Grade 5

ANZAC Historical Fiction

 
These World War 1 historical fiction stories were based on some research we had done using names from the Urquhart Street State School Roll of Honour. We found out a little bit about these former students from our school, using the Australian War Memorial's online database and filled in the blanks to create our own version of what might have happened.
 

ANZAC by Gus

Laying silently in the cold hamper which is my home, listening to the small noises around reminds me of home and good times. My beretta M1918 beside me and my knife strapped to my right. I get up just as a besozzi is thrown into my tent, I dive just in time but my comrade isn't as lucky. Grabbing my gun I run out and see the horrid expression of my commanding officer with blood running down his face, him with his glisenti M1910 knocking down a turk. Him and I slide into the recently dug trenches, the blurred yelling of my officer comforts me, with his slight accent (new zealand).
 
Soldiers beside me falling one by one, severe casualties all around, a lewis gun blares beside my ear destroying enemy forces, them running to their deaths. Rolling over the dusty, blood stained ground a Renault ft 17 takes aim, knowing if we tried to fight we would be mauled, throwing our guns down, we walk in front of them knowing our end is ahead.
 
Strolling through the prickly shrubs, the Turks holding their m1 Garands polishing the brass covered wood rest under their arms looking in the scope of death, pain and suffering which is the life of many.
 

Leo William ANDERSON by Shara

 
My legs drowned in mud; my uniform drenched all the same; had I made a mistake? Signing up was not a good idea... bombs going off, people running out without a thought and getting shot in the head. CLASH! Bullets flying everywhere and shooting into sandbags. Ssssss, the gentle sand trickles on my face. There are so many things going on, it's hard to keep track of  
just one noise.
 
At last, it was time to eat; ANZACs pulled out their food from their bags, gunshots still zinging around us. We took turns to fire at the enemy, so we could eat and fight at the same time.
 
Scratch, scratch, scratch! Being in the trenches gave us horrible lice; some of us got used to the itching but most did not. I hated the feeling of lice crawling on my body, the constant itching was exhausting.
 
Finally, a meal at last! A proper one anyway. It wasn't like we weren't using the messenger pigeon, so the boys decided to make a meal out of her. It wasn't so bad but I would rather a bit of ham or vegies. 
 
It's time for war. I rushed out of my trench, rushing towards the Turkish men. Just then, I felt a throbbing in my body. I'd been shot in action. I fell to the ground in pain. My breathing slowed, my eyes closed. This was the end for me dying at the age of twenty in Gallipoli on 7/8/1915 as of that I took my few last breaths.
 

Michael Geraghgty, Private Died in Action by Jimmy

Charlotte Geraghty
777 Triangle Terrace,
Newington
3350

Dear Charlotte,

I am sending this letter saying I might not make it back, but if I don’t, I’ll be waiting for you in the afterlife. We have a mission named Operation Michael and I’ve been promoted from Private to Commander. Anyway, I hope I come home. We’re about to leave for the operation, so I can’t say much more. Ok, so if I die, please bury me at Saint Colmcille's Cemetery.

I love you and hope you are safe. As we landed, all I saw was the wounded getting shipped back, crying out in pain. As I left the boat, my lungs choked from all the dust, but as the war went on, I grew used to it. My dear Charlotte, when I landed dust settled as the bullets hit the sandbags, sand flying, the ground stained red from all the blood.

We’re leaving for the operation, so goodbye, my darling Charlotte. Good bye.

With my love,

Michael

This was the last time Charlotte heard from him as he died in action protecting the General.

Died in action on the 21st of march during the spring offensive.

                        

The Last Letter By Tayah

Alice Anderson,
15th Victoria Street,
Bakery Hill, 3350

Dear Alice, 

This is your husband John writing from gallipoli 1916 18/5/16,

As you said you would miss me, I miss you too. Times do get very tough over here. But nobody gets it, nobody's thankful, everybody only cares  about themselves. But I know that you care, That's why I’m writing to you.

I got your letter last week. Sorry that I didn’t reply sooner, we had an active night. 32 of our soldiers were either injured or killed. 8 injured and 24 killed. I guess that's just how it is right now. But we’re also running out of soldiers and we’re all extremely tired and our bones are aching. 

Yesterday we had to carry 4 sand bags each up the most steep and humongous hills. It took an average 8 hours without stopping. We don't get any water until wednesday. But I guess I'll see you next year.

Sending you my love, John.

Alice Anderson never heard back from john. That was the last letter she ever received from him. The only other letter she read was from his friends in Gallipoli about his passing. Alice moved into a small rotted cottage with her sister Sarah. 

After 7 months Sarah moved away to America. While Alice stayed in Australia by herself. Alice became very poor and lonely over time and sadly passed away at the age of 42 with no food, money or anyone to care for her.

 In loving memory of John Austin Anderson and his wife Alice Rose Anderson.

 Lest we forget.

                                   

WW1 Leo William Hall by Mitch

Day 1
As I nervously wait on the boat to land on the gallipoli beach , I start a diary.”shhh” The boat lands on the beach, no turning back now. And now we run as fast as we can to get the trenches and thankfully I made it before the guns got fired.

Day 2
The whistle went off so we charged to the neck of the battle and sadly I kept seeing people die left ,and right from the legs ,and the chest was terrifying ,but we did not stand a chance because the machine guns moed us off like grass on a yard but so of us were able to dig a little trench.

Day 3
The sand bags were already covered in blood staines. The rations are low amo even lower. I've been wounded… and I’m dying. I fought well, but it's time.

Goodbye
Leo William Hall

ANZAC Day by Mackenzie

In 1915 I was only 14 so I had to lie about my age so I could go to war.At this time around the medics were handing out old and burnt paper slips that said if you want to go to war all of yous have to go and see the captain that runs the war and all of your fellow mates are going so now you know that your mates are going you can't go easy on them you can still shoot them i'm not stopping you from shooting them.

Ok folks,you should really go and set sail to war,ok captain but first we all need our gear so just in case we do get shot most likely you would but i've already put all of your gear in the locker rooms on the ship quick quick your ship is about to leave so you better get going,ok bye this might be the last time I see you,but I know if you do get shot all of yous will go to heaven captain screeched.

As we all set sail to go to war we all thought how long were we going to live for? We were nearly there so On the ship we had to put all of our uniform on as soon as we got there the people from vietnam already started shooting at me and a few of my fellow mates from gallipoli.

We are about 2 days in and about 3 of my friends have already got shot and wounded. The wounds have pus pouring out of them.In a glimpse of an eye my friend was about to get shot but do you know what a good friend like me does i jumped out of one of the trenches with a sandbag to try and protect myself from getting shot i leaped on top of him but sadly he had already died and without him if feel like a trapped rat in a cage I was really thirsty but i was living of rations so had to drink out of an kareseen can in the end i died to well at least im in heaven with them.

The last letter from, John Austin Anderson.

In memory of John Austin Anderson, lest we forget.

Journal of John Ross AIRD by Allira

 
Once I stepped on the rough, blistery boat, I just knew I made a big mistake. The rough sea pushed and pulled us as we went on our way to war. As the days go by, I grow more and more guilty. It has been over a week and I have completed the food and I have grown hungry over the days.
 
I grow weary and weak, my bones feel like clay smooched together. As I rest my eyes for the first time, suddenly, BAM! Wood shattered. 
"Owwww!" I cried. I staggered off the boat to see what was going on.
The boat had crashed into a cliff and had been torn apart.
 
"Get off the boat, you ferals," yelled the nasty boat driver, as we got out our machine guns and barbed wire.
The German soldiers came out and set up. 
I yelled, "DIE!", as I ran into war. I saw people die and get injured. I knew what I had to do. I had to fight and win this war. I shot and killed innocent people, who didn't want to be there.
 
Someone took my place at the machine gun. I ran out on to the field, killing and injuring others. As I looked up, the vibration from the bullet hit me. Everything went pitch black.

William Herbert Murray by Lexi

Dear Diary

I just found out William Herbert Murray was in the first world war from 1914 - 1921. His service was Australian Imperial force. He died on the 15th of november 1915 at the age of 19 because of wounds. He died at Gallipoli Dardanelles Turkey. His cemetery is at ari Burnu Gallipoli. His service number was 3202 and his unit was 6th Australian field Ambulance. He was from Ballarat Victoria Australia.

William Herbert Murrays name will be projected onto the exterior on the hall of memory on tue 30th of may 2023 at 2:15 am then on sat 5th of august 2023 at 9:16 pm then on thur 16th november 2023 at 9:08 pm then on tue 27th of feb 2024 at 2:43am then last one is on tue 14th may 2024 at 4:10am.

In the army you can’t get fresh water you have to transport to another country to get water that is actually fresh. I’m still wondering how they brush their teeth? I wonder how they will sleep or eat food.

Rest in Peace by Lexi

George Elliott Finnis by Georgia

People were on the ship getting ready to get of the ship “ finally” I sighed we loaded are guns.”Get in order” shouted the commander we got off the ship boarding onto the dock in egypt we saw are enemies we began fighting I could hear gunshots then I heard footsteps someone jump on on me I landed on the ground the man faced his gun at me ready to shot I quickly moved my feet on his chest and moved on his back on the sandy ground then I sprinted away to the camps.

I saw my friend and we were scared. The commander said “ go back to fighting so we went back. I looked to the side and I saw my friend was about to get shot. I got my gun and shot my friend by accident “NO!” I ran to my friend with his last word “good luck” then his eyes shut and the commander came up to me “ I'm sorry for your loss but you have to keep going” I cried for a bit then I got on my feet and kept going.

I was shooting as hard after the second battle. We rested in cabins. The enemies were on the ether side of egypt. The battle went on for months after the battle finished. We got on board. It took 5 months to get back to ballarat. A few days later I felt sick and everything went black fell to the ground. George Elliott Finnis died of a mysterious illness. He was born in 1910 to 1950. by Georgia.