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Page 19 After Uncle Bert's Death
Tuesday, 14 April 2009 01:59:55 AM
On
14 May, 1917 Viv wrote to Perce
from France 14.5.17------Dear Percy, I rode over to look up Bert the day before
yesterday ad was informed that he had been killed on 5th Inst. (It was the 3rd -
Ed.) in the Hindenburg Line E of B------- (Bullecourt - Ed.) where we had got in
and Bert's lot had relieved us. After several counter attacks had been beaten
off. The captured position was very heavily shelled and in this shelling Bert
crossed over. Death was instantaneous, so he felt no pain and knew nothing of
the terror of approaching the brink. I am sending his few personal effects, very
few, home, registered to make sure. It seems hard, but God's ways are not to be
read by us, and we can only wait in patience the working out of His will.
He was buried in the trench where he fell. The map reference is France. Sheet
51B. SW. 1/20.000 U23C 4 1/2. 2 1/2. I am writing to Vernie, Home, Elise & Mrs.
Morgan. Will you write to Mum as soon as you get this? I cabled Clytie and she
will probably get it about the same time as the official notification gets
there. This note is short and may seem strange but I can't write any more just
now. God's Will be done. In deepest Sorrow & Sympathy. Viv
OTHER NOTES
AFTER UNCLE BERT'S DEATH
A letter received from The
House of Representatives – The Parliament of the Commonwealth in Melbourne on
May 21st, 1917 read as follows:-
“Dear Mr.
SMYTHE, May I express my sincere sorrow
for the wounding of your son on the battlefield. He fell gloriously, defending
his country and institutions from the depredations of the enemy, who seek to
destroy us. The memory of the services he rendered may help in some small
measure to assuage the anxiety, which his suffering causes. Be assured there
are numbers outside your home circle who sorrow with you and feel at the
same time a thrill of pride at his patriotic and gallant behaviour. With kind
wishes, Yours faithfully, Joseph Cook.”
I do not believe that using
the word “gloriously” when referring to some one dying in battle would not be of
any comfort to a grieving family. I wonder how Members of Parliament would
write this type of letter today. Ed.
He was
buried (With Jean Letaille in
2007) in the trench
where he fell. The map reference is – France Sheet 51B. SW 1/20,000 U223C 4 ¼.
2 ½. It is unsure where this information came from but think it was in one of Viv’s letters. Ed .
The Jerilderie Herald and
Urana Advertiser published the following on 1 June 1917.
KILLED
IN ACTION
SERGEANT
BERT SMYTHE
KILLED IN ACTION
SERGEANT
BERT SMYTHE
“On Saturday afternoon
last news reached this town that Sergeant Bert
SMYTHE had been killed in action in France on 5th May, (the correct
date was 3rd Ed.) a bursting Hun shell being the cause of the sad fatality.
Poor Bert! The news of his death will be received with general regret by his
many acquaintances here. Our readers may remember his descriptive letters –
cleverly written too – which appeared in this journal, and which were copied in
several other newspapers, including some in the Metropolitan journals. The
first one was written from a hospital in Birmingham, England – where he was sent
from Gallipoli to have his wounds attended to – and was a highly interesting
narrative of life in Gallipoli's trenches.
He is one of four brothers
who have obeyed the Empire’s call. One of his brothers Vernon (Crumb as he was
called by his school mates) has obtained the rank of Major
(this is not correct Ed.),
another is a Lieutenant, whilst Vivian has just been awarded the Military Cross
for conspicuous conduct. When the news was received here on Saturday afternoon,
genuine expressions of regret were voiced by all, and a deep sympathy was felt
with the bereaved parents and family in their affliction. The deceased hero was
the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. SMYTHE
of Sydney, and for many years’ residents of Jerilderie. END
Perce wrote in his diary
dated Tuesday, 12th June 1917 – “Short
letter from Captain White, of 3rd Bn. He says that he saw Bert after he was
killed, a whiz band having burst right on top of him. They tried to get
what things that he had in his pocket but could not do so. Cpn. White and Bert
were old friends, having both been in the same section at Mena. I suppose it
was foolish of me, but I had still hoped that there might have been a mistake.
But this letter now removes all shadow of doubt. “
On the report from the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission his death was recorded as occurring on the
3rd May and this is the date shown on his Service Documents. His name is
commemorated on Villlers Bretonneaux
Memorial
as well as the names of his two
second cousins Hercules and Julius CLARKE, who died in the same battle.
I was told that when troops
went to recover Bert’s body, the area where it was, had been blown up, so it was
not recovered and sadly there is no grave for him. (Ed.)
A friend wrote to my
grandparents and it ended up – “his was a Noble life lived and he died a
Noble death in defence of his King and Country -- etc”. This phrase seems
cold and hackneyed to me, though I believe it was written with the best of
intention (Ed.)
My grandmother’s sister
Lydia wrote a long letter and included were such phrases as “but you must try
to bear up for the rest of your children’s sake”, “our loss is his gain”,
“he is not dead but gone before”. All of these were much used phrases,
particularly in those times – they would not comfort me.
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