As Dad's last surviving son, I was awarded his 1915 ANZAC Commemorative Medallion.
My father, 946 Private Jesse Wormwell.
"A" Company, 10th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
He enlisted 01/09/1914 and as a member of the Fighting Tenth, he was amongst the first to land at what was to become known as ANZAC Cove on 25/04/1915.
Wounded in Action 17/05/1915, aged 26.
14/06/1889 - 12/11/1959
He was an ANZAC, and I'm proud of my dad.
Dad was awarded the Gallipoli Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. I also display a replica of the Gallipoli Medal that was struck, the colours approved by the king, to be issued to all ANZACs but then denied by the British parliament.
Part of the 10th Battalion, on parade, and waiting to disembark from the ship and land at Gallipoli.
The landing barges being towed to shore by a steam launch early on a miserable morning. A sight I hope we never have to see again.
My eldest brother, SX13151 Private Jeffery Wormwell.
Motor Transport. 2/3 Ordinance Store Company. Enlisted 07/06/1941. Captured 14/02/1942 (Singapore) aged 20. He turned 21 as a prisoner, building the infamous Burma Railway over the River Quai.
11/04/1922 - 08/08/2002
Until he returned from the war he was always known as Laddie.
13 years older than me, he was my hero.
FATE by Jeffery Wormwell
Listen to me while I tell you a tale how fate dealt a blow that sent me to jail.
Fate was my guide and I never could tell, if during life's trail it would land me in Hell.
I put on a uniform some years ago and travelled afar to fight the foe.
'Twas when we got there that fate dealt the blow that sent me to jail and ended the show.
I was three years a prisoner, a prisoner of war, living through Hell on a far distant shore.
Now that is past and I'm home once more, trying to forget the things that I saw
Now fate is my guide and I never will know, in regards to the trail, how far it will go.
So until trails end when fate closes the gate I'll enjoy my life before it's too late.
JW
Jeff was awarded the Pacific Star, Burma Star, British War Medal and the Australian Service Medal.
Me (7), Jeff (20) and Jack (15). Portrait taken prior to Jeff going overseas.
Jack (18) and Dad (54) 1944.
729 CSM Samuel Wormwell (right).
"C" Company, 27th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Dad's brother and my uncle Sam. He enlisted 15/02/1915, fought at and survived Gallipoli, only to be killed in northern France, near Villers Bretonneux, aged 39.
He had previously fought in South Africa in the Boar War as a corporal but, at the time of his death in France, held the rank of Company Sergeant Major and a battle field commission to Warrant Officer. His rise through the ranks was probably because of his service in Africa, and Australia's shortage of experienced officers.
June 1877 - 05-11-1916
My older brother 152313 L.A.C. Jack Wilfred Wormwell (left).
Too young to enlist in the Armed Forces, he became an Air Raid Warder, then joined the Air Training Corps before joining the RAAF Reserve in 20/11/1943 to become a Leading Aircraftsman.
28/12/1925 - 14/06/1997
I liked Jack, I miss him.
Jack, who never left Australia, was awarded the British War Medal.
I could obtain no record of which medals Sam may have gained in Africa so I display a Transvaal Orange Free State Cape Colony Commemorative medal replica along with his Gallipoli Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. His other awards, and pension, issued upon his death, were divided between his wife in England and his defacto wife in Australia (and subsequently, sadly, lost).
Sam, a comparatively wealthy man, left his wife Ada and sons, Arthur and Fred, under rather poor circumstances in England (reason unknown) and arrived in Australia in 1910 to settle at Murray Bridge in South Australia. He was later followed and joined by a married woman from a near by town in England. Dad, also married to Sarah with two daughters May and Elsie, came to Murray Bridge about 1912. It is believed that Sarah was expected to follow Dad once he was settled, but then refused. Dad probably met up with her later while convalescing in England but nothing is confirmed. Sam did go home to Ada and his children but, like Dad, he would have had to return to Australia to be demobilised from the army. Before the war, Sam and Dad had established a building business in Murray Bridge and it is (once again) assumed that Dad left Sam to wrap up the business while he enlisted, otherwise they would have joined together.
Another brother, Edward, also left his wife Minie and two children, Bill and Jack, and came to Australia about the same time as Sam and Dad, but settled near Renmark, on the river near the South Australian/Victorian/New South Wales borders. He later had a son in Australia (or one of his children joined him from England) and it is thought the son had no children because recent inquiries found no knowledge of a Wormwell existing in the area now.
It is known that all three wives, with their children, were supposed to follow their husbands to Australia, but it is not known why they did not, except in Sam's case, he told his wife to sell her tickets and stay in England.
I did not serve overseas but was awarded the Anniversary of National Service Medal and The Australian Defence Medal.
4709900 Signalman Ronald Wormwell.
9th Platoon, "B" Company, 16 National Service Battalion.
Second Intake 1955, Woodside, South Australia.
The only photographic evidence I have to show that I spent five years in the Army learning to kill, maim, march, fire a rifle and various machine guns, march, throw a grenade, march, carry a radio, and march carrying a heavy radio. Way before the silicone age of transistors. That's me, far left, third row from the top. The only thing I maimed with a bayonet was a bag of straw. It survived.
31/12/1934 -
I'm afraid I didn't enjoy the army, nor the army me.
My commemorative wall
My family have well served this country, Australia.
