Monday 30 March 2015

Pompey Ellott's Left Hand Man - Lt Colonel Denehy 58th 57th Battalion CO

click to buy
book about 58th and 57th Battalion AIF
Biography Of Lt Colonel Charles Denehy and his time with
the 7th, 58th and 57th Battalions as they fought at Gallipoli Anzac and the Western Front.

The author Dr. Kristin Schneider grew up with the nostalgia of an old wartime photograph of her Great Uncle Charlie kept in her Mother's desk draw. Later in life, she visited her Uncle Charlie in hospital not long before his death in 1968. These happenings ignited a quest to learn more about Denehy which has culminated over 40 years later in the publishing of this 360 page book.

On the 24 August 1914, Charles Aloysius Denehy who was a school teacher before the war, was appointed 2nd Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of H later D Company of the 7th Battalion AIF. He had previously served as an Officer in the Militia.

Denehy after being wounded at Gallipoli
on-board  the Hospital ship
On the 25th April 1915 he landed with the 7th Battalion at Gallipoli. Like his 7th Battalion Commander Pompey Elliott he was wounded on the first day. Suffering a severe gunshot wound to his right arm, he was forced to retire, later being evacuated by way of the crowded hospital ship "Clan McGilliveray".
He returned to Anzac and the Battalion in September 1915.

The author uses Denehy's personal wartime diary to introduce his reflections and related stories of other 7th Battalion men. The book also includes letters that Denehy wrote to his soldiers next of kin. Thus the narrative historically extends to these soldiers who were known to and/or commanded by Denehy.
After Gallipoli, Denehy transferred to the 15th Brigade with Pompey Elliott.
Pompey Elliott had a deep respect for Denehy. Due to his ability and war attrition, Denehy received rapid promotions which led to him being appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Temporary Commanding Officer of 58th Battalion just after the Battle Of Fromelles. In January 1917, Pompey wrote to his wife, Katie. " Tell Mrs Layh that Bert is just a picture of health, and is my right hand man, and Chas Denehy is my left hand man, and a mighty good one too'

Denehy's record of service is impressive, during May 1918 he became the Commanding Officer of the 57th Battalion and had postings to 15th Infantry Brigade HQ and 5th Division HQ.

Pompey Elliott had trained Denehy back in the old Ballarat days. When leadship was required Pompey would send Denehy to the Battalion. Denehy recalled Elliott's request,' He (Pompey) stated that he took his own old battalion, the 7th , as the standard. The 59th he considered approximated most nearly to his old battalion, but he had no hesitation in saying that the 58th (Denehy's battalion) had excelled it. He then asked me if I could, without breaking my heart, take over the 57th and make it as good as the 58th.'

By the end of the war,  Denehy had been conspicuously awarded the following;
Mentioned in Dispatches 3 times.
Awarded Distinguished Service Order and Bar
1st occasion;"For conspicuous gallantry and ability. When in command of a defence which was ceaselessly bombarded he was able, by his courage and fine example, to maintain the spirit of his men in spite of heavy losses, and later he organized and successfully carried through an attack, capturing 187 prisoners, and securing many machine guns and trench mortars."
2nd occasion;"For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on the Hinderberg line, near Bellicourt, from 29th September, to 2nd October, 1918. On 29th September the task of the Brigade was to pass through other troops who had carried out the initial attack. The latter proved unable to consolidate on their objective, and pushed his battalion forward, and under very heavy fire re-organized other troops as part of his battalion, eventually clearing up the situation. Later in the day he pushed his battalion forward, and subsequently consolidated in the Le Catelet system. Throughout the operations his able leadership was most marked."
Order of the Crown of Italy
Croix de Guerre (Belgian)

Denehy's photo taken in 1962 when he was
the highest ranking surviving WW1 veteran in Victoria
Battles covered in the book include, Gallipoli (7th Battalion), Fromelles (58th Battalion), Bullecourt, Messines, Polygon Wood, Broodsiende (Denehy was gassed), Villers-Bretonneux, Ameins (57th Battalion), Mount St Quentin, Hindenburg Line.
The book would be of valuable assistance to all family historians (especially the Battalions served), medal researchers and to those interested in the life and times of an Australian WW1 Battalion Commander. 

Click here to buy this book, Pompey Elliotts' Left Hand Man











Friday 2 January 2015

27th Battalion WW1 History Books Stories and Diaries


There and Back with a Dinkum By W.R.G. Colman, Edited by Claire Woods and Paul Skrebels

Coleman is 1st from left, taken at the
time of his facial wound
The author William Russell G. Colman was a student at Adelaide University before joining the AIF on the 2 August 1915. Colman was only 18 years of age, so he gained his Father’s consent. Graham Leaver a student friend of Colman also joined at the same time. Colman became a Private (enlistment number 2552) with the 27th Battalion AIF and remained with the 27th Battalion throughout the war.
He was wounded three times in the field, 2nd December 1917, 20th April 1918 and 21st April 1918.  The wound that he received in 1917 was a severe gunshot wound to the face, while the other two wounds received on consecutive days were minor - he remained on the battlefield.
He was commissioned, being promoted to Lieutenant on the 12th April 1918.
On the 31st July 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the field.
In board daylight he led his men across the open, entered enemy line, and captured some 800 meters of trench, together with 20 prisoners, inflicting considerable losses on the enemy.
 

Click to see
27th Battalion History Digger Book
In 1933, Colman wrote of his experiences during the war providing a deeply intimate account of his own experiences, revealing common ordeals as a member of the 27th Battalion. Later in 1933, Colman entered his book in a War Novel Competition that was established by the Victorian RSL. He did not win; the book ‘Crucible’ by J.P. McKinney won the competition.
Subsequently, Colman never published and he donated the original handwritten manuscript to the Australian War Memorial where it remains to this day.
 
The Editors, Claire Woods and Paul Skrebels have undertaken considerable further research and have included much additional material. This addition information has been included  in this book. This includes the original diary entries of Coleman, Biographic information about Coleman and other soldiers during and after the war, explanation of the real names of people mentioned in the book,
chapter by chapter commentary research, wartime photos of Coleman and 27th Battalion mates.
 

Although described as a novel, Colman’s work (book) is real autobiographical and accurate; it can be tested against the records. Peter Burness Senior Historian, Australian War Memorial
History 27th Battalion AIF 
The Blue and Brown Diamond
A History of the 27th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, 1915 - 1919.   
by W Dollman and H.Skinner.

 

Click Here to see a quality reprint of this history.


The Official History of the 27th Battalion AIF was published in 1921. The book was never released in considerable quantity and remains rare. It has only ever been reprinted once in the 1990's and this reprint was limited to 200 books.
Walter Dollman co authored the 27th Battalion History, "The Brown and Blue Diamond. He was a South Australian Militia Officer before WW1. He had outstanding service with the  "Adelaide Rifles", 10th Australian Infantry Regiment and later becoming the CO, of the the 74th Infantry Regiment.
He was appointed CO of 27th Battalion AIF, during its raising in March 1915 and embarked for overseas service 31 May 1915. He commanded the Battalion through the Gallipoli campaign and then on to the Western Front.  After Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, he was wounded as a result of a gas attack, and thus unfit for further frontline service.  He returned to Australia in September 1916.
He remained a stalwart of the 27 Battalion becoming State President of the South Australian RSL in 1929.
He died on 23 August 1945 at Malvern, South Australia. 72 years of age.

His co author was Sergeant Henry Skinner who was a NCO in the Battalion. At Morlancourt on the night of 10-11/6/1918 he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry.


The Pictorial History of the 27th Battalion 

This is a newly created book which is a Pictorial companion Volume II to the original Blue and Brown Diamond History the 27th Battalion AIF.When the original 27th Battalion History was first published in 1921, the cost of printing photographs was very expensive. Thus most of the photographs taken by Battalion members were never used in the printing of the Battalion history. Guy Dollman who is the grandson of the original author and commanding officer, Colonel Walter Dollman, has collected a large quantity of original photographs from Battalion members. Many are from Colonel Walter Dollman's private photograph collection and have never before been printed.

In the book there are over 200 printed photographs all relating to the history of the 27th Battalion World War I.
Letters Home By Colonel Walter Dollman

In 2020 a new book was published about the 27th Battalion during WW1.
Letter's Home 1915-1916 Mitcham to Pozieres By Colonel Walter Dollman
edited by WJ and GH Dollman

Colonel Walter Dollman VD was the Commanding Officer of the 27th Battalion from inception on the 15 March 1915 to his leaving the Battalion on the Western Front after the Pozieres Campaign.

Walter Dollman returned home to Australia, in late 1916, to a hero's welcome. While overseas he had taken many photographs especially on his outbound journey to Egypt, Gallipoli and then into France. While away he also wrote constantly to his wife Rose, as well is to his parents and friends. On receipt, many of these letters were transcribed by his daughter, Edith, into two volumes. Later Colonel Dollman was a co-author of the Blue and Brown Diamond, the official historic record of the 27th Battalion AIF in World War I. This book marries Colonel Dollman's formal Chronicle, The History of the 27th Battalion, with the personal narrative of its commander as told through his letters and photographs. Complimentary stories of other members of the 27th Battalion and their photographs have also been added.

Click to see Details of the book Letters Home

Further Link reading about the 27th Battalion WW1

Australian War Memorial 27th Battalion History
Australian Unit War Diaries
Wikipedia History 27th Battalion
RSL 27th Battalion History
South Australian Regiments Association

 See a quality reprint of the 27th Battalion History

Dollman and the 27 Battalion embarking 1915