Our Anzacs Will Be Remembered

April 24, 2024

Anzac Day is taking on a special meaning this year for Kingaroy residents Chris and John Box who are visiting the blood-soaked European battlefields of World War I to pay tribute to Australia’s fallen.

It’s a trip many Aussies do, walking in the footsteps of the Anzacs, but for the couple it has special significance … two of John’s relatives will forever be linked to the trauma that came to be known as the “Great War”.

Private Ernest Henry Pohlman, from the 25th Battalion, was killed in action on October 4, 1917, at the battle of Broodseinde Ridge near Ypres in Belgium.

The Australian War Memorial provides the details of that terrible day:

It was a large operation, involving 12 Divisions, including those of both I and II ANZAC. The attack was planned on the same basis as its predecessors – the attacking troops’ objectives were approximately 1500 metres deep, the advance would be preceded by a massive artillery bombardment; and a creeping barrage would lead the troops on to their objectives and then protect them while they consolidated their positions.

The attack began before dawn on October 4, 1917. The Australian troops involved were shelled heavily on their start line and a seventh of their number became casualties even before the attack began.

When it did, the attacking troops were confronted by a line of troops advancing towards them; the Germans had chosen the same morning to launch an attack of their own.

The Australians forged on through the German assault waves and gained all their objectives along the ridge.

It was not without cost, however. German pillboxes were characteristically difficult to subdue, and the Australian divisions suffered 6500 casualties.

Private Pohlman’s grave is unknown but he has not been forgotten.  His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial which bears the names of 54,000 soldiers from Commonwealth countries whose graves are only “known unto God”.

John’s grandfather was “luckier” … he was wounded twice during his wartime service but made it back to Australia. 

John is named after his grandad, John (Jack) Robert Box, from the 26th Battalion.

Jack Box was wounded by shrapnel at the Pozieres windmill – part of the Somme campaign.

After two months recovering, he was sent back to the front, only to be wounded by an exploding shell at the Battle of Flers before being repatriated to England.

Jack had skin grafts taken from the top of his leg to put over the shattered joints of his left hand and was returned to Australia in September 1917.

From the Australian War Memorial:

The village of Flers, in the Somme valley in France gave its name to a series of attacks launched by 1 ANZAC in November 1916. By this time the Somme battlefield had been deluged with rain and the attacks were made in atrocious conditions. The attacking waves of troops were sucked down by the cloying mud and thus, unable to keep up with their creeping artillery barrage, became easy targets for German machine-gunners and riflemen.

The first Flers attack was launched on November 5 with the 1st Brigade advancing against trenches north of Gueudecourt, and the 7th against a complex of trenches known as “the Maze”. Both attacks managed to capture some of their objectives, but were eventually forced to withdraw.

Another attack was launched against the Maze by the 5th and 7th Brigades on the morning of November 17; it also succeeded in capturing a portion of the German trenches, but a surprise attack two days later returned this to the enemy.

John and Chris Box will be marking Anzac Day at the Dawn Service at Australian National Memorial at Villers-Brettoneux in France.

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Local Commemorations

In the South Burnett region, Anzac Day services will be held at:

• Blackbutt-Benarkin – Dawn Service at the War Memorial in Coulson Street at 4:27am,  followed by a march from Muir Street to the War Memorial at 10:45am, and then a Commemorative Service at 11:00am.

• Bell – Commemorative Service at the War Memorial at the corner of the Bunya Highway and Dennis Street at 6:00am, followed by a breakfast at the RSL in Ensor Street.

• Boondooma and Durong  – Commemorative and wreath-laying service at Boondooma Homestead at 9:00am.

• Bunya Mountains – Wreath-laying service at the Lone Pine, across the road from the National Parks Office in Bunya Avenue, Dandabah at 8:00am.

• Cherbourg – Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph in Barambah Avenue at 8:00am.

• Cooyar – March from Cooyar Memorial Hall on the New England Highway at 10:00am to the Cooyar War Memorial for a Commemorative Service at 10:45am.

• Goomeri – Dawn Service at 5:15am at the War Memorial Clock, followed by pilgrimage to the war graves at Goomeri Cemetery at 7:30am; at 9:45am, a March will be held from Market Square to the cenotaph for wreath-laying, followed by a march to the Hall Of Memory in Boonara Street for a morning service.

• Hivesville – Dawn Service at Anzac Park in Main Street at 5:30am, followed by a community breakfast.

• Kilkivan – Dawn Service at Anzac Park in Bligh Street at 5:30am, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Kilkivan Hotel; at 10:30am, marchers will assemble at RSL Park before marching to the Lions Park rotunda for a Commemorative Service at 11:00am, followed by lunch and refreshments at Kilkivan Hall.

• Kingaroy – Dawn Service at the rotunda in Memorial Park at 4:28am, followed by pilgrimage to the War Service Graves at Taabinga Cemetery at 8:00am; at 10:30am, marchers will assemble at the Kingaroy RSL for an 11:00am march to Memorial Park, where there will be a Citizen’s Observance at 11:15am.

• Kumbia –  Dawn Service at 6:00am at the monument outside Kumbia Hall, followed by a gold coin donation Gunfire Breakfast inside the hall; at 8:30am, marchers will assemble at the Kearney’s Road flowerbed for a 9:00am step-off along Bell Street to the hall, followed by a Commemorative Service and then a bring-a-plate community morning tea around 10:00am.

• Linville – A march from Linville Hall to the war memorial at 8:00am, followed by a Commemorative Service at 8:15am and then gold coin donation refreshments back at the hall.

• Maidenwell – Shared morning tea at Maidenwell Hall at 9:30am, followed by a march to the cenotaph at 10:20am and a service at the Maidenwell War Memorial at 10:30am.

• Murgon – Rum and milk fellowship in the Diggers Room of Murgon RSL at 4:45am, followed by a Dawn Service at the Murgon War Memorial at 5:30am, and then a Gunfire Breakfast back at the Diggers Room; later in the morning, marchers should assemble in the RSL’s rear car park at 9:00am for a 9:45am step off. The parade will be followed by a Commemorative Service and wreath laying at the Memorial at 10:00am, and then light refreshments in the Diggers Room.

• Nanango – Fellowship for RSL Sub-Branch members and their families, visiting veterans and ex defence personnel at Tara’s Hall at 5:00am, then a march from the RSL to the Memorial at 5:20am, where a Dawn Service will be held at 5:30am. This will be followed by a pilgrimage to the Veterans Graves at Nanango Cemetery at 7:00am. Participants in the march should assemble in Howlett Lane at 8:15am for an 8:45am step off, followed by a Commemorative Service at the War Memorial at the corner of Drayton and Henry Streets at 9:00am.

• Proston – Dawn Service at the Proston RSL Rooms in Collingwood Street at 5:30am.

• Widgee – Dawn Service at 6:00am at the Widgee Cenotaph in Webb Park, followed by a gold coin donation community breakfast at the Memorial Hall.

• Wondai – Dawn Service at 5:00am accompanied by a march from the Post Office along Mackenzie Street to the War Memorial; at 8:00am a pilgrimage to the War Service Graves at the Wondai Cemetery, followed at 10:00am by a second march from Wondai Post Office along Mackenzie Street to the War Memorial for a Commemorative Service and wreath laying.

• Wooroolin – Commemorative Service at the Wooroolin Memorial Hall at 11:15am.

• Woolooga – March at 9:30am followed by a commemorative Service at Woolooga Hall at 10:00am.

• Yarraman – Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park at 6:00am, followed by a gold coin donation breakfast at the Yarraman Memorial Hall and then a pilgrimage to the War Service Graves at Yarramans cemetery at 7:30am. At 10:30am, marchers will assemble in John Street before stepping off at 10:45am to attend the main Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph at 11:00am. This will be followed by a gold coin donation lunch at Memorial Hall from noon.