Temporary Captain Andrew Getty was the eldest of three children of parents Moore Getty (1868-1944) and Agnes Murdock. Andrew was born in 1893 in Paisley Scotland. In 1900, the family which included a seven year old Andrew and younger sister Agnes (1900-1975) left England on the Ormuz and disembarked in Albany. Another sister, Jessie, was born in 1902. Andrew was a keen scholar and attended Perth Boys School. In 1909 he sat the University of Adelaide examinations and was placed first in two states in physical geography and geology, gaining a School of Mines Scholarship of £40 a year. He scored honors in English Literature, arithmetic and algebra. His father Moore had been a director of Moore-Getty Ltd and was in trouble with the law in 1915, accused of stealing goods from the company. Moore Getty was convicted with a jury recommendation for leniency and he was released to be of good behaviour. He later became manager of the Oxy-Weld Company, an engineering, brass finishers and sheet metal business in Hay Street. Andrew went to live in Victoria Street, Kalgoorlie and gained a Diploma in Metallurgy from the School of Mines. He enlisted in the 14th Reinforcements, 28th Battalion, in Kalgoorlie, on 20th September 1915. Andrew spent time in the training depots and rose through the ranks to sergeant.

Andrew embarked on HMAT Miltiades on 9th August, 1916, arriving in Plymouth and joining the 7th Training Battalion. In January, 1917, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. Andrew became ill with pneumonia in February, 1917, and after recovering, proceeded to France in May, joining his unit. The 28th battalion was in rest/refit or reserve areas behind the front line. Andrew was sent to Corps School in July and rejoined his unit in August. They were involved in the Battle of Menin Road in the Ypres sector 20th September. In November, he was promoted to temporary Captain while commanding a company. Andrew was granted leave to Paris in December and to England in February, 1918. He had relinquished his position as temporary Captain as he was not commanding a company. His unit was defending the line around Villers-Bretonneux during late March-April during the German spring Offensive. In May they provided support to the 6th Brigade’s attack on Ville-sur-Ancre, and in June they saw minor actions around Morlancourt.

Andrew’s record notes – admitted to CCS (61st Casualty Clearing Station) on 2nd June, 1918, suffering from an abscess of the foot. On the night of the 4th, the hospital was bombed by enemy aircraft and Lieutenant Getty was unfortunately hit by a piece of bomb while lying in bed, and sustained a penetrating wound of the skull. He received, of course, immediate surgical attention, but in spite of all that could be done for him, he died from the effects of his wound early on the 6th. Andrew is buried at the Vignacourt British Cemetery, Picardie. He is honoured at the Kings Park and Mt Lawley-Inglewood Memorials. He was mourned by family, friends and the Kalgoorlie community. Probate was granted and father Moore inherited £820. Both Andrew’s sisters became teachers and the family lived in Hillview Road.

Image of a Casualty Clearing station courtesy of The Long, Long Trail.

The air was filled with the sound of thundering hoofs and the shouts of exhilaration from hundreds of young Australian Light Horse troops as they raced across the desert towards the Turkish lines at Beersheba.

The enemy turned their machine guns on the advancing lines of horsemen, trying in vain to stop the tide as it swept towards them. Within minutes the Turks were overwhelmed as the Australians jumped their horses over the first line of trenches and then leaped off to engage in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.

Among the troops was a young West Australian lad, riding his favourite horse, a chestnut mare bred and raised at Northam. Armed with just his rifle and the courage of adrenalin, he was caught up in the excitement of the last, and one of the most successful cavalry charges ever made.

Trooper Horace Flitcroft was still 17 when he arrived in the Middle East just three months earlier but was now a veteran of several battles riding with the 10th Light Horse.

He survived the Beersheba charge without injury and went on to fight in many more major encounters, especially in Palestine.

Horace Flitcroft had migrated to Australia with his family from Cumberland in England just three years earlier. He left school to take up an apprenticeship as a fitter with the Western Australian Government Railways at Midland.

He lived away from home and kept himself busy with his work and apprenticeship studies at the Midland Technical School but still found time to join the Army Cadets, taking part in drills and parades during the week and at weekends.

While only 18, he enlisted on 1 April 1917 and soon found himself a member of the Light Horse having easily passed the horse riding tests held at Claremont. Only six of the 36 hopefuls passed.

He was soon on his way to the Middle East, quickly gaining experience from fighting in several major battles before the charge at Beersheba.

Australian General, Harry Chauvel, had orders to storm Beersheba before nightfall. The precious wells were the goal of the troops. with an urgent need for their water supplies.

With just a few hours of daylight left, Chauvel gave the go-ahead to Brigadier William Grant who had assembled his two leading regiments, the 4th and the 12th, with the 11th to follow behind.

And so began the famous charge. First at a trot, then into a canter as they got closer and finally to a gallop as the Turkish lines came into view. Fierce fighting took place but the Australians prevailed and Beersheba was taken. The Australians lost 31 killed and 35 wounded.

With service at places such as Moascar, Ismailia, Marakeb, Belah, Port Said and Cairo behind him, Trooper Flitcroft returned to Australia in July 1919 on board the MV Morvada.

He took up a soldier’s settlement of several thousand acres at Gabbin in Western Australia, clearing the land to enable him to farm wheat and sheep. He built himself a humpy from rough timber and hessian and lived there for nearly five years before he was able to build a decent mud brick dwelling.

In 1928, Horace Flitcroft married Marjorie Owen James (1901-1979) and they lived on the farm for about 30 years.

Their main entertainment was dancing, a far cry from his days as a Light Horseman. Horace was the regular Master of Ceremonies at the local Saturday night dances. He also played tennis. Horace was an elected member of the Road board. Horace and Marjorie were given a district farewell in 1947 when they retired to the city. They lived in Leederville, Hillview Road, Mt Lawley, and Coolbinia. Throughout his war service Trooper Flitcroft took many photographs and continued to do so to the end of his days.

He died on the 1st December, 1997, and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery. Horace had two siblings who also served; Private James Flitcroft W75645, 9th Infantry Battalion, AMF, WW2 and Aircraftwoman Nellie Flitcroft, 103161.

This material courtesy of Dorothy Farrell of Western Australia via DVA Anzac portal.

Image courtesy of VWMA.