and set up the machine guns on the top of the trench from which position machine gun fire could sweep the whole slope of the hill side. Apparently our men who were killed were not aware of the machine gun post and attempted to advance up the slope where they were killed. As our men became aware of the gun position they knew the post could not be captured by attempting to rush up the slope so they adopted textbook tactics. The zig-zag path gave complete protection from machine gun fire. Our men silently crawled up the trench to within bomb throwing distance and then landed a couple of Mills bombs right on the machine gun post destroying the Germans. The path was then clear for our troops to advance.

I looked at Gordon’s body. His skin was as fair in death as in life. He had been killed by a bullet through the forehead between the eyes. I gazed at his body and my thoughts ran to the past, to those very happy days I spent with him and his family at York in Western Australia. I grieved sorely for his mother and family.

This attack which cost Marcus’s friend Gordon his life was a very costly day for Fremantle. Lieutenants Duncan Sharp & George Lamerton; Corporals Joseph Shier & William Whiteside; L/Cpl Basil Hackett; Privates Robert Linklater, Thomas Smith, John Spencer and Alex White were killed instantly. Shier, a Timber Mill Hand from Fremantle, had only just got married on his recent leave to England.

Further Fremantle soldiers were to die of their wounds in the coming days. Corporal Charles Erwood, a Contractor from East Fremantle, had been struck by a shell while advancing and would die the next day from his horrendous injuries. Private Stanley Ross, a clerk from East Fremantle, was badly wounded in the chest and made it to hospital but died two days later; as did Private William Hancock, a biscuit maker from Beaconsfield. Private John Clarke, a Dairyman from East Fremantle had been hit by bullets in the abdomen and bravely clung on to life for three days before succumbing to his injuries and Private John Culver, a Farmer from South Fremantle had been badly hit in the neck. He made it back to a hospital on the French coast but he sadly also couldn’t fight his severe injuries and he died on the 16^th of August. It was one of the more costly attacks for Fremantle in the war.

However the Germans were finally overcome and continued to retreat back towards their major defence area, the Hindenburg Line. Marcus Anderson found himself very busy with his scouting duties

The Brigade Major hailed two of us with the brief order – find the disposition of the 11^th Battalion and report back. We stumbled upon blown out guns, gun positions and dead German artillery troops and upon groups of our troops and signallers laying lines for communications. At last we received information that the Headquarters of the 11^th Battalion was probably to the rear on a sunken road. We consulted our map and found what might be a sunken road. We found that road. On one side was an opening beside which stood a sentry. We told him who we were and what we wanted and were then admitted to this dugout. We asked to see the Adjutant and appearing through a hole in the dugout no less was Captain John Archibald, wearing no tunic, nor arms, with no Sam Browne and unlaced boots. I gave him the message—Brigade Major’s compliments and what was the disposition of the 11^th Battalion. John looked at me and delivered the reply – “The Adjutant’s compliments to the Brigade Major. We do not know the disposition of the 11^th Battalion. Only God knows and when he tells us, the disposition will be forwarded to the Brigade Major.” I argued that such a message could not be delivered by me. He advised me to go and find out and also let him know the disposition of the Battalion. The other scout and I left and went into a huddle with the result our only course was to approach the Hindenburg Line. A rather stupid idea but what was the alternative?

Off we set. After some travelling we entered the ruined rubble of a one time village and there discovered a group of signallers establishing a forward post. They told us that they had communications with the rear but nothing to the front The Battalion had gone forward in that direction so we again set off. We located an old ruined communications trench and followed it until we reached the wire in front of the German trenches. That wire, not just a few strands or hurdles but acres of thin sheet metal, cut into thin strips and saw toothed, twisted and rolled smothered the ground. We just stood and gazed. We scouted about and found an old trench under this tangle and slowly worked our way up and entered the famous Hindenburg Line. No sign of troops, ours of the enemy. We carefully moved along that trench and what wonderfully constructed works they were – well sandbagged and held with timber with dugout entrances at different levels.

We spied a slight movement at the end of a sap and carefully approached and discovered one of our machine gun posts. From the information we gathered from the troops and our own observations we would now be able to return and submit a report on the disposition of the 11^th Battalion.

The Hindenburg Line, with hundreds of yards of well constructed trenches was undamaged. It was not occupied by any troops. The enemy apparently retreated and left the area intact. The Line was now held by a few Australians established in strong points with machine guns covering a wide area of fire. We now had to get back as speedily as possible.

We had proceeded for about a hundred yards when Whiz Bang! Whiz Bang! Bang! The road was being shelled. No doubt we had been observed hence the enemy fire. In getting off that road I reckon we broke any “Stawell Gift” records – we did the one hundred yards in less than ten seconds.

We continued our journey in the rough until the shelling had ceased and we were out of range when we again used the road and finally arrived back to Brigade Headquarters. We approached and reported to the Brigade Major. I think the unspoken question in his mind had been “Where have you been?” We gave a detailed report – written. He read it and commented, “Good it verifies other reports received”. We had no more duties to perform and watched the streams of Germans prisoners being marched into the compound.

This assault turned out to be the 11^th Battalion’s last attack of the war and though casualties were light, 33 year old Arthur Hicks of Fremantle was killed. After they were relieved the battalion withdrew for a long deserved rest, but as described by Marcus they were not yet out of harms way.

One bright moonlight night our infantry in column of fours moved along one of the main roads. Many officers had their mounts and were riding on horseback. Our small group of a dozen or so men independently moved across the country and did not use the roads. From one of our high positions we could see the troops moving along the road. Then we noticed what looked like a long string of three penny pieces strung across the countryside. It was the moonlight being reflected on the helmets of the troops. Suddenly a couple of aeroplanes appeared overhead. We saw the flashed and heard the reports as bombs were dropped on our troops. We probably lost more men in that bomb attack than the latest fighting. Among those killed was my very old friend John Archibald – such was fate! John landed in Gallipoli on April 25^th 1915, served through years of fighting and died just after his last engagement.

By the 2^nd week of October all the Australian infantry were out of the line as the British, French & Americans continued to push the Germans back. Peace was finally on the horizon & the Armistice was declared on November 11^th.

Days before November the 11^th 1918, the First Division again entrained for the battlefront. The train on which we were travelling was diverted to a small military siding and remained there for several days. The railway lines passed through territory which had been for a long time occupied by the Germans, who on retreat mined many areas. Many of the mines failed to explode as planned but lay dormant and blew up at various times and caused much delay in the transport services of the Allies. One reason for our delay was the blowing up of a stretch of line by one of these old mines.

In this siding were many trains packed with army supplies which were patrolled by soldier sentries to prevent pilfering. In this siding area sentries were carefully guarding huge stacks of straw bales used by the mules. We reckoned the sentries were stationed there to prevent the stack going up in flames. One day a body of troops with motor wagons pulled up near this heap and began pulling down the bales of straw and before our eyes were stacks of S.R.D. Rum. How one man can misjudge! The lorries were filled with this spirit and left us with a feeling of having been cheated.

After the Armistice the Australians moved into the area around Charleroi in Belgium where they waited for their turn to be sent back to Australia.

In March of 1919 I entrained at Charleroi on my way back to Australia. I have only a vague recollection of that trip from Charleroi to an Australian base camp in the south of England. I well remember some of the battlefields through which the train traveled and I will never forget the acres of white crosses marking the graves of soldiers who had died and now rested on those quiet sand hills of Etaples where I had my first camp in France. Those peaceful undulations of land in 1916 were now in 1919 hills covered with crosses.

Marcus arrived in England and was keen to get back to Australia as quickly as possible.

I had one aim, a ship back to Australia. The authorities had a big problem in the sending back of many thousands of soldiers to their homelands. Leave was freely given to soldiers. They could have up to six months. Their leave was granted for definite periods and the boat rolls would be compiled for those dates. However if some soldiers did not turn up in time their places were filled by others. At the orderly room I notified the staff that I was ready to move at a moments notice. From daylight to dark I sat with my equipment ready to go… After a couple of days my number was called and I was on the train to Plymouth.

The troopship Kildonan Castle arrived back in Gage Roads Fremantle in April 1919.

As I stood on the deck and gazed towards my beloved land sorrow clouded my joy and satisfaction that I had last returned home. The ship did not berth but a tug towing a barge steamed out of the harbour and came alongside the ship. The barge tied up to the ship and we Western Australians clambered down the side and landed in the barge. Ropes were cast off and the tug and barge began a trip to the harbour.

Unfortunately due to the influenza outbreak the men were sent firstly to Woodman’s Point and then Garden Island where they spent a fortnight in isolation. Finally the men were cleared of illness and were allowed to land in Fremantle. Marcus finally had his homecoming.

On arrival home, Marcus resumed teaching, firstly at Fremantle Boys School, then North Fremantle State School and other schools through the metropolitan and country areas. In 1924 Marcus married Linda Baker and they had two children, Max & Margaret.

Marcus continued teaching until he retired. He died in 1981

Marcus wrote some of his memories from the war and civilian life in the 1970’s. Many of his recollections dealt with his good friends including Jim Morgan.

After the Armistice in 1919 I was among the first to be repatriated to Australia and sailed in the steamer Kildonan Castle. Jim knew of my movements through letters. Jim in due course returned to Australia and resumed duty with the Education Department. I was appointed to Kojonup and Jim to Mount Barker and we often met at R.S.L. reunions and at Masonic meetings. Jim had married in England. He had been severely wounded and suffered internal bleeding. Later he became headmaster at White Gum Valley School and lived with his wife and only son at Cottesloe. I was still in the country when I read in the newspaper that Jim Morgan was missing. His body was found in stunted scrub behind Cottesloe Beach.

In 1944 I was Headmaster at Subiaco State School. In one of the Subiaco streets an elderly lady stopped me and inquired if I knew her. I recognized her as Jim’s mother. She told me that among Jim’s possessions she had found an old and very much worn Australian soldier’s tunic and that it belonged to me. I could not understand how it could possible belong to me. She was sure it was mine because in one of the pockets were my identity discs. I did not want the uniform but would be pleased to receive the discs which she later passed on to me. I have to answer why did Jim keep that ragged old tunic which I discarded at his Uncle’s home in Ealing and received his very good tunic of the AIF and Jim wore nothing but the best. To me it indicated his very great esteem for his mate of many years, a friendship that originated in 1907 when we were both transferred to Fremantle Boys.