100 Days of Heroes: Weekly pilgrimage to honour great-uncle Archie Flexmore

VISITS to the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue on the Queens Domain have become a weekly occurrence for Dick and Governor Kate Warner since moving into Government House in 2014.

Dick Warner with his daughter Meg Bignell, and his grandchildren Edward Bignell, left, William Bradshaw, Lucie Bignell and Nell Bradshaw, at his great-uncle Archie Flexmore’s tree on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

VISITS to the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue on the Queens Domain have become a weekly occurrence for Dick and Governor Kate Warner since moving into Government House in 2014.

The tree-lined memorial walk begins a short distance from the sandstone vice-regal residence that overlooks the River Derwent.

“People can easily walk up here and enjoy the view and the memorials of all the soldiers,” Mr Warner said.

He said Queens Domain has become an important part of the couple’s life, and tree number 399 of Soldiers’ Memorial Walk holds a special significance.

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Gunner Archie Flexmore.

The memorial plaque bears the name of Mr Warner’s great uncle, Archie Flexmore — the brother of Mr Warner’s grandmother.

“I can remember my grandmother very vividly and I can remember her talking about her brother who didn’t come back [from World War I], so that’s all quite close,” he said.

Archie was a direct descendant of a First Fleet family that settled at Richmond. His parents were farmers and he gained his early education at Launceston Church Grammar School.

In 1916 he enlisted for service. He was 22 years old and was made a gunner of the 12th Brigade of the Australian Field Artillery. On July 21, 1917, Archie was stacking ammunition in a gun pit on Belgium’s front line with two other men when he was struck by the shrapnel from exploding shells.

Conflicting reports claimed he suffered wounds to his right buttock, thigh and upper abdomen and chest. He was the only one injured by the blast and was carried to Menin Rd Dressing Station and, still conscious, he spoke with some of his comrades along the way.

Archie died in the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on September 18, succumbing to his wounds.

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Gunner Archie Flexmore’s plaque on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.

Mr Warner said the original workers and those who have looked after the memorial avenue have done Hobart and Tasmanians a great service.

His mother and aunt had visited the site when it was first established and had helped with Archie’s tree.

He has also visited Archie’s tree with his children and grandchildren. “I think it’s an everlasting thing but I do think my grandchildren will find it more difficult to associate with what happened,” Mr Warner said.

“It’s an important part of [Kate and my] lives now, and it will be, because we’ll end up living in Hobart.”

Gunner Archie Youl Flexmore is remembered at tree 399 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue and on honour boards at the Hobart Town Hall and The Hutchins School.

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