Lest We Forget (3/4)

Sid was in the second landings at ANZAC Cove. He survived. He survived in the gullies, and ravines for just over a week. At the end of the first week of May, 6th Btn B Coy was sent as part of the Second Infantry Brigade down for the Second Battle of Krithia at Helles. He survived the 6th May, and the 7th May, and until 1730 hours on 8th May when the Brigade was given 35 minutes warning that it was about to join the attack. The Australians were to advance along Fir Tree Spur between the right flank of the New Zealand brigade and the edge of Krithia Nullah, and had to travel up to 730 m from their reserve position just to reach the start line at "Tommy's Trench". The brigade managed to advance a further 460 m beyond the start line, suffering 50% casualties in the process. Sid was one of these'

Meanwhile, back at the farm his father, Robert, waited. Four of his brothers - Percival, Arthur, George, and William - waited. One of his brothers, Harold, could wait no longer and enlisted. His three sisters - Esther, Victoria, and Ida - waited. His waiting mother - Caroline Elizabeth - qualified to wear the Female Relatives Badge, with bar because two of her sons were serving. Pity that just a year later she died of degeneration of the heart.

This post is dedicated to: Sydney Eversley Ferres (born 1889) 6th Batallion, B Coy, AIF Enlisted 31 August, 1914 Killed in Action 8th May, 1915 Body left in the field, commemmorated at Cape Helles, Turkey Nephew of my great-grandfather, John Bennett Tonkin My first cousin, twice removed.

Note: These are my shots of original images in the Australian War Memorial. The image of the soldier REPRESENTS Sid, but is not Sid. Sid was #194 to enlist into B Coy. This unknown soldier was #192. No one in the Ferres family has been able to source an image of Sydney Eversley Ferres.

Each year, in early spring, I spend an afternoon in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It is a sombre afternoon, with much shaking of head, wrinkling of brow, and heart-felt gratitude.