Fair Dinkum History

07/04/2025

With the news that the Newcastle Knights will be donning the colours of the 35th Battalion aka Newcastle's own from the First World War, it felt appropriate to give a little lesson on who the men of this battalion were.

The 35th Battalion was formed in December 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales. The bulk of the battalion's recruits were drawn from the Newcastle region and thus it was dubbed "Newcastle's Own". Reflecting the demographics of the area, there were a high proportion of miners among the battalion's original members.

The 35th Battalion became part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. It left Sydney, bound for the United Kingdom in May 1916. Arriving there in early July, the battalion spent the next four months training. It crossed to France in late November, and moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 26 November, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17.

The battalion had to wait until the emphasis of British and Dominion operations switched to the Ypres Sector of Belgium in mid-1917 to take part in its first major battle; this was the battle of Messines, launched on 7 June. The 35th's next major battle was around Passchendaele on 12 October. Heavy rain, though, had deluged the battlefield, and thick mud tugged at the advancing troops and fouled their weapons. The battle was a disaster for the 35th; 508 men crossed the start line but only 90 remained unwounded at the end.

For the next five months the 35th alternated between periods of rest, training, labouring, and service in the line. When the German Army launched its last great offensive in the spring of 1918, the battalion was part of the force deployed to defend the approaches to Amiens around Villers-Bretonneux. It took part in a counter-attack at Hangard Wood on 30 March, and helped to defeat a major drive on Villers- Bretonneux on 4 April. The desperate nature of the fighting at this time is revealed by the fact that the 35th Battalion suffered nearly 70 per cent casualties during these operations.

Later in 1918, the 35th also played a role in the Allies' own offensive. It took part in the battle of Amiens on 8 August; fought several small battles during the rapid advance that followed; and at the end of September provided reserves for the joint Australian-American operation that breached the Hindenburg Line, thus sealing Germany's defeat. The 35th Battalion disbanded in March 1919.

Information and Photos source: Australian War Memorial

24/04/2024

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

~ Written by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

24/04/2024

This song was written at the height of Covid lockdowns and the message behind the song is so relevant to the world we find ourselves in today!!

No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in; we will never forget those that have answered the call, paid the ultimate sacrifice; those that served and returned home and those that serve today!!

Australian and proud, what a country, what a place, we salute you, on this Anzac Day.🇦🇺 Lest We Forget 🇦🇺www.thehypeboys.com.au

07/03/2024

Our men and women of the ADF train for war which means no matter how much they try to minimise the risks; sadly we still lose soldiers in training accidents.

Tonight we remember Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon from 2nd Commando Regiment. The ADF confirmed this afternoon that Jack died following injuries he sustained during a parachuting incident on the 6th of March 2024.

At this time Defence’s main priority is to support Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon’s family and our thoughts are with them and his friends as they grieve their loss.

Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon’s father Joel Fitzgibbon provided the following statement on behalf of the Fitzgibbon family:

“We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful Jack. Serving in the special forces was Jack’s dream job and we take some comfort from the fact that he died serving his nation in a uniform of the ADF,” he said.

“Jack was a dedicated, highly skilled, and courageous soldier. He was an experienced parachutist.

“Our lives will never be the same without Jack, but we will always remain proud of him and his many achievements.”

Defence takes every step to mitigate unnecessary risk, but unfortunately today we mourn the loss of a soldier and colleague.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway and Defence will not provide further comment on the incident while the investigation is occurring.

The Australian Army has temporarily paused all parachute training. RIP Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon; you can stand down now for your duty is done and you have done it well. Lest We Forget.