About the authors
Craig Tibbitts is Curator of Official Records at the Australian War Memorial, where he has worked since 2000. Craig’s grandfather Vic, served with the 56th Battalion after the Great War, from 1931-1934.
Nick Fletcher is Senior Curator of Military Heraldry and Technology at the Australian War Memorial, where he has worked for over a dozen years. Nick’s grandfather Jack Kitching Fletcher (No. 1660) served with the battalion during the war.
8 December, 2007 at 10:53 am |
Dear Craig and Nick
Congratulations. I wish you every success for your project. You are lucky that you both work at the AWM and have most of your primary sources at your fingertips. The 14th Brigade has until recently been a fairly neglected unit as far as histories go. If I can help in any way please feel free to contact me.
Ross St.Claire
Our Gift to the Empire – 54th Battalion
Editor’s response: Hi Ross, thanks for leaving your comment and for your offer of assistance. Your book on the 54th battalion is on my list to read in the near future, obviously because they’re of the same brigade, and because their stories intertwine even more closely near the conclusion of the war. I’ll probably get in contact with you after I’ve read your book.
Cheers,
Craig.
10 December, 2007 at 6:35 pm |
Hello Guys,
Good to see that someone is working on this battalion’s unit history. I have the Fighting Sons of Australia for QLD and NSW book so will also have a look in there to see if it mentions any 56th Battalion men. I’m also happy to assist in any way I can.
Mick Martin
http://www.australian-armour.com
Editor’s response: Many thanks Mick, for your interest and offer of assistance. We look forward to hearing from you again if you come up with something.
Cheers,
Craig.
22 January, 2008 at 12:04 pm |
I have been looking for something to read on this unit, my grandfather’s for some time. He was awarded the MM for action in September 1918. I may have some old photos and part of a diary of my uncle who served with 54Bn. Like a lot of soldiers at the time they married the mates sisters etc. I am very interested in the project and would like to receive a copy of the book once completed.
I would appreciate it if you could direct me to any written material on the 56bn that exists at the moment as I am planning to attend the 90th anniverary of Armistice day this year in France.
Editor’s response: Hi Larry, thanks for your comment and your interest in our project. Your grandfather would be none other than Corporal Francis Cottrell Burridge (No. 2133) I gather. I can see that his Military Medal was awarded for his bravery at Peronne (1-2 Sept 1918), which was one of the 56th’s major battles. We’re writing about 1916 and 1917 at the moment, so haven’t researched Peronne in great detail yet.
Since you didn’t mention it, I’m assuming you don’t have any of your grandfather’s photos or personal papers? If you do have something, we’d be interested in seeing it.
Just keep in touch with this blog and you’ll be able to track the progress of the book, and when the time comes we’ll provide details on where and how to buy a copy. As for material on the 56th in the meantime, I would direct you to the home page of this blog. From there look at the list of Links down the right-hand side. The three most useful sources at present are the unit profile (a short summary on the 56th), the unit war diaries and the official history. Just click on each of these links – they’re all available online now.
Cheers,
Craig.
20 August, 2008 at 12:14 pm |
Hi Daddy, what’s cracking? I am looking at your website from school!
Love you !!
madz
Editor’s comment: Hi Maddie, Not that your comment has added anything meaningful to this blog – I’ve posted it anyway, just in case it was necessary for your school work. But only after I fixed up all your horrendous spelling, grammatical and punctuation mistakes. Digital communication need not be an excuse to drop all such standards for the sake of speed, to become one of the new breed of e-Philistines. Tell all your school mates too.
Love,
Dad.
22 October, 2009 at 4:05 pm |
I have a photo taken c1938 at Liverpool of the 14th Platoon, D Company 56 Battalion.
My father is one of the group.
Reading the AWM biography of the this Battalion I was surprised to know that it was disbanded after WWI.
Can you give me any information about this photo. All I am aware of is that my father told me he was in the Mounted Militia.
Regards
Maggie Heffernan in Port Macquarie NSW
Family Historian
Editor’s response: Hi Maggie,
The scope of our book doesn’t really cover the post-war militia unit, so I don’t know much about it, other than the bare basics. Essentially, the 56th Battalion (AIF) ceased to exist in April 1919. A couple of years later, in 1921, when the AIF was formally disbanded, it’s my understanding that many of the unit numbers were passed to militia (CMF) units. Therefore, the Riverina Regiment took of the number 56th.
During the Second World War the battalion was employed in various garrison duties in NSW and later WA. Then in July 1944, it was disbanded to provide reinforcements for other divisions already deployed overseas. The 56th was apparently reformed as a reconnaissance battalion in 1956, again being based at Cootamundra.
That’s about the extent of my knowledge on the CMF 56th.
Regards,
Craig.