South Burnett to Anzac Cove: Meet the Murgon 10 of WW1

A military historian has documented the odyssey of 10 young South Burnett men, after they travelled from Murgon to Gympie to join the fight in World War I.

A military researcher has unveiled a poignant and inspiring tale of 10 young men from Murgon to Gympie, united in their journey to enlist in the First World War.

Their fateful decision led them to Anzac Cove, the Western Front, and ultimately, the sacrifice of their lives.

Virtual War Memorial Australia volunteer researcher Ian Lang first came across the story of the 10 men during his research on military enlistment from Murgon during the First World War, and has shared their heartbreaking tale of loss, mateship and service.

The story follows Alan Wilson, who enlisted at the age of 21, Robert Gray, 24, William Shelton, 21, Stewart McRostie, 20, Alfred Whalan, 29, William Latham, 27, Robert Pitman a Boer War veteran who enlisted at age 34, Frank Reditt, 32, George Pringle, 22, and Reginald Gore who at only 19 avoided needing his parents consent to enlist because they were living in England.

On August 4, 1914, following years of political tension, Britain declared war on Germany, immediately drawing Australia into the military fold; a decision that was greeted with great enthusiasm.

Three members of the The Murgon Ten (from left) Alan Wilson, Robert Nigel Gray and Alfred Harper Whalan. Images sourced from the Virtual War Memorial Australia.

Within a month, on September 2, 1914 the Murgon Ten took the train together to Gympie to enlist and were eventually placed in “B” Company of the 9th Infantry Battalion which was part of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division AIF.

“It is difficult to speculate as to the motives which influenced the Murgon Ten to enlist together,” Mr Lang said.

“Certainly, mateship may have played a part as well as a sense of adventure.”

While they had a military veteran in their ranks, many of the members of the Murgon Ten had limited military experience, due to the remoteness of Murgon.

“In the cities and larger regional towns, groups of men were instructed at local drill halls. In places such as Murgon, there were insufficient numbers to warrant the establishment of Citizens Forces unit,” Mr Land said.

“Instead, the government encouraged the expansion of rifle clubs, which would in the less populated districts provide a degree of military style training … during the war years, membership in rifle clubs across the state soared.”

Two members of the The Murgon Ten (from left) Stewart McRostie and William Alfred Latham. Images sourced from the Virtual War Memorial Australia.

Following their enlistment the Murgon Ten and their battalion were shipped to Melbourne, andthen Albany before finally arriving at Alexandria, Egypt.

From here the 9th Battalion sailed to the Greek island of Lemnos on March 1, 1915, where they would prepare for the fateful Gallipoli landings.

The 9th Battalion were to move on the far right side of Ari Burnu Beach, a strip of shore which was later renamed to Anzac Cove as part of the covering force (first ashore).

“Almost certainly, some of the Murgon Ten were among the first to set foot on Turkish soil,” Mr Lang said.

“The Murgon Ten were still together on that morning of the 25th April 1915 but by day’s end, one of their number was missing.”

The chaos of the landing saw men separated from their battalions and their commanding officers, and in desperation took it upon themselves to charge forward.

“William Shelton was one such soldier who was keen to get among the enemy,” Mr Lang said.

“Somewhere out there beyond the Australian line, William and his mates were overrun. William Shelton’s remains were never located.”

George Pringle was also injured during the campaign, and died on a hospital ship at sea. Both George Pringle and William Shelton are commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial.

Robert Gray was also wounded in the chest and arms, and following a lengthy stay at an Egyptian hospital was discharged home to Australia.

Robert would not be kept down, and re-enlisted in August 1917 and went onto serve in the Volunteer Defence Corps during the Second World War.

Alan Wilson was also injured at Gallipoli, and even though he returned to duty it was later discovered he had a fractured skull and was discharged in 1916.

Six of the Murgon Ten remained to fight on, and four were transferred to the 49th Battalion and would go on to fight on the Western Front, only one would come out unscathed.

Cheerful officers and soldiers of the 9th Battalion aboard HMAS Omrah (A5). Image sourced from the Australian War Memorial.

Young Steward McRostie was wounded at Mouquet Farm in September 1916, an injury which resulted in the loss of his leg and a discharge.

Boer War veteran Robert Pittman, who survived the shores of Anzac Cove and Mouquet Farm, was wounded at Messines in June 1917, and discharged with a shattered elbow.

Despite being the youngest of the 10 to enlist, Reginald Gore had what many would call a successful war, attaining the rank of captain and transferring into the Indian Army as a professional soldier.

Alfred Whalan would unfortunately become the third of the Murgon Ten to lose his life to the war.

“He was declared missing on 5th September 1916 and then declared Killed in Action a year later,” Mr Lang said.

A view of the famous Mouquet Farm, north of the road from Courcelette. Image sourced from the Australian War Memorial.

“He has no known grave and is commemorated on the walls of the Australian National Memorial to the Missing at Villers Bretonneux.”

Both William Latham and Frank Reditt were the last of the Murgon Ten to return to Australia.

William Latham rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and returned in 1919, and Frank Reditt was returned to Australia before the armistice was signed as an original Anzac.

“Many more men from the Murgon district enlisted in the First World War after the Murgon Ten … but it is unlikely that many of those went off to war with such enthusiasm as those initial ten,” Mr Lang said.

“Three young men would not be coming home and not one of them has a grave that family can visit. The wounded and disabled veterans returned to their community as a constant visible reminder of the cost of the war.”