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  For the men who had fought the Gallipoli campaign, retreat was not easy to digest. Many had left their youth, ideals and particularly their mates on the craggy spurs and in the scrub-choked valleys of the Gallipoli peninsula. For some, having endured months of deprivation and despair, the sorrow outweighed the relief. Bert was among the ranks of the disillusioned. He had seen the horrific sights of war. He had dodged injury and death. The initial patriotic fervour which had driven his enlistment had been lost in the rugged foothills of Gallipoli.

  He spent Christmas Day aboard a transport ship sailing to Egypt:

  It was Christmas Day, 1915, we were on a boat coming from Lemnos back to Egypt … I was twenty, we’d literally been kicked off Gallipoli, and I can remember saying to myself, “Whyever have we come 8000 miles to fight the Turks, to try and take Turkey from the Turks, I said what has it got to do with Australians?” I thought we deserved to be kicked out … we had no right to be there, it was because some Archduke or somebody in Austria had been killed, what has it got to do with us? I just couldn’t see it, I’d seen so many of my mates that were killed and I thought goodness me what is it all about? It was a terrible waste of young men … I thought at the time we were supposed to end all wars …”3

  Bert Wishart went on to fight in the desert campaign in the Middle East, wounded in the Allied assault on the Turkish outpost of Magdhaba on 23 December 1916. He recovered from the gunshot wound to his thigh and returned to his regiment in time for the 4th Light Horse Brigade’s historic charge at Beersheba which led to the fall of Gaza. Bert was the first to leave his home town of Macorna and the last to return, eventually arriving home in November 1919. It was on the farm in the company of his widowed mother, sisters, younger brother and later, his wife Hilda, where peace and the daily rhythms of farm life gave him the opportunity to rebuild his life. He died at Kerang, Victoria, on 21 October 1988 at the age of 93.

  MOLOGA, AUSTRALIA, JUNE 1915

  By June 1915, Jim, Charlie and George had decided that they would join the ‘fair dinkums’, the men who were now enlisting despite the ever-increasing casualty lists appearing in the newspapers. For many it remained a grand adventure, although the lists of names could not mask the reality. This was an industrial war, men pitted against new technology capable of dreadful destruction, of shocking carnage on a scale never before encountered. The ‘fair dinkums’ knew there was more to this war than adventure and six bob a day.

  Charlie was soon disappointed. It was not his turn to fight for king and country. The attestation paper clearly records why he was rejected:

  AIF Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad

  Charles Edward Marlow June 14th 1915

  24 yrs Farm

  Medical Officer – Owing to bad teeth cannot be accepted otherwise very good

  But bad teeth would not keep Charlie from the war for long. Jim was also unsuccessful. Despite the lowering of the minimum height in July to five feet two inches, he was rejected because of his poor eyesight.

  George was accepted immediately and now faced the prospect of going to war without his brothers. He enlisted on 12 June and was appointed to the 6th Reinforcements of the 21st Battalion just prior to his departure on 1 October. He was just short of his 23rd birthday. George was soon training in Bendigo and Seymour and then, to his disgust, at the Broadmeadows Camp on the outskirts of Melbourne. The appalling living conditions at Broadmeadows had resulted in a high rate of illness and the camp had been closed in May. However, by the following September, conditions had improved sufficiently for the camp to reopen in time to welcome a new batch of recruits.

  15th September 1915

  Bendigo

  Dear Charlie,

  Just a few lines to let you [know] that I am leaving this camp on friday morning for Broadmeadows to join the reinforcements. We just got word that the rest of my company are to go from here and some out of the other companies, 36 of us altogether. They sent 100 away last week and 50 on Tuesday so there is not many of us left. We have to pass the doctor yet, it would be a bugger to be bumped out now. They are putting a lot into reinforcements now. I don’t know when we will be sailing they are going to send a lot away this and next month. Some buggers took my military pants on Monday afternoon. 50 men went away tuesday morning to join the new brigade, I would like to have got in it. I suppose you are having some rain it has been raining here heavily and is very cold and rough. I will write soon as I know my new address. I suppose you have got over your holiday.

  I remain

  Geordie

  Less than a week later George wrote again, telling Charlie that he had arrived at Broadmeadows:

  21st September 1915

  Dear Charlie

  Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting on. We arrived here last friday afternoon. It is a B of a place too, not half as good as Bendigo camp, in fact it is not as good as Seymour. It rained like Hell here last night and we are up to our boot tops in mud and sticks like _______ to a quilt, you wouldn’t believe what it is like, and the wind it would blow a dead horse over there is no timber to break it. I don’t know why they made a camp here, they would spend millions of money here then it would be no good. The only thing that is any good is the huts, they are bonzer huts too. There are 50 of us in each but we might be shifted out into tents but I hope not. The different churches have fine big buildings here. I went to the Church of England last night, the parsons sermon was on the language of the camp, and it is pretty tough I can tell you. Nearly all of us that came from Bendigo broke camp on Saturday afternoon and went into Melbourne and got back about 12 at night, the sentries don’t say anything they just let you walk through. The city was just full of soldiers. There are a lot of returned soldiers in the city. I see in the papers that Frank Penglase’s brother is coming back. Archie Bailey and Andy Erikson are here in the same reinforcements as me. I am in the 6th reinforcements of the 21st battalion. You can address the letters to the YMCA. I have just been in to get my photo taken. How did the football turnout come off, was my photo there in time. I went over to the light horse to see Bert Gibson [cousin] but they are all on final leave and supposed to sail next Saturday. I got no idea when we will be going. I wouldn’t like to be here long. I went out to see Sharp’s on Saturday I didn’t know Mrs Sharp was up home. One of the military airships flew over the camp on Friday. Well I will close now hoping all are well.

  I remain your loving brother

  Geordie

  A few days later, George arrived home on his final leave. Mr Bill Fyffe, local farmer and Sunday School teacher, and the Marlows’ closest neighbours, the Jones family, organised a farewell for George. In small rural communities the support of neighbours was highly valued and the community of Mologa was no exception. As well as being devoted members of the Church of England congregation of St Luke’s, the Marlow, Fyffe and Jones families were always prepared to lend others a hand.

  Mologa 25th Sept, 1915

  Dear George

  On behalf of Mologa Friends I have much pleasure in inviting You, with your Parents, and brothers, to a Farewell Social and Presentation to yourself, in the Mologa Hall, on Monday evening 27th Sept at 8.30.

  I remain

  Yours Faithfully

  William Fyffe

  Hon Sect.

  The hall was crowded that evening as the community gathered to farewell one of its own with patriotic songs and speeches. The following day the family hitched the horse to the wagon and drove George into town where friends waited at the railway station. Sarah farewelled her son with a mixture of pride and apprehension. Perhaps he promised he would return. It was a promise made to loved ones all over the Empire and it kindled a sense of hope which often left families unprepared for the trauma of a death and the empty place left by those buried on distant shores who would never come home.

  Broadmeadows

  Sept 30th 1915

  Dear Mother

  Just a few lines to let you know that I arrived here las
t night. We got word that we are sailing on Tuesday next at about 3 oclock in the afternoon on a mail boat. I think it is the Moldavia. We were sent away in a special train as soon as we had breakfast this morning to the Williamstown rifle butts for practice and never got back till late we have to wait up tonight to make out our pay sheets and they are giving us our rifles tonight. I went out to Cheyne’s on Tuesday and to Mahoney’s they did not know me at Mahoney’s. Bert Gibson sailed on Monday.4 Send Albert out to Charlie to tell him when I am going he said he was coming down and I don’t know that he will be able to see much of me he could see me at the railway siding at the Port Melbourne pier. Georgie Gibson saw Bert off he walked with him from the Port Melbourne station to the pier but they tell us that we are going right up to the pier in the train but if he intends to come down I could meet him either out here at the camp or next Monday evening or under the clocks at Flinders station that night. I might not be able to get into the town as they have to issue us with our uniforms and clothes yet. I [cannot] write any more now as I have to go back to the lines. The safest way for Charlie to meet me [is] at the end of my lines the 6th of the 21st is marked up at the end of our huts.

  I remain

  Your Loving Son

  Geordie

  Albert sent word to Charlie who was camped on the eastern side of the Terrick Terrick Forest clearing the family’s new block of land. Charles senior and Charlie caught the train to Melbourne to farewell George who left Australia aboard the mail ship Moldavia on 5 October 1915. Charlie wrote home from Melbourne to tell his mother of his brother’s imminent departure.

  Melb

  Dear Mother

  Just a few lines we all got down all right and went out to Broadmeadows yesterday and saw Geordie but he could not get off as they were issuing the soldiers their kits etc. but he got off that night and came into Melbourne with us we had tea in here. He did not get the telegram till Sunday morning, on Saturday he was out at Williamstown Rifle Butts and put up the highest score against all his company. He has got tiptop mates they are a lively lot, they sail tomorrow by the Moldavia, it is a mail boat and calls at all the ports so he should have a long way better time on it than on a transport. Well I will have to close now.

  I am Yours etc

  Charlie E

  MOLDAVIA, AT SEA, OCTOBER

  Moldavia

  Wednesday

  Dear Mother, Father & Brothers

  Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting on. The sea is fairly calm so far but there are a lot sick yet I think I will be alright. Downie has been very sick all the night. It is good on deck but when you get down below it makes you feel a bit funny. We got through the heads last night about six oclock it was a bit rough going through. We got bonzer tucker on board. 4 meals a day, there are 16 of us at each table and two of us have to go orderlies each day to get the meals and wash up. We have hammocks to sleep in, they are just the thing. I slept as sound as a rock. Nearly all darkies on this boat, they are tricks too. One of the lady passengers gave out about 80 packs of cards to the soldiers, we don’t see much of the passengers. I don’t think we will get any drill on board. We don’t know where we are going yet, one of the officers said we would most likely know when we get to Perth, we get to Adelaide tomorrow “Thursday” morning at 6 oclock. There is a big steamer not far off us now. I will close as I have nothing to write about.

  So goodbye with love to all

  I remain

  Geordie

  Later

  We have just reached Port Adelaide and have just been told our address for Egypt.

  Pte G.T. Marlow

  2748

  6th reinforcements

  21st Battalion

  Intermediate Depot

  Egypt

  To Charlie, he added:

  … Well we are a fair way out on the water now. We passed through the heads at 6 oclock last night but I did not notice it, slept too sound, there were a lot sick last night and this morning. I am alright so far but it is calm today … When we got up this morning we could just see a steamer in front of us, we passed within half a mile of it at dinner time and can hardly see it now, it is just 6 oclock so we must be going fairly fast but it was going fairly slow for a while something went wrong with one of the engines. We have just passed another ship it is going the opposite way to us, we are supposed to get to Adelaide tomorrow morning at 6 oclock, they say we are going to be let off for a while. We are going to be allowed anywhere on the boat after we leave Adelaide. It has been a nice sunny day most of us went up on deck and laid down in the sun and had a sleep … We haven’t seen much of the passengers yet but one of the ladies came down and gave out cigarettes and playing cards. Another one is going to give out prizes for tugowar. They have just told us what our address would be in Egypt you will find it on the back of this paper. There is a concert on tonight. It is very muggy down below that is what makes them sick …

  The Moldavia

  Sunday 10th

  Dear Mother, father & Brothers,

  Just a few lines to tell you how things are going. We stopped in Port Adelaide for 12 hours, they only let 50 off there they are going to leave some off at every port. It was fairly calm when we left the port but it gradually got rougher and last night it was very rough and is today too, the waves come sweeping over the hurricane deck it is a great sight from on deck looking over the water, some of them slept on deck last night and got wringing wet with the waves. Some of the poor devils are very sick. I have not been sick yet I think I will be right now, I rather like it. Downie is very sick. They started to give us some drill but the officers are too sick to go on with it. We were supposed to have Church Parade this morning but [it] is too rough. We get into Fremantle to[morrow] morning at about 6 oclock. I suppose you have my other letter by now. I not too sure about that address being right they don’t seem to know where we are going yet, most of them put their address this way Name & number 6 of 21 Abroad. It wont be too good going back on the camp tucker again after we leave the boat. We get real good meals. Some of the passengers gave out a lot of chocolates and cigarettes to us. This is all the news this time.

  I remain your loving son

  Geordie

  Later

  Tuesday 12th

  We arrived in Fremantle this morning at 7 oclock. We are nearly a day behind time on account of going straight against the rough sea. I think they are going to leave us off for awhile.

  Sunday 17th 1915

  RMS Moldavia

  Dear Mother, Father and Brothers,

  Just a few lines hoping all are well as I am at present. Well they let all of us off the boat at Fremantle for four hours, we had a good look around the town, it is not a bad little place, the streets all narrow and seem fairly busy some of the men went to Perth it is about 11 miles from Fremantle. The people told us that the last lot of troops that went through played up something terrible they all jumped off the boat without leave and the guard put the bayonet in two of them. One of our fellows was put off at Fremantle, he had the measles. There is another in the hospital with pneumonia and last night they said he was dying. Well since we left Fremantle it has been very calm, I don’t think there have been any more sick, the trip seems to be doing me good, I am 13 stone now. We are in the hot climate now for this last four days I sleep up on deck now it is very close down below. We all have had our hair cut as short as we could get it; we do look tricks now. We wear short nicks, we got orders to cut the blues off just above the knee all we wear now is the flannel nicks and white hat. They have started to do the vaxinating I have not been done yet. The passengers gave us a great concert last night, they had everything fixed up nicely and at the interval they shouted all the troops drinks, it cost them ₤12-10/. Most of the performers were actors going to England. They have been very good to us they have given us a lot of eatables and smokes. They have started boxing tournaments and are giving prizes to the winners in the different weights and are giving prizes for the best tugowar team. We ge
t a little drill now and have to wash our part of the boat out every day and do guard duty. We are supposed to reach Colombo that is the next port on thursday it is 8 days sailing from Fremantle but we might reach there on wednesday as we are going over the limit rate, she is supposed to do 15 knots an hour, yesterday we travelled 360 miles nearly 16 knots an hour, she has had to gain a day we lost going to Fremantle in the rough weather. The 50 devons “British troops” get off at Colombo, all of us have given something each to them and have collected ₤7-10/- this morning for them in about an hour some of the officers and one of the lady passengers gave about ₤4, they only get 1/1 a day each. We have been paid twice since we left, a pound each time. There will be some of my wages sent home soon 4/- a day, see that it comes, and those photos. We had a church service this morning. We got some good war news yesterday by wireless, that the allies had sunk some warships and a lot of merchant ships and that the Germans are losing 20 and 30 thousand [soldiers] a day in France, this is the first war news that we have heard. We have been told what our proper address will be. If you have written any letters I think I will get them with that first address I gave you. I was just called away from writing this letter to get vaxinated, but it is supposed to hurt a little in a few days time if it takes. I hope you have got those other two letters that I wrote. I suppose you have started the harvest by now. Well I will have to close now. We have to post all the letters on board by tonight so I cant get any stamps.