The Bugle Calls for the local Gallipoli ANZACs - Information sought for local ANZAC book

“The Bugle Calls for the Local Gallipoli ANZACs” is the working title for a book being written by Ken Wilson about the local men who died during the Gallipoli campaign.

In response to a recent article requesting information from families, Ken spoke to Alan and Sue Hick and Alan’s mother Betty Hick.

They provided letters and photos of Stanley Hick, aged 26, who was killed in action on September 16, 1915. Stanley was a member of the 4th Light Horse Regiment who trained with his waler (horse) in Egypt.

In letters to his parents and to his young sister Marion, Stanley revealed something of the education he received at the Poowong East Primary School. He also talked of his sense of adventure.

He wrote about Egypt - “...have had a good time so far. I have had two trips into Cairo and one trip to the pyramids. I went into the one containing the old King’s chamber and coffin. I saw these, but it was too hot to stay in there.”

Stanley was ordered to leave his waler in Egypt because the rugged terrain of Gallipoli was unsuited for cavalr y. He landed at Anzac Cove in July became a machine gunner on t he front line at Ryrie’s Post on Holly Spur on the southern flank of the Anzac.

Stanley and his mate, Leslie Ray, were resting i n their dugout, after being off duty. The two men were boiling a billy and cooking their evening meal when they heard a six i nch Turkish howitzer shell howling up the valley towards Ryrie’s Post.

Their torn and broken bodies were buried at Shell Green at 6am the next morning.

In December the gently sloping area of Shell Green was the scene of the Anzac cricket match organised as a ruse to delude t he Turks into believing that an evacuation was not planned.

Mrs Hick was awarded a Mother’s Medal with f ive Bars; a bar for Stanley and a bar for each son who fought on the Western Front and survived.

Gunner Brian Lyall, age 21, from Neerim also was a member of the Light Horse who left his waler in Egypt to become a member of the 6th Battery of the 2nd Field Artiller y Brigade.

The 6th Battery attempted to l and at Anzac on April 28, but the sea was too rough and they were forced to return to Mundros Harbour on Lemnos Island.

On May 4, Private Lyall wrote - “We left Gaba Tepe ( Anzac Cove) and are now with the English Troops at Cape Helles. We are still a float . Hostile planes dropped several bombs on us this morning, but did no damage.”

The 6th Battery were at Helles to support six battalions of Anzac “...white Ghurkas” who were sent reinforce t he British and French who were attempting to push the Turks up the peninsula.

On July 7 the diar y entr y stated - “our aeroplanes dropped a few bombs after Gallipoli Bill (a big Turkish gun).”

The planes were l aunched from t he English aircraft carrier Ark Royal. The 6th Battery sailed for Anzac Cove on the 18 August as reinforcements.

The full complement of the Lyall’s battery of 145 men had now been decimated by Turkish snipers and howitzer shrapnel. Brian wrote in his diar y, “The Batter y is pretty badly off for men just at present. 20 men i n hospital since we came from Helles.”

Gunner Brian Lyall survived seven months only to die of wounds 18 days before the evacuation. His brother fought on t he Western Front and returned home. Ken is now seeking information about: Private Thomas Wallace, 24, farmer from Warragul

Private Samuel Brace, 21, labourer from Narracan

Driver Charles Manning, 37, station manager from Drouin

Trooper Robert Bradshaw, age 27, labourer from Warragul

Private James Inman, age 26, butcher from Thorpdale

Private James Ogilvy, age 30, station hand from Buln Buln

If you think you can assist, please contact Ken Wilson on wilsonak@dcsi.net.au or 0408 234840.