THE ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED YACHT CLUB
Roll of Honour W.W.I
Having regard to the fact that 2015 was the centenary of the campaign in Gallipoli and that 2016 is the centenary of the Australian
participation in the European campaign and some of the major battles of the war on the Western Front it is more than appropriate
that the Club recognise the service and sacrifice of its members whose names are set down on the Roll of Honour Board which is
presently hung in the Billiards Room.
Accordingly, brief details of the service of each of those named will be published over the forthcoming months together with any
other relevant details which we have been able to glean from historical sources and extracts. It is sincerely hoped that in so doing
the contribution of past members of this Club in the service of their country can be, once again, recognised.
ARCHIVES COMMITTEE – Peter Kennett
George Gordon Allard
Aged 26 at the date of enlistment. Occupation Stockman of “Capua” Appian Way, Burwood.
G.G. Allard enlisted in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (Tropical Unit) (1 Battalion) which was a small
volunteer force of approximately 2,800 men raised in Australia shortly after the outbreak of war to seize and destroy German
wireless stations in (what was then) German New Guinea. Such wireless stations were seen as a threat to merchant shipping in the
region.
The formation of the AN & MEF was separate from the AIF, and comprised one battalion of infantry enlisted in Sydney together
with naval reservists, ex-sailors and militia from Queensland and was known as the 1st Battalion AN & MEF.
The 1st Battalion AN & MEF departed Sydney on HMAS Berrima on 19th August 1914.
The campaign was successful, rapidly achieving all objectives set by the War Office.
Mr. Allard was discharged from service on 4th March 1915. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory
Medal.
Roy Anslow
Roy Anslow was from Manly NSW and enlisted on 14th August 1915. He was initially posted to the 11th Reinforcements 3rd
Battalion of the A.I.F with the rank of Private.
He was transferred to the 53rd Battalion A.I.F on 14th February 1916 as part of the “doubling” of the A.I.F. Half of the recruits to
the 53rd Battalion were Gallipoli veterans of the 1st Battalion and the other half were fresh reinforcements largely from the suburbs
of Sydney. The 53rd battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.
Mr Anslow was promoted to corporal on 8th May 1916 and then to 2nd Lieutenant on 26th August 1916.
On 19th July 1916 the 53rd took part in the battle of Fromelles incurring 625 casualties, including its commanding officer. The
53rd spent the freezing winter of 1916-17 in and out of the trenches in the Somme Valley.
Mr Anslow was admitted to hospital on 2nd May 1918 suffering “gas poisoning – mild” He rejoined the 53rd on 23rd August 1918
and was killed in action on 1st September 1918. The official report of Mr Anslow’s death is as follows:
“Lieut. R. Anslow was killed in action on 1st September 1918. During the attack on Peronne this officer did magnificent work
during the advance, and on reaching the objective was in charge of the left post of the Battalion.
The enemy heavily shelled the whole line and a salvo of 8” shells killed the entire garrison of Lieut. Anslow’s post.
He was buried where he fell, in the Brickworks between Peronne and Mont St. Quentin”.
Mr Anslow was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque, Memorial Scroll, the 1914/15 Star and the British
War Medal.
Stanley Octavius Benjamin
Stanley Benjamin of Waverley, Sydney was aged 34 at the time of his enlistment. Records reveal that he was an actuary and a
representative of the AMP Society and son of Sir Benjamin Benjamin, the then chairman of the AMP Society and the first Lord
Mayor of Melbourne.
Whilst the official records are conflicting it seems more accurate that Mr Benjamin enlisted on 16th February 1915 and was posted
to 4th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade with the rank of Gunner. He embarked for the Gallipoli Peninsula on the “Thermistocles” on
14th November 1915 arriving at Gallipoli on 27th November 1915 where he was assigned to the 3rd Battery, Artillery. He took
part in the evacuation of Gallipoli and arrived in France on 11th March 1916. Mr Benjamin was assigned to the 1st Divisional
Ammunition Column in France and promoted to the rank of Bombardier, a non-commissioned rank.
Mr Benjamin died of wounds on 23rd November 1916. Official records do not indicate the nature of his wounds or when they
were received. Mr Benjamin was initially buried in a German cemetery at Montauban, however his remains were exhumed and he
is now buried at the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Picardie, France.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914/15 Star, Memorial Plaque, Memorial Scroll, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.