Tuesday 3 April 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 15 - How to win at Scrabble

THE PORTAL IS BACK! GO READ ...


I adore scrabble, but am always being slaughtered at it. So, I perked up when the guide on the Heritage Walk through Rookwood Cemetery on Saturday pointed out the instrument on the marker above, the one that looks like a speech bubble in a comic. It is, in fact, a 'zax' (plural zaxes), which is an instrument used by slaters (a chap who works on your roof, dearie, not a sluggish thing under a rock in your garden) for cutting and dressing slates; a kind of hatchet with a sharp point on the pole for perforating the slate to receive the nail or pin. There is a striking tool above it.

So, I gathered that herewithin lay a slater. Well may you say 'under a rock in a garden' ...


But, then I looked more closely. One son (the fifth) dead by accident in 1912. Another son (the youngest) dead as a casualty of war in 1917. Before WW1 John Gordon Lorimer died when his motor-bicycle collided with a tramways car. John was born in 1887, four years after his parents, and his five older siblings immigrated to the colony of NSW on the 'Ellora' from Scotland. David was a slater & plumber. Ann had her hands full with an 11 yo daughter, Jessie, and four younger sons. Jessie was born when Ann was 18 and David only 21.


And. then, in 1887, Wallace Hepburn Lorimer was born. The grave marker states he was a sergeant in the 1st Imperial Camel Corps, who died in the Gaza. His record of service states:
Killed in action in the advance to, and while in temporary occupation of, a Turkish redoubt and owing to the position being vacated and not subsequently re-occupied, the dead were not able to be buried.
The two letters included here are from the record of service of Wallace Lorimer. Both letters were written by his father, David. BTW, when he enlisted in 1915, Wallace described himself as a slater. That may account for the details on David's letterhead. There are only 5 years between the writing of the two letters, ageing David from 66 to 71. It looks a lot more than that. He has aged and gone creaky very quickly. It is clear from the file, that what I typed above was all they ever found out about the skirmish in which their youngest child perished. David writes, pleading for information 'you have a sorrowing father's feelings that you may be able to ease the pain a little'. But no response to this is held on file. David did understand that there was a war on. But the sorrow took its toll.


In the second letter, David, is trying to find out if his son's Next-of-Kin qualify for a medal, and whether there is a form to be completed. Well, yes, he did qualify. he served overseas. And he died overseas. No body for burial, just a memorial plaque at the Jerusalem Memorial in Israel. And the government sent his NoK a 1914-15 Star, a British War Medal, a Victory Medal, a Memorial Scroll, and a Memorial Plaque. Together with a plaque in the Garden of Remembrance at Rookwood.

I wonder if all that 'eased a sorrowing father's feelings?


This is my contribution to the Taphophile Tragics community.

17 comments:

Jo said...

What an amazing post, Julie. I also wonder if the medals eased the sorrowing father. I love " a soldier and a man" And I also love that one day I might be able to use the word zax in scrabble and flummox my opponent! Have a great day. Jo

Gemma Wiseman said...

This post bristles with surprising information! I had no idea that you could apply for a medal on behalf of a family member. Intriguing headstone styles, especially in the first and last photos!

Julie said...

Medals were important in those days, Gemma, especially if the soldier were killed. Somehow it did not surprise me.

These three shots of a marker are all the one marker. From top to bottom of the completer marker, they go third photo, first photo, second photo. It suited my story to cut them up like this.

Deb said...

An interesting story, well researched as ever. Great detail on the memorial, clearly the family was proud of the fathers trade,
Zaxes eh, here's wishing you many triple word scores!

Jim said...

Another interesting story.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Ann said...

Is it just me or is the linky not there on the Tragics page, all I see is the photo and text.

diane b said...

Another interesting story. I can't see the point of medals. If you like scrabble you would like 'Bookworm' a word game on the ipad, iphone or computer. Free to download. It is like playing scrabble by yourself against yourself.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Loved the bit about scrabble and slaters.

When the war memorial released the WW1 records I looked up my great uncles and found letters on file from members of the family asking anxiously about their welfare. It was an interesting insight into the world of snail mail and war.

Francisca said...

Julie, I simply canNOT believe a wordsmith like you doesn't ace scrabble! Even I do alright. ;-) But yes, zax is good to remember... if I can. LOL!

Another interesting lesson from the cemetery.

hamilton said...

Excellent sleuthing, Julie.
I particularly like the carnation on the grave.

Sondra said...

Im sure he heart was broken to pieces as he never got bury his beloved son. At least he was able to memorialize him in stone.

VioletSky said...

ah, so that is 'zax' means! I have used it in scrabble without understanding the word, just that is is an excellent point maker. I had to look up 'slater' though (we call them potato bugs, if you are interested)

I suppose the medals at least were a sign of recognition of his son's accomplishments and sacrifice, although fighting for that would not help his sorrow at all.

CaT said...

i guess it did not. but somehow, to have at least something, must "help". somehow...

i never do scrabble. or any other game... just the thought about it makes me feel bored, haha.

Dina said...

How sad to be killed and abandoned in Gaza.
I will look for and photograph the name of Wallace next time I am in the Jerusalem cemetery on Mt. Scopus (which may be soon, for the annual ANZAC ceremony).

Joe said...

Amazing research Julie. Thank for sharing your time and rods with us.

Joe said...

Oops should have been "words" not "rods". I'm guessing your not a fan of fishing.

Julie said...

Possibly not, Joe. I can eat fish. I can sit and watch the ocean. But see no in holding a rod for hour after hour. I'm bored just thinking about it.