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In these conditions at the front and with a disputed area between the
combatants, the bodies of many soldiers were lost for ever; a fact that is
clearly demonstrated by the responses given to an officer of the Australian
Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Bureau. He is responding to an
enquiry by a Bradley family member “ Madam” who was probably
Herbert’s mother. She had taken his death very badly. “A shell burst near
and Bradley was killed instantly. It got him in the back of the neck and
several other places. I saw him buried near where he fell that night - it was
impossible to put up a memorial, and I fear that the spot could not now be
located. Bradley’s name was Herbert. He came from Dudley near
Newcastle, worked at Morrison and Beeby’s Newcastle. I believe Pte.
Moore wrote to his mother. Bradley’s age was only about 18.”
Was Private Moore “Harold Moore” from Redhead?
Reference: E. W. Bennett (2692)
11. Both sides enlisted well organized
medical support systems
. Where
possible stretcher bearers took injured soldiers to dressing stations where
they were assessed, the worst being sent to field hospitals and then
forwarded to larger hospitals in France and if they were “fortunate” to a
major hospital in “Blighty” or England. The very worst cases were , after
a period of rehabilitation, then sent home to Australia.
At the same time we should be aware that a vast number of wounded
soldiers were never recovered and in many cases died in agony in no
man’s land. Some soldiers bodies remained in no man’s land for extended
periods of time as they were unable to be retrieved; not a pleasant thought
for their fellow soldiers. As the front lines remained fairly static for
lengthy periods of time many wounded who could have been saved died
in no man’s land and were lost forever. Another factor to remember is
many soldiers died on their way to dressing stations, back in “Blighty” in
a major hospital, or later due to complications. Note the figures in Butler’s
table on Page 76 of Richard Reid’s book.
Casualties in this area were worsened by the approaches of the
commanders on either side. For example, the German high command
were very conscious of the need to prevent any “break out” that would
have been detrimental to their chances of winning the war. General Von
Falkenhayn issuing orders that any trench taken by the enemy was to be
retaken immediately. Even at Messines, despite initial heavy German
losses, the status quo was re-established fairly quickly. Later another
German, General Von Below, issued a decree that basically said that no
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