Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Gnr Walter Edward Clarence Grose
 
Creswick of the 1880’s was a bustling, thriving community – gold had provided the wealth needed to establish a picturesque township along the banks of the Creswick Creek. The first generation of local goldminers was beginning to make its mark.

One of the earliest “movers and shakers” from Creswick was Walter Bolitho Grose. Born on 18 May 1862, he inherited much of his drive and work ethic from his Cornish parents. By the late 1880’s he was already forging a career in government, working as a reporter for the Creswick Advertiser (of which he was co-proprietor) and was participating in various community avenues that would see him become one of the town’s most well-known citizens. Then, in 1890, he successfully ran for the seat of Creswick in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

On 18 January 1892 at the Wesley Church, Walter married Jane Jeffery – another first-generation born Creswickian and daughter of Cornish immigrants. Their home was on the corner of Harvey and Camp Streets; a substantial property befitting Walter’s growing position in the community.

Over the ensuing 22-years, the young couple produced ten children. High infant mortality robbed them of three of their babies, but they were never forgotten and at significant moments their names would always be included. The death of their first-born, Adeline, resulted in their eldest surviving child being Walter Edward Clarence. He was born on 7 April 1894 – the same year his father first held the role of mayor of Creswick.

The children were educated at the North Creswick State School, which was just half a mile from home.
Federation resulted in the reduction of electorates across the country. As a result, Walter senior lost his seat in the Legislative Assembly. Whilst he had been in parliament, he had been a member of Royal Commissions on State Forests, Local Government and Old Age Pensions, Railways Standing Commission and Select Commission on railway management. He was also a long-serving member of the Country Fire Brigade board and went on to be president of the Creswick District Hospital. With such a substantial change in his political career, however, Walter also chose to seek a complete change in his work life, relinquishing his position at the Creswick Advertiser and establishing a thriving auctioneering agency in Creswick.

The effects of such a public life on a young family would normally be very positive. However, being in the spotlight also brought unnecessary and unexpected risks. In February 1906, local prospector and survivor of the Franco-Prussian War, Theodore Holtfort, was found guilty of sending death threats to the former MLA.

For Walter junior, branching out on his own after completing his education saw him living in Prahran and working as a clerk in the public service.

With the general clamour of a country newly at war, life was anything but settled. During 1915, Walter met 17-year-old Daphne McLaughlin. Their liaison resulted in an unexpected pregnancy and a rushed marriage on 15 March 1916. According to Daphne, Walter continued to live at a Prahran boarding house (at 372 Chapel Street, South Yarra) and they only really spent a week together as husband and wife – at her parent’s home in High Street, Armadale.

Walter immediately enlisted in the AIF. He submitted his paperwork at Prahran on 26 March and underwent the standard medical examination the following day. At a month short of his 22nd birthday, Walter had reached his physical maturity, standing 5-feet 7½-inches tall, weighing 152-pounds with an expanded chest measurement of 38-inches. As usual, the medical officer noted Walter’s colouring – he had a fresh complexion, with grey eyes and brown hair. He also had two vaccination marks on his left arm.

It was not unusual for someone of Walter’s age and background to have experienced some form of military training. Interestingly, given the units available in Creswick, he had opted to join the Field Artillery in 1912 and had still been serving there when he made the move into the professional ranks. Therefore, it was not surprising that he would be selected to join the Australian Artillery and, on 2 May, he was posted to the 6th reinforcements to the 24th Howitzer Battery at the Maribyrnong Camp. His regimental number was 27839.

On 29 June 1916, Daphne was safely delivered of a son, Walter Hilton Thomas Grose, at Nurse Corrigan’s Private Hospital, Kia-Ora, in Prahran. Whilst the birth was announced in the Melbourne Age, there was no corresponding announcement in the Creswick Advertiser or the Ballarat newspapers.

In preparation for embarkation, Walter was given a final leave and he went home to his family in Creswick, returning to Maribyrnong on 9 October. He sailed from Melbourne on 20 October onboard HMAT Borda. (As an aside, Norman Grose followed his brother’s lead and enlisted on 15 May 1917; he served briefly with the 58th Infantry Battalion on the Western Front in the last few weeks of the war. Their brother, Newman, also tried to volunteer, but was rejected on account of a congenital heart abnormality).

The voyage through to England proved to be both interesting and eventful. Walter wrote to his parents from No3 Camp Parkhouse (at the garrison town of Tidworth in Wiltshire), adding some delightful details of the trip onboard the Borda. He mentioned that Gunner Tom Johnson, son of Alf Johnson of Creswick, who had teamed up with another soldier to win the euchre tournament – a not inconsiderable feat given there were around 900 entries. And Angus McGregor, the son of Robert McGregor MLA, of Ballarat East, had been awarded second prize for an essay entitled “Life On a Troopship.” Unfortunately, he was later disqualified for exceeding the word limit. McGregor took out another prize in a quiz match that attracted around 100 entries.

The letter also provided an explanation as to why the sea voyage had taken a long twelve-weeks – they had been detained at Durban and Cape Town in South Africa, and then at Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Just three days’ out from Freetown, an urgent wireless message alerted the troopship that a German raider was closing in. They returned to Freetown, where they waited several days until it was safe to proceed, and eventually reached Plymouth on 9 January 1917.

Writing to his parents on 1 February, Walter provided an insight into his early experiences training for the Front —

‘…Last month was the coldest, experienced here for 22 years, and you can imagine what it is like to those who so recently arrived in our troopship from the tropics. I have got used to the cold, and do not take any notice of it now. We drill fairly solidly here, but, of course, that is all to our advantage. The moral is – the best-trained army wins.

We went to London on Saturday last and stayed until Tuesday night. Had a good run round, but it would take, at least four months to make a proper inspection.

Two of our artillerymen have been sent to the front and we can never tell when we will be drafted. I am ready to go at any time and do not dread it at all. All of our men have the same feeling in that respect. According to some of the men who are here on furlough, it is intended to keep the enemy busy during winter, and then give it to them properly in the spring…’

For Walter, however, there was to be a significant delay in his sailing for France and he joined the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery (RBAA) at Larkhill, where he was to be stationed for several months. On 7 May, he was On Command at the NCO’s School at Larkhill with the rank of acting corporal.

After completing his course, Walter wrote to his parents on 13 June indicating that he had ‘secured top marks’ and been placed on the Instructional Staff.

‘…The weather — so severe, and in such marked contrast with that of Australia during the winter months — was now everything that could be desired. The whole countryside was a beautiful picture. He had attended the church at Amesbury on the Sunday evening, and much enjoyed the walk along the River Avon, the banks of which were extensively planted with elm trees. All of the villages about the locality were then at their best, and were most attractive in appearance. England was just right in the spring season, but the winter conditions were most disagreeable…’

Walter concluded his letter with a simple statement, ‘…Keep your 'pecker' up, but I think this war will easily last four or five years yet…’

With his appointment to the permanent cadre of the RBAA on 20 July, Walter was promoted to the rank of engineer sergeant.

‘… 28 July 1917, One of your Australian mails went to the bottom of the sea the other day, and that means a great loss to us here.

I have not seen Cliff Jackson [formerly of North Creswick], but met Emil Archibald [from Smeaton], who arrived the other day. Mr McLelIan's son, of the Big Store, Prahran, has also got here.

Food is better here now than it has been. Of course, we grow all our own vegetables.

This day fortnight I go into the N.C.O's school at Woolwich for a term of six weeks. During that time I shall be handy to the world's capital.

It is quite possible that I may win an opportunity of entering the officers' school. Captain Jordan, the "Tommy" Instructor here, thinks well of my capabilities. I may tell you that a week ago yesterday I was warned for draft—that is, to go across the channel to the front; but when my name was read out the Major (my O.C.) told me to stand out of it. The major went and saw the colonel, and had me taken off the list, stating that he required me for instructional work. All my "pals" excepting Cyril Love-Linay, of Armadale, went on the draft to France, leaving here last Saturday. They have been put in light Trench Mortar Batteries and anyone who understands anything of military work and war knows how stiff and risky their job is. Most of our men are up around Neiuport, somewhere close to Belgium, now I got the word from one who knows that there will be something doing there shortly.

The weather here lately has been O.K., but to-day it is like winter again. I have a nice little cubicle and table, with electric light, but, of course, the bed and food are not like those of "Home sweet home." Pleased to read in the papers to-night that the Germans are getting—well you know what; not icebergs. The situation has been looking fairly good for us lately, but I cannot see this war finishing for at least another three or four years—that is, unless there is a great change. As you know it is an artillery war, and the artillery takes a lot of knocking out. We are fighting against a crowd who are on their own ground, and they have the advantage, because they can make first-class trenches and forts, whereas we have to advance on ground that is so badly knocked about.

Do not worry about me in the least, as I am alright, and not at all concerned as to the direction in which my military service takes me. A great number of the Australians are marrying in England, and I believe the same thing applies to the men in France, although not quite to the same extent.

It was 9 months on the 20th of this month since I left "Ausy." The time does fly. Would not like to express my opinion of all the conditions in and around this part, as it could scarcely be done in decent English. . . . Taking it all through, the weather this way is not too bad, although it may be fine in the morning and raining cats and dogs in the afternoon. Hottest day this summer up to the present is 90 degrees. The crops about here are looking fairly good, but neither they nor the class of land compares with what we have been accustomed to in the districts around Creswick. I understand that in other parts of the country the crops are really O.K.

When I get my third stripe, which has been strongly recommended, it, will date back to the 1st June; and who said I or anyone else would complain because conditions were improved affecting the 'pocket?'…’
The increase in wages was not an insignificant thing. As soon as he left Australia, Walter had arranged for an allotment of £3/7/1 a fortnight to Daphne and baby Walter. Daphne later said this was the ‘minimum allotment for a married man,’ and that she wrote ‘affectionate letters’ to her husband, but his replies were not in kind. Now, sifting through the dramas of other peoples’ lives is never easy, despite the necessity of interpreting the details in order to better understand their story. Given the circumstances, it is difficult to see how Walter could develop any real connection to his young wife and their son.

The decision to transfer Walter to active duty resulted in his rank being reduced to gunner on 1 February 1918. He sailed from Southampton on 20 February and marched into the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles the following day. Writing home, Walter reiterated what so many soldiers had said before – the weather was intensely cold and ‘a heat wave or two would be most acceptable if they could be sent along.’

While he was at the Base Depot, Walter was surprised to come across another Creswick boy, Private Henry James, whose parents lived in King Street.

On 2 March, Walter joined the 6th Field Artillery Brigade stationed outside Ypres. To begin his time on the Western Front, he was posted to the Brigade Ammunition Column.

In early April, the brigade was transferred to the Somme sector in response to the heightened situation resulting from the German Spring Offensive. The guns were installed at Ribemont-sur-Ancre and, on 13 June, Walter was posted to the 16th Battery.

Back in Australia, the Grose family suffered a sudden and devastating loss. Newman Grose, who was working as a clerk in the Commonwealth Taxation Office, suffered a heart attack and died on 4 April 1918. He was only 21-years-old. When Walter next wrote home, it seemed as if news of his brother’s death had yet to reach him…

‘…27 June 1918. This evening we had a game of cricket. All of the players showed want of practice. We had ammunition boxes for wickets, and one bat. I had a bit of a fall, but did not hurt myself. I was running for a catch, and watching the ball and not taking any notice of the ground I was going over, I fell into an old shell-hole.

Previous to the cricket match we saw a good airfight. Our men brought down two Hun planes, one of them falling in flames. Our airmen are what Australians call 'hot stuff.'

Did not get any mail to-day. Thursday is always a bad day for letters, because it is the Sunday mail from Blighty.

There are some circumstances which cause me to think there is just a possibility of the war finishing this year. In any event, you will very shortly find everything, in Australian parlance, 'good oh!'
I saw Walter Bowley [also from North Creswick] to-day, and he was looking really well. We have had splendid weather since about the middle of April until a week ago, when there was rain, and the water got into my dug-out, but I have it all fixed up again now…’

As Walter had hinted in his letter, circumstances were indeed bringing the war to a conclusion. And he very nearly made it through without a scratch. But on 27 October, he reported sick to hospital. After being assessed at the 8th Australian Field Ambulance, Walter was tagged as suffering from the ubiquitous “pyrexia of unknown origin.” He was immediately transferred through to the 58th Casualty Clearing Station, which was then in position at Tincourt. There it was confirmed that Walter had been suffering from the effects of gas shell poisoning. This was just two days before his unit was called out of the line.

Walter reached the 9th General Hospital in Rouen on 30 October where he was admitted and formally classified as wounded in action. He spent just over a week in hospital before being transferred to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot at Le Havre on 8 November and was still convalescing when the Armistice was signed, signalling an end to the war.

Although he wasn’t with his mates during the celebrations, Walter did get to return to his unit for a brief few weeks in November and December. He left on leave to the United Kingdom on New Year’s Eve and was subsequently detached for duty in an administrative role with the Australian Headquarters Administration in London. His work during this period saw him promoted twice – to temporary second corporal on 21 March 1919 and then engineer corporal on 28 May. He was still serving in London when he received news that he had been chosen to take part in a quite unique event.

Beginning on 21 June, the Inter-Allied Games were held at the new Stad Pershing in Paris. Under the control of the American Army, the programme of events was not dissimilar to the sporting fixtures we now expect on an international stage – there was, of course, track and field, cross-country, swimming, rowing, diving, shooting, boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, fencing, equestrian, tennis, basketball, football and cricket. In keeping with a military theme, athletes competed in grenade throwing. The standard of athletes involved at the games was very high, with American sprinter, Charlie Paddock, taking out the 100-metres – he would claim Olympic gold a year later at Antwerp.

Also included was one of the most popular sports of that era – tug-of-war. When it was decided that an Australian team would take part, Walter Grose was selected to represent his country in the tug-of-war team.

Unfortunately, the Australian team did not have things all their own way, as the Assistant Official War Correspondent, Mr L. G. Short, reported.

‘…Our tug-of-war team had won so easily from Greece that I was very hopeful of competing against America for the finals. The men were a magnificent looking lot with one weighing 17 stone and standing 6ft. 2in., and another reaching to 6ft. 3in. But they met their Waterloo against Belgium, another very powerful and well-trained team. In two successive pulls the Australians came across the line…’

Walter spent another five months working in London before he was detached to the 6th Army Brigade at Sutton Veny on 2 December 1919. After just a month, he was ordered to prepare for the return trip to Australia. He boarded the SS Cape Verde on 5 January 1920 and was appointed as a “voyage only” sergeant as soon as they reached open water.

The Cape Verde made good time, travelling via the Suez Canal and reached Port Phillip on 26 February. When Walter arrived at the Sturt Street Depot, Daphne was there to meet him. She then accompanied him to Creswick. But there was to be no happy resumption of their stalled marriage. They had been separated for the better part of four years and Walter showed no interest in resuming their relationship. On returning to Melbourne, he immediately left for Sydney. The situation did not improve – when he came back to Melbourne and despite entreaties from Daphne, he informed her their marriage was over.

Walter’s discharge from the AIF came through on 4 May 1920. He resumed his pre-war job as a clerk and found suitable accommodation in Victoria Avenue, Albert Park.

On 19 October 1923, divorce proceedings were heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria and a decree nisi was granted to Daphne on the grounds of desertion.

In 1925, Walter married for a second time. His new wife was Olive Blanche Violet White, an English immigrant who hailed from St Helier on the island of Jersey. They initially made their home at 332 Albert Street in East Melbourne.

Their only child, Edward Newman Grose, was born at Carlton on 26 February 1928.

For many years the family lived in the Melbourne suburb of Preston, moving to nearby Alphington in the 1950’s.

At this stage there is no indication to show that Walter Grose maintained any connection with his eldest son. Sadly, Walter Hilton Thomas Grose died at Richmond on 18 July 1964; he was just 48-years old.

On the other hand, it appears that Walter enjoyed a close relationship with his younger son and his daughter-in-law, Joan. After Olive’s death on 16 May 1967, Walter continued to live in their home in Leicester Street, Heidelberg – just a few minutes’ walk from his son’s home in nearby Lloyd Street.

Walter died just seven months after Olive, on 18 December 1967; he was cremated at Fawkner on 20 December and his ashes were later collected.