Students of Today and Soldiers of Long Ago

Last week on Friday 1 August 2014 Project Convenor Valerie Everett and I made a trip down to visit the upper school students at Greenmount Primary School. Thanks for having us, Mr Thomas!

The air was a bit chilly but the sun was absolutely splendid, so we hopped outside and caught some rays when we could.

Gosh the team is doing well! I was very impressed with the level of eagerness and dedication of the students. The history of World War I is so important to remember, especially with the Centenary upon us, and it is pleasing to see how the students enjoy researching this time of long-ago. Most had completed their soldier profiles already - these were handed in to Valerie.

 

 



Valerie spoke a bit about the project, and the importance of referencing your information. As the book will forever preserve the history of WA's largest WWI training camp, Blackboy Hill, there must be no mistakes creeping in! Valerie told a story about a website she found with a profile of her grandfather, a soldier during the first World War. The information was correct, but the accompanying picture was a completely different person. Whoops.

 



 

So the rest of the period was spent checking over the completed profiles and adding the reference details. Luckily, KSP Writers' Centre has recently found a volunteer University Honours student from ECU to join the Blackboy Hill team as a fact-checker for the soldier profiles. With the students checking their work, and Jemimah our helper cross-checking the facts, these profiles are sure to be a highlight of the published book.

 

 

By the end of the session, everyone was on track to finishing their profiles. Then it was time to relax and head outside for lunch. Valerie thanked everyone for their great work so far and offered up some Caramelo Koalas and Freddo Frogs as a gift. This was received very well - especially by Mr Thomas!

 

Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh

Just back from a meeting with Valerie. She's been on door-knocking duty, visiting the kind folks who have offered to give us information on Blackboy Hill. One lady proffered this old cartoon, date unknown, from a personal folder full of World War I memorabilia. These are the things bringing this book to life:

Funding secured!

After months of planning, researching, writing, planning and more planning, it's a nerve-wracking moment to unwrap that Lotterywest letterhead and glance down...

and the words jump out: APPROVED!!!!!

The Blackboy Hill Project officially has funding to pay for an editor, fact-checker and full production of the book. This means that KSP can pass on the savings to the public, and sell the book at extremely low cost.

Oh Lotterywest, how wonderful art thou! I can't stop smiling!

Meet the Blackboy Hill Military Band

Did you know that the Blackboy Hill camp had its very own band??

This distinguished group of soldiers were well respected during the war years, and often helped the YMCA raise much-needed military funds by organising local concerts, such as the 'afternoon tea for lonely soldiers' (held 25 June, 1916, to an audience of almost four hundred men).

The group, led by bandmaster Sergeant-Major Halvorsen, were a valuable asset for the war effort, as they had the ability to lighten and uplift spirits with their humorous, beautiful, and uplifting tunes that the audience would often sing-along to, such as...

ALICE, WHERE ART THOU?

the silver rain falling, Just as it falleth now;
And all things slept gently-ah! Alice, where art thou?
I've sought thee by lakelet. I've sought thee on the hill.
And in the pleasant wildwood, when Winds blew cold and chill;
I've sought thee in forest, I'm looking heavenward now,
I'm looking heavenward now; oh: there 'mid the star shine,
I've sought thee in forest, I'm looking heavenward now;
Oh! there 'mid the star-shine, Alice, I know art thou.


Thanks to Margaret Green, we have some simply splendid photographs of the band in uniform and holding instruments to include in the book. In the picture below, the team are dressed casually. Margaret's father appears in the bottom row, to the left on one knee, 'shaving his friend'.

 

(Spare moments with) The Members of the Blackboy Hill "Military" Band, W. Aus, 28.11.16

 

1917 Postcard from Blackboy Hill

Wow!!! We've had a HUGE response from the public since the Sunday Times article appeared last week. Thank you all for calling and emailing with fascinating tales of relatives at Blackboy Hill, and for the fantastic array of pictures. We will slowly plough through them all and figure out how best to incorporate these stories. They will definitely help us paint a fuller picture of camp life.

Now, here is just a taste of the stories that are emerging. I spoke to the delightful Shirley Krjanic yesterday, and she read to me a postcard from her father that was sent from the Blackboy camp on 6 August, 1917:

Dear George [his grandfather]

 

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still here and doing well. They had me out digging trenches all day Friday. They marched us about 5 miles in the morning and back again at night.

 

On Saturday we had to go marching around Perth. The girls were pelting us with oranges, lollies and cigarettes as we marched along. We have only started on our musketeering this week. So I suppose we will be here for a week or two yet. It is just as wet here as it is down there [Boyinup]. Hoping you are well.

 

Private C Gardiner 4337, 12th of the 2nd pioneers

 

[on the back]

 

I have got Sid Peak in the same hut as I am. He went home on his long leave last Saturday so I suppose there will be some broken hearts about town.

 

Claude.

Social scene at camp

Thanks to Robert Atkins who sent in this fabulous photo of a soldier's picnic at Blackboy Hill, 1914. Robert adds these notes: Group at Blackboy Hill, 1914 (male goaty beard seated centre is my grandfather Leo Frederick "King" Atkins; woman in white to his left my Grandmother Winsome (nee Castilla) Atkins; to her left seated in uniform her brother Frederick Slade Castilla. Woman standing probably one of Leo F Atkins sisters.)

Frederick Castilla was so desperate to join the war effort and fight for his country that he fudged his age to be accepted. He was just 17 when he volunteered: “The battery was in camp at Blackboy Hill and I slipped off up there whenever I could, waiting and watching. I bought a pair of long pants and asked Col. Hobbs for an interview. Col. Hobbs told me I would have to wait a couple of years. However I continued to visit Blackboy Hill and one day I had a break. Two new Lieutenants joined the battery, Vowles and Clowes; Vowles was a Claremont boy. I told Vowles my troubles and he was amused but sympathetic. He told me to come to up to camp in uniform in the morning."

Support from the top shelf!

Excitedly, she breaks the seal of an envelope marked Office of the Premier O.H.M.S. There it is, signed by Colin himself, support for our little big book project!