Five of Bridget Prothero’s sons served overseas in World War I in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium. One son, William, paid the supreme sacrifice.
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Fred landed in the second or third wave of attack on that memorable day, 25th April 1915. William McCarthy was the only other “Youngite” in the same boat and Fred did not see him again after they left the boat.
Fred in his letter home says,” When we landed bullets were fly around in all directions, and we used to duck our heads for days until we got used to the fire. “Scotty” Allen, who used to work on Clifton Station was there. Bullets were flying around like hailstones. One morning when we were leaving the trenches, we had six hours in the trenches, and twelve hours out, a spent bullet hit me on the forefinger of the right hand. I never took any notice of it at the time until later in the morning when I was sent back to the dressing station and later placed on a hospital ship.”
Fred was invalided back home but re-enlisted and went back after having two weeks at home. On the 6th of May 1917, Fred got a bullet wound to the head in France and was discharged on 23rd October 1917.
Les writes home to his mother telling that he has had some close calls, one such time a bullet going through the sleeve of his coat. Les also writes of William McCarthy and thinks he may have gone, but hopes he was taken, prisoner. He also mentions “Scotty” Allen, saying that he is well and makes mention of “Frenchy”. In a later letter.
In another letter Les speaks of his experience at “Lonesome Pine”,” I went through some heavy fighting while I was over at the Dardanelles, and so did Bill. I was on three charges and never got hit, I consider myself very lucky. We have lost very heavy; our last charge cost us 2000 men, dead lying everywhere. Our boys stop at nothing.”
Les was wounded in Gallipoli and France and subsequently discharged on 25th October 1919. He served in World War 11 enlisting as a Sergeant and discharged with the rank of Warrant Officer1st Class. Les died in1961 and is buried in Toowoomba, Qld.
Tom enlisted as a Gunner in the Field Artillery Brigade and went overseas in October 1914.Tom was hospitalized twice for diphtheria in France. He suffered wounds to his right leg and cheek as well as to the ankle and neck. Tom was transferred to a hospital in England, after recuperating he returned to the front and was wounded again in Belgium. Tom returned to Australia on the 24th September 1918.
Jack (John) enlisted on 31 January 1916 and fought in France, wounded in action on a number of occasions, buried by a shell, gassed and suffered from shellshock. Jack was discharged unfit on 18th May 1918. Jack died in the Prince of Wales Hospital. Randwick, from the effect of wounds. He is buried in the Young Cemetery.
Bill (William) suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and leg at Gallipoli. In a letter home to his mother, Bill writes that he is right again and leaves for Gallipoli next day. Bill said though it was the middle of winter it was nearly as hot as Young in the middle of summer.
Bill went to the Western Front and was listed as killed in action at Hangard Wood in France on 15th April 1918. He had been reported as missing but witness accounts stated that Bill had been fatally wounded and died shortly after. Bill has no known grave. His name is listed on the Australian War Memorial at Villars Bretonneau in France.
John (Jack) James married Margaret Prothero and was a brother-in-law and close friend of the Prothero boys. He was a member of the 20th Battalion and served in France and Belgium. He embarked from Sydney on the “Ceramic” in October 1916 and docked at Plymouth, England on 21st November 1916. From here he was sent to France, where he was wounded in action on 22nd September 1917, suffering a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. After hospitalisation in England, he returned to the front in Belgium on 30th November 1917. Eventually returning to Australia on 7th June 1918.
The boys all commented at different times about not getting mail from home, although it was being sent. It was obviously important to them to know how things were back home.
Nearly all the Prothero boys lived around Wombat after the war and their brother-in-law, John James, resided at Young.
Some of them suffered from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and as with many others had to struggle through life without help, as many still do today.
Private William McCarthy was killed in action on 2nd May, 1915.No known grave, his name is on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
