#LightUpTheDawn

For the first time in 101 years, the streets, cenotaphs and war memorials have been quiet.

ANZAC Day is normally celebrated or memorialised all over Australia and New Zealand, in small towns, cities, suburbs. Returned Veterans marching, parading alongside serving members of the Armed Forces, cadets corps, community groups, first responders, Police.

But not this year. Not in 2020.

Just as in 1919, the first year for communities to gather together after the Great War had ended and stand side by side with returning and returned soldiers, this year there are no parades, public services or gatherings. Just as in 1919, in 2020 it is once more a virus which has prevented us from getting up in the dark and assembling before dawn.

This time though a social media campaign #LightUpTheDawn grabbed our attention. It was promoted by the Returned and Services League in Australia and the Returned and Services Association in New Zealand, in newspapers, on radio and television. It was a very simple premise. To not forget.

To stand together, but alone, at the end of our driveways, on our front porches, balconies or terraces. Buglers and trumpeters were encouraged to play the Last Post and Reveille from their homes. ANZAC services broadcast on radio and television could be played on smart devices at our gates.

School children were encouraged through their online at home learning platforms to make poppies to display in windows or on doors, some really creative people made candle holders from empty milk bottles. All over our two countries ANZAC biscuits were baked and enjoyed.

And so, at 6am we stood, next to our neighbours but socially distant instead of shoulder to shoulder. We listened to the Ode, we listened and some sang our national anthems, we observed a minutes silence. We reflected. Then we retreated, inside, back to our bubbles.

COVID-19 has changed our lives and the way we live so much, just as WW1 did for our ancestors. There seems to be a renewed sense of community recently. People are looking out for each other, being mindful of our actions, building resilience and doing the same old things in new ways. Will that survive I wonder in our post-COVID world.

There are age old rivalries between our countries, but they are in good jest.

Who has the best rugby team ? – and all the trophies ?

Who should own bragging rights to Pavlova, ANZAC biscuits, Lamingtons, Fairy Bread, Split Enz, Crowded House, Phar Lap, Stan Walker, Russell Crowe (oh alright, Australia can have that one – lol)

We tease each other in fun, but mostly we still like each other – just like siblings. Forged from the time when we were both British Colonies together, far away from the nation which claimed sovereignty (contentiously). The nation which sent their criminals to serve their sentences – out of sight out of mind – and later encouraged citizens to pack up their families and livelihood to seek new opportunities on the other side of the world. Strengthened in the trenches of WW1. It is a sibling kind of thing with mate-ship at its base.

Here is hoping that ultimately, as we tentatively step out of our COVID-19 bubbles and cautiously celebrate that we seem to have flattened the curve through not too dissimilar methods, that we can safely expand our separate bubbles into a slightly larger  ANZAC one.

Lest We Forget.

ANZAC Day

It was a pretty good first week at work, although there were less days for training.

The last two weeks in April were very disjointed; filled with Public Holidays. First Easter shortened the work week by one day, then the following week as well as Easter Monday, there was ANZAC Day. It isn’t over there – another Public Holiday loomed in early May. Labour Day. Every other state has it in October, but not Queensland.

Anyway, ANZAC Day. I had thought I might go to a service in the local park, but I was a bit tired from the first day at my new job – so much to learn. But we decided we should take advantage of a midweek holiday and go for a drive.

It wasn’t a brilliant sunny day, but we thought we would head into the hinterland a bit. Well, it was my idea, and I didn’t do enough research so we changed plans part way.

We headed for Samford which was surprisingly busy for a small town on a public holiday. I have heard there are some amazing café’s there so another trip may need to be planned. From Dayboro we decided as it was getting late in the afternoon that we would head back toward the coast and perhaps catch the sunset and have fish and chips.

After a slight detour to Bribie Island, to say we had driven to another island, and added it to the revisiting MUST-DO list, we headed for our favourite fish and chip eatery. Timing wasn’t on our side though and we were too late for the sunset.

But we did catch these amazing reflections on Bramble Bay.

We will remember them. Lest we Forget.

Since it is ANZAC Day, I thought I would share the essay I wrote for my recent Diploma Unit; Families at War. A very gruelling task, but I now think I will try to write similar essays about other soldiers in our tree. The majority of whom did not come home. The soldier I have written this biography about is my daughter's 1st cousin 3 times removed in her paternal grandmothers family. 

William (Bill) Henry Irvine Gibson SERN 5103 was a young man with a keen interest in the military.[1] He was a member of the Senior Cadets and the local Militia in Kiama.[2] With the support of his family, community and much of Australia he departed full of promise and enthusiasm.[3] If not for World War One, his affinity for the military may have led him to have had a long successful career as a soldier. It was not to be. He was killed Pozières.[4]

Bill was born in Jamberoo, New South Wales on 15^th August 1895.[5] He was the eldest son of William and Vergetta Gibson with four sisters and a much younger brother.[6] In addition to the Senior Cadets and Militia, he was a member of the church choir, the rifle club and the Loyal Orange Lodge N^o. 140 at Jamberoo. He also assisted with the women’s lodge N^o. 415 and was a member of the local Grand United Order of Oddfellows (GUOOF) lodge.[7]

Local newspapers reported and advertised recruitment and fundraising meetings in the Illawarra starting soon after war was declared.[8] Meetings were often held at mines where a large proportion of men on the South Coast were employed.[9] Jamberoo was a dairy farming settlement though and Bill was a labourer, possibly assisting his father on a local farm. Even without an avid interest in the military it would be difficult not to be swept up in the clamour to join in the “fun”, snowballing as it did; mate encouraging mate, brothers together on an adventure.[10]

Bill joined the Waratah March which left Nowra on 30^th November 1915 led by Captain Blow of Gerringong, when it passed through Jamberoo on the way to Sydney.[11] The 37^th Illawarra Infantry had marched to meet the Waratahs on the road from Gerringong and escorted them to Kiama.[12] Bill’s attestation papers are dated 2^nd December at Kiama, suggesting that he signed up while in Kiama that day and joined the march the following day.[13] Some reports identify him as the only recruit to join the march at Jamberoo, others suggest more but their details are vague.[14]

The march reached Jamberoo for lunch and entertainment; the ladies of the Red Cross provided water, towels and soap for the men to wash before they departed for Albion Park.[15] Waratah recruits wore civilian clothes, white hats and a waratah badge. They arrived in Sydney on 17^th December more than tripled in number and made their way to camp at Liverpool.[16]

Despite his rank with the Militia being Company Sergeant Major, Bill was a Private with the Waratahs, and again with both ‘E’ Company, 1^st Battalion and the 16^th Reinforcements, 1^st Battalion.[17] His record notes that he was Acting Corporal on 1^st March 1916 and he is listed as such on the embarkation and nominal rolls in April.[18] The local newspaper account of a farewell held on 22^nd January refers to him as Corporal Gibson, although this was earlier than his records indicate a promotion.[19]

Recruits would usually undertake three months basic training at Liverpool, followed by a short period of leave before departing Australia. However, the January farewell held in Jamberoo suggests that Bill may have returned home after arriving in Liverpool in December; returning in the new year for training.[20] A number of other farewells were held for him and other Waratahs in Kiama and Jamberoo where they were wished well and presented with gifts and mementos.[21] He left Sydney on 1^st April on HMAT SS Makarini bound for Suez. Arriving there on 2^nd May and a week later leaving from Alexandria on the HMT Caledonia for Marseilles.[22] After arriving there on 17^th May they then made their way by train to Étaples, in the north of France.[23]

Étaples was an old fishing town on the mouth of the River Canche. The Étaples Army Base Camp was adjacent to the town with ready access to railways, canals and roads as well as to the port. Étaples was also a supply depot with hospital facilities and a detention centre for prisoners of war.[24] For the new reinforcements it was a training camp where they would spend their first month. Most likely it would have also been an opportunity to write letters home and receive their first mail since leaving Sydney.

On 25^th June, Bill joined the newly formed 1^st ANZAC Entrenching Battalion leaving Étaples for Bailleul.[25] They spent the following two weeks setting up camp near Dranouter. On 11^th July, Bill was a member of the group of eight officers and 141 ordinary ranks despatched as reinforcements to join the 1^st Battalion.[26] The 1^st Brigade of which the 1^st Battalion was part, was on the move from near Fleurbaix or Armentières to Allonville, where they would arrive on 13^th July after travelling mostly on foot.[27]

After three days in Allonville the Brigade moved on to Albert and into position south of the village of Pozières.[28] Once in position they worked to strengthen and deepen the trenches in preparation for the attack which commenced shortly after midnight 23^rd July.[29] Bill was one of the 92 ordinary ranked soldiers of the 1^st Battalion killed between 23^rd-25^th July 1916.[30] His death came just nine weeks after arriving in France and four weeks before his 21^st birthday.[31]

News of his death reached Australia in August. Tributes and notices appeared in the newspapers.[32] In September a letter from Private Bedford appeared in the local newspaper. It gave a little information about the battle, “the bombardment was awful, too terrible to write about”, but mentions the fate of Bill and other Kiama boys.[33] Letters from other Kiama soldiers also appeared soon after, with similar reports.[34] A relative, Private S E Denniss, was one of his comrades who gave an account of his death to the Australian Red Cross.[35] Others spoke of how well liked he was. Bill was buried “in the vicinity of Pozières” and is memorialised at Villers-Bretonneux.[36]

In Australia at this time the conscription debate was gaining momentum. The Prime Minister attended a meeting rallying support in Wollongong and there was plenty of anti-conscription sentiment too. Women still knitted socks and raised money for the War Chest and Red Cross, although the constant news of casualties and death must surely have diminished the resolve for some of them.[37] When Armistice came in 1918 it was met with jubilation and celebration in Wollongong. While the community continued to welcome back their returning soldiers, it must have been bittersweet for Bill’s family to experience.[38]

There are no copies of correspondence in Bill’s file from his family. There are copies of official letters to his mother enquiring whether his father was still alive, as if a mother was a second-rate citizen; her loss dismissed.[39] None of his personal effects were returned through official channels. It is noted though, that the GUOOF wrote requesting a copy of a death certificate and that his mother was in receipt of his pension. Given that the medals have numbers allocated they must have been issued and any related correspondence simply did not survive.[40]

An Honour Board was installed inside the church at Jamberoo and his mother donated brass vases to the church which were dedicated to his memory, to be filled with flowers by his sisters each week.[41] Bill’s contribution to the war, and the loss of his life, was acknowledged in newspaper notices in 1916 at, ANZAC Day 1917 and on the anniversary of his death in 1917.[42]

“A year has passed and still we miss him,

Friends may think the wound is healed,

But they little know the anguish,

That is within our hearts concealed.

There's a certain consolation,

Which cannot be denied,

He was a true born Australian son,

And earned his country's pride.

He died as he wished - a Soldier.”[43]

---

[1] ‘Pvte. W. Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 23 August 1916, p.2.

[2] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.1., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[3] 'Farewell to Captain Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 26 January 1916, p.2.; ‘Farewell to Waratahs', The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 22 March 1916, p.2.

[4] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[5] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.1.

[6] Death Certificate of William Gibson, died 17 June 1949, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales, 12155/1949.

[7] ‘New South Wales Lodge News. No 140, Pacific, Jamberoo. A Tribute to a Hero.', Watchman, 7 September 1916, p.6.; ‘Memorial Service. ANZAC Day, Jamberoo', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 2 May 1917, p.3.

[8] ‘Patriotic Wollongong’, South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, 9 July 1915, p.9.; ‘Patriotic Wollongong’, South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, 20 August 1915, p.9.; ‘The Appeal For Recruits. Meeting in Martin-Place. Don't Cheer-Enlist. State Campaign', Sydney Morning Herald, 28 October 1915, p.8.; ‘The Route March’, Illawarra Mercury, 29 October 1915, p.4.; ‘Recruiting Association’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 4 April 1916, p.2.; ‘Recruiting’, Illawarra Mercury, 16 February 1917, p.7.

[9] ‘Corrimal. Recruiting.’, Illawarra Mercury, 10 December 1915, p.2.

[10] ‘Coming of the Coo-ees’, The Sun, 12 November 1915, p.6.; ‘Patriotic Wollongong’, South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, p.9.; Bill Gammage, The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War, Canberra, Australian National University Press, 1974, p.7.

[11] ‘Route Marches. Fifty Strong. Waratahs Coming to Sydney', Sydney Morning Herald, 1 December 1925, p.13.

[12] ‘Route Marches. The Waratahs. On the Way to Sydney. A Festive Time', Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 1915, p.7.

[13] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.1.

[14] ‘Route Marches. Recruits on the Road. North-West Contingent Sets Forth', Farmer and Settler, 10 December 1915, p.3.; ‘The Waratahs. Gratifying Results at Kiama', Sydney Morning Herald, 4 December 1915, p.17.; ‘The Waratah's. Now 75 Strong', Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser, 4 December 1915, p.2.

[15] ‘Waratahs' Route March', Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser, 27 November 1915, p2.; ‘The Waratahs. Gratifying Results at Kiama', Sydney Morning Herald, p.17.; ‘Jamberoo Jottings', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 8 December 1915, p.3.

[16] Historic Helensburgh, 'Files, The Waratah March 1915', www.historichelensburgh.org.au, Accessed 5 March 2018.; ‘Waratahs. Arrive in Sydney Today', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 December 1915, p.9.; Kiama Library, 'South Coast Waratahs', www.library.kiama.nsw.gov.au/index.php/south-coast-waratahs, Accessed 6 March 2018.

[17] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.1.; Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.4., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[18] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.8., B2455, National Archives of Australia.; Australian Imperial Force Nominal Rolls, 1 Infantry Battalion - 13 to 23 Reinforcements (December 1915 - November 1916), AWM8 23/18/4, p.116. (original page), Australian War Memorial.

[19] 'Farewell to Captain Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.2.; ‘N.S Wales Lodge News, No.140, Pacific, Jamberoo, Send-off to Corporal Gibson’, Watchman, 27 January 1916, p.8.

[20] 'Farewell to Captain Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.2.; Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.3., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[21] ‘Local & General News’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 15 March 1916, p.2.; ‘Recruiting Association’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 16 February 1916, p.2.;’Send-off to Recruits’. Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 19 February 1916, p.2.

[22] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.; ‘Waratahs in France. Silly Rumors Denied.' The Shoalhaven Telegraph, 9 August 1916, p.5.

[23] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.

[24] Through These Lines, 'Research, Etaples', http://throughtheselines.com.au/research/etaples, Accessed 5 March 2018.

[25] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion Unit Diary, AWM4 23/78/1, June-July 1916, p.1, Australian War Memorial.

[26] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion Unit Diary, AWM4 23/78/1, June-July 1916, p.2, Australian War Memorial.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, p.5, Australian War Memorial.

[27] 1/19 RNSWR Association Inc, 'First World War History', www.rnswr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/THE-FIRST-WORLD-WAR.pdf, Accessed 6 March 2018.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, pp.1-6., Australian War Memorial.

[28] Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, pp.8-11., Australian War Memorial.

[29] Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, pp.12-15., Australian War Memorial.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, pp.140-148., Australian War Memorial.

[30] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.; Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1st Infantry Brigade Unit Diary, AWM4 23/1/9, July 1916, p.15., Australian War Memorial.

[31] ‘War Casualties’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 August 1916, p.8.

[32] ‘Pvte. W. Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.2.; ‘New South Wales Lodge News. No 140, Pacific, Jamberoo. A Tribute to a Hero.', Watchman, p.6.; ‘Roll of Honour', South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, 22 September 1916, p.13., ‘Jamberoo Council, Vote of Sympathy’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 23 August 1916, p.2.

[33] ‘Soldiers Letters. Pte W Bedford.', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 23 September 1916, p.2.

[34] ‘Soldiers Letters', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 27 September 1916, p.2.

[35] Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files, William Henry Gibson, pp.2, 5. Australian War Memorial.

[36] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.9.; Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p 12., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[37] ‘Local & General News’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 24 June 1916, p.2.; ‘Liberty. Those Against Conscription. Rowdy Miners Meeting', Sunday Times, 13 August 1916, p.2.; ‘Municipality of Wollongong. National Service Referendum', Illawarra Mercury, 6 October 1916, p.7.; ‘South Coast Organisation', Australian Worker, 6 December 1917, p.4.; ‘Recruiting’, Illawarra Mercury, p.7.; ‘Jamberoo Red Cross’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 27 July 1918, p.2.; Joan Beaumont, ‘Australians and the Great War; Battles, the Home Front, and Memory’, Teaching History, Vol. 49, Issue 1, March 2015, pp.22-25.

[38] ‘Peace Rejoicings at the Port ', Illawarra Mercury, 15 November 1918, p.2.; ‘The Good News. The Signing of the Armistice. How It Was Received In Wollongong', Illawarra Mercury, 15 November 1918, p.4.; ‘Peace Celebrations’, Illawarra Mercury, 11 April 1919, p.6.; ‘Jamberoo Welcome’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 12 January 1918, p.2.; ‘Jamberoo’, Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 21 August 1918, p.2.

[39] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, p.20., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[40] Service Record of William Henry Irvine Gibson, pp.21-27., B2455, National Archives of Australia.

[41] ‘At Jamberoo', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 18 April 1917, p.2.; ‘Memorial Service. ANZAC Day, Jamberoo', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.3.

[42] ‘Pvte. W. Gibson', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.2.; ‘Roll of Honour', South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, 20 July 1917, p.13.; ‘Memorial Service. ANZAC Day, Jamberoo', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.3.; ‘ANZAC Day', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 28 April 1917, p.2.; ‘In Memoriam', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, 28 July 1917, p.2.; ‘Roll of Honour', South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, p.13.

[43] ‘In Memoriam', Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser, p.2.