The following is a guest post from the Family History of Marcia McIntyre
Bert and Cyril Longmore were first cousins to my mother, Alice Mary Jones nee True. Although the Longmore family left Gundagai when Bert was only a small child and moved to Melbourne, then Western Australia, the family always kept in contact with their relatives in Gundagai. Bert’s name is on the Cenotaph at Gundagai.
Emma True was born at Gundagai, NSW on 7 December, 1859, the daughter of Samuel Pickering True and his wife, Mary Ann nee Luff. On 11 June, 1881 at St John’s Church, Gundagai, Emma married Andrew Longmore Jnr. At the time of the marriage, Andrew was working as an overseer for the French family of Brungle, between Gundagai and Tumut. He was the son of Andrew Longmore Snr. and his wife, Mary Grant. Andrew Longmore Jnr was born in Banff, Scotland.
Emma Longmore nee True was my great aunt, being the sister of my maternal grandfather, Edward Pickering True. Andrew Longmore and his wife Emma had four sons. The eldest two sons were born in Gundagai. The family then moved to Clifton Hill, Victoria, where the younger sons were born. Emma and Andrew eventually moved to Western Australia. Two of the children died in infancy. The surviving sons were:-
Herbert George Milne Longmore,- Born Gundagai 6 April, 1882. In the 1901 Western Australian electoral roll for the electorate of Coolgardie and the district of Duketon, Herbert (Bert) is recorded as a mine employee at the Mulga Queen Mine. Bert Longmore is mentioned as a member of the prospecting party hired by T.F. Whitford to mine for gold at the “Whitford Reward” gold reef in Western Australia in 1906. Bert’s uncle, Robert Pickering “Bob” True, (born Gundagai in 1863) and Bert’s brother Cyril were also in the prospecting party.
FALL OFF A BALCONY – As the night was dark on Sunday, Bert Longmore, the popular secretary of the Bullfinch Union, decided to stay at the Commercial Hotel and drive to the Finch in the morning, instead of going out with the cricketers in the dark. After seeing the express out, Bert retired to bed and was thought to be safe and sound, but whilst Constable Goldsworthy was doing his rounds at 1.30 o’clock on Monday morning he found Bert in a large pool of blood in front of the hotel with his nose broken, four of his upper teeth knocked out and his wrist sprained. It seems that the unfortunate man has always walked in his sleep, and it is almost certain that he had walked out and fallen over the balcony. It is a pity that such an enjoyable outing should have terminated so badly, but on the other hand it is well that the victim of the accident will soon be himself again.
Bert enlisted in the A.I.F. on 15 November, 1914 at Black Boy Hill, Western Australia. He was a Corporal in the 11th Battalion (promoted 2 January, 1915) and appointed Lance-Sergeant on 11 July, 1915. Bert left Australia on board HMAT “Ascanius” which sailed from Freemantle on 31 October, 1914. On 3 November 1914, this ship joined the large convoy of ships which had sailed from Albany and made their precarious journey to war. 11th Battalion troops were amongst those first ashore at Anzac Cove at dawn on 25 April, 1915.
Bert Longmore was killed in action at Gallipoli on 1 August, 1915. He was part of the 11th Battalion’s brilliant attack and capture of a Turkish trench which became known as Leane’s Trench (named after Captain Raymond Leane who led the attack on the trench). This action was a prelude to the Lone Pine battle, which was very near Leane’s Trench. Bert was one of 36 members of the 11th Battalion killed during this action. He is buried at Gallipoli 22 – Shell Green Cemetery, Memorial Panel 63. He was unmarried. His next of kin was recorded as Emma Longmore (mother) of Cnr South and Pearce Streets, Beaconsfield, Western Australia. Bert’s name is on the WWI Cenotaph at Gundagai, possibly submitted by his maternal aunt, Mary Ann “May” Brooke of South Gundagai.
A Bullfinch Man Passes – Herbert George Milne (Bert) Longmore, brother to staff sergeant C. Longmore of Freemantle, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 1st August, was sergeant in C Company, 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade. He was well known in the goldfields, having been engaged in prospecting and mining since 1900. He took a great interest in union matters and was secretary of the Erliston Miner’s Union from 1905 to 1906 and secretary, Bullfinch Union from 1911. Prior to joining the Expeditionary Force he was at Youanmi.
Above: Cyril (left) and Bert Longmore, (right) 1914
(Original Photograph held at the State Library of Western Australia – Call Number: 005030D)
Bullfinch Mine Sports Committee, 1912. Percy Black is second from the right at the rear. Bert Longmore is third from the right in the front row. (Courtesy Battye Library, Perth)
Caption title. Written on the photograph: Bullfinch miners, 1912. Bert Longmore killed in action sgt 11th Batt. Gallipoli. Percy Black later Major DSO, DCM C de G killed in action France 1917. Written on the back: Miners ready to go on shift at Bullfinch Gold Mine in 1912. Percy Black is third from left in front row. He was one of the greatest line men in the AIF and was killed as a Major at Bullencourt France in 1917. Major Percy Charles Herbert Black was killed 11 April 1917. Herbert George Milne Longmore is identified on the photograph. He was killed in action 1 Aug. 1915.
Below is an excerpt from the Western Mail newspaper, (Perth W.A.), Thursday, 31 July, 1930 –
A Digger’s Diary (Conducted by “Non-Com”) –Leane’s Trench. – To-night (July 31) is the fifteenth anniversary of the 11th Battalion’s brilliant attack and capture of Leane’s Trench on Gallipoli. It was a prelude to Lone Pine preceded by the blowing up of mines dug under the Turkish trench, and characterised by audacity, and bull-dog determination throughout the darkness of a memorable night. One of the mines failed to explode, and this section of trench was held valiantly by the Turks, who fought almost to the last man to hold it. Counter-at tacks were vigorously launched, and the 11th men were compelled to fight with bombs, bayonets, and machine guns to hang on to their gains.
Leane’s Trench was important tactically, in view of further operations. Two of the Turkish company commanders who lost it were said to have been court-martialled and one sentenced to death. Another volunteered to lead a fresh counter-at tack on it. This opened on the morning of August 6, and was again marked by bitter fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides. The Turks were driven back at all points, but for the second time in a week Leane’s Trench became an 11th Battalion shambles.
In the first action the 11th lost 36 killed and 73 wounded. These included Capt. R. Leane, who commanded the as sault (wounded), Lieut. C. Puckle (killed), Lieut. G. Potter (wounded), Captain S. H. Jackson (wounded), Sgt. Wally Hallahan (wounded), and Sgt. Bert Longmore (killed). In the second stunt the 11th lost 55 killed and 100 wounded, including Capt. W. H. Rockliff (wounded). Capt. Boyd-Aarons (wounded), Sgt. A. Wallish, .C.M. (wounded), Lieut. A. J. Robertson (killed). Lieut. C. H. Procktor (killed), Lieut. J. Franklyn (killed), and Lieut. S. Hall (killed).
Leane’s Trench is hallowed ground for the 11th Battalion. After the Landing it was probably their most strenuous and costly operation on Gallipoli. The bitter nature of the fighting can perhaps be realised from the percentage of killed and wounded—over 50 per cent, of those engaged. Ninety one graves on Gallipoli was the price the 11th paid for that shore length—100 yards—of trench which, appropriately enough, overlooked the Valley of Despair.
Leane’s Trench was named after Bert Longmore’s commanding Officer, Brigadier General Sir Raymond Lionel Leane, CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, MC, VD, JP (12 July 1878 – 25 June 1962) was an Australian Army officer who rose to command the 48th Battalion then 12th Brigade during World War I. For his performance during the war, Leane was described by the Australian Official War Historian, Charles Bean, as “the foremost fighting leader” in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and “the head of the most famous family of soldiers in Australian history”, among other accolades. The “Fighting Leanes” from South Australia were renowned. Five of Raymond’s brothers enlisted. All had distinguished careers in the War. After the war, Raymond Leane served as Commissioner of the South Australia Police from 1920 to 1944, for which he was knighted.
Bert Longmore more than likely is one of the dead soldiers laid out above.
Above: Soldiers in Leane’s Trench, Gallipoli.
Cyril Longmore – Born 8 November, 1887 at Clifton Hill, Victoria. Soldier, author, military historian and journalist. Cyril Longmore spent his early years prospecting for gold in the Western Australian goldfields with his brother and uncle. He had an illustrious army career in World War I, joining the Australian Army on 11 November, 1909. When World War I broke out, he became an army instructor at Black Boy Hill training camp, Western Australia. After permanent service of six years, he was appointed a second Lieutenant on 23 March, 1916 and left Australia for overseas service on the “Suevic” on 6 June, 1916 with the 44th Battalion, part of Monash’s new 3rd Australian Division. He fought on the battlefields of France. On 15 May, 1917, Cyril was promoted to Captain. He was awarded the Order De Leopold – Chevalier, conferred by the King of Belgium. He also received the Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1919.
Mrs Ern Brooke of Thuddungra (and formerly of South Gundagai) has received news of her nephew, Lieutenant Cyril Longmore (machine gun section, 44th Battalion, 11th Brigade, A.I.F.) A younger brother to Sergeant H.M. Longmore (who was killed at Gallipoli). The Lieutenant has been an area officer and instructor of the Goldfield Forces since 1914, when he returned to W.A. from the military school at Albany. He was promoted to the post of Lieutenant on 10th February last and sailed for England on 19th May in charge of his section. Since then he has been in a school of musketry at Hayling Island, Isle of Wright.
After the war, Cyril was the editor of the Western Mail newspaper in Perth. He wrote several military histories that are now out of print but are available at the West Australian State Library. For many years Cyril wrote a column – The Dolly Pot – in the Western Mail which told stories of the early history of Western Australia, life in the bush, gold prospectors, miners, farmers, soldiers, folklore, tragedy and humour.
Cyril was good friends with Prime Minister John Curtin (they were both from the Perth suburb of Karrakatta) and papers relating to Cyril Longmore can be found at the Battye Library, Perth, W.A., dealing with World War I records of messages, orders, letters, reports, photographs in Gallipoli, Belgium and France; World War II papers, including reports from the North-West on the bombing of Broome (1942) and training of Aboriginal guerrillas, confidential war news dispatched to the Department of Information (1942), correspondence with John Curtin regarding 1943 election and use of Aborigines for war duties; newspaper cuttings including articles on Coolgardie gold prospecting; notes, accounts, correspondence, photographs of Third State Prospecting Party (1923).
Above: Captain Cyril Longmore and friends in England
During WWI. Cyril is on the left, with pipe, head thrown back, laughing.
Right: Cyril and Gertrude Longmore and their two eldest children, Cyril Jnr. & Margaret (Peggy).
Cyril married Gertrude Margaret Boland on 15 July, 1912 at Coolgardie, Western Australia. Cyril Longmore died 22 September, 1964, aged 77 years. His wife Gertrude died 24 October, 1963, aged 77 years. They are buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth (Cyril’s mother Emma is buried in the same cemetery). Cyril and Gertrude had five children, four of the children predeceased him.
Journalist, RSL man dies at 77. Perth – Mr Cyril Longmore, former editor of the “Western Mail” and secretary of the W.A. District of the Australian Journalists Association, died at Hollywood Hospital yesterday. Mr Longmore was awarded the Order of Leopold and the Croix de Guerre, as an Australian officer during the Great War, and was president of the Perth branch of the RSL and member of the state executive for some years. He joined the editorial staff of the “Western Australian” in 1931 and was later transferred to the “Western Mail” of which he was editor in 1940. He was appointed service commentator of the Department of Information in Melbourne. He was the state Secretary of the Australian Journalists Association from 1956 to 1962 and was awarded the gold honour badge, the association’s highest award in 1960. Mr Longmore will be buried privately. He left one son (Wilfred). Funeral of the late Cyril Longmore, formerly 44th Battalion, 1st AIF, will take place privately at the Catholic Cemetery, Karrakatta, this Wednesday afternoon.
Cyril and Gertrude had five children:- Wilfred (a dentist), Phillip (a doctor of medicine), Cyril, Jnr. (a pharmacist), Peggy (Bachelor of Arts, worked as a journalist) and Dorothy (died aged 3 years, drowned). All children, except Wilfred, predeceased their parents.
Moya Sharp
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