Junee war families share tales of the First World War

The 29-year-old Junee axeman turned soldier had found himself among the second and third waves progressing the beach.

He was severely wounded in the thigh, but he lived.

Until July 31, 1917 when he was killed in the Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium.

“Back then the newspaper said ‘he died a glorious death’,” said his great-nephew and Junee resident Robert Hatch, now aged 64.

“But how could he? He would have died like all the others, wondering what he was doing there, watching his friends be mowed down running up over the trenches.

“It was a traumatic way to die, not glorious. What is glorious is the sacrifice that fortified our country forever.”

A total of 108 men from Junee and surrounds died on the battlefields of the First World War. Their names are listed on the cenotaphs in the town proper and Junee Reefs.

There are five names clustered together that speak of the tragedy one family endured. 

Brothers Thomas Valentine and Vivian Richard Hancock lived in Junee.

They attended Junee Reefs Public School together. On August 6, 1915 they died, separated across the battlefield of Lone Pine, Gallipoli.

Thomas was 19, Vivian was 24. They died alongside their cousin James Charles O’Donnell. 

Twelve Junee men died at Gallipoli that month, five of them of the same family.

Still living in Junee, the brothers’ last remaining niece, Sylvia Allamby, is now 88 years old.

“Remembrance Day means a lot for mum especially since she's the only sibling left now,” said Sylvia’s daughter Maree Allamby.

Sylvia’s father also served in the war. Stationed in France, he managed to survive.

“She was born in 1930 so she grew up listening to the stories of war whispered around her,” said Ms Allamby.

“She lived through the Second World War, where her brothers actually fought too.”

With the centenary of the armistice signing this Sunday, Robert Hatch and the Allamby family will be joined by the town’s only other four men and women who’s relatives fought and died between 1914 and 1918.

Junee’s Remembrance Day commemoration will begin at 9am on Sunday with an ecumenical church service beneath the poppies on the old ANZ building.

The ceremony will extend until 6:30pm with commemorative films, live performances, and re-enactments around the cenotaph and Athenium Theatre.