Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

“The fighting DOLAN brothers.”

William Percival DOLAN
born 24 Oct 1884, Lyndoch, South Australia,
Died of wounds 24 Oct 1917, Belgium,
buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Poperinge, Be. 4.

Henry Arnold DOLAN
born 8 Jan 1887. MORGAN, South Australia,
married Edith Florence Constance DOLAN
Died 15 March 1953, Adelaide.

Murray DOLAN
born 26 Aug 1893, MORGAN, South Australia,
married Constance Ruth FARMER.
Died 4 May 1943.

Matthew DOLAN
born 24 Aug 1898, MORGAN, South Australia,
Killed in Action 11 Apr 1917, France.
memorial at Villiers-Bretonneux Memorial Somme, France

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The DOLAN family lived at OVERLAND CORNER, and spread to Renmark, Waikerie and Morgan area.

Samuel DOLAN married Anne Reeks (who was also known as Anne Rogers) on 31 December 1878 in the Church of England at Lyndoch, South Australia.

Samuel DOLAN was born 15th January 1857 in Bull's Creek, South Australia (the son of Thomas William DOLAN and Mary Ann ARNELL), he died 30 December 1921 in Waikerie and was buried in Waikerie.

Anne REEKS (also known as Anne Rogers as she was the daughter of George ROGERS and Emma Lydia REEKS) was born 11 March 1856 in Waterditch, Hampshire UK. She died on the 29 July 1948 in Waikerie and was reunited with Samuel when she was buried with him in the Waikerie Cemetery.


In November 1909 the Dolans were already in the Overland Corner area when they moved into their new home, which was situated about half a mile back from the Overland Corner Post office. This residence, which had only recently been completed, was said to be situated back from the cliffs off the mail road from Renmark to Morgan.

At that time, Mr Sam Dolan was busy falling the scrub to have the land “cleared for the plough next year”.

The DOLAN family had no shortage of children (10)!
1) Emma Mary DOLAN b. 22 Oct 1879.
2) Samuel George DOLAN b. 1 Jun 1881, Gawier, South Australia, m. Mary Margaret O'HALLORAN. Samuel died 30 Mar 1938.
3) Frederick George DOLAN b. 7 Apr 1883, Angaston South Australia, m. Lucy BRAND. Frederick died 14 Aug 1966.
4) William Percival DOLAN b. 24 Oct 1884, Lyndoch, South Australia, d. 24 Oct 1917, Belgium, buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Poperinge, Be. 4.
5) Henry Arnold DOLAN b. 8 Jan 1887. MORGAN, Hd Lindley South Australia, m. Edith Florence Constance DOLAN died 15 March 1953.
6) Rebecca Annie DOLAN b. 3 Jul 1889, Hd Lindley, South Australia, m. Isaac Leslie JOHNSON.
7) Thomas DOLAN b. 17 May 1891, Hd Lindley, South Australia, m. Ethel BROWN. Thomas died 12 Aug 1964.
8.) Murray DOLAN b. 26 Aug 1893, MORGAN, Hd Lindley, South Australia, m. Constance Ruth FARMER. Murray died 4 May 1943.
9) Lydia Marie DOLAN b. 1 Oct 1895, Hd Lindley, South Australia, m. Ellis John Osman ROWE, b. 6 Oct 1900.
10) Matthew DOLAN b. 24 Aug 1898, MORGAN, Hd Lindley, South Australia, d. 11 Apr 1917, France. Villiers-Bretooeux Memorial Somme, France

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William Percival DOLAN.

William Percival DOLAN was born on the 24th of October 1884 at Morgan South Australia (according to his enlistment papers) but was recorded as being born at Lyndoch, South Australia in State records.

William enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on the 15th January 1915.
At that time he was employed as a station hand at Overland Corner, River Murray South Australia, most likely working for his father.

He was described as a single man, who stood 5’10 ½” tall and weighed 168 pounds (76 kilograms) He had a 38” chest, Fair complexion and fair hair. William had blue eyes and was of the Church of England religion.

William went into training at Oakland (present day Warradale Army Barracks) and was issued with service number 3640 when he was allocated to the 7th Field Ambulance unit. He was further allocated to Section B.

The Unit embarked from Adelaide on board His Majesties Australian Troopship (HMAT)A2 Geelong on the 31st May 1915 to Sydney. They then embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT Clan McEwan on the 28th of June 1915.

The 7th Field Ambulance was the Field Ambulance Company that served the 7th Brigade of the 2nd Division which comprised the 25th (Qld) 26th (Qld / Tas) 27th (SA) and 28th (WA) Battalions.

The 2nd Division was formed in Egypt and deployed to Gallipoli late in the campaign (Aug - Sept 1915).

The 7th Brigade landed at Gallipoli on in August 1915.


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What is “A Field Ambulance Company”?

The Field Ambulance Company was responsible for 'Second Line' casualty evacuation from 'First Line' Regimental Aid Posts (RAP) in each battalion.

The RAP belonged to the Battalion (or other units) and was manned by the Regimental Medial Officer (RMO), a qualified doctor generally of Captain rank supported by several non-commissioned officers (NCO) of Sergeant and Corporal rank, with a number of medical orderlies at the rank of Private.

They in turn were supported by unit stretcher bearers, generally drawn from the Battalion's Band. These men would be trained to administer First Aid sufficient to clear airways, staunch bleeding and perhaps splint fractures so that casualties could be evacuated to the Battalion RAP. Casualties would be hand carried - requiring at least four men but more like eight over any distance for each casualty. Hand carts were also used but rough ground generally meant stretchers were carried.

When mass casualties occurred, such as through major shelling or an enemy attack, decisions would have to be made about the priority of evacuation. The RMO would assess the casualty and decide whether they were to be evacuated and with what priority. Grievous wounds with little chance of survival would generally not be evacuated.

When an attack or advance was undertaken, the RAP would follow up the units' forward elements and were thus exposed to enemy direct fire (rifles and machine guns) and indirect fire (artillery mortar fire and even gas).

The Field Ambulance would have personnel deployed forward to retrieve casualties from the RAP to the Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station and then to a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS).

They would have to deploy forward to reach the RAP, and thus come under the same risks as the front line combat troops. They may have had a number of means to assist in casualty evacuation from light rail, horse drawn vehicles and even motor vehicles or they could indeed also be stretcher borne.

Soldiers with serious wounds who needed surgery have what is called "The Golden Hour" to receive the treatment they need. After that time their chance of survival diminishes rapidly. Conditions were such that evacuation times were extended considerably by poor weather, the predominance of water, mud, the detritus of battle, shell torn ground and enemy action. At the time infection was also a great risk as it was prior to the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics.

Once at the CCS, additional Medical Officers and supporting personnel were available to carry out life saving surgery. Some casualties might be retained in a limited number of beds - generally to allow more seriously wounded to be evacuated further to rear.

The tragic fact was many men would have died here from serious wounds and indeed many of the cemeteries scattered through Northern France and Belgium originally began alongside a CCS.

From a CCS casualties might be taken to a Field Hospital or straight to a General Hospital.

In France, the evacuation chain would eventually see serious casualties sent quickly to the United Kingdom. In some circumstances an Australian casualty may have been sent home. Then they would undergo rehabilitation, either in the UK or back to Australia. Many of the wounded succumbed to their wounds in transit. They would be buried at sea in the traditional naval fashion.

It is quite remarkable that some men who were wounded multiple times, kept returning to the Front despite what in contemporary times might have been classified as a 'homer' - in other words they would have been deemed to have done their duty. However many men felt compelled to return to support their mates, particularly as the war drew on and reinforcements began to slow.

(This information from V.W.M.A. https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/341 )

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William, landed with his unit at Gallipoli on the 14th September 1915. He carried the rank of “Driver”.

William and the 7th Field Ambulance served throughout the rest of that campaign and followed its parent Brigade to the terrible trench fighting of the Western Front of France and Belgium from 1916.

In October 1917, the 7th Field Ambulance were in position and in action during the Third Battle of Ypres when the II Anzac Corps attacked Passchendaele on 12 October 1917.

Although some of the forward units reached the outlying buildings of the village they were forced to fall back. During the eight-week period leading up to and
including the attack on Passchendaele the AIF suffered the most severe casualties for any period during the war with a total of 38,000 casualties, averaging 7,300 for each Australian Division, which resulted in a reinforcement crisis that was never overcome.

On Wednesday the 24th day of October 1917, William was collecting injured from an exposed front line position when he and others were caught in enemy fire. The cruel and unforgiving spray of machinegun fire caught William and he was wounded in the left leg, his right leg was hit causing a compound fracture, his left humorous was fractured, his left hip was hit and damaged, his right thumb was almost severed and he was hit in the left arm.

He was recovered almost immediately and rushed back to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (2CCCS).

Despite their best efforts William succumbed to the multiple terrible injuries he had sustained, dying at the clearing station.

William is recorded as one of about 737 Commonwealth and Allied nations soldiers who died on that day.

On Thursday the 25th October 1917 a service was held presided over by Reverend G M AMBROSE and William was buried at the LIJSSENTHOEK Military Cemetery, neat POPERINGE (on the Ypres Salient). Williams comrades fashioned a wooden cross and painted it before placing it on his grave. A photo of this cross was later sent to the family.

By the end of the war and cemetery concentrations, the LIJSSENTHOEK Military Cemetery contained the graves of 11,000 soldiers from 30 nations.
Other 7th Field Ambulance men killed at the same time as William were:

*-Henry John ANDERSON, Service Number 2 from Brisbane Queensland. He was later buried in the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium

*-Austin Sylvester LAWRENCE, Service Number: 6603 a Sergeant “on loan” to the 7th from the 8th Field Ambulance. He was a shearer from Fairfield, New South Wales

LAWRENCE died of his wounds later the same day and was later buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Wimereux, Nord Pas de Calais, France

The AIF was withdrawn from the Ypres area before Passchendaele was eventually captured on 10 November 1917 by the 1st Canadian Division who had moved in to relieve the Australians.

Just two days later the Canadian Corps joined the battle (on the 26th of October, 1917). The Canadians captured the ridge on 6 November, despite heavy rain and shelling that turned the battlefield into a quagmire. Nearly 16,000 Canadians were killed or wounded in this battle.

The Battle of Passchendaele did nothing to help the Allied effort and became a symbol of the senseless slaughter of the First World War.

The telegram advising William was killed arrived at the Overland Corner home of the DOLANs devastating the family.

Williams effects were sent back later to his parents, one via the ship “Euripides” and another on the “SS Barunga”.

The SS Barunga sunk after it was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine 150 miles southwest of the Scilly Isles. Barunga was on its way to Australia with 800 sick and wounded on board and was torpedoed at 4.30 pm on 15 July 1918. Destroyers which had been some miles away were quickly on the scene to pick up survivors and returned them to Plymouth. All hands were saved before Barunga subsequently sank. When the Barunga was sunk, the cargo was understandably lost, including Williams trunk.

The local paper of the day, the “Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record” published news of Williams Death on page 7 on Friday 16 November 1917
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“PTE. WILLIAM DOLAN.

Mr. Dolan of Overland Corner has been notified of the death of his son, Pte. William Dolan, who was killed in action in France. Pte. Dolan was well known and respected in Renmark and along the River.

He was a single man and before enlisting was in partnership with his father, who is farming at the Corner. The Dolan family have given ungrudgingly of their best.”
On 24th December 1920 Sam DOLAN was issued Williams 1914/1915 Star medal, on 29th July 1921 he received Williams British War Medal, and on the 5th October 1922 he received Williams Memorial Plaque (commonly known as a “dead mans penny”) and Memorial Scroll (commonly called the “Kings Scroll”).

On the 5th December 1922, 5 years and a few months after he died, Anne received Williams Victory Medal.

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Henry Arnold DOLAN.

Henry Arnold DOLAN was born 8th January 1887 at MORGAN in South Australia.
Henry was known in the family as “Bob”

Henry enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on the 9th June 1916.

At that time he was a Fruit Grower at Renmark.

Henry was at this time married to Edith Florence Caroline DOLAN and they had 5 children; Kathleen Mary, Raymond Arnold, Edith Veronica, Lawrence Alwyn and Joh Maxwell DOLAN.

He was described as being 29years 3 months old. He stood 5’7” tall and weighed 123 pounds (56 kilograms) He had a 35” chest, Medium complexion and brown hair. Henry had blue eyes and was of the Church of England religion.

Henry went into training and was issued with service number 6148 when he was allocated to the 10th Infantry Battalion as part of the 19th reinforcements.

The reinforcements with Henry embarked from Adelaide, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 12th of August 1916. Henrys name is incorrectly recorded as “Henry Ornold Dolan” on the Nominal Roll.

On the 16th of November 1916 Henry joined the 10th Battalion ‘in the field’ fighting in France.

From early January to Mid February 1917 Henry was found and treated with having severe trench foot! Trench foot is a type of foot damage due to moisture. Initial symptoms often include tingling or itching which can progress to numbness. The feet may become red or bluish in colour. As the condition worsens the feet can start to swell and smell of decay. Complications may include skin breakdown or infection.

Trench foot occurs due to prolonged exposure of the feet to cold, damp, and often unsanitary conditions. Unlike frostbite, trench foot usually occurs at temperatures above freezing, and can be classed as a form of non-freezing cold injury. Onset can be as rapid as 10 hours. Risk factors include overly tight boots and not moving. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve constriction of blood vessels resulting in insufficient blood flow to the feet. It was common in the trenches of World War 1.

In mid February Henrys feet had recovered enough for him to be returned to the front line. Back there, on Easter Sunday, the 8th day of April 1917 Henry received a severe gun shot or bomb wound to his right hand and thumb (it is recorded as both in the medical records).

The story of his wounding appeared in an article in 'The Murray Pioneer and River Record' on 13 July 1917. It was entitled:

“The Fighting Dolans, Renmark Man's Stirring Story.”

“Private Harry A Dolan, who was recently reported wounded, had a wonderful escape from death in the action in which his wounds were received, and the last letter received by his wife from him recounts some of his experiences.

They went into the firing line on a Saturday afternoon and leapt their parapets at 2 am., Sunday morning, hoping to take the German trenches, which they were informed were only held by a few of the enemy. They were, however mistaken at that point.

There were 124 Australians in the advancing party when they were within 200 yards of the Germans, the latter put up flares and then plastering them with shells and machine-gun fire. A small group of 5 Australians, including Private Dolan, got ahead of the main body and as they were isolated they were compelled to seek shelter in a shell-hole, and it was whilst they were holding out here that the late Privates Moss of Berri and another mate were killed.

At dawn, three Germans came up from behind them, and the three Australian soldiers in the crater immediately shot them, this caused a crowd of Germans to spring out of their trenches ahead to look where the shots had come from.
Private Dolan turned his machine-gun on them and downed about half of their number and the rest turned and ran. Then came an enemy bullet which put his machine-gun out of action, and also wounded him in the hand, so that Private Dolan resorted to firing with his rifle until this was chocked with the blood from his wound.

Taking a look over the crater he got two more bullets in his left sleeve another wound in his arm. It was now about 10 am and the Germans commenced shelling them and calling (in very good English) on them to surrender. The first shell exploded about five feet away and nearly buried them, so the three men decided to run.

Private Dolan said he never expected to get back. His rifle was shot out of his hand before he had gone many yards and he was shot in the thumb and both his mates were now shot down. Private Dolan dodged into a crater again and saw German soldiers take off his two wounded comrades.

Eventually he got back to his own lines by making 100 yard spurts and sinking in a shell hole and then on again. It was 12 noon when he got among friends and had his wounds dressed and after a further 6 miles walk he had his wounds further attended to.

He is now in hospital in England where he expects to be for 2 or 3 months. Private Matthew Dolan who was reported missing at the same time that his brother was wounded, has not since been heard of.”

On the 29th April 1917 Edith, Henrys wife, was advised he had been injured but no further details were available at that time!

The injury saw him transferred to England for hospital admission and treatment almost immediately. Later the wound was assessed as ‘crippling” especially the damage to his right thumb. It was also recorded that Henry feet were again suffering from trench foot.

On 22nd July 1917, 11 months after he first embarked for war, he embarked to travel on “A71” HMAT Nestor back to Australia for discharge.

Edith was advised he was headed home. Edith was understandably anxious to meet the troopship and wrote to Melbourne for information so she could travel from country Renmark to Adelaide and because she needed to be planning ahead and this travel was often reliant on trains.

On the 26th of September 1917 Edith received another telegram advising her that Henry was due to arrive in Adelaide “on the 25th instant”, meaning that Henry was arriving on the 25th of that month, or the day before the telegram was delivered to Renmark!

On the 26th of October 1917 Henry was honourably discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces at the 4th Military District Headquarters, Keswick Army Barracks, KESWICK. He had served 1 year and 140 days in uniform and 1 year and 41 days overseas.

Henry had a permanent disability to his right hand and thumb after the war which he carried until he died.

Relatively soon after discharge from the AIF, Henry and Edith welcomed an addition to their family on August 8th 1918, a son named Matthew Neil DOLAN.

He was named for Henrys youngest brother who was the first of the DOLAN boys killed in WW1 (Matthew was killed in the fighting at Bullecourt, France on April 11, 1917. His remains were never found.)

Matthew Neil was known in the family and through the community as “Digger”. When WWII erupted, Matthew, with his brother Laurie being in the RAAF prior to the war and John in the Militia,

Ray had enlisted in July of 1940 to become SX8402 and a driver in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. By November of the same year, he was overseas fighting in Tobruk, a deployment that lasted for eight and a half months.

Matthew enlisted just after his 22nd birthday on the 17th August, 1940. He became SX10181 also in the 2/48th Battalion.

Digger was finally discharged on the 29th November 1945 to return to the more tranquil setting of his fruit property at Renmark.

Four months later he and Valda Lambert became engaged in April, then married at St. Augustine's Church, Renmark, in November, a year after his return. The young couple eventually had five children, Richard, Sue, Mark, Kym and Nicole.
Digger’s parents lived to see both Digger and Ray return from the War.

Henry Arnold DOLAN died on the 15th of March 1953 aged 65 years and Edith died on the 13th day of August in 1970 aged 70 years. They are buried together, reunited forever in Renmark.

(some information obtained from tribute written by Kaye LEE)

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Murray DOLAN.

Murray DOLAN was born 26th August 1893 at MORGAN in South Australia.
Murray enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on the 31st March 1915.

At that time he recorded he was a Bushman and fruit grower! He listed his mother Annie DOLAN at Overland Corner as his next of kin.

Murray was a single man and described as being 21years 6 months old. He stood 5’11 ¾” tall and weighed 150 pounds (68 kilograms) He had a 35” chest, fair complexion and brown hair. Murray had blue eyes and was of the Church of England religion.

Murray went into training and was issued with service number 2339 when he was allocated to the 16th Infantry Battalion as part of the 7th reinforcements.

These reinforcements embarked from Adelaide, on board HMAT 61 Kanowna on the 24th day of June 1915. Murray was a private and allocated to 16th Infantry, 7th reinforcement.

On 17th of September 1915 Murray was taken on strength with the 16th at Gallipoli. After the 16th withdrawal from Gallipoli on 19th December 1915 the opportunity for further training was given to the men and Murray trained to be in the Artillery.

On the 16th March 1916 Murray transferred to the 24th Field Artillery (Howitzer) brigade. On 13th April 1916 Murray was promoted to “Driver”.

On the 23rd May 1916 (a month later!) he transferred to the 111th Battery and on the 25th January 1917 he transferred to the recently formed 10th Field Artillery Brigade attached with the 39th Battery.

The 10th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) was formed in Egypt in early 1916 to support the newly raised 4th Division. It went on to serve with honour in Egypt: with the Defence of Egypt, and the Western Front with the Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Bullecourt, Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Villers Bretonneux, Hamel, Amiens, Albert and again the Hindenburg Line.

On 14th March 1917 Murray was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital with an abscess. Murray went absent without leave from the 19th September 1917 to the 3rd of October 1917, when he surrendered to army authorities. He was put on trial on 23rd October 1917 and found guilty. He was sentenced to 29 days of ‘Field Punishment No. 2’, 19 days of imprisonment (already served) and to forfeit 59 days of pay. On the 24th of November 1917 Murray proceeded back overseas to his posting.

On the 2nd March 1918 Murray took leave for a few weeks and headed to the UK. He returned to his duties on time after this leave!

Murray returned to Australia on the 25th of January 1919 on the “Ceramic” due to the “cessation of hostilities”. Where possible soldiers who had enlisted ‘early’ in the war were given much deserved preferential treatment and shipped home first.

On 6th of May 1919 Murray took his discharge from the AIF. He had by then served 4 years and 37 days in uniform. And he had served 3 years and 264 days in service overseas.

On the 23rd of June 1924 Murray was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, The Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service.

Murray died on the 4th of May 1943 in Adelaide, he is buried in the AIF cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide. Constance stayed in Adelaide until she died in 1986. She is buried at St Judes Cemetery, BRIGHTON.

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Mathew DOLAN.

Mathew DOLAN was born on the 24th of August 1898 to Samuel and Annie DOLAN, of Overland Corner at Morgan, South Australia.

Mathew was the youngest of the 10 DOLAN children. He was schooled at Morgan and Renmark public schools.

He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on the 11th May 1916.
At that time he was employed as a farmer at Overland Corner, River Murray South Australia, most likely working for or with his father.

He was described as a single man, 18 years & 8 months old, who stood 6’ tall and weighed 152 pounds (69 kilograms) He had a 36” chest, Fresh complexion and light brown hair. Mathew had blue eyes and was of the Church of England religion.
Mathew went into training at Mitcham Camp and was issued with service number 2299 when he was allocated to the 48th Battalion, 4th reinforcements. In the same reinforcements was John BARBER who was from Waikerie nearby to Overland Corner and it is very possible he and Mathew were known to each other.

The Unit embarked from Adelaide on board His Majesties Australian Troopship (HMAT) A70 Ballarat on the 12th day of August 1916. He is incorrectly recorded as “Matthew Dolan” (double T in Mathew) on the Nominal Roll.

He disembarked the ship on the 30th of September, 1916, in Plymouth, England for further training. Over a month later, he proceeded to Etaples, France where he was “marched in” to the 48th Battalion A.I.F. and taken on strength.

The 48th Battalion were raised under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Leane, formerly of the 11th Battalion. Several of Leane’s relatives, including his brother, Benjamin, who served as adjutant, and three of his nephews – Allan, Reuben, and Geoffrey – and a few others, also served in the 48th. As a result, the battalion was nicknamed the “Joan of Arc Battalion”, in reference to a quip that the battalion was “made of (all) Leanes” – that is, a pun on Joan of Arc’s own nickname, “The Maid of Orleans.

The 48th were involved in a number of battles until, on April 11th, 1917, the battalion was involved in the battle at BULLECOURT in FRANCE.

The Australian attack was to be made east of Bullecourt through barbed wire entanglements and into the trenches of the Hindenburg Line. The wire would be broken by a new weapon, -tanks- rather than the conventional artillery wire-cutting bombardment which usually alerted the enemy to the fact that an attack was imminent. The attack was initially scheduled for dawn on 10 April but the tanks, because of a blizzard, failed to appear.

The historian of the 48th Battalion (South Australia and Western Australia), Chaplain William Devine, was unimpressed:

“The hour came, and the tanks were still waited for, and the minutes passed whilst the men shivered with cold in the snow. All the time they saw grow the daylight which should make their position an exposed and dangerous one. There they lay for an hour and at last the order was given to retire to the trenches … The men got up stiff and cold and cramped, damning the tanks, the stupidity of the higher command that backed the tanks.”
(William Devine, The Story of a Battalion, Melbourne, 1919, p.74)

Next day the attack battalions—the 48th Battalion and the 46th Battalion (Victoria)—reassembled in the snow covered fields. To their right other Australian battalions prepared to advance more directly towards the village of Riencourt-lès-Cagnicourt about two kilometres to the northeast of Bullecourt.

Once again, the tanks failed to appear, and when one finally did so, the Australians had already commenced their advance towards the wire of the Hindenburg Line unaided by anything but their own determination to get through.

The wire fortifications were still intact and not severed by bombardments as it was expected the tanks would cut through them for the men.

By 5.30 am the 46th Battalion, despite heavy casualties, had broken through the wire and was in the first line of German trenches known as OG1 and ran on towards Bullecourt. Coming behind the 46th, the 48th fought its way into the next line of trenches – (OG2)— which lay roughly along the banks of the sunken road which leads away to the right of the Australian Memorial Park towards Riencourt-lès-Cagnicourt.

For the next few hours battle raged in this area as the two Australian battalions tried to hold their positions. Because it was believed by higher command that the attack was proceeding well and reaching its final objectives well beyond “OG2” the British artillery failed to fire near these positions.

Consequently the Germans were able to mount strong counter attacks unhindered by shelling. By mid-morning the 46th Battalion had been forced out of its position, many being captured and dozens killed and wounded. Effectively this left the 48th Battalion cut off in OG2 and there was no choice but to fight their way out back to the Australian lines.

Under Captain A.E. Leane, the men of the Australian 48th attacked and captured the trench to their rear. Now artillery from the 5th Army began to fall, but it fell on the Australians. Again, there was no option left but to withdraw. The battle had lasted 10 hours, with shooting ceasing at about 2 pm.

The 4th Brigade took 3,000 men into battle and sustained causalities of 2,339. The 12th Brigade took 2,000 into battle and lost 950. Part of these casualties included 28 officers and 1,142 men captured, by far the most Australian prisoners taken in a single battle during the whole war.

The attack by the Australian 4th Division had actually breeched the Hindenburg line but been left isolated and unsupported by inadequate artillery fire.
It was during all this that both Mathew DOLAN and John Ross Barber were reported to be missing. The 11th of April 1917 was a terrible day for the 48th Battalion, the official history listing their casualties as 436 killed or wounded.

This Battle injured or claimed the lives of almost 3,500 men of the Australian force. There has been much written about this Battle, and most concur that the action was a debacle; a lesson in how NOT to plan an attack, a senseless waste of men.

The grief felt by Annie DOLAN was blatantly evident in her correspondence with the Military Authorities after being told that Mathew was Missing in Action from 11th April 1917 at BULLECOURT.

She advised authorities in a letter dated February 18th 1918 that:-
“We heard from my son (she would have been referring to William) last October that he saw in the Anzac Bulletin where No 2299 Private M DOLAN was killed, but as he has since been killed it is of no use forwarding you an address.

My other son, now in France says he was talking to a young soldier whilst on leave in England and this soldier says that he is sure (unreadable) was a Prisoner. He did not givehis name or address to my son. But his (my missing sons) address is number 2339 Driver M DOLAN, 4th Divisional Ammunition Column and the last letter we had from my missing son was dated the 4th April 1917 a few days before he was reported missing and the postmark is the 16th and the envelope covered in mud.

I regret to say that is all the information I can give you, Thanking you in anticipation.”

In a form letter to Annie authorities requested that if the family had any news of their son they advise the Army immediately. In reply she wrote, “I am sorry that we have two letters of my dear boy but he was missing for eleven months and was killed in the big Bullecourt Fight on the 11th April.

He only went in twice to fight, he was 18 years old and lanky and dark and was my baby boy. If you find anything of him kindly let me know”

Both Mathew and John were finally determined at a military inquest on 20th February 1918 to have been “Killed In Action on the 11th of April, 1917, in France.”

Mathew was 18 years old. Neither Mathew DOLAN nor John Barber’s body were ever found.

On 13TH December 1921 Sam DOLAN died, knowing he had lost two of his sons to war. He was aged 61 years and is buried at Waikerie.

Later Annie was issued Mathews British War and Victory Medals (by post in June 1922!), a Memorial Scroll and a Memorial Plaque.

Pleas to the Red Cross Bureau for injured and missing led to them making enquiries but they were unable to supply any further information about Mathews fate.

Mathew is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. The memorial is located near the village of Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France and is the site of Australia’s main memorial to WW1 in France, the Sir John Monash Centre.

The memorial and some of the headstones at the Villiers Bretonneaux cemetery bear bullet scarring from WW2 where Germans soldiers set up an observation and sniper post in the tower and obvious heavy fighting was held to recapture the location.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France in WW1 and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours of WW1.

Further displaying the bravery of the family, a cousin of the DOLANs, Alan Dougherty won the Military Medal with the 32nd Battalion in WW1.

LEST WE FORGET