Legacy of Jamestown’s Jeffs brothers who lied about age to fight together lives on in WW1 letters

LYNETTE Billinger smiles as she pores over a scattered pile of her uncles’ war records, letters and photos.

13/3/15. Clarry Jeffs falsified his age so he could fight in World War 1 alongside his brothers. He was wounded in April 1917 while fighting alongside his brother Henry. He was captured by German soldiers and held as a prisoner of war before his died shortly after. Clarry's niece, Flinders Park woman Lynette Billinger with a photo of Clarry (Middle) and mates. Pic Keryn Stevens

LYNETTE Billinger smiles as she pores over a scattered pile of her uncles’ war records, letters and photos.

“I don’t know many specifics about World War I, I just know that my uncles were very dear to one another,” Ms Billinger, from Flinders Park, says.

“They were very, very close.”

Ms Billinger’s uncles, Clarence and Harry Jeffs, were born into a 14-person farming family from Jamestown, in SA’s mid-north.

Clarence, a farm labourer, falsified his age so he could enlist in the Australian Imperial Force with his brother, 25-year-old Harry, in February 1916.

The pair was posted to the 48th Battalion and left Adelaide on the Aeneas in April.

Later that year, the battalion was involved in the Battle of Pozieres where Australian troops suffered 23,000 casualties in six weeks.

The brothers survived and remained in contact with their siblings back home.

On January 20, 1917, Clarence wrote to his 16-year-old brother – Ms Billinger’s father – Ted.

“News is pretty scarce here at the moment ... we just had eight days in the line ... it wasn’t too bad,” Clarence wrote.

“I hope this finds you in the best of health as it leaves me pretty good at present.

“Loving brother, Clarry.”

The moments of peace would not last.

On April 11, Clarence was seriously wounded fighting alongside his brother at Bullecourt.

He was captured and died two days later.

He was laid to rest in Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery in Harcourt, France, with five other Australians.

Harry returned to SA in 1919.

Nearly 100 years later, Ms Billinger, 79, is still touched by the sacrifices of her family.

“I am getting on a little now, but I would like to visit Clarry’s grave one day,” she says.

“It would mean a lot to my father as well – he was such a family minded person and he would love to know that his brothers’ memories aren’t being forgotten.”

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.

Originally published as Legacy of Jamestown’s Jeffs brothers who lied about age to fight together lives on in WW1 letters