The Silent Soldiers of Naours
-stories from beneath the Somme.
Photos courtesy Dominique Bossut/Gilles Prilaux/Inrap/Cité souterraine de Naours
Another relative visits Naours and tells another signature story
Harold Southlan Row 111888
4th Artillery Brigade AIF
Granddaughter Sue North visits her Grandfather’s signature ( Harold Row)at Naours in September 2023.
Harold Southlan ROW
Regimental number 11888
Place of birth Portland Victoria
Enlisted 9/8/1915
Religion Church of England
Occupation Station overseer
Address Gray Street, Hamilton, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 26
Next of kin Father, J A Row, jeweller,
Gray Street, Hamilton,Victoria
Enlistment date 9 August 1915
Rank on enlistment Gunner
Unit name Field Artillery Brigade 4,
Reinforcement 3
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/32/2
Embarkation details
Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on
board HMAT A32 Themistocles on28 January 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Gunner
Harold enlisted in the Australian Army on August 9, 1915. He joined the 4th Artillery Brigade. After a trip to Egypt to train with artillery, he was sent to France and then to Belgium. He was gassed and lost his sight, along with gunshot wounds to his head in late 1917 in horrific fighting in Belgium forcing the army to send him to England for care. He would eventually be discharged and departed for Australia on January 10, 1918.
He would remain in country Victoria until
his death in December 08, 1967 (78)
in Coleraine, Victoria from lobar Pneumonia.
Regimental number 11888
Place of birth Portland Victoria
Enlisted 9/8/1915
Religion Church of England
Occupation Station overseer
Address Gray Street, Hamilton, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 26
Next of kin Father, J A Row, jeweller,
Gray Street, Hamilton,Victoria
Enlistment date 9 August 1915
Rank on enlistment Gunner
Unit name Field Artillery Brigade 4,
Reinforcement 3
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/32/2
Embarkation details
Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on
board HMAT A32 Themistocles on28 January 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Gunner
Harold enlisted in the Australian Army on August 9, 1915. He joined the 4th Artillery Brigade. After a trip to Egypt to train with artillery, he was sent to France and then to Belgium. He was gassed and lost his sight, along with gunshot wounds to his head in late 1917 in horrific fighting in Belgium forcing the army to send him to England for care. He would eventually be discharged and departed for Australia on January 10, 1918.
He would remain in country Victoria until
his death in December 08, 1967 (78)
in Coleraine, Victoria from lobar Pneumonia.
4th Artillery Brigade…. Perhaps at Pozieres 1916
Coming in late 2023
A new book revealing the story of 40 more soldiers who visited Naours during the Great War.
https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Shadows-Beneath-the-Somme/Gilles-Prilaux/9781922896469
A new book revealing the story of 40 more soldiers who visited Naours during the Great War.
https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Shadows-Beneath-the-Somme/Gilles-Prilaux/9781922896469
During the Great War , over 2000 signatures were left on the walls of these underground limestone Caves in Picardy in France. They are a legacy to the men to fought and a legacy to future generations. These are the stories of the "Silent Soldiers of Naours."
The Story of the Naours Caves and the Aussie connection.
Special Thanks to Gilles Prilaux/Dominque Bossut/INRAP/Cité souterraine de Naours for Website Content.
Private Herbert John Leach
We recently had contact with Lyn Phillips from South Australia. Her Grandmother’s brother was Herbert John Leach. He is one of the Silent Soldiers of Naours who left his name on the cave walls!
We know his story but glad to hear from a relative and able to discover more. Thankyou Lyn.
Private H J (Herbert John) Leach (1975), his inscription was “H.J. Leach Merely a Private 13/7/1916” , he was killed not long afterwards on 23 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm near Pozieres. He is buried in a marked grave near Pozieres.
Herbert was the 2nd son and 2nd eldest of Eli and Dora Maria Leach. He had 2 younger sisters and the youngest in the family was a brother. Tragically his mother and youngest brother (aged 12) were killed January 11th, 1913 when the automobile in which they were travelling was hit by a train. Eli and Mr A H Padman (driver and neighbour) were in the front seat, Dora and son who were in the back seat, took the full force of the impact and were killed instantly. Eli and Mr Padman were dragged under the train for 100 yards and miraculously escaped serious injury. To then have Herbert killed in France in 1916, just 3 years later, must have been a terrible time for the family. After Herbert’s death, his eldest brother started visiting Herbert’s girlfriend and they went on to marry 22 February 1919.
Herbert John Leach, known as Herb to his family, enlisted in the AIF on 7 January 1915, at Oaklands (Adelaide), aged 23 years and 7 months. He was a carpenter by trade. In February 1915 he was placed in the 10th Battalion, 5th Reinforcements and embarked from Adelaide on HMAT A20 “Hororata” April 1915, bound for Alexandria. Herbert was stationed there during May and June 1915 before being sent to Gallipoli where he served for 5 months (July-December 1915). He was sent to Lemnos for rest just prior to the evacuation of the peninsula and then returned to Alexandria (January-March 1916) where he joined the BEF 27 March 1916. Herbert disembarked in Marseilles (“Saxonia”) 3 April 1916 and was killed in action 23 August 1916 in the Battle for Mouquet Farm ((Pozieres). He is buried at the A.I.F. Burial Ground Flers, Somme, France (Grave reference XII J7).
Thanks Lyn for the photos . There is even a postcard that he wrote from Naours that the family now has.
Lest we forget!
We recently had contact with Lyn Phillips from South Australia. Her Grandmother’s brother was Herbert John Leach. He is one of the Silent Soldiers of Naours who left his name on the cave walls!
We know his story but glad to hear from a relative and able to discover more. Thankyou Lyn.
Private H J (Herbert John) Leach (1975), his inscription was “H.J. Leach Merely a Private 13/7/1916” , he was killed not long afterwards on 23 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm near Pozieres. He is buried in a marked grave near Pozieres.
Herbert was the 2nd son and 2nd eldest of Eli and Dora Maria Leach. He had 2 younger sisters and the youngest in the family was a brother. Tragically his mother and youngest brother (aged 12) were killed January 11th, 1913 when the automobile in which they were travelling was hit by a train. Eli and Mr A H Padman (driver and neighbour) were in the front seat, Dora and son who were in the back seat, took the full force of the impact and were killed instantly. Eli and Mr Padman were dragged under the train for 100 yards and miraculously escaped serious injury. To then have Herbert killed in France in 1916, just 3 years later, must have been a terrible time for the family. After Herbert’s death, his eldest brother started visiting Herbert’s girlfriend and they went on to marry 22 February 1919.
Herbert John Leach, known as Herb to his family, enlisted in the AIF on 7 January 1915, at Oaklands (Adelaide), aged 23 years and 7 months. He was a carpenter by trade. In February 1915 he was placed in the 10th Battalion, 5th Reinforcements and embarked from Adelaide on HMAT A20 “Hororata” April 1915, bound for Alexandria. Herbert was stationed there during May and June 1915 before being sent to Gallipoli where he served for 5 months (July-December 1915). He was sent to Lemnos for rest just prior to the evacuation of the peninsula and then returned to Alexandria (January-March 1916) where he joined the BEF 27 March 1916. Herbert disembarked in Marseilles (“Saxonia”) 3 April 1916 and was killed in action 23 August 1916 in the Battle for Mouquet Farm ((Pozieres). He is buried at the A.I.F. Burial Ground Flers, Somme, France (Grave reference XII J7).
Thanks Lyn for the photos . There is even a postcard that he wrote from Naours that the family now has.
Lest we forget!
Another soldier identified by a relative!
Henry James Browne AIF 576
( special thanks to his granddaughter who he never met -Maree White)
…...…….She has travelled to the Somme but never knew of Naours and the secrets that the caves there hold.
Maree’s sister Suzanne White made the wonderful discovery on our website!
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Henry James Browne, known as Harry to his family, was my grandfather, he joined the AIF in October 1914 in Brisbane. His family at the time were living in the Lismore, a town in the north of New South Wales. His father, Robert Browne, was the editor of the "Northern Star" - the regional newspaper. The towns are about 200 km apart but Harry had connections with Brisbane having been born there. This may have been the closest centre to enlist
He was placed in the 15th Battalion and sent to train at a camp in the state of Victoria. The camp was at in a semi rural suburb of Broadmeadows, a part of greater Melbourne. It was in Melbourne that he met his future wife, my grandmother Margaret Leo Conway. They married when Harry returned from the War. He was awarded medal for Bravery in the Field (Military Medal) for action during the battle of Pozieres. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1585011 If you click on this link you will find there is a PDF document outlining his actions. Interestingly, the other soldier who was awarded with MM with Harry, L/Corporal Herbert Evens, also has engraved his name in the caves. Herbert Evens was also known as Herbert Francis Auld and also known as, post WW1, Donald Alan Auld Mcgregor. His service number was 591. He wrote many letters back to his father during the war,and letters to his sweetheart Margaret Conway. One letter is particularly difficult to read. Harry wrote it upon his return to Brisbane whilst he is in hospital. He describes the symptoms of PTSD clearly. We also have some photographs taken during the war and a formal portrait of him in his uniform. Finally, although Harry passed away in 1950 (I never met him), my mother spoke passionately about her father and his interests. She described him as a gentle intelligent man who would help out anyone. He had an interest in politics, both local and national and would listen fervently to the broadcasts from our Federal Parliament on the radio. He was enthralled by radio and would wax lyrical about how incredible it was to have such technology. Mum would tell me with tears in her eyes, how he would have loved television. (Australia only got television broadcasts in 1956). I do wonder what dear Harry would think of mobile phones, GPS and the internet. Harry marched in every ANZAC day parade whilst his health allowed. Often he would take my mother along to march beside him. ( thankyou to Dr Maree White for identifying her Grandfather's Signature at Naours) |
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Henry's signature on a Gallipoli landing Photo. Henry's engraving at Naours
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The places Henry billeted told the story of his journey of the Great War....some of the worst battles of WW1.
Another recently identified soldier........
Cpl Errol Remfry Kittson 3657 5th Divisional Signals Company Aif
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Errol Remfry Kittson joined the AIF on August 9 1915 at the age of 22 years old.
He was a natural born British subject born and living in Heywood Victoria .
He was a joiner before enlisting in the AIF at Bendigo enlistment office.
His enlistment records indicate that his initial enrolment was with the 2nd signal divisional company. He then attended the AIF 2nd Engineers Signal school from the 14th September till the 15th October 1915 before his embarkation .
He embarked for the Great War on the 23rd November 1915 aboard the HMAT Ceramic from Melbourne.Arriving in Tel El Kabar in Egypt on the 9th March 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the 5th Division Signals Company.
He underwent continual training during this time. He would shortly be shipped to France.
He spent a few days in hospital in April 1916. There is no indication of his condition but it would probably be no battle injury and some type of influenza that swept through the camps in Egypt.
On the 17th June 1916 he finally left Egypt bound for the Western Front .He arrived at the port of Marseilles in France on the 25th June 1916.
He was then attached to the 3rd Squadron Royal Flying Corp.
Quite often signallers joined the observation tasks of the early airforce. They even went aloft in balloons to observe enemy lines and communicate to the General Headquarters. It would appear from the unit diaries that Errol would spend his first few months setting up communications in an around Croix de Bac and Sailly not far from Armentieires. This area was known as the nursery where the first Australian units to arrive in France were to be exposed to trench warfare for the first time. It was an attempt to battle harden them for what lay ahead.
VIGNACOURT AND NAOURS.
In early November the 5th Signallers company would visit Vignacourt to set up communications. The war was not going well and the Germans had made significant ground. The behind the lines had to be prepared for the possibility that it would become the new front line. So preparations were made. Signals offices and cable laying took place to join the front line to headquarters in the safe villages of the Somme.
Errol was probably in Vignacourt from 8/11/16 to the 21/11/16 and again from the 3/1/17 until the 14/1/17. The unit diaries tell us this.
During this time either working/training or just recuperating Errol would have probably visited Naours. It is just a short drive away by signal motorbike.
Whether Errol had a Thuillier photo taken is still to be found out but other members of the Company certainly had theirs taken but not necessarily leaving their signature at Naours!Having rejoined the 5th Signallers company in early January 1917 he was now laying cable, establishing communication bases and ensuring everywhere was connected by telephone or telegraph. Even lighting was provided as part of their work. He may have even been relaying messages by motor bike.
After leaving the safety of Vignacourt he would be stationed in Ribemont, Fricourt and Bernafay over the coming months as the battles raged around him. All the time ensuring that the signals and wiring stayed intact.
The large cathedral town of Amiens was close by and later in 1918 a push by the Germans attempting to take this major railway junction to cut off supplies and provide a quick advance to the Channel and win the war.
In July 1917 Errol would find he and his signals company further north, this time in Belgium. He was training, laying cable and reequiping many of the the signal stations Dickebush, Messines and Ypre were the battlegrounds he was now providing communication support for.
During 1917, the battles in Belgium such as Passchendale, Ypres and Messines ridge were to take many lives. Errol would continue to work alongside his company replacing wires, setting up phone lines and messaging important information to the front by bicycle or motorbike.
Finally in January 1918, he and 30 of his company were rewarded for their service with leave to the UK. I am sure he would have relished the chance to escape the horrors of war. The Germans were about to make one final push but it was to fail . Errol would end the war on the Somme in Heilly near Corbie and Villers Bretonneux and finally in Peronne and Oisemont , Errol would hear of the Armistice here.
He may have even telegraphed the news to others on the battlefields.
Errol left Australia in November 1915 . 3 years later he was lucky enough to have survived the horrors that would claim millions of lives and over 50000 young Australian men.
He played a vital role in providing communication between the soldiers at the front , others near by and General Headquarters who were planning the battles.
He returned to Australia from Warwickshire after a stint in hospital in England with influenza . He departed England on the 5/4/1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 20/7/1919.He was to eventually move to Auckland ,New Zealand and would pass away on the 21/11/1962 at the age of 69 .
His legacy and service lives on though in the caves under a small village of Naours in northern France . It was here that he visited with mates on leave and left his name over 100 years ago, a reminder of the service he and others gave during the Great War.
His name and his service is remembered on a monument in Inglewood ,Victoria, Australia according to Virtual War memorial Australia. His brother is also remembered there as serving. It says that the monument holds the names of 213 serviceman from the region. His hometown of Heywood has a monument but does not contain his name.
He was a natural born British subject born and living in Heywood Victoria .
He was a joiner before enlisting in the AIF at Bendigo enlistment office.
His enlistment records indicate that his initial enrolment was with the 2nd signal divisional company. He then attended the AIF 2nd Engineers Signal school from the 14th September till the 15th October 1915 before his embarkation .
He embarked for the Great War on the 23rd November 1915 aboard the HMAT Ceramic from Melbourne.Arriving in Tel El Kabar in Egypt on the 9th March 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the 5th Division Signals Company.
He underwent continual training during this time. He would shortly be shipped to France.
He spent a few days in hospital in April 1916. There is no indication of his condition but it would probably be no battle injury and some type of influenza that swept through the camps in Egypt.
On the 17th June 1916 he finally left Egypt bound for the Western Front .He arrived at the port of Marseilles in France on the 25th June 1916.
He was then attached to the 3rd Squadron Royal Flying Corp.
Quite often signallers joined the observation tasks of the early airforce. They even went aloft in balloons to observe enemy lines and communicate to the General Headquarters. It would appear from the unit diaries that Errol would spend his first few months setting up communications in an around Croix de Bac and Sailly not far from Armentieires. This area was known as the nursery where the first Australian units to arrive in France were to be exposed to trench warfare for the first time. It was an attempt to battle harden them for what lay ahead.
VIGNACOURT AND NAOURS.
In early November the 5th Signallers company would visit Vignacourt to set up communications. The war was not going well and the Germans had made significant ground. The behind the lines had to be prepared for the possibility that it would become the new front line. So preparations were made. Signals offices and cable laying took place to join the front line to headquarters in the safe villages of the Somme.
Errol was probably in Vignacourt from 8/11/16 to the 21/11/16 and again from the 3/1/17 until the 14/1/17. The unit diaries tell us this.
During this time either working/training or just recuperating Errol would have probably visited Naours. It is just a short drive away by signal motorbike.
Whether Errol had a Thuillier photo taken is still to be found out but other members of the Company certainly had theirs taken but not necessarily leaving their signature at Naours!Having rejoined the 5th Signallers company in early January 1917 he was now laying cable, establishing communication bases and ensuring everywhere was connected by telephone or telegraph. Even lighting was provided as part of their work. He may have even been relaying messages by motor bike.
After leaving the safety of Vignacourt he would be stationed in Ribemont, Fricourt and Bernafay over the coming months as the battles raged around him. All the time ensuring that the signals and wiring stayed intact.
The large cathedral town of Amiens was close by and later in 1918 a push by the Germans attempting to take this major railway junction to cut off supplies and provide a quick advance to the Channel and win the war.
In July 1917 Errol would find he and his signals company further north, this time in Belgium. He was training, laying cable and reequiping many of the the signal stations Dickebush, Messines and Ypre were the battlegrounds he was now providing communication support for.
During 1917, the battles in Belgium such as Passchendale, Ypres and Messines ridge were to take many lives. Errol would continue to work alongside his company replacing wires, setting up phone lines and messaging important information to the front by bicycle or motorbike.
Finally in January 1918, he and 30 of his company were rewarded for their service with leave to the UK. I am sure he would have relished the chance to escape the horrors of war. The Germans were about to make one final push but it was to fail . Errol would end the war on the Somme in Heilly near Corbie and Villers Bretonneux and finally in Peronne and Oisemont , Errol would hear of the Armistice here.
He may have even telegraphed the news to others on the battlefields.
Errol left Australia in November 1915 . 3 years later he was lucky enough to have survived the horrors that would claim millions of lives and over 50000 young Australian men.
He played a vital role in providing communication between the soldiers at the front , others near by and General Headquarters who were planning the battles.
He returned to Australia from Warwickshire after a stint in hospital in England with influenza . He departed England on the 5/4/1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 20/7/1919.He was to eventually move to Auckland ,New Zealand and would pass away on the 21/11/1962 at the age of 69 .
His legacy and service lives on though in the caves under a small village of Naours in northern France . It was here that he visited with mates on leave and left his name over 100 years ago, a reminder of the service he and others gave during the Great War.
His name and his service is remembered on a monument in Inglewood ,Victoria, Australia according to Virtual War memorial Australia. His brother is also remembered there as serving. It says that the monument holds the names of 213 serviceman from the region. His hometown of Heywood has a monument but does not contain his name.
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