Remembering 100 Tasmanian heroes of World War I

THE Mercury will feature the stories of 100 Tasmanian soldiers in the lead up to the centenary of Armistice Day.

THE dedication of the first trees on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue on this day a century ago coincided with the start of 100 days of Allied victories leading to the armistice on November 11, 1918.

In partnership with the Friends of Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, the Mercury and Sunday Tasmanian present “100 days of heroes”, a daily feature telling the story of 100 of the more than 500 Tasmanians commemorated on the avenue.

Gunner Reg Escott

Tree number 500 was planted for Gunner Albert Reginald “Reg” Escott of Sandy Bay, a son of Walter and Sarah Escott who was 19 when he enlisted in August 1915. His brother Les also joined up.

The family lived at 65 Princes St, Sandy Bay, and Reg was an accounts clerk at Henry Jones IXL. He had attended the Battery Point State School and spent three years in the cadets as a youth. He also served in the local militia.

Reg embarked with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade and underwent training in Egypt. Wounded in action in France in June 1917, he remained on duty until granted leave in the UK.

On August 8, 1918, aged 22, he was killed in action near Framervilles in France and is buried at Heath Cemetery in the Somme region.

His tree on the avenue was planted in February 1919, near the Crossroads. He is also remembered on honour boards at the Hobart Town Hall and at St George’s Church.

Sorrow for Tasmanian brothers killed in World War I has endured for generations

Returned serviceman Les Escott, left, with his son Reg, and his father Walter, at the tree planted for his brother, Gunner Reg Escott, at the northern end of the Soldiers' Memorial Avenue in Hobart.

A letter from Reg Escott to a friend in Hobart was published in the Mercury in July 1918: “At last the German has made his long-talked-of offensive. He has done very well, indeed, up to the present. We were in action up on the northern part of the line prior to the attack there on the 9th. At 4am we were loading our guns and horses at a station some distance from the firing line, when the great bombardment started. We were lucky, as we had pulled our guns out of action two days before the attack.

“Now we are down south, but beyond heavy artillery action we have not had any more infantry attacks by the enemy. Last night we advanced our line about 800 yards, capturing 200 prisoners and a number of machine-guns, some of which were captured from us last month. I am glad to hear that Tasmania has supplied two battle planes. It is hard to describe the good work done by our airmen. A large number of our aeroplanes have been up the last few days on account of good weather.

“I am pleased to say we have an Australian fighting squadron and an observing squadron operating with us. This morning four enemy machines came over and attacked one of our observing planes, bringing it down. An Australian machine gunner was successful in bringing down the famous German airman who was credited with 80 Allied machines.

“An exciting incident took place a week ago. Shortly after 6pm an enemy aeroplane was flying over our lines when it was brought down intact, the pilot having four toes shot off and the observer uninjured. General Birdwood came around the battery and inspected us this afternoon. He was telling us that the British fire daily 950,000 tons of ammunition over to the German lines.

“My brother left France on April 20, the day before all leave was cancelled. He visited Ireland, spending about eight days there. He had an excellent time during his 14 days. I am in hopes of getting my second leave to England shortly. We have both had eight days in Paris. I am surprised to hear that mines have been found near the East Coast. When in Paris, I saw one at the Hotel des Invalides. They look deadly articles to play about with.”