About the project
This blog is intended to support a research project - the writing of a unit history for the 56th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. The authors would be interested to hear from anyone who might have information about men who served in this unit. We have access to all the official papers, but what we’re really interested in is personal stories, especially things like diaries, letters, postcards or photographs.
If you can help, please either:
- Leave a comment on this blog or,
- Send me an email via Craig.Tibbitts@awm.gov.au or,
- Phone (02) 6243 4318 (w), or (02) 6259 5551 (h)
The authors, Craig Tibbitts and Nick Fletcher are both employees of the Australian War Memorial, although this project is being done independently. After working together on an exhibition at the Memorial called To Flanders Fields 1917, we hit on the idea of writing a unit history. By chance a member of the public mentioned two relatives who died on the same day in 1917, both of whom were in the 56th Battalion. An article about these men was written and it was realised that they belonged to one of the few Australian infantry battalions that never had a history written or published following the war. By remarkable coincidence it turned out that both the authors’ grandfathers served in the unit as well.
And so the decision was made to write this wrong and honour the memory of the 56th with a published unit history. Thanks to the Australian Army History Unit, the book is now underway and will be published sometime probably in late 2009 as part of the Australian Army History Series.
© Original content on this blog is Copyright, Craig Tibbitts and Nick Fletcher.
4 February, 2008 at 4:09 pm |
G’Day Craig & Nick
It is great to see that you are both taking up the ball and completing another Australian WWI unit history, that is mising from the bookshelf! I look forward to seeing the completed product, and you can put me down for several copies. If I come across anything relating to the 56th, then I will definately forward it onto you both.
All the best
An avid military reader!
Glenn
Editor’s response: Thanks Glenn.
Cheers,
Craig.
12 June, 2008 at 1:49 pm |
My grandfather Cecil Sylvester Thompson 2745A served in this unit. I have no information about where he served and what happened. So I look forward to this book and can you please notify me when it is available.
Editor’s response: Hi John, thanks for your comment on our blog and for your interest in our project. We don’t expect the book to be finished for at least another year – we’re saying at this stage sometime in the second half of 2009. If you just keep in touch with this blog, when the time draws near we’ll definitely post information of how, when and where a copy can be obtained.
Thanks also for letting us know about your Grandfather. I checked and we do have him on our nominal roll. You can view his personal service dossier online by clicking on this link. When the page opens, just click on ‘view digitial copy’ link. I had a quick glance and it appears he enlisted in May 1916. After training etc he finally joined the battalion in the field in February 1917. There’s no record of him being wounded or seriously ill during the war, so apart from a few periods of leave, it appears he served with the 56th throughout 1917 and 1918, returning to Australia in 1919.
Regards,
Craig Tibbitts
12 June, 2008 at 1:55 pm |
I would like to add to my previous comments. I am a psychologist who works with trauma survivors including combat veterans. This work has given me a particular interest in my grandfathers experiences and also what this has meant for his decendants. I feel very deeply for these soldiers and can hardly imagine what it was like. The cost of life was significant in terms of those killed and the impact on quality of life for the survivors and their famillies.
Editor’s response: Yes I agree, the war made a significant impact on those that survived, both soldiers and civilians. The psychological impact was no doubt very heavy on those who’d seen a lot of front line action, particularly the stress of heavy shelling, gas, poor diet and general health and of course the dread of battle. No wonder so many died relatively young men after the war, i.e. in their 30s and 40s. Reading the postwar newsletters etc shocks you when you see how many died prematurely.
Craig T.
26 October, 2008 at 4:48 pm |
My Grandfather Albert Alfred Curry 4764 fought at Fromelles in the 56th Battalion.
He just turned 18 years of age and was a private in the Infantry. On this particular
day they were part of the Reserve Battalions. His brother Henry Ernest Curry 3067 was in the Australian 51st Battery 13th F.A.B firing over his head.
The 56th was the only Battalion to man the trenches next morning after the battle of Fromelles had finished. This can be confirmed with more details from the 56th Battalion Unit War Diaries which are now online via the AWM website.
22 March, 2009 at 4:15 pm |
G’Day fella’s
Thomas James Ford {service no.3308} is my mum’s father & I’m happy
to say was one of the nicest blokes I have ever known. Tom served in
the 56th ( with a short stint in the 66th ) from August 1915 till he landed back in Australia in March 1919.
I downloaded his service file from the AWM site & was astounded to see the number of times he was injured (mainly gassed) only to return to his Battalion – he came close to death with Bronchial Pneumonia in Feb 1919.
I grew up marching to 1st war songs in the lounge room not knowing anything about the horrors Tom, my dad’s dad, William Edmund Riordan ,who was in the first boats at Gallipoli with the 9th Battalion & countless others had experienced becuase these blokes were special.
They did their best to leave it all behind.
My wife and I will be visiting Villiers- Bret. memorial in about 3 weeks time
to pay our respects. Thanks for honouring the unsung heroes like Sgt T.J.Ford by writing your book. I’ll be sure to aquire one when it is completed.
Editor’s response: Hi Anthony, nice to hear from you and thanks for your positive contribution to the blog. I’ve checked our nominal roll and we certainly have your grandfather’s name on it. I don’t suppose any of his wartime photos, letters, postcards diaries etc have survived?
Hope you have an enjoyable trip to France; I’m sure you’ll find the places you visit both fascinating and moving. Amiens is a lovely town and a great place to base yourself in when visiting the battlefields in France. It’s also well worth a trip up to Fromelles and Ypres if you have time.
Cheers,
Craig.
15 November, 2009 at 11:21 am |
Hi Guys,
Just wondering if you have any idea as to when the book will be out? I’m looking forward to it.
Is it also being published via the AWM?
Mick
16 November, 2009 at 3:25 pm |
Hi Mick, thanks for contacting us.
Still no firm idea of exactly when the book will be published. We are still writing, but the plan is that we aim to finish by the end of this year (or perhaps by the end of January). We then would have to go through the editing, proofing and production processes, and I’m not sure how long this will take. I would venture a guess at it being published sometime in the second half of 2010. I really hope so anyway.
It won’t be published via the AWM, rather it will be part of the Australian Army History Series, which these days goes via Cambridge University Press.
Cheers,
Craig.
17 November, 2009 at 10:46 am |
Thanks Craig!