Edwin (Ted) Rupert Stalling (c 1889) was to die on 1 July 1917 at 2 CCS Steenwerck, and William Aaron Stalling was killed in the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Belgium on 13 Oct 1917. Robert John Stalling (10 May 1881) survived and eventually passed away in Tenterfield in 1962.
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When they joined up the brothers named their sister Mary Harriett Stalling as their next-of-kin, or brother Fred A Stalling, as their parents were both deceased.
These boys were part of the Amosfield band. Ted played the trombone and William played the tuba. When Fred heard the news about his brother’s death, he left the horse and plough in the field, went inside the hut, and quietly sat and cried for the rest of the day. His neighbours unhitched the horse later in the day.
A postcard exists of Ted’s adventures when he met up with other Tenterfield mates over there. Chris Donoghue and Alex Chapman, saw Billy Turner in hospital and learnt that ‘young Pillar’ was killed at Armentieres about 11/12 December. (This would have been Magnus John Pillar.)
Ted is buried at Trois Arbres (Three Trees) cemetery. This cemetery is situated at Steenwerck close to the Belgian border. The original cemetery contained 948 graves, of which 466 were Australians. The most senior AIF officer killed in the war is buried here: Major General William Holmes, GOC of the 4th Division, who was killed in action 2 Jul 1917. Many of the Diggers died of wounds in the Casualty Clearing Station.
Ted’s brother William was killed along with 38,000 other Australian casualties on that fateful day at Ypres. One of the men who witnessed his death, carrying his body back to the trench, was Private Chigwidden who himself was killed in action on 9 Aug 1918.
Aaron (Arend) Frederick August Stalling – their father – was born at Granerkessie, Oldenburg, Germany in 1838, and as a sailor he had jumped ship in Tasmania in 1865. He died in1899. Elizabeth Ann (nee Kelly) his wife (an Irish girl born in England in 1848), had passed away in Warwick in 1912. Even though first-generation Australians of German descent could join up to fight and declare their oath of allegiance, they were not allowed to vote under the Act in Australia.
The discrimination against Germans during World War One has been overcome in the Tenterfield area with a sister city being nominated as Ottobeuren. Unlike other places such as the Barossa Valley, the German culture no longer exists. A Partnership Deed signed on 5 Oct 2002 established friendship, fairness and an understanding of international freedom free of any prejudice.
6947 Albert Lyall Bailey (5 Oct 1893 St Albans) was also to die on active duty on 10 Jul 1917 on Messines Ridge Belgium. He received severe head wounds and died at 2 Casualty Clearing Station. Albert had joined 15 Battalion at Rockhampton. His father was his next-of-kin – Albert Junior Bailey. His mother was Sarah Jane (nee Akhurst).
Sgt William John Hutton (52 Battalion) was fatally wounded 16 Jul 1917 and died at 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station (ACCS) near Steinwerck. He is also buried at Trois Arbres cemetery. (The site for this cemetery was chosen for the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July 1916.) On 26 Feb 1916, this soldier appeared on parade with dirty boots and was fined. Discipline and orderly conduct was necessary even in the face of adversity.
William’s brother Arthur Roland Hutton was also born in Tenterfield. He suffered a gun shot wound to his head at Ypres Belgium on 1 Oct 1917. Arthur was allotted Block 260 Bankstown Soldier Settlement and went to live there with his wife and young son. The area “was too damp and not suitable for their health”, so it was abandoned.
Another Hutton soldier was Gilbert David Havelock Hutton who was the son of William Hutton of Liverpool, firstly named as his next-of-kin, and Winifred. He then named his wife Helene Marion Hutton as his next-of-kin. Gilbert was a telegraph linesman and joined 1st Signal Sqn as a Sapper. He died 15 May 1956 in Sydney and is buried in Northern Suburbs Cemetery Memorial Garden.
Bethlehem Farm West B14 is the final resting place for Robert William Percival “Percy” Thomas. Records show that he “was killed by a shell and blown to pieces” on 17 Jul 1917 in Belgium. He was firstly “buried left of Messines Ridge behind the Sunken Road”.
He was the son of Robert Thomas Thomas and Hilda Mary, and was born at Torrington in 1898. Robert was a member of the famous 33 Battalion.
Oswald Spencer Hill was only 18 years old when he enlisted on 13 Dec 1915. Less than two years later he was killed in action in France on 23 Jul 1917 and is buried at Bethlehem Farm West (Row B Grave 8B) where 39 soldiers from 33 Battalion are also laid to rest, as well as 22 from 35 Battalion and 12 from 42 Battalion.
The cemetery is on the right-hand side of the road towards a farmstead known as Nazareth or Schitzel Farm. (It is written that a certain Adolf Hitler was billeted during WW1 in this vicinity from Dec 1914 to Feb 1915.) Amongst Oswald’s belongings was a testament and rosary and crucifix. It’s ironic that he was to die at Bethle-em near Nazareth.
Oswald is honoured on the school roll. His mother Catherine Hill (nee Grogan) had passed away on 7 Feb 1900 Tenterfield. His father was Henry Hill of Petrie Street Tenterfield.
Donald Joseph Maloney was born in 1890 at Casino to Edward Maloney and Ann (nee McLean) of Woodenbong. He joined 42 Infantry Battalion but was killed inaction on 31 Jul 1917 at Warneton Belgium. He had been a farm labourer. His mother was his next-of-kin.