Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
GARRY Legge is a born and bred Novocastrian, but lives in Unanderra, near Wollongong.
He's also an artist and military buff.
Thirty years ago he discovered a large photo of a World War I soldier hidden behind a print he'd picked up in a second hand store in Tighes Hill.
"I saw the frame and thought I could use that," Legge said.
"A couple of years later, when I got round to it, I took the print out and there was the photo of this soldier."
The photo was inscribed with the name "Lieutenant Frederick George Smith".
Research at the War Memorial in Canberra revealed Smith had been a member of the Newcastle-based 2nd Battalion of the First AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) and had died of wounds suffered on the second day of the Gallipoli campaign on April 26, 1915.
Smith's next of kin were listed as George and Julia Smith of 154 Lawson Street, Hamilton.
Realising the historical significance of the photo, Garry resolved to return it to the family of Lieutenant Smith.
But where to start?
"Every Anzac Day he'd try and raise some interest to no avail," Legge's sister, Coral Kinsela, said.
"He even tried going on radio, but the trail went cold."
Enter the voice of the Hunter, the Newcastle Herald.
Legge submitted a letter to the editor seeking help.
Major John Threlfo (retired), a committee man with a Newcastle-based group called "Friends of the Second Infantry Battalion Incorporated" responded.
Threlfo's group has records of every 2nd Battalion infantrymen who served in World War I.
Threlfo confirmed Lieutenant Frederick George Smith joined the 2nd Battalion on September 3, 1914, and was wounded on April 26, 1915, and succumbed to wounds on May 8, 1915, in Cairo, where he was buried at the war cemetery.
That might have been the end of the story, if not for technology.
Legge's letter was also posted on the Herald's website.
A woman in Queensland Googling Newcastle Herald saw the letter.
"She said, 'That sounds like my friend's lost great uncle,' " Legge explained.
The woman in Queensland was Christine Luxford and her friend was Elsie who had a sister Shirlee, both of whom still live in Newcastle. Lieutenant Frederick "Fred" George Smith was their great uncle.
"It was a long way round," Shirlee explained.
"Christine remembered Elsie had an uncle who died at Gallipoli but didn't know where Elsie lived by then so she rang another friend in Newcastle that they both went to school with whose name was Diana.
"Diana called in to see Elsie at Adamstown Heights and numbers were exchanged with Garry [Legge]."
It was a roundabout way for Fred to be reunited with his family, but one that was most welcomed.
"Oh yes, we grew up knowing all about Great Uncle Fred," Shirlee said.
"He was always part of the family.
"We knew from poetry and letters from Grandfather Smith that Fred's dad never got over his death."
Lieutenant Smith's father George had moved to Australia from West Bromwich in England and had a music store at 469 Hunter Street during WWI.
"When Fred was killed, people in Newcastle donated money and had a life-size portrait done," Shirlee said.
"The portrait was hung in the courthouse at Bathurst, because Fred was working for the Justice Department as a deposition clerk when he enlisted.
"But people lost track of that portrait.
"I'd certainly be interested to know who the artist was and who commissioned it."
Fred was well looked after in Cairo.
"Two Newcastle nurses - Louisa Stovo and another nurse Williams - cared for him," Shirlee said.
"They knew him before he went overseas.
"Fred was shot up high in the arm, and haemorrhaged on May 3.
"They couldn't stop the bleeding and he died on the 8th.
"Another nurse, Myra Wise, who Fred had met in Bathurst happened to be sick in hospital in Cairo at the same time.
"Myra wrote to Fred every day from her hospital bed in Cairo.
"When he died, Louisa and Williams came to Myra's bed and told her.
"Myra then wrote a letter to Grandma Smith expressing condolences.
"Those nurses also took photos of the military funeral in Cairo which we still have.
"It must have been awful for grandma, I can't imagine what she went through.
"They had a big headstone put on the grave in Cairo, but later on the body was exhumed and put in the war memorial cemetery.
"Those young nurses, what they must have seen and dealt with must have been horrendous.
"They then went on to serve in the field hospitals of France."
Shirlee acknowledges this story has been told a thousand times over with other families.
By chance, after being wounded, Fred was shipped out of Gallipoli to Cairo with another Newcastle Boys High acquaintance who'd been shot in the hand.
"He also wrote a lovely letter to Grandma Smith after Fred died," Shirlee said.
"On May 15 they sent this fellow back to Gallipoli and he was killed in early June.
"Just so sad. War is such a waste."
Shirlee and her family are truly grateful to Legge and the Herald for helping bring Fred home.
Legge, who tries to get back to the Hunter for every Newcastle Knights home game, handed over the photo to Fred's family members in a small ceremony at Cameron Park this month. It meant the world to Shirlee.
"When you think that it's near enough to 100 years later, that somebody who had no connection to it would take the time, I just think, 'how nice is this man?' It's just so lovely to have it," she said.
"It must be a fate thing, that Fred was meant to come home."
Legge feels the same.
"I was always determined to find the family but didn't know how to do it.
"I'm really pleased it's going back to the rightful family."
Shirlee now has the task of working out where to hang the photo.
"I have a room where I do the family history. I'll ask Fred, God love him.
"Who knows, this story may spark a lead on the missing portrait."