THE small locality of Wallarobba, like every other town and village throughout Australia, had men who volunteered to serve in the military during WWI.
The Wallarobba Memorial Hall celebrates its 90th anniversary this year and it is fitting to remember those men to whom it was originally dedicated.
The Wallarobba Honour Roll mounted in the Hall records the original five soldiers who served in WWI and also the 27 men who served in WWII.
The five men who enlisted in WWI were all locals living or working in the Wallarobba area and knew each other.
The WW1 veterans were:
PTE Geoffrey Alexander (Geoff) Holmes – 36th Battalion (4th reinforcements) enlisted 27 June 1916.
He embarked for England arriving on 9 January 1917.
He served on the Western front and took part in the Battle of Messines where he was gassed and shot in the leg.
He returned to Australia medically unfit and was discharged on 11 February 1918.
PTE Frank Vincent Wade (Vince) Holmes – 36th Battalion (4th reinforcements) enlisted 15 May 1916.
He embarked for England arriving on 29 January 1917.
He served on the Western front and took part in the Battle of Messines where he was shot/shrapnel in the chest.
He returned to Australia medically unfit and was discharged on 22 November 1917.
PTE George Joseph (Joe) Kellner – 4th Battalion enlisted 13 July 1918.
He embarked for England arriving on 14 November 1918, just after the armistice was signed and the war ended.
He was discharged in Australia on 3 June 1919.
PTE Herbert Clarence (Herb) Mate – 35th Battalion enlisted 10 May 1916.
He embarked for England arriving on 28 December 1916.
He served on the Western front and took part in the Battle of Messines where he was shot/shrapnel in both feet on 8 June 1917.
His right foot was amputated.
He returned to Australia medically unfit and was discharged on 3 July 1918.
PTE John Jacob Smith – 34th Battalion enlisted 5 January 1916.
He embarked for England arriving on 23 June 1916.
He served on the Western front and was killed in action on 16 December 1916 at Armentieres, France.
John Smith was the first to see action in France.
The 34th Battalion left Lark Hill for the front line in the Armentieres Sector on 21 November 1916.
This was considered a quiet sector but the unit was busy patrolling a contested no-man’s land and building defensive positions.
Although quiet it did not mean no casualties.
John was on a patrol in no-man’s land when he and another soldier were killed.
After only three weeks at the front he became the fifth member of the 34th Battalion to die in battle.
Geoff and Vince Holmes were brothers who served together in C Company of the 34th Battalion.
Along with Herb Mate they were all in training at Larkhill Military Camp, England, and saw each other in camp along with other lads from the Dungog-Clarence Town area before they went to France to join their units.
All three were to take part in the Battle of Messines and all three were wounded between 4-8 June 1917.
Vince returned home first in November 1917, then Herb and Geoff returned together on the ship HMAT A11 Ascanius arriving back on 3 January 1918.
There was a local Welcome Home Association who gave all the returning soldiers a welcome home function.
Both Herb and Geoff were received at a function together on 22 January 1918 near the Wallarobba train station as reported in the Maitland Daily Mercury, Friday 25 January 1918.
They were presented with local medals inscribed with their names, unit and Messines 1916-18.
As the years progress it is important to remember the sacrifices of those who volunteered to fight for Australia, no matter the rights or wrongs of the conflict.
From the Boer Wars to war in Afghanistan, Lest We Forget and remember those who have served.
Not only on Anzac Day but indeed every day.
By Martin HOLMES CSM
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