General News
5 May, 2024
Solemnity, pride on beaches of Gallipoli
VISITING Gallipoli for the Dawn Service had been a life-changing moment for Will Stringer. The Bridgewater man was one of six East Loddon P12 College students who travelled to Turkey in 2018. Six years later, he shared those experiences in an...
VISITING Gallipoli for the Dawn Service had been a life-changing moment for Will Stringer.
The Bridgewater man was one of six East Loddon P12 College students who travelled to Turkey in 2018. Six years later, he shared those experiences in an address at Bridgewater’s Anzac Day service last Thursday,
“We were offered the privilege of attending and experiencing a Gallipoli Dawn service. This was something that was deeply personal to me and fellow student Jasmine Lawry, following the discovery of a World War One connection between our two families.” he said.
“Part of the preparation for our trip to Gallipoli was researching
our family history ... this was where we discovered a letter, which would have the most profound impact on the whole experience of visiting this sacred site.
“This letter was found by my relative who wrote an article in 2004 and was how I discovered that I had a great-great-great Uncle, George Stringer who had fought in World War One and in particular, Gallipoli. The letter included details about his injuries
and also about who wrote the letter whilst he was unable due to his injuries.
“George Stringer, lay dying in a hospital in Malta, with his close friend Henry Lawry who sat by his side and wrote a letter, with his last ever words to his mother.
“The pair were mates from back home in central Victoria and following the outbreak of World War One, the pair had enlisted together, trained, travelled and fought together.
“They had survived Gallipoli together, before a grenade attack wounded George, and Henry was injured in a separate attack.
“In the mayhem of Gallipoli, the two had been separated for some months before they were reunited at the British Military Hospital in Malta, While Henry recovered well from his wounds, George’s condition deteriorated, and he died nine days after the letter was written.”
Will said the letter read: Dear Mother, I am still in the above hospital and improving slowly, but expect to be here for some time yet as I cannot use my arm and also my leg.
Will recalled: “As I imagined Henry sitting by George’s side, penning those last words to comfort George’s mother, I felt a mixture of sorrow for their loss and admiration for their courage. “These two great mates had grown up together and now were facing the harshest realities of war together.”
Will said visiting Gallipoli was one of the most amazing experiences of his life. :It was a life-changing moment that most people will never get to experience and that I was so fortunate to have. It was a sombre occasion but also something I took great pride in, knowing my family members had been there and contributed to the war effort that gives us this great country.”