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chelseavic
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Re: 15th Battalion -
And I forgot to mention...a new book has come out with LOTS of detail about the early days of the 15th Batt on Gallipoli, particularly May...
"Quinn's Post"
by Peter Stanley
available from both the Australian War Memorial or from Amazon
Allen & Unwin Academic (October 28, 2005)
ISBN: 1741143322
I also enjoyed the new book ("No Ordinary Determination: The Story of Percy Black And Harry Murray of the First Aif"
by Jeff Hatwell ) about Percy Black and "Mad Harry", of the 13th and 16th Batts - lots of detail about 4 Brigade movements and battles. Pile up Black of the 16th, Dalziel of the 15th, Jacka of the 14th and Black of the 13th, and you have a mob of extraordinary heroes second to none. How Black didn't win the VC 3 times (let alone Jacka or Murray!) is impossible to fathom.
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10/6/2005, 4:27 pm
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Jerrymurland
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Re: 15th Battalion -
Glad you enjoyed the pics. Yes we hired a car at the airport and drove south, a remarkably east drive, unfortunately we got a speeding ticket and a spot fine on the way! Stayed near Cannakale and crossed the straights each day using the smaller ferry that took only 10 mins or so each crossing, cheaper as well. Yes we did get up in the bush and spent some time around Hill 60 where I am pretty sure Lynton was KIA. For anyone connected with the 15th Batt. I would recommend this trip, you will see for yourself the impossible task that Cannan and his men had before them and begin to appreciate what the boys must have gone through. Tread with care because this is hallowed ground.
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10/6/2005, 8:50 pm
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chelseavic
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Re: 15th Battalion -
did you take pictures around hill 60?
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10/6/2005, 9:31 pm
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Jerrymurland
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Hill 60
Sore point Vic! Got all the way over there, you know what a trek that is!! and found I had left the camera in the car on the Suvla road. Another good reason for going back next year. Hope yopu got the pics I emailed to you.
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10/7/2005, 8:30 am
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chelseavic
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Re: 15th Battalion -
mmmmm, given i'm definitely not an axe murderer...maybe i could meet you over there? Did you ever see the film I made over at Hill 60?
I took so long to get over to the Wheatfield, then get up Hill 100, that I never had time to try and get up Rahmen spur and complete the "impossible" mission myself.....lots of people hump it up rhododendron spur, following the new zealanders, but few up the "far" spur....couldn't quite do it last time, or complete the beach-monash valley - quinn's climb because my 70 year old Dad was in tow!!
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10/7/2005, 1:04 pm
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jeffhatwell
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Re: 15th Battalion -
Hello, glad you enjoyed "No Ordinary Determination". Relevant to the 15th Bn, you may have noticed the bit on pages 120 - 122 quoting an unidentified 15th man meeting Percy Black. It was rather frustrating not being able to identify who that was. The story is from a longer extract which was in the papers on Percy compiled by his nephew Ian Black, but by the time I came across it Ian had unfortunately passed away and his widow didn't know where it came from. The piece was in the form of a printer's proof, so I don't know if it was ever published - if not, it certainly should have been.
The man was a Lewis gunner, private, who was later commissioned. He mentions a lot of 15th names (except his own!) and makes some admiring comments on "Jockey Mac" McSharry. I tried the Qld RSL and the 15th Bn Association to try to identify him but no luck. Maybe a forum reader has some ideas (my wild guess was P. Ohlsen).
Regards,
Jeff Hatwell
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10/20/2005, 4:24 pm
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chelseavic
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Re: 15th Battalion -
Lovely to hear from you Jeff - and thanks for a great read. I read the Franki and Slatyer book as well - that must have made your heart sink when it came out (and Slatyer taught me History at High School)...the two books complement yourself quite well. Mind you, nothing quite matches the death of Black at Bullecourt. I've walked that battlefield 5 or 6 times, trying get it fixed in the walk from the railway line where the wire was, where the trenches were, where the tanks broke down. McSharry seemed to be as hard as nails - small, nuggety, dogged. I'll look at the pages again tonight. I've no idea how to find out who the guy in the 15th was - time in the AWM, looking at the battalion diary and doing the jigsaw puzzle of what unit was where probably isn't goig to help.
And I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know there was a 15th Bn Association. Where are they? Where are they located? And where can we get the Battalion History by Chataway republished?
Thanks again for a great read. What's your next project?
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10/20/2005, 6:48 pm
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ghosken
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Re: 15th Battalion -
Hello Jeff, where is your book available from? How much? The 13th are a favourite NSW Btn and together the four Btns formed an amazing Brigade. Would love to read about the 15th and the two men.
Graeme
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10/20/2005, 10:43 pm
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jeffhatwell
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Re: 15th Battalion -
hi "chelseavic" and graeme. Re the 15th Bn Assoc, it was nearly 3 years ago when I first made enquiries. I went first to the Qld RSL, who referred me to a p. o'keefe, e-mail [email protected] . I'm not sure now what his position was, or even if there still is an association - if there is it would most likely be for the 2/15th.
I would suggest repeating the process, that is e-mailing the Qld RSL HQ and asking if they have a contact for a 15th assoc. What about the RSL in Tassie? I didn't think of them at the time.
Next project? I think I might be a one-hit wonder, although I did have a vague idea of doing a history of the 4th Division - that would keep me busy for quite a while, I think.
I now have close contact with George Franki, who was very helpful, and also met Clyde Slatyer in Canberra, where we had a great talk (but yes it was a bit of a shock when the other book appeared).
I envy your experience of the battlefields, something I haven't managed yet, but tentatively planning for next year.
Can't really comment on the Chataway book, I used the one in the WA state library. It was republished in the 80s by John Burridge over here, but I don't think he'll be doing any more reprints.
Graeme, "No Ordinary Determination" is available in most shops in WA ($29.95)but I'm not sure about other states. There are a number of Internet outlets selling it (incl Alexander Fax in Canberra, Hylands Melbourne and Boffins in WA), so suggest doing a google on the title and see who has the best price.
regards, Jeff
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10/20/2005, 11:25 pm
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chelseavic
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Re: 15th Battalion -
Where do you live? Although a Queenslander - natch - I now live and work in Singapore. I have an adjunct academic position in Lille, Northern France, and have spent many months, many weekends, tramping around muddy fields with old trench maps.
If you need an unpaid research assistant for the 4th Div book - give us a call. I've photographed almost every inch of the 4th Div territory, and I think I've visited every grave of every 15th Batt soldier of the war, barring the ones taken prisoner in Turkey. Done the Gallipoli ones, just haven't yet done the ones inland. And if you ever need a guide, give us a call.
Glad old Slatyer was still kicking - he was a very decent bloke.
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10/21/2005, 9:05 pm
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