ANZAC Day 2018 - James Oswald Woodlands, his cousin, Alphonsus Cahill, and his son, Francis James Woodlands

Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service past and present. The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.

James Oswald (Jim) Woodlands was born on 20 September 1891 in Newcastle.  He was the son of Agnes Cahill from her relationship with Cornelius Bray, a Cornish stonemason who was living in the area at the time.  You can read more about Jim, Agnes and Cornelius here.  As far as we know, Jim never met his father and was 10 when Agnes married James Woodland.

James Oswald Woodlands

On 31 May 1917, aged 25, Jim enlisted in the 32nd Battalion 1st Australian Light Horse at Newcastle.  He showed his occupation as a grocer of "Cavan", Watkins Street, The Junction, Newcastle.  Jim left Melbourne on 28 October 1917 and arrived in Suez on 10 December 1917.  Jim's service was in the Middle East - Moascar, Port Said and Gaza - and, while he had short periods of time in hospital for sickness, he was not injured.

The last tents of Moascar

Jim returned to Australia on 24 April 1919 and was discharged on 23 June 1919.  He didn't return to Newcastle and married Margaret Essie (Essie) Gersbach on 9 August 1919 at St Michael's Catholic Church, Stanmore.  Jim and Essie are my grandparents.

Jim's cousin was Alphonsus (Allie) Cahill.  He was the son of Agnes's older brother, James, and his wife Isabella Cahill (nee Hogan).  We don't know if Jim and Allie ever met prior to the war.  However, I'll be thinking of Allie this Anzac Day.  He's a much loved and rememberer by the descendants of James and Isabella Cahill who share his story across the generations.     

Alphonsus Cahill

This is what his great-nephew, Chris, wrote about Alphonsus-

"Alphonsus was born in 06 October 1894 at Minimbah near Singleton.  One of 11 children, he was to spend his youth, attend school and work in the Singleton district for all of his short life.  In 1916, by the age of 21 he was living with his family on the property "Corinda" at Lower Belford, across the river directly opposite Glendon.  He was working at the Singleton Dairy Company and had already enlisted in the Australian 6th Light Horse, most likely in a reserve capacity.

On the 16th March, 1916, Alphonsus enlisted in the 34th Battalion 2nd reinforcements at Maitland.  The 34th was to become known as "Maitland's Own" though counted among its recruits young men from as far afield as Walgett in north west NSW.

The 34th including Alphonsus embarked on the HMAT Port Sydney on September 4th, 1916 disembarking at Plymouth England on October 29th 6 weeks later.  Following further combat training in England, his battalion was transported to France in February 1917.  By June 1917, the 34th was heavily engaged in fighting including the Battle of Messines where in spite of heavy casualties often inflicted by gas bombardment, the battalion took and secured Messines Ridge.  Following this achievement, the 34th continued to rotate as relief troops and further training before marching to join the First Battle of Passchendaele on October 12, 1917.

It was on this day that a major offensive was launched at dawn with staged objectives including the taking of Passchendaele village. Australian, New Zealand, British and Canadian troops alike were sent into battle in the most appalling conditions, through knee deep mud and driving rains.  The poor strategic decisions of the British Military command are well documented and one can only wonder what the outcome may have been with better management of the operation.

Throughout this day, the casualties rose to 50%.  Years of artillery bombardment had already turned these beautiful pastures into a crater marked, muddy landscape.  There are accounts of men so badly entrapped in mud that they actually drowned where they stood, if not victim to enemy gun and shell fire.  It was during this hellish morning that Alphonsus Cahill made the ultimate sacrifice for “King and Country”.   His death was witnessed by his digger mates who later gave accounts to the Red Cross wounded and missing division.  He was never recovered and to this day lies in eternal peace with many of his comrades and his foe alike.

There are a number of scanned copies of letters between his Father James Cahill and the Base Records Office in Melbourne, desperately seeking news of his son’s circumstance. The emotional reality of not knowing is evident throughout this correspondence, but of course, they like so many parents of service people in this and other conflicts were hardly alone.

Alphonsus Cahill is commemorated here at St Patrick’s Church with other fallen Parishioners at the altar rail and in a beautiful tribute through the stained glass window on the south wall of the church. So, on the 12th of October, 2017, 100 years hence, we honour the memory of this young farm lad from Lower Belford. Rest forever in peace Ally, we will remember you."

On the centenary of Allie's death, Chris and his wife, Sharon, were there between Zonnebeke and Passchendaele, Belgium where Allie and so many of his mates rest.  They then attend the Last Post Service at Menin Gate, Ypres.

After the loss of so many in the First World War and the ongoing trauma of those who survived, the Second World War followed all to quickly.

Jim Woodlands' son and my Dad, Francis James (Frank) Woodlands served in the Second Australian Imperial Force and fought in New Guinea and New Britain.  Anzac Day was always a solemn day in our family home.   Frank would watch the Sydney March on TV but never attended.  He left a letter to be opened after his death that revealed the most I ever knew about Dad's war service and the conditions that he endured along with so many other soldiers.  

Lest we forget