The men and boys of Woodside will be remembered (3)

 

The men and boys of Woodside will be remembered: tracing local families (3)

 

Thank you to the 'Love Woodside' group who remember our wartime veterans each Anzac  and Remembrance day. 

(Photo by Julie Reece, November 2021) 

Julie Reece Tours is looking forward to resuming the Connecting Spirits Community Tours in 2022 subject to meeting all international and quarantine regulations associated with the management of the Covid situation. Aligned with this project, I am seeking to contact any Woodside residents and their networks, who are related to any of the Woodside WW1 soldiers buried overseas. If your family relative in on the following Honour Roll of those who died in the war, please contact me to request their inclusion on the 2022 Connecting Spirits’ soldier list of those we research and commemorate at the grave or memorial to the soldier. If you request their inclusion in the CS project, a brief biography of their wartime service will be published on this blog as previously completed for H. Mitchell, and the Clashom brothers. Depending on the location, the 2022 tour group will endeavour to visit their grave or memorial on your behalf with their story published on the Connecting Spirits website. (www.connectingspirits.com.au )

Those listed on the Woodside Honour Board who died in WW1 are:

A. Sharpe                                                                                 R. Hope Murray

T. Robinson                                                                             R. J Redpath

D. McFarlane                                                                          K.C Moore

G. Sampson                                                                             E. Watkins

H. Mitchell (refer to earlier blog post)                                   W.L & W.H East (refer below)

D. Johnston                                                                             C.R,  T.W  & L. Eglinton

E.V. Pearson                                                                            O. Pollard                   

R.D. Roe                                                                                  T. Hergstrom

A. Thiele                                                                                  S.R Fenwick

W. Weidenhofer

N. Wiliams

W. & S. Clashom (refer to earlier blog post)

The East Brothers have been previously commemorated by the Connecting Spirits project and their stories can be read on the soldier page on the CS website. 

If you or your family have any private details and sources other than the public service records and want them included in the soldier’s story, please let me know. I can be contacted via email at: julie@juliereecetours.com.au.

The Woodside boys and men’s stories will continue in the new year. Julie Reece Tours wishes you all a very happy Xmas and a safe and prosperous 2022.

At 11.00 a.m. on November 11 we stand silent...

 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM…

In a week’s time at 11.00 am across Australia and other parts of the world, a silence is observed to mark the end of the First World War on a day we know as Remembrance Day.  Rituals are observed including the saying of The Ode, the playing of the Last Post and in some settings the laying of wreaths. Poppies have become the symbol of this day. Many schools now include whole school assemblies to mark the occasion along with services across the nation by various community groups. So, what is actually being remembered by those who bow their heads in silence?

Remembrance means different things to different people and at times these occasions are often shrouded in perceived respect but sadly shaped by ignorance and vague ideas about what the day marks. The historical significance of 11.00 a.m. on November 11, originally known as Armistice Day, is the date marking the cessation of conflict in WW1. The specific treaty that officially ended the war, the Treaty of Versailles was however not formalised until 28 June 1919 after 6 months of negotiation at the Paris Peace Conference.

Over generations the exclusivity of Remembrance Day as ‘belonging’ to WW1 has expanded as our nation became embroiled in a number of 20^th century conflicts including WW2, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many peacekeeping missions. Remembrance Day is now an opportunity to acknowledge all those who took part in our nation’s wartime conflicts …those who lost their lives but also those who returned.

Over the last few decades interest in finding out about our countrymen and women’s individual wartime experiences has resulted in many of us delving into the past via online sites such as the National Australians Archives, the Australian War Memorial, the Virtual War Memorial and other valuable sources. My own research on this blog page and Connecting Spirits website has focused on these narratives for many years now. However, the other side of Remembrance relating to those who survived war, is often sidelined. Through the tours Julie Reece Tours has run over the years, we have attempted where appropriate, to address this. Of those soldiers who our CS groups have researched over the years, many stories of heartbreak of those who returned, have been shared. The common theme of ‘surviving the war but not the peace’ was evident throughout these accounts.

In the lead up to next week’s day of Remembrance, I’d like to focus on Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, who published the book ‘Until Tuesday’ based on his personal war service and the challenges of his ‘peace’.  I met Luis Montalvan over social media after reading his book which focuses on the impact PTSD had on his life and the role played by his assistance dog ‘Tuesday’ .

 He is described as ‘…a seventeen-year veteran and former captain in the U.S Army, where he earned the Combat Action Badge, two bronze stars and the Purple Heart…’ Post war he ‘…earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University …’ and started another master’s in strategic communications. He became a fierce advocate for veterans across the US doing speaking engagements and collaborating with service and veterans’ groups assisting others suffering from PTSD.

 All these accomplishments were enabled by him re-joining society with the support of his assistance dog ‘Tuesday’. It wasn’t until Tuesday came into his life, that Luis pieced his life together. Over the years the Connecting Spirits groups would hear his story when we visited the American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium, while we focused on the impact war had on those who survived.

And then out of nowhere this man’s life took a tragic turn. On 2 December 2016, Luis Carlos Montalvan checked into a motel in Texas and died alone at his own hand. Despite all he had achieved, all he had done for others and the many ways he had fought his demons; Luis could fight no more. His war was over, but the peace never really came to this man.

So why recount this American man’s story in the lead up to November 11? The answer is simple: remembering those who died during wartime conflicts and researching their experiences is crucial in our trying to understand the past. But equally important is learning about those who don’t make a list of casualties or who are named on public honour rolls. Those veterans who live amongst us who served in conflicts or peacekeeping missions, carry those scars with them every day. Some individuals live rich and productive lives…some do not but their memories are there with them forever.

In conclusion to quote John F McGowan, Australian veteran of the Vietnam War from his novel ‘As leaves are prey to the wind.’:

 

‘Once we were soldiers

Boys in young men’s bodies

Boasting the boldness of naivety

Victims of political folly, placed in harm’s way

 

While you of our age learned how to live

We learned how to kill

While you learned of love

We learned to hate.

 

Our service no longer required

Cast aside as collateral damage

Like fallen leaves

Prey to the winds of circumstance.

 

What has become of us

We with nothing more than shiny medals

Hanging from coloured ribbons

 

Left to grow old

Our years condemn

We wander among you

Aliens on our own country

Where are we now?

(By John McGowan, ‘As Leaves are Prey To Wind’ )

 

At 11.00 a.m.  on Thursday 11^th November, please take time to honour all who served and make a promise to educate ourselves about our nation’s history during wartime, so that we ‘remember’ based on a foundation of knowledge and respect.

LEST WE FORGET...

 

 

 

The men and boys of Woodside will be remembered (2)

 

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: Brothers in Arms, William CLASOHM (254) and Stanley CLASOHM (6798)

When the First World War broke out on August 4, 1914, over 52,000 Australians rushed to enlist in first 5 months of the war. Of the 331,781 who eventually served overseas in the Great War, many groups enlisted together such as brothers, or mates from the same towns and suburbs across Australia. The bothers’ stories are particularly moving as many families experienced losing more than one of their sons: the Woodside community is one example of this.

The Woodside Honour Roll features three families who lost more than one son: the Clasohm, East and Eglinton families all lost 2 or 3 of their boys. The brothers’ stories will be retold together as ‘Brothers in Arms’.

William CLASOHM (254)

The Clasohm boys lived in Balhannah but are named on the Woodside Honour Roll both working locally and serving in the Cadets and Citizens Forces prior to the outbreak of the war. Their next of kin was their father, John Clasohm.

William James Clasohm was the older of the two boys and enlisted on January 1^st, 1916, at the age of 21. William was listed as a gardener. He was 5’7” in height and had blue eyes and brown hair. William’s nominated religion was the Church of England. Though enlisting in January of 1916, it wasn’t until June 9 that he departed from Australia aboard the A 19’Africa’ from Outer Harbour in South Australia.  Just over a month later he disembarked at Marseilles in France on the 20^th of July 1916 just as the AIF was preparing for its first battles on the western front at Fromelles in northern France. William however spent 2 months in the UK before he joined his battalion at Etaples early September and proceeded to join the 43^rd Battalion transferring from the 16^th on 4^th October 1916. In the final months of 1916 William’s records indicate he contracted mumps and was hospitalised in December and most of January 1917.

He re-joined his unit late January 1917 and on May 23^rd was charged with the crime of ‘Disobedience of orders in that he did not carry his greatcoat in his pack when ordered to do so. He was awarded the loss of 7 days pay.’

A few weeks later June 7^th William was wounded in action with gun shot wounds to his hand and transferred to a field hospital away from the front lines at Wimereux where he was treated for several weeks before returning to the front on July 6. Just 3 months later Private William James Clasohm was killed in action in the field on October 4, 1917, in the horrific Third Battle of Ypres specifically at Broodseinde Ridge. This theatre of war more commonly referred to as the Battle of Passchendaele, is said to be one of the worst of the war. Like so many of his peers in this muddy war-torn landscape of Flanders, the young man from the Adelaide hills was never found and so Private William James Clasohm from Balhannah is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres along with 55,000 other Commonwealth troops ‘Known Unto God’.

His name is recorded on this iconic war memorial on panel 7-17-23-25-27-29-31 and has not been forgotten. Every night in Ypres at 8.00 pm a Last Post Ceremony is conducted at the Menin Gate and all traffic is stopped where the public gather to remember all the war dead from the Great War. The Last Post is played, ‘The Ode’ read and wreaths laid by members of the public who choose to honour specific individuals or regiments. This ceremony was initiated in 1927 and except for the period of the second world war, has never missed a night’s dedication. During WW2 it was continued in London due to German occupation of Belgium and recently during the Covid lockdowns in 2020-21 it was continued without the public present. Next year if the 2022 Connecting Spirits Community tour resumes as planned in September/October, then if any of the Clasohm family request it, we will include William in our Menin gate ceremony.  

The Menin Gate War Memorial to the Missing in Ypres, Belgium. Over 55,000 names of missing Commonwealth soldiers killed in WW1 are listed on this memorial opened in 1927. The town’s traffic pass through the Menin gate until 8.00 pm when each evening the roads are closed for the Last Post Ceremony where the public attend from across the globe.

PHOTO CREDIT: Julie Reece

The walls of the Menin Gate are covered with names…they are remembered, William James Clasohm is just one…

PHOTO CREDIT: Julie Reece

Stanley CLASOHM (6798)

Stanley Edward Clasohm was the younger brother of William and at when he enlisted on August 15^th, 1917, was underage. At 18 years Stanley had to provide written permission from his father to join his older brother on the front lines. At 5’6” this young boy with blue eyes and ‘fair’ hair enlisted joining the 48^th Battalion leaving on the H.M.A.T “Aeneas” from the port of Melbourne on 30^th October 1917. The true tragedy of these Brothers in Arms was played out at this point: Stanley’s older brother was killed in action 26 days prior to Stanley’s departure. One can only imagine the fear and grief of these boys’ parents when they farewelled this 18-year-old having already learnt of the loss of their son William.

As Stanley proceeded to Europe, he was admitted to hospital on board ship and eventually disembarked at Devonport in the UK on 17^th December. His army service records state that he spent several months in the UK on the Salisbury Plains near Fovant, joining the battalion in training. In April of the final year of the war Stanley was moved to the front lines in France only to be seriously wounded on the 11^th of July 1918 with major gunshot wounds to his face.

After a mere 3 months of active service this young man died at the age of 19 in a Casualty Clearing Station on the Somme on July 12^th1918 in the final months of the war. He was buried at Crouy British Cemetery at Crouy-Sur-Somme 16 kilometres northwest of Amiens. The war that had raged for 4 years was ending but once more the Clasohm family lost a much-loved son. The song ‘He was only 19’ written for a soldier in the Vietnam war, resonates here with Stanley’s narrative. Let us hope we can visit this young man’s grave in 2022 on behalf of the Clasohm family and our community.

 

                                                                            PHOTO CREDIT: Julie Reece

LEST WE FORGET

 

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: power of social media (1)

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: response to Pte. Harold Mitchell’s story

 

In response to the first Woodside soldier’s story Pte. Harold Mitchell, a wonderful link has been made. One of the members of the Remembrance 2001 tour responded to the post on Facebook and not only were precious connections re-made, but the story of this Woodside man was added to.

Ebony McConville (nee Boulton) was the baby of the inaugural tour group in 2001, and at the age of 16, she was the one who uncovered Mitchell’s story 20 years ago. Ebony recounted how she interviewed several family members who shared some Harold’s wartime experiences including the account of his fatal wounding and the Bible he was carrying at the time. The former Mount Barker High student also shared with me her reflections on the R2001 commemorative tour and how it has impacted on her perspective now as a working parent of two young girls. I know that the commentary on events like this tour often referred to as ‘life changing’ can be seen as cliched, however after discussing this with Ebony I have no doubt that this was very true in her case.

A second Woodside local who is a friend of my daughter-in-law, also contacted me, Kylie Grivell. Kylie confirmed the account and related to me, ‘…my mum is Helen Fechner and the story about Harold being shot through his Bible in his pocket, is a very well retold point in his life. We have a replica penny that his mother was given as a ‘mother’s sacrifice’ award.’

From these two valuable responses, I also learnt that Harold’s family members are buried in the Woodside cemetery and these headstones tell another sad side to the family’s history. Harold was one of three boys and his younger bother Alick died at the age of 13 on 18th July 1915 just 3 months into the Gallipoli campaign. Harold’s parents lost their young son and a year later Harold enlisted for war only to die in May of 1917. Lucia Mitchell’s life was again struck by tragedy as she was widowed in 1937 when her husband Robert died at the age of 69. She lived a long life until 1971 when at the age of 95, Lucia Agnes Mitchell died leaving her sole remaining son Robert and daughter in-law Emma Emily Mitchell.

Like so many families who lived during the early part of the 20^th century, war and grief shadowed their lives. As Ebony stated to me, the education she had from the Remembrance 2001 tour and project framed her perspective and values as she entered adult life and gained a life- long appreciation of how lucky and privileged the generations are who never had to live through those dark years of war and conflict. The wartime generations really knew what sacrifice and resilience meant: it was the embodiment of all they lived through. Let us who did not have to grow up during those bleak years, honour their memory by educating ourselves about our wartime past and never forgetting those who endured it.

The Mitchell family graves: Woodside cemetery, September 2021

              Harold Mitchell’s parents Robert and Lucia’s grave : Woodside cemetery September 2021

Harold Mitchell remembered at his younger brother’s grave: Woodside cemetery September 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered (1)

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: Pte. Harold Mitchell (1068)

My small business recently joined the Woodside Commerce Association (WCA) and at the AGM, the committee accepted my proposal to initiate a special commemorative focus on local men and boys who died in the Great War. Of the 178 names on the Woodside Honour Board, 25 died in the war and are buried overseas. In the lead up to Anzac Day 2022, I aim to feature each of the 25. If you are related to or know of any living members of the soldier’s family, please contact me and I will personally commemorate your WW1 relative on the next Connecting Spirits Community Tour planned for September 2022. In addition, if YOU are interested in taking part in the next CS tour, then email me for the details at julie@juliereecetours.com.au 

The first Woodside soldier to be remembered on this blog is Private Harold Mitchell (service number 1068). Harold’s story was first researched in 2000 and was commemorated in the first WW1 tour I ran while teaching at Mount Barker High School in 2001. His short biography was retold in the book we published in 2002, ‘Journey of Remembrance: An account of Mount Barker High School’s Remembrance 2001 project’, Reece, J (Openbook Print, 2002): this account was compiled by Jayne Wilson (Huxtable) on behalf of his relatives who contacted the school prior to the tour in 2001. Other details have been included from the National Archives of Australia service records.

Born at Woodside 4 February 1895, Harold was the son of Robert and Lucia (aka Lucy – nee Seidel) Mitchell and was the eldest of three sons, Harold, Robert and Alick. Harold was the great-grandson of Margaret and John Murdock who sold their cotton milling factory to Coats Limited in Paisley, Scotland and migrated to South Australia in 1838. They were some of the first settlers to buy several properties around Woodside, Inverbrackie and Murdock Hill areas. Harold attended Mount Barker High School and later helped his father to farm some of their land at Murdock Hill until the time of his enlistment.  (NAA service records also record his ‘trade’ as a cleaner though it’s unknown where and who that was for)

Pte. Mitchell enlisted on 15 February 1916 at Adelaide age 21 and served as a Gunner with ‘Y3A Trench Mortar Battery’ in the A.I.F. Harold was 5’7” tall with a ‘medium complexion’, blue eyes and brown hair. He identified as a Methodist.

On the 9^th of June 1916, Harold sailed from Outer Harbour, en-route to France on board the  ‘’A” 19 Afric landing at the port of Marseilles one month later on the 20^th of June. He proceeded to England and on the 17^thOctober 1916 he joined the 43^rd Battalion and was based on the Salisbury Plains for a month. During his time at Larkhill he committed an offence when ‘…on active service...he was AWL (absent without leave) from midnight 21^st October to 6.00 a.m. two days later, the 23^rd. He lost 10 day’s pay.’ 

(It is worth noting that in all other armies, being AWOL could result in a court martial and potential execution by firing squad: the AIF was the only force in WW1 that did NOT have capital punishment for offences committed by their troops) 

And so, after a short period in the UK, Harold was ‘taken on strength’ to face the front lines and proceeded to France on 23^rd November 1916 to endure the coldest winter on record in the region known as the ‘Western Front’. After only 6 short months in the field, Pte. Harold Mitchell from Woodside was Killed in Action on Monday 21^st May 1917 and according to the family’s account, he was shot with the bullet going through his Bible and lodging in his heart. He was just 22 years of age. Private Harold Mitchell is buried in the Strand Military Cemetery in Belgium and on Monday 10^th December 2001, his story was shared with the R2001 tour group.

The year following the Remembrance 2001 tour, Mount Barker High School named parts of the campus after four of their old scholars who died in the Great War: Mitchell sub-school was named after this young man from Woodside, and it is to be hoped that 20 years on in 2022, we will once more return to his grave in Belgium to remember his ultimate sacrifice.

(Harold was second cousin to Margaret Schwab (nee Mitchell), mother of Helen Fechner and Lois Zerk – see ‘Journey of Remembrance’ page 111)

Pte. Harold Mitchell was first commemorated on Monday 10 December 2001 at the Strand Military Cemetery, Hainaut, BELGIUM.

 

'Don't forget me Cobber': the story of the lost of Fromelles

Fromelles 2008-2010

July 19-20 , 1916 marked the day the AIF experienced the reality of war on the Western Front during the Great War for the first time. In a tiny village in the northern France, Australian and British troops took part in a frontal attack on the German Army that created a story that was unresolved until 2008, 92 years after the actual failed attack. These two days in 1916 were little known after the war despite the casualties inflicted on the Australian forces being the worst of any single military campaign in the history of the AIF. Many men were never found though it was a commonly held belief by locals in the village and amongst a number of historians, that a large pit of 250 soldiers lay close to the Pheasant Wood. 

In 2008 after a  years of speculation and investigations, the 250 men's remains were finally located in the mud of Fromelles. For the following two years every soldiers' remains and pieces of physical evidence were removed from their original burial place. With meticulous attention to detail, the identification and plans for proper reburials, were initiated. The construction of the new Pheasant Wood cemetery and 249 reburials were undertaken over January in 2010 with the Australian Federation Guard present for all reinterments. For the initial group of soldiers positively identified, new headstones with their identities were placed at each individual grave. One unknown soldier, the 250th, was buried on July 19, 2010 in the presence of Prince Charles and other officials. Australian relatives of the Fromelles boys were also in attendance. In the lead up to July 19-20, I will be posting a number of blogs related to the involvement of Connecting Spirits over the years in this extraordinary  story. 

December 2008 : the Fromelles burial pit prior to excavation. The 2008 Connecting Spirits group were privileged to visit this poignant location.

Local media coverage of the Fromelles story.

January 2010 : the  Fromelles reinterments take place.

 

Is that a light I can see at the end of the tunnel?

 

March 2020 it was official: the world was facing a global pandemic and lives, businesses, dreams, and expectations were turned on their heads in a heartbeat. Covid 19/lockdowns/border closures/ quarantine hotels and many other new terms bits of language became part of everyday conversation. The plans people had in place for all the parts of their lives were in disarray and no industry was more affected than that of tourism and hospitality. My small business Julie Reece Tours was in the midst of planning and payments for the 2020 Connecting Spirits Community Tour originally due to depart September…then April 2021…then November 2021 until we finally stopped placing futile dates on our plans.  Businesses folded in the travel industry and ‘Jobkeeper’ kept the rest on survival mode. Many fine operators with years and years of experience in the industry found work in new areas of the floundering economy with the faint hope of one day returning to the field they loved and were good at.

However now in March 2021 with the Covid vaccine rolling out across the globe and economic markers showing gradual signs of improvement, I think I can see that light beaming at the end of the tunnel that has plagued us for a year. Most of the clients who paid deposits for the CS tour, are still keen and have not cashed in their Emirates flights. All the hotels I booked have kept my deposits in the system and new dates and yet another draft itinerary has been prepared. This time I feel positive and keen to get back to my laptop, plotting and planning another Connecting Spirits Community tour with a reasonably sound chance of it happening!

So, we start again…April 2022…the CS group will depart for the (vaccinated) U.K, France, and Belgium to continue the commemorative journey that is at the heart of the CS project. Five possibly six days in the UK (3 nights in the Salisbury Plains, 2 in Canterbury and 1 in London) five days on the Somme based in Amiens and finally a full week in our beloved Ypres, Belgium including an Anzac Day service at Buttes New British Cemetery in Polygon Woods. If the local public Dawn Service is not running next year, then our group will have our own intimate event with some of our treasured Belgian friends in attendance.

Unlike previous tours, requests for payments will NOT be made until all the requirements for safe overseas travel are in place and the Federal Government has lifted the ban on international departures for tourism. However, watch this space and the Facebook page for updates as I will bring these as and when they occur. It is to be hoped that this time next year the backpacks will be waiting and new travel accessories ready to use.  I cannot wait and this time we have an excellent chance of DEPARTURE!!! Stay safe and stay positive my friends…we will return!!

Some of our 2019 memories from the Connecting Spirits Community Tour

(Photo credit Julie Reece) 

The development of ‘Connecting Spirits’ over the years and its portrayal in the public sphere.

 

(Photo credit Julie Reece, 2017 Connecting Spirits Community Tour: Tamika Williams, Polygon Wood)

 

It is often stated that when you publish anything on the internet that it is there for eternity so when you go public, get it right. Over the years the ‘Connecting Spirits’ story has been shared on numerous platforms, some of our own making, others from interested others in the world of academia, tourism and other fields. Responses have ranged from one- line comments on blog or Facebook posts to full length articles in respected journals and public media outlets. Some have come to light recently along with a request from NSW researcher Paul Kiem who is writing a piece on the ‘History Travel industry’ where the co-leader of CS, Mal Jurgs and I have been asked for comment. We look forward to reading Paul Kiem’s final copy of his analysis. The project was also referred to in the excellent text The Lost Boys by Paul Byrnes, (2019) in the chapter ‘Rufus and Cyril Rigney’ page 336. This account was carefully written with consultation by the author at draft stage to determine accuracy.

So, when public pieces appear, sometimes from academics with impressive credentials that display inaccuracies and assumptions that are plainly wrong, then it’s time to set a few records straight. Before going into specifics, I would like to put these into context: at no time have Mal Jurgs (Co-Project Manager of Connecting Spirits) and I ever purported to be expert historians, nor have we set our responses and approaches in solid stone. We too have grown over the years with the ways we approach commemoration and the sharing of that via the CS website and social media. Finally, on a number of occasions where inaccuracies have been published by others, these could have easily been avoided by a quick perusal of the Connecting Spirits website for clarification or even an email to our contacts listed on the site. In relation to the research done on each of the hundreds of soldiers commemorated since 2006, it is plainly stated on our website:

The information contained on each page has been obtained from the public domain, through the National Archives of Australia, the Australian War Memorial or through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Other information has been obtained through the families of the soldier in question. We publish this information in good faith but realise that the public record is not always accurate or complete. The same can be said of individual family oral histories. While we make every attempt to provide accurate information, if there is anything on these pages that you know to be untrue, or that may cause offence, please contact us as a matter of urgency.

The key issues that need clarifying are:

-The Connecting Spirits project was a school -based initiative from 2006 to 2015 under the banner of DECD in South Australia. During those years it was NOT a commercial operation with profit as a focus. During the period where CS was a DECD project, ALL fund-raising money was allocated to the students on tour. All participants were otherwise self funded.

·  -Over the years the DVA never contributed funds for travel though some small grants for the website and book publishing were granted.

·   -Funds for the publishing of the CS book and CD’s came from fund raising efforts by the committee and ongoing sales. Any profits from sales of the book or CD went back into the funds to support the students.

·    -The commemorative cards left on graves and memorials: in the early days of the project, we did place a photo card of the group with email contacts not for the purpose of commercial gain but rather to make connection with any relatives or community members who may have been interested or linked to the soldier being commemorated. To suggest otherwise is inaccurate. In fact, after being contacted by a local resident from Villers Bretonneux some years ago criticising us placing the group cards, we decided not to continue with that practice. We also removed from our commemorative program large gatherings with media and other locals in France and Belgium reverting to keeping the ceremonies private and only for the CS group.

·        -Since 2017 Connecting Spirits changed status to a public project rather than one exclusively designed for schools. That change also saw the running of the finances moving to my small business ‘Julie Reece Tours’ where I operate as a Sole Trader. I do NOT employ any individuals and all the work completed by Mal Jurgs is done on a volunteer basis using his personal Long Service Leave when we are on tour.

·        -The CS website still operates with Mal overseeing this. As with all other input into the running of CS, Mal does this in addition to his position as a Principal in a DECD school (Coomandook Area School). No DECD resources are used for any part of the project.

· -Commentary on the book Connecting Spirits: A Journey of Reconciliation and Commemoration by Meningie Area School and Birdwood High School. Compiled by Julie Reece & Chloe Oborn (2007): when criticising the text and its weaknesses, it needs to be understood that the writers whose contributions featured in chapter1, were members of the tour group, students and adults alike.

·   -The students from both schools were NOT part of one single history class- many had no background on the history of the Great War. Mal and I ran workshops prior to touring in addition to printed material on the war to give the students an historical context. (The year levels of the students ranged from years 9 -12)

·    -While on tour we had the services of several battlefield experts who told the story of the war from their perspectives. When we compiled the book, the students and adults were asked to submit their tour diaries for inclusion in the text. Some of the group requested that their diaries not be used, for personal reasons and others due to a lack of confidence about their writing being published. Hence some of the group, were NOT represented in the book, at their request.

·  -The students were incredibly varied in terms of their literacy skills and backgrounds and for some it was the first time they had ventured into such public exposure of their thoughts and ideas. These factors need to be taken into account when reading this book: it was the first time these young people had ever written for a public audience and consequently expression of their experiences is often one dimensional and at times cliched. However, the intent of the book was never to publish a definitive text on WW1, it was a personal record for those who were touched by the project. Keep in mind that most of the students on this tour had never left Australia and their three weeks overseas was also a broader educational experience beyond the former battlefields of the Somme and Ypres.

·      -The book was co-authored by Chloe Oborn who at the time of publishing was studying Year 12. Her contributions to the book formed the basis of her independent Community Studies subject: this was assessed by the SACE board for her university entrance score. Chloe was not the 2006 CS project manager though her work as a Youth Leader along with Florence Bourke was of great significance in assisting both Mal Jurgs and myself in the running of CS. Joint decisions and collaboration with the Youth Leaders was always part of our philosophy of CS, but the responsibility of running the project and the tour, was firmly in our hands as project managers.

In conclusion, both Mal and I are happy to take on board suggestions, criticisms and public commentary on the Connecting Spirits project but add that fact checking is advisable prior to making assumptions and drawing conclusions about our intentions or assumed agendas in past or future tours. We welcome the conversation and where appropriate will adjust or formulate our own thinking and approaches after well informed reflections.

 

www.connectingspirits.com.au

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