Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 2 - Part 16

In the Field
October 19th 1917
Dear Mr Worrall,
I presume that
the cable has already conveyed
to you the sad intelligence of
Edgar's death in action. As he
left Australia in the third
reinforcements which I commanded
at the time, and as he subsequently
came to my company in the
battalion, I had probably a
longer and more intimate
association with him than
any other officer in the battalion,
and, for that reason, and out of
my affection for him, I thought
you would be glad to hear any facts
concerning him.
He was one of the
most courageous boys I have ever
known. When he was detailed
for the Cadet Training Battalion
in England, he protested vigorously
to me on the grounds that he
would miss the fighting in France.
He wrote from the Divisional
School on the eve of his departure 

(2)
and requested that his nomination
should be withdrawn, but his
request was refused. When he
returned, early in July, he was
attached to my Company, and
his only complaint was that
he could not get an opportunity
to strike a blow at the enemy.
At length his wish was granted
and he was included in the
attack on Broodseinde Ridge
on October 4th.  His happiness was
then complete.
The night before the
attack, while we were waiting
to go into the line, we had one of
those heart to heart talks in
which men on rare occasions
reveal themselves to one
another, and I knew that all
was well with "Johnny", by
which name he was affectionately
known to all.  We wrote our last
thoughts on the front page of his
field - message book.  "Johnny"
wrote the last stanza of Newbolt's
"Clifton Chapel" - a strangely
prophetic dedication.  Shortly 

3
afterwards we moved to the front
line for the attack.  He was
with me when we formed up, and
showed his usual coolness and
bravery.  No sooner were we in
position than the enemy opened
a terrific bombardment on us,
as a preparation for his their attack
which we anticipated.  Johnny
was beside me in the shell-hole
until two minutes before
the time for the launching of
our attack, when we went to our
respective positions.  I never saw
him again.  His body was
discovered next day near the
jumping-off tape and buried
there.  He must have been

killed by a shell immediately
after he left me.  Of the four
officers in the Company, two
were killed and one severely
wounded.
Johnny was a
splendid man, clean and
straight and true, full of the
ardour and resolution of youth.
In a world of temptation he 

(4)
maintained a character unblemished
and an honor free from taint.
We mourn him as a comrade and
a friend.
I know how pointless
must be any words of mine to
comfort you in your great
sorrow, but I trust that the
knowledge that he laid down
his life in a great cause, and
the assurance that the supreme
sacrifice was not made in vain
may, in some measure, soften
the anguish you must feel.

I am,

Yours very sincerely,
W H Ellwood Capt.
B Coy. 24^th Batt. 

C.O.P.Y.

France, 29.10.17.
Dear Mr. Sharp,
In reference to your enquiry concerning the
death of 2nd Lt. E. S. Worrall.  I have already

written to his father and also two other friends in

Australia giving full particulars of his death.

"Johnnie" was a close personal friend of mine and I

assure you his untimely end is keenly regretted in

this regiment.  It was on the 4th October that the

24th Bn. was amongst others to "hop over" in an attack

on Broodseinde Ridge. The movement to the jumping off
position was accomplished unobserved, but prior to Zero
hour a heavy enemy barrage of calibres fell down on

our position.  As soon as barrage opened our movement

commenced and the attack was most successful.  "Johnnie"
went forward with characteristic dash and gameness, but

had not advanced far before he was "caught" by an enemy

shell. His death was instantaneous. He was buried

close in to the village of Zonnebeke, and we have

made an oak cross with a brass tablet attached to mark

his grave. The death of such a dear pal and such a

game soldier is a great personal loss as well as a 

blow to the regiment. All ranks testify to their

grief and mourn the loss of one who has been called west.

I may be on leave in a few weeks, so may be

able to call on you and give further details.

Sincerely yours,

Frank P. Sellick

Lt. & Adjt.

24th Bn. A.I.F.

"Stratford" Bank St.
South Melbourne
6 .11 .17
Rev. Henry Worrall,

Prahran

Dear Sir,

I notice your son has paid the supreme

penalty in France recently, and in offering my

sincere sympathy to you and your family in

your great loss, I would like to say a few

words in appreciation of your son, as a soldier

and a gentleman. As an N.C.O. at Gallipoli

his work was excellent, and he carried out trying

patrol work in addition to his other duties, in a

most satisfactory manner, being always cool &

self-possessed. I was in charge of the last party from

our Company at the evacuation, of which Edgar was

one of those chosen, and I will remember the

coolness he displayed on that occasion. When leaving

the trenches at the last moment, after having warned 

the men to file silently out, on returning along the

line to make sure all were clear, I found him

leisurely having a "last pot" at the Turks.
I afterwards was given command of the Coy.
and promoted him to the rank of sergeant, and

his work with me up to the time he was wounded in

the raid at Armentieres, was always marked by
[*the utmost cheerfulness and willingness. I was pleased to note that he was 
granted a commission on his return to the unit but regret he was not spared longer to prove his 
true worth. He was nicknamed "Johnnie" Worrall by the boys (I presume after the famous football
coach) and was one of the most popular fellows
in the Company. I feel that I must write these few words in appreciation of a fallen comrade
Yours sincerely,

Geo. S McIlroy
(Capt)*]

24^th Bn

A.I.F

Dunsterforce

Mesopotamia

Dear Mr & Mrs Worrall

My sister Gladys tells

me she is a friend of your Girl and

asks me to write to you about

"Johnny". I dropped a line before,

but am afraid it went to the 

bottom with the remainder of that

mail so I now take the opportunity

of writing again.

We always called your 

son "Johnny" and he & I were

Special pals, spending many an

Evening together while in billets.

We also had planned a trip together

to Paris after the big show in which

he lost his life.

I saw him after he was wounded

& I think I was the last he spoke

to. "We attacked on the 4th Nov

and while waiting on the Jumping

2

of Tape were subjected to a heavy

bombardment by the Enemy. During 

the afternoon of the 5th Johnny's body

was found here, & many believed [[he had]]

to have been killed during the

bombardment, but next morning

about 9 a m I was moving along

the front, when I saw some stretcher

bearers bringing a man out. I

went across & it was Johnny.

He had a blanket wrapped 

around him and appeared to

be in great pain & very weak.

I said "Hullo Johnny have you got 

a crack" He said "Yes Stan, they 

have got me this time" His voice

was very weak, and I did not 

think it wise to let him talk

so asked him to cheer up

Evidently he died within 1/2 

an hour and the bearers left 

him on the J.O.T.

Possibly you have had

other accounts but I can assure you

what I have told you is true &

thought you would like to know

the real facts. Evedently he

went forward and was hit just 

before reaching the Second objective

Johnny was a favorite with

all, and no one lived a cleaner

life or set a finer example to 

his fellows. He lived as a Christian

& died, leaving behind him an 

unblemished record.

I felt his death very much

realizing I have lost one of my

best and truest friend, but I 

think of the fact That his life

was clean and his death noble

I offer you all my heart felt

sympathies and trust that God 

in His Goodness will heal the

great wound in your hearts.

Yours Very Sincerely

Stan G Savige Cpl