The flowers of the forest

A seven page essay titled 'The flowers of the forest', which describes the experiences of 10 soldiers from No. 1 Section, No. 1 Platoon, A Co, 10th Battalion from South Australia who enlisted in 1914. It describes how seven of the 10 died, either at the landing at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915, or subsequently as a result of their war experiences, and the post-war lives of the three survivors from the group. Includes a photograph of the group without Angus Smith, who is absent.

No. 31 Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC was born at Woodville on 25 November 1892. He received the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery during the operations at Pozieres in France. At 0530 on 23 July 1916 'he was directed with 50 men to drive the enemy from a strong point. By dogged determination he eventually captured their trench after personally leading four separate parties of bombers against it, many of whom became casualties. In face of fierce opposition he captured 250 yards of trench. Then after crawling forward with a sergeant [Sgt Inwood KIA] to reconnoitre, he returned, attacked, and seized another 120 yards of trench, establishing communication with the battalion on his left' (London Gazette, 9 September 1916). Blackburn returned to Australia on 3 December 1916. He again enlisted in World War Two and served in the Middle East before being posted to Java to take command. Blackburn was captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war. He survived the war and retired in South Australia, dying on 24 November 1960. Blackburn is buried in West Terrace Cemetery.

No. 33 Guy Fisher, a law clerk, was born at Adelaide on 5 November 1890. He was wounded in action on 27 April 1915 and returned to Australia. Fisher died at Mt Lofty on 27 August 1968.

No. 38 Wilfred Oswald Jose was born in China and was killed in action in France on 3 April 1917.

No. 40 Francis Herbert Stokes, a clerk, was born at North Adelaide on 13 June 1890. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915.

No. 41a Eric Douglas Meldrum, a civil servant, was born on 23 August 1892 in Tasmania. He received a shrapnel wound which fractured his left forearm at Gallipoli. Meldrum returned to Australia but committed suicide at Balaklava on 8 April 1922.

No. 47 Thomas Anderson Whyte was born in Unley. He was wounded on 25 April 1915 and died of his wounds on H.M.T. Gascon. He was buried at sea.

No. 159 John Rutherford Gordon was born at Gilberton on 18 June 1895. After Gallipoli he returned to Australia medically unfit in April 1916. On 1 May 1917 he enlisted in the Australian Flying corps and served in France.

No. 268 Malcolm Teesdale Smith, a clerk, was born in 1890 in Tasmania. He was killed in action on 27 April 1915 at Gallipoli.

No. 638 Philip de Quetteville Robin was born at Norwood on 19 August 1884. A bank teller, he was killed in action on 25 April 1915 at Gallipoli.

No. 1040 Angus Archer Smith, a butcher, was born in New South Wales. He received a shrapnel wound to the head on 9 October 1915 at Gallipoli. He was discharged in April 1916.

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