A DAY AT THE RACES

On Saturday, 19 September 1914 Helena Vale held its Annual Vale Handicap Race, the culmination of the Helena Vale Turf Club's year, sort of their version of the Perth Cup. The picture quality is unavoidably poor reflecting the copy available. The images are still recognisable.
 

Picture #1.

High society of Helena Vale gathered around the Tote in the hope of being seen or being seen winning.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #2.

The finish of the Vale Handicap, Rathkeale winning by 3 lengths in front of Lord Mural who is a nose in front of Reverage.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #3.

The winner of the Vale Handicap, Rathkeale and his owner, Dr EA Officer.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #4.

The real winner of the day - the Tote. however, in this pic you will see the soldiers lining up for their dividends. On this day, the men from Blackboy Hill Camp were all invited to attend the race meeting. Being inveterate gamblers, this was an invitation to good to miss. On five bob a day in the pocket, there was some real money to be made by everyone.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Posted by Project Leader at 7:10 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 20 July 2008 7:16 PM EADT

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[Click on picture for larger version.]

The lads from a section are lining up for some delicious tucker in an al fresco setting. The fellow getting served looks like he is wearing a prison skivvy. The young fellow hanging back appears to look quite disgusted at the food, possibly wondering what actually he had let himself in for by enlisting.

2. Right wheel!

Posted by Project Leader at 12:09 PM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 12 July 2008 2:20 PM EADT

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Below are a series of photographs that appeared in the Western Mail detailing activities undertaken by the Light Horse squadron at the beginning.  

1. Mounting the guard at the camp.

This fellow looks very serious with his rifle and bayonet as he stands guard outside a tent. There is nothing to indicate the value of the tent nor does it look like the camp entrance so I am not quite sure what the fellow is guarding. Possibly one for the camera. The fellow in the photograph is an infantry man. 

2. Horseback wrestling.

This was a very popular sport which carried with it the benefit of practising the art of staying in the saddle despite adversity.

The horse on the left does not look like it is enjoying the game while the horse to the right seems to be thinking about having a nap.

3. Kitchen duties.

An army marches on its stomach and Blackboy Hill was no exception. This is the ubiquitous scene at every camp. Some poor fellow peeling spuds.

Another bag of spuds to go. If you look at the fellow's shirt, you can see a chain lanyard leading to his left breast pocket - I suspect that is his pocket watch.

Posted by Project Leader at 10:49 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 6 July 2008 10:54 AM EADT

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Here is a series of pix taken by Mr EL Mitchel and published in the Western Mail, 14 August 1914, p. 27. 

The first pic shows a group of serious young men from the 86th  Infantry Regiment beginning their guard duty shift. They all look so earnest and keen to do the right thing without fail. It looks like their first chance to tackle the "Hun" with their best and cleanest uniforms on.

A couple comments.

The uniforms look like Militia and I strongly suspect the guards in this pic are from the 86th Infantry Regiment which was mobilised in the Fremantle area with the express purpose to ward off the expected German invasion from the secret German fleet lurking off the coast of Western Australia just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. This was the big scare that focused the minds of West Australians at the commencement of the war. As the days dragged onto weeks, months and finally years, it was realised that it was pure fantasy.

In the background lies the German freighter "Griefswald" which was seized at Fremantle at the commencement of hostilities. Below is a pic of the "Griefswald" tied up at Fremantle south wharf.

The guards in the above pictures came from the 86th Infantry Regiment's encampment at Fremantle Park where the formation was mobilised in early August 1914 for local defence activities. 

Posted by Project Leader at 6:08 PM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 2:16 PM EADT

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I came across this wonderful pic of the the officer Cadets of the 87th Battalion, B Area (Subiaco) 22nd Brigade, 5th Military District. The 87th Infantry Regiment was raised in outer Perth but during the reforms of 1912 the Regt was downgraded to a Battalion and used by the cadets to train future soldiers for the Milita.

They are so young and fresh with the world to look forward to as they posed for this picture which was taken in October 1914 at Bartletto Studio, Hay Street, Perth and published in the Western Mail, 30 October 1914 at p. 30.

The sitting men from left to right are:

2/Lt TV Taylor

Theodore Vallaney Taylor enlisted as a Lieutenant on 19 February 1915 in the 12th Infantry Battalion and finished service as a Captain in the 16th Infantry Battalion. He was wounded by shrapnell to the thigh on 26 May 1915. He was evacuated with neurasthimia 19 August 1915. Returned to Australia by Karoola, 30 October 1915. He was discharged as medically unfit for active service, 21 May 1916.

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1932530&I=1&SE=1

Capt FH Sherlock;

Lt EH Knight [Area Officer]

Lieutenant ETH Knight was appointed the senior officer on 16 August 1913 who along with Captain WR Annear from the Cottesloe based 87th Battalion, "A" Area, commanded the 87th Battalion. 

Lt G Stroud; 

Walter Gregory Stroud enlisted as a Lieutenant on 24 March 1915 and finished service as a Captain in the 28th Infantry Battalion. He arrived at Gallipoli on 4 September 1915. On 20 October 1915 he was evacuated to the 7th Field Ambulance with tonsolitis which developed into influenza which later was diagnosed as enteric fever. Returned to Australia by Karoola, 19 January 1916. He was discharged as medically unfit for active service, 17 November 1917. Prior to the war, he had been a Second Lieutenant with  "H" Company, 87th Battalion, Cadets, 1913-14; and, Lieutenant with "B" Company, 88th Infantry Regiment 1914-15.

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8095429&I=1&SE=1

Lt Kirkpatrick

The standing men from left to right are:

2/Lt G Mann

George Lionel Claude Mann who joined in July 1916 aged 19 and served in France with 4 DAC (35276)

2/Lt AH Jose;

2/Lt AF Gwynne

Andrew Flinders Gwynne joined in Jan 1917 aged 20 and fought in France with 43Bty 11 FAB (31187) and was wounded in April 1918 and DOW 9th April 1918.

2/Lt JW Franklyn;

John William Franklyn Second Lieutenant, enlisted on 10 February 1915 in the 11th Battalion, arriving at Gallipoli on 22 June 1915. He died of wounds on 6 August 1915 suffered during the attack on what would become Leane's Trench, on the spurs to the south of Lone Pine, and died aboard a hospital ship.

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=4019807&I=1&SE=1

The extract from the 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary describing the action at Lone Pine led by John William Franklyn.

Additional information may be found at the site: Officers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Died at Gallipoli, 1915; an excellent website produced by Bryn Dolan. Here is the specific address:

http://www.anzacs.org/index_efg.html#FNames

Bryn Dolan has kindly provided the additional information about John William Franklyn at Comment 1:

https://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1814823/87th-battalion-b-area-1914/

Lt AT Williams;

2/Lt Seaton;

2/Lt AC Henville;

Archibald Clarence Henville enlisted on 9 September 1915, aged 19, with 1st Field Company Engineers, Service Number 590. He saw service at Anzac, France and Belgium.

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=5476285&I=1&SE=1

2/Lt AJ Pate

Alfred James Pate enlisted on 17 February 1916 aged 19 and served with the 27th Infantry Battalion and 50th Infantry Battalion, Service Number 6277. He saw service in France and Belgium. He was wounded in action by shrapnel to his face at Broodeseinde Ridge during the Third Battle of Ypres. He returned to Australia on the Ascanius, leaving London on 14 January 1919.

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8009272&I=1&SE=1

Extract from 50th Infantry Battalion War Diary, 11 October 1917.

Regarding the picture, one can clearly see the "87" marked on their hats. The leather leggings are also a keen feature.

This is the last glimpse of the old order for these men. After this photograph was taken, life changed dramatically for all the men. Some never reached the end of the decade. The comfortable re-assurance in this picture was to disappear amidst the carnage and horror of the trenches.

[Thanks to Steve Becker and Bryn Dolan who provided additional information]

Posted by Project Leader at 8:00 PM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 2:08 PM EADT

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