David Findlay (1887-1917)

David Findlay sent a card from England to his fiancée Fanny Wynter, the girl he loved. The card was sent just before he was posted to the Western Front at Messines, Belgium where he was killed. David and Fanny would marry should he return. He never returned. His special girl never forgot him, not marrying until 1942 when she was 49. She lived till she was 91, the last 29 years as a widow.

THIS IS DAVID'S STORY:

Private David Gray Findlay (Service No. 2648) was a despatch rider in the 47th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force during the 1914-18 War. He was killed in action on that dreadful day of June 7th, 1917, when the Allied offensive, intended to take the Ypres Salient, began with the detonation of 19 tunnels packed with high explosives. The resulting explosions, erupting almost simultaneously at 3.10am, created the largest explosion ever created by humankind to that point, left large craters up to 300M across and destroyed an estimated 10,000 German soldiers.

The 47th Battalion AIF were waiting behind the New Zealand Division. Once the German front line was devastated and the remnants in shock, the New Zealanders were to advance east across No Man’s Land, then take Messines and advance down the slope beyond. Only 2 kms to the south, from the splintered woods near the village of Ploegsteert, gas-shells rained down all night long to prevent any advance by the Allies through the forest. That night was well lit by an almost full moon and on the Messines Ridge ahead the Germans were silent though expecting an attack. What they weren’t expecting was for the ground to erupt beneath their front lines.

It may have been expected that no one slept that night as the Allies prepared for zero hour at 3.10am. However because of the effort taken to move forward and assemble ready for the advance, many of the men did sleep. To heighten the suspense, at 2.52am, green and yellow flares rose above the horizon just to the left of Messines and that was the German signal for artillery-fire. The barrage that broke out could be heard coming from the area to the north of Messines. All troops were now anxiously awake.

The Germans were in position awaiting the Allied artillery. Then, the ground shook and the “trench-walls rocked; to the left” less than a mile way , “ a huge bubble was swelling, mushroom-shaped from the earth, and then burst to cast a molten, rosy glow on the under-surface of some dense cloud low above it. As its brilliance faded two more bubbles burst beside it.” Within those fateful 20 seconds, a total of 19 great mines detonated and an estimated 10,000 German soldiers along the front line were blown to smithereens. The barrage of Allied machine guns followed and for 2 hours Messines and its ridge could not be seen by the Allies because of the smog and dust.

Under the cover of the dust and smoke the Allies moved forward. For a while enemy resistance was almost absent. As the New Zealanders advanced on Messines, they found a few Germans in concrete shelters, and some in shell holes, but most had fled leaving a litter of paraphernalia (including rifles, munitions, food, cigars). The New Zealanders worked their way around and fought their way through Messines as some of their enemy were still firing from cellars or concrete shelters.

Just to the south-east of Messines the Australian 38th Battalion encountered some opposition as they reached the major frontline trench, Ungodly Trench, and other German defences on Bethleem Farm. Blockhouses were taken, guns captures, then enemy troops became fugitives on the run or surrendered.

The New Zealand Division reached the intended position with the Australians to the right and left forming the new front line and all began to entrench themselves.

The Australian 52nd, 49th, 45th and 47th Battalions marched forward ready to be part of the afternoon attack. They were lined up north to south behind the New Zealand Division by 11.30am ready to move east. They had less than 2 hours to move forward to the new front line and resume the attack.

Private David Findlay and his mates could see the landscape ahead: the devastation of the former no man’s land, the trenches and fortifications of the former German frontline across the shallow valley on the slope and the pocked farmland on the broad low ridge that they knew now as Messines Ridge, and to their left was the damaged village of Messines. No word had arrived to confirm or alter the new zero hour to begin the assault, so the Australians had moved into their new positions – the 47th Battalion had moved forward beyond the former German Front line position and onto Bethleem Farm. What lay ahead was a landscape of treed windbreaks, a few large farmhouses and barns, and a clear view as far as the church spires of Comines (6kms). But what the trees concealed was the movement of the German reinforcements that had been urgently gathering at Warneton, just 3 kms away and out of sight in its vale.

Captain Grieve of the 37th Battalion stated that at this stage it seemed “more like a picnic than a battle” on this bright, hot day, except for bursts of the protective barrage. But further up the line to the north there had been delays and the result was that the troops south of Messines were in position and exposed whilst the zero hour was set back by 2 hours. This was necessary on the section of the front north of Messines through to Ypres, but at Bethleem Farm the unprotected battalions were exposed to the renewed German counter-offensive. Some picnic!

There were losses in all the battalions around and to the south of Messines that afternoon. One of those killed was Private David Gray Findlay. When word of him arrived home to his parents in the rural community at Maroondan, outside Bundaberg, Queensland, it was to the effect that he was missing in action. The Findlay family continued praying and hoping that he would one day, “walk in the door”. In fact it wasn’t until a Court of Inquiry was held “in the field” on 24th November 1917, that it was officially determined that David had been killed.

Two of his mates in the 47th Battalion, those who witnessed his signature on his will just a few days before he was killed, both suffered different fates but both returned to Australia after the war. Grenadier Tom McPhail from the Darling Downs was wounded (thigh wound) and taken prisoner, imprisoned at Güstrow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. (There were 25,000 prisoners held at Güstrow and another 25,000 registered there and assigned to work camps.) On release he was hospitalised at Étaples, France then returned to London. Discharged from medical care he went awol having been caged for too long, for which he was punished by loss of pay. He was repatriated to Australia. Ernest Cunningham, a younger fellow, formerly a pattern maker in the Bundaberg foundry, was also wounded with severe wound to a foot. But after hospitalisation, Ern was returned to the battle front before the war ended. He also returned to Queensland.

 

But for David’s family, the grief and questions continued. His mother, Jessie Findlay , wrote to the Australian Army on September 24th, 1917:

 

Officer in Charge,

 

Dear Sir,

My son, (No. 2648) David Gray Findlay was reported Missing since June 7th, 1917 and heard no more word since about him when I got a letter from one of his mates on Sept 21st saying he had been wounded & he was in England somewhere. We have heard no word from himself since he was missing. Could you possibly find out for me where he is and if he is severely wounded. If you can find out any information would you kindly let me know as early as possible.

And you will oblige Mrs J. B Findlay, Maroondan, Mount Perry Line, via Bundaberg, Queensland.

 

Mrs Findlay’s distress is reflected in a response to another letter she wrote and placed it in a comforts parcel that was sent to troops. The parcel containing the letter was received by Driver T. C. G. Phillips, Australian Armed Service Corps to the British Red Cross Association. Phillips wrote, "In a comforts parcel received from Queensland, I found a rather pathetic appeal from a mother requesting information about her son - 2648 Pte David G Findlay 47th Battalion AIF. I am writing to the mother Mrs J. B. Findlay, Maroondan, Queensland, Australia and would be very pleased if you could furnish me with some particulars and details about her son. I think he was reported missing 7/6/17 and later on reported killed. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, Driver TCG Phillips.”

 

The reply to Driver Phillips simply informed him that Private Findlay was officially reported killed in action on 7.6.17 having been previously reported missing on that date. "We have no further information about him at present except that he is reported to be buried 550 [sic.] yds past of Messines. We are making every possible enquiry concerning him and will immediately advise you should we succeed."

 

David Findlay’s last postcards sent home were received by his mother, his fiancée Fanny Wynter, and sister Kate, in late May, 1917. Kate replied the next day. She told all the news of family and home and of her impending move to the Monsildale in the upper Brisbane Valley “where there is some good timber hauling there. Bob is going up on Monday to have a final look around. Bob wanted me to live in town for a few months but I’d rather go straight away. I don’t like leaving Mum behind, but all being well, I’ll come and have a look at them every year or so.” She continues, “You won’t know Heatherleigh when you come home. We are shifting the Bullyard house down to Bundaberg. We have got an allotment in Barolin Street near the school...”

Give our love to Charlie [Clarke] and yourself, with fond love and thanking you for remembering me – I remain your loving sister, Kate Stehbens.

 

David never did come home, and Kate’s letter never reached David. It was eventually returned to Kate with the following successive messages added:

 

“On Active Service Abroad”

“Missing”

“UNDELIVERABLE AMPO RETURN TO SENDER”

“RETURNED MAIL OFFICE VICTORIA BARRACKS BRISBANE”

“DECEASED”

“Not Maroondan - Try MRS R G STEHBENS, Monsildale Sawmill, Via Linville, Brisbane Valley Line, Queensland”

 

Kate treasured the returned letter for the rest of her life, a tangible memento of a brother she would never forget.

 

Though there are unknown soldiers buried in the Bethleem East Cemetery, very close to where David Findlay was said to be buried “750 yards east of Messines” at the Allied Black Line, his burial place “is known only to God” and his life and military service are commemorated in perpetuity on the Menin Gate, Ypres Memorial, Ieper, Belgium.

 

IRS

 

 

Done