The Story of the Cornet used for the Bugle Calls for the 31st Battalion is an interesting one told by Life Member and historian Peter Nelson. This year (19th July 2026) will mark the 110th anniversary of the battle of Fromelles which will be commemorated in a service at the Ipswich RSL Memorial Hall Honour Stone at 63  Nicholas Street, Ipswich, Queensland.

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The Battle of Fromelles fought in Northern France by the Australian 5th Division was the first battle by Australian troops on the Western Front after the withdrawal and re-organization following the Gallipoli campaign.

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Our 31st Battalion was a part of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division during the battle. It is the only Battalion from that battle still serving. As the CO – LTCOL Merrick Lalor and the RSM – WO1 Glenn Herbert of 31/42 Bn RQR are attending the commemoration, the Army Museum North Queensland has granted permission to allow the 31st Bn WW1 – Cornet to accompany the RSM down to Brisbane to be on Display at the Commemoration Service.

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This Cornet was originally donated to the 31st Bn by Mr A.J.Cotton of Hidden Vale Station,-Grandchester, approx 32 Kms from Ipswich. After its Historic Service in WW1. – By sheer chance, it was acquired on ebay by 31st Bn Assoc. Historian and Life Member Peter Nelson in 2009.

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Peter’s Grandfather LT J.M. Nelson MC served with 31st Battalion during WW1 and took part in the Battle of Fromelles.
This Cornet, after Peter arranged it to be repaired, was used to play the Last Post for each of the 250 Bodies found at Pheasant Wood in 2008 that were reburied in the New Cemetery at Pheasant Wood in 2010. The search for these missing diggers from the Battle of Fromelles relentlessly driven by Lambis Englazos is covered in other posts on this website.

Link to Lambis Lecture – Search For the Missing Diggers of Fromelles

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The history which Peter has entitled it “The Heart and Soul of the Brown and Gold” is featured below and is well worth while reading. This Cornet will be on Display at our Commemoration Service at the Ipswich RSL on the 19th July 2026.

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The Battle of Fromelles was fought in northern France on 19/20th July 1916. It has been described as the worst 24 hours in Australian Military history because of the horrific number of casualties (5,0000) in such a short period of time. Regimental No 983 Pte Harry Willis was one of the diggers who fought and died in this battle.

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Harry was a farm labourer who grew up in the South Gippsland area of Victoria on a farmlet near Alberton. He Enlisted at the age of 19 at Yarram on 14th July 1915.  He was posted to the 31st Battalion, a part of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division. After training in Egypt he was deployed with the Battalion to the western Front in Northern France not far from the Belgian Border. It was here that the 5th Division, with very little preparation,  was, within days,  disastrously plunged into the Battle of Fromelles.

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One of the things that Harry carried with him into battle was a medal issued by the Shire of Alberton and this was to become a key means of identifying that an Australian soldier was buried in unmarked grave pit along with 250 others. This grave pit was adjacent to Pheasant Wood on the German side of the line where bodies had been collected by German burial parties in the aftermath of the battle. These missing bodies lay undetected for almost 100 years after the tragic battle.

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The search for the missing soldiers from the battle of Fromelles has featured in a number of articles on this website. These articles can be retrieved by typing the name Lambis Englezos in the search Bar of this website. Lambis is the prime researcher and motivator who over many years of persistent effort was responsible for locating Harry Willis and the other missing 250 soldiers from the battle.

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More recently at the behest of the Military Historical Society Of Australia, Lambis also delivered an interesting lecture at the Gaythorne RSL Brisbane (19th February 2026) outlining the processes, battles and struggles he undertook to provide some final dignity for these missing diggers.

Link To Lecture By Lambis Englezos on His Search for the Missing Soldiers From The Battle of Fromelles

A boyish Looking Harry Willis after Enlisting

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The Alberton Medal – Issued to Harry Willis by the Shire of Alberton – Found at the

Pheasant Wood Grave Pits – Proof Positive that The Bodies Found Were Australian

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A more complete story of Harry Willis has been written by Tim Whitford who is a descendent of the Willis family. The story is included on the website of The Fromelles Association of Australia Story. A link is provided below.

Link To Fromelles Association Of Australia Site Featuring Harry Willis

When it comes to contributions to the service the Hastie family are up there with the best of them. Led by the father Doug and followed by Sons Marc and Brook the family reached a combined service length of 100 years and counting. All were members of 31RQR at some stage together, with Doug as Bn 2/IC whilst Marc and Brook were in the ranks.

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Doug who originally joined on 1st Mar1961 served  in a number of units both in the ranks and as a commissioned Officer. Posted to 31RQR in the 1980s he finished his military career in 11 Training Group, Townsville. He is one of the few members of the Australian Army to wear three separate long service medals EM RFM RFD. (See the table below showing tally of family service).

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Sons Marc and Brook both  joined 31RQR initially with Marc transferring to the ARA as a Captain and later as a  Major whilst Brook’s service continued as a reservist through to the rank of Major. Brook is currently an Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Queensland Her Excellency Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM. He is a candidate for Staff College and we wish him every Success for the future.

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Anzac Day Commemorations saw members of the 31 Battalion Association marching in Townsville and in Brisbane whilst serving members of 31/42 Battalion RQR provided catafalque parties in the Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay areas.

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One feature of the Association’s Brisbane march was that three members of the Hastie family were in the march, Father Doug and his two Sons Marc and Brook. Whilst Brook is the only member of the family still serving their combined service will amount to 100years on 8th May 2026. Congratulations to the Hastie family on your record of service to Australia.

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Also marching with us in Brisbane this Anzac day was Association Member Keith Watts who at 93 Years of age kept pace with the best. Keith reckons that he must be one of the oldest ex-Nasho members still on parade. Our member George Stanger claims to be the oldest surviving ex-Nasho member but George was prevented from attending the march this year due to his caring duties at home.

Fortunately, considering the average age of our members in Brisbane, we were placed behind the Pipes and Drums of the St Andrews Pipe Band and the Cameron Highlanders which saw us moving at a more sedate pace than in previous years.

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31/42RQR Catafalque Party – Dawn Service – Anzac Day 2026

31Bn Association Members at Townsville March – Anzac Day 2026

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After the Townsville March Anzac Day 2026

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After The Townsville March – Anzac Day 2026

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Brook and Doug Hastie Attended the Brisbane March Anzac Day 2026

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Association Members Gather After a Wet March in Brisbane

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2/31st Battalion Memorial Southbank – Brisbane

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31/42 RQR Catafalque Party – Gracemere – Anzac Day 2026

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31/42 RQR Catafalque Party – Anzac Day 2026

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31/42 RQR Catafalque Party – Anzac Day 2026

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31/42 RQR Catafalque Party – Anzac Day 2026

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LEST WE FORGET

Congratulatory messages from Townsville and Brisbane:

A very interesting & informative Lecture by Lambis Englezos AM on the Lost Diggers of Fromelles today (19 Feb 2026) at Gaythorne RSL.Approx 100 people attended including a number of relatives of Diggers who were in the Battle. One highlight was former Governor General, Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, reading a letter to Military Authorities by Mrs J Alice Goulding, seeking information of her missing (for 3 yrs) son, John Joseph Goulding of 31st Battalion. See photo with image of Grieving Mother statue.

Lambis Englezos AM Delivering Lecture on the Search for The Missing Diggers

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Many of the approximately 100 people present in the room, plus roughly 40 others connected via Zoom streaming sessions, were aware of the immense amount of work done by Lambis. His efforts in the search for the missing bodies of Australian Diggers are legendary. It has been an ongoing work over many decades to restore dignity to the men who fought and died in the WW1 battle of Fromelles which took place on 19th July 1916. Fromelles is in Northern France (approx 15km south of the Belgian Border).

Lambis was invited by the Military Historical Society of Australia (Queensland Division) who arranged for the Lecture to take place at the Gaythorne RSL Lecture Theatre. After the introductory comments by the local Acting President of the Military Historical Society Lambis was introduced by Military History Professor Vic Nurcombe who has also done considerable research on the Australian participation in WW1.

In an early part of his Lecture Lambis stressed that his background was not in the Military but rather as a Teacher of Art in Melbourne. However he became interested in the battle of Fromelles, known as the, “worst 24 hours in Australian history”, because of its horrendous 5,000 casualties.

The battle was the first commitment of Australian units on the western front after the reorganization, retraining, in Egypt subsequent to the withdrawal from Gallipoli at the end of 1915.  It was poorly planned by British General Hacking who threw the Australian 5th Div (Comd by Gen Mackay) into  the line in less than a week against German defences that had been constructed and consolidated over many months. Involved were the 8th, 14th and 15 Brigades. Of specific interest to members of the 31st Battalion Association our Bn was part of the 8th Bde. The CO 31st Bn was LTCOL Frederick Toll.

The search by Lambis started as a result of his connection with veterans of the Battle of Fromelles. They refered to themselves at the “19th July Men” The story of his discussion with veteran Bill Boyce in Sept 1992 including an aerial photo of the battlefield is recorded on this website.     Link To Discussion With Bill Boyce.

Lambis provided a timeline of events that took place from the time of his research of the battle, his analysis of the air photos at the time and the identification of the mass grave trenches. His subsequent questioning as to why this site had never been investigated by the Commonwealth Graves Commission led to increased publicity and interest by descendents of families of these diggers.

Ongoing battles with officialdom both in Australia and in Britain slowed down the process, however continued research with German authorities in 2007 led to the discovery of a German burial Order in Munich dated July 1916 referring to the burial of soldiers adjacent to Pheasant Wood. In an initial ground survey of the site a medal (Alberton Shire (Victoria) Medal) was found which belonged to  Harry Willis of the 31st Battalion. (A picture of the Alberton Shire Medal and a brief mention of Harry Willis can be found here. Link To Picture of Alberton Shire Medal).This was the clincher that convinced authorities that indeed Australian Diggers were buried there. Finally digging was approved and got underway in 2007 continuing through to 2009.

Lambis referred to the generosity of Mme Marie Paule Demassiet the owner of the land on which the bodies of the diggers had been buried and who had also lost one of her ancestors in WW1. Not only did she allow the investigatory dig to begin but subsequently donated the section of land to Australia. Sadly Mme Demassiet passed away and in one of the strange co-incidences which occurred during this search she was buried on 19th July 2021, the anniversary of the battle.

Link To The Story of Mme Demassiet

An ongoing, highly successful, effort to identify the missing diggers and the establishment of the new Pheasant Wood Cemetery took place in 2010, just six years prior to the centenary of the Battle. The bodies missing 250 bodies were re-interred in the new cemetery and gravestones are marked as identifications are made. Some of this has been previously covered in articles on this website. Many members of the 31st Battalion Association visited the Battlefield for the 19th Jul 2016 centenary

Link to Previous Article on the Search for the Missing 250 Diggers

Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, reading a letter to Military Authorities by Mrs J Alice Goulding,

seeking information of her missing (for 3 yrs after Battle of Fromelles) son, 

John Joseph Goulding of 31st Battalion.

Link To Letter from Grieving Mother on This website

Lambis finished his lecture by referring to people and groups such as the Military Historical Society and the Australian Remembrance Army who are continuing to do fine work in ensuring that Our Diggers in Cemeteries all over Australia are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. He specifically named the late LTCOL Jim Bourke MG AM Phd who did so much for the repatriation of the missing diggers from the Vietnam War. Many 31Bn Association Members still remember Jim’s excellent efforts as Adjutant of 31 Battalion in the early 1970s.

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Lest We Forget

Link To Lecture By Lambis Englezos 19th Feb 2026

Note: Sound in the above Video Link is of variable quality particularly during the first 6 minutes of the introduction by Prof Vic Nurcombe. The text in the captions may be useful but the accuracy of the spelling of names, places and people cannot be relied upon.

Lambis opening remarks – Picture showing Original Cemetery At VC Corner where 411 diggers were

Buried After The Battle

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Pheasant Wood Cemetery – Re-interment of the Missing 250

Lambis with Descendents of Battle of Fromelles Diggers

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Lambis with Audience – Asking Questions At Conclusion of Lecture

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Foot Note:

Of all the Battalions in the Battle of Fromelles the 31st Battalion is the only Battalion which is still in existence.

It is currently serving as The 31st/42nd Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment  

Part of 11th Australian Infantry Brigade.

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Association Member Peter Nelson, has just completed the latest update (as at November 2025) of members of the 31st Battalion AIF from World War I. This has been an ongoing project which has already taken an immense effort on his part. Further information is being gathered and verified from different sources leading to a greater appreciation of the lives of the men who fought in this savage global conflict.

Click on the Link Below:

https://31bnassn.org/31st-battalion-ww1-personnel-lists/

or

From Our Website Menu Click:

Unit Matters > 31st Battalion > 31st Battalion – WW1 Personnel Lists

31st Battalion Association Brisbane Branch Secretary Mick James reports on the Ceremony held to unveil plaques of WW1 diggers which was organised by the Australian Remembrance Army Members. Mick continues:

The following is from yesterday’s Unveiling Ceremony of 162 name plates of WW1 diggers at Lutwyche Cemetery, this is Cate & Katrina’s speech –
Commemorative speech: Katrina Trevethan & Cate Walker
Australian Remembrance Army founders / Friends of Lutwyche Cemetery Inc. Management Committee members
Katrina – Distinguished guests, serving and retired members of the Australian Defence Force, representatives of veteran organisations, families, friends, and members of our community — welcome. My name is Katrina Trevethan. On behalf of the Australian Remembrance Army and Friends of Lutwyche Cemetery, thank you for joining us. We warmly acknowledge and welcome the descendants of the veterans honoured today. Your presence reaffirms our commitment to remembering those who served, who returned to civilian life, and who often carried the lasting burdens of war injuries and trauma. While many assume the Australian Remembrance Army is a large organisation, in reality it is just the two of us—united in purpose and wholly dedicated to this cause.
Cate – My name is Cate Walker. We gather here this morning on this sacred ground in the ANZAC portions at Lutwyche Cemetery to honour and remember 162 veterans who served Australia during the First World War, and whose graves are now marked with a plaque in recognition of their service. These 162 veterans are part of a Federal Government “Marking First World War Private Graves” grant we received in 2021, covering 709 World War One veterans buried at Lutwyche Cemetery. We received a further grant from the Queensland Government’s “Queensland Remembers Grants Program” to complete the installation of 149 of these plaques. 547 plaques were previously unveiled in two ceremonies held here in Lutwyche Cemetery in 2023.
Katrina – Earlier this year, we received further grant funding from the Federal Government “Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program” to mark the graves of an additional 84 World War One veterans in Lutwyche Cemetery. In total, the number of World War One veterans’ graves we will have marked with a plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery will reach 793. As part of our ongoing research into Toowong Cemetery, we are currently preparing a grant application to honour hundreds of World War One veterans resting in unmarked graves there.
Cate – Most Australians are unaware that our returned services personnel who were honourably discharged are not automatically entitled to a government issued headstone or plaque at the site of their burial or ashes interment. They must meet criteria set by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, or the extended criteria of the Office of Australian War Graves. These official graves or sites of official commemoration such as those at Gardens of Remembrance are maintained by the Office of Australian War Graves. As a result, large numbers of veterans who survived their service were interred without official recognition. In addition to this project in Lutwyche Cemetery, more than 100 First World War veterans we submitted to the Office of Australian War Graves for assessment have been accepted as Official Commemorations. Their graves will now be marked and maintained by the Office of Australian War Graves in perpetuity.
Katrina – For too long, these graves lay unmarked, their stories lost to time and their sacrifices at risk of fading from our nation’s memory. But through our personal research, and with the assistance of Federal and State Government grants, we have been able to restore their names to our collective history. Each of the 162 plaques unveiled today and each flag placed at their grave represents a life of service: a person who left home, family, and country to answer a call to duty. Many would return to Australia at the end of World War One forever changed. Others would find peace only here, in this cemetery. And while their names may not appear on grand memorials, today we affirm that every life given in service to our country matters — every story deserves to be told, and every grave deserves to be cared for. Today is not just about remembrance, but also about restoration of dignity and recognition.
Cate – Over the past few years, we have examined hundreds of World War One medical files held at the Brisbane office of National Archives of Australia at Cannon Hill. A large number of these files were harrowing to read, and revealed the immense hardships endured by World War One veterans and their families. Numerous veterans were immigrants with no immediate family in Australia, while others had lost touch with family due to difficulties reintegrating after World War One. Today, many would be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but this was not recognised or understood at that time. Following their death, some veterans were laid to rest in public or pauper’s graves. Others were quietly buried by families who, for financial, personal, or social reasons, were unable to provide a formal headstone or service plaque. Over successive generations, knowledge of their burial sites was lost, and as a result, many thousands of veterans—particularly those who served in the First World War—were never commemorated at their final resting places.
Katrina – Our Lutwyche Cemetery research has also identified many Boer War veterans and approximately 250 World War Two veterans in unmarked graves in this cemetery. By our calculations, the number of Australian returned service personnel from all theatres of war buried in unmarked graves nationwide would be staggering—likely to be many tens of thousands. This is why small voluntary organisations like ours with the support of Federal and State government grants, are working to locate these forgotten veterans and mark their graves—restoring dignity by acknowledging their service at their place of interment and contacting descendants to ensure their stories are not lost to time. We believe that every person who serves our country, in war or in peacetime, deserves to have their resting place marked with a service plaque—a small but enduring token of gratitude from our nation. This, surely, is the least we can do to honour their service.
Cate – We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to these wonderful individuals and organisations who have assisted us in the following ways:
• Retired Major Chris Moon who we have had the privilege of working closely with over the past four years to ensure that every detail on each and every plaque is correct. Although Chris and his wife Kay are currently overseas, we know they are here with us in spirit. Chris has also served as our Master of Ceremonies in the past, and we extend our gratitude today to his worthy replacement, Retired Major Rory Cain.
• Toowong RSL Sub-Branch, who have been steadfast supporters since our first unveiling ceremonies at Lutwyche Cemetery in April and September 2023. Their generous provision and delivery of marquees, lectern, and PA system on each occasion, along with their unwavering moral support to Katrina and I, have been truly invaluable.
Katrina
• Councillor Danita Parry for your assistance obtaining a number of death certificates that we required for our most recent grant application.
• Worssell and Co in Brisbane for manufacturing the plaques, and Queensland Heritage Masonry for their expert installation.
• Mr Lachlan Carkeet, musical director Mr Graham Drane and members of the Pine Rivers Brass Band, and Bugler Mr John George. Thank you for your presence here today.
Cate
• Mr Robert Finlay and members of the Australian Living History Federation re-enactment group representing ‘A’ Company, 15th Battalion AIF.
• Brisbane City Council Cemetery Management who have assisted us since 2021 to make this process as streamlined as possible.
Katrina – To our fellow Friends of Lutwyche Cemetery members, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you all. Since our formation in 2021, you have volunteered alongside us to care for this important historic site. Your friendship, dedication, and support are deeply appreciated by Cate and I. Finally, we offer our gratitude to our husbands and families, whose unwavering encouragement and support has enabled us to undertake this ongoing project.
Cate – In the spirit of sacrifice and remembrance, Katrina and I reaffirm our commitment to this voluntary project, ensuring that the service of our returned personnel is honoured and never forgotten.
Katrina & Cate –

Lest We Forget.

See also Link to previous Ceremony organised by the Australian Remembrance Army https://31bnassn.org/2023/11/10/australian-remembrance-army-projects/Link Here

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Association Members with Remembrance Army’s Katrina Trevethan and Cate Walker and

Members of the WW1 RE-enactment Group

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Cate Walker and Katrina Trevethan Delivering their Address

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Address by Dr Christian Rowan MP – (Below)

Australian Living History Federation re-enactment Group

representing ‘A’ Company, 15th Battalion AIF.

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Dr Christian Rowan MP and Councillor Danita Parry with Re-Enactment Group

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Descendents of 31st Bn Pte Peter Heenan with Association Members Tony Wadeson and Mick James

(The lady in the centre was the Niece of Pte Peter Heenan. Peter survived WW1 and passed away in 1958

She is also the mother of Lyssa and Maj (Retd) Mark Wallace – Letf of Picture)

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Maj (Retd) Mark Wallace with Association Members Tony Wadeson and Mick James

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List of 31st Battalion Men whose Plaques were Unveilled at this Ceremony

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The commemorative Church Service for the 31st/42nd Battalion The Royal Queensland Regiment (The Kennedy Regiment) was held on Sunday 17th August 2025. This year it coincided with the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Pacific War (WWII) as a part of the VP80 Celebration.

The service at St. James  Cathedral, Townsville, was attended by Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland together with other Dignitaries, Current Members of the Services, Veterans, Association Members of both 31st and 42nd Battalion Associations and Members of the General Public.

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Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

Governor of Queensland with Regimental Bugler

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The Governor of Queensland with Battalion Association Members

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BRIG Pearce Comd 11 Bde Delivering a Reading at Service

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LTCOL (Retd) Chris Cummings Delivering Reflections Address

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Association Members Gathering around the Colours at Conclusion of the Service

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Brisbane Branch President Tony Wadeson Being Presented with Association Life Membership

By Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM Governor of Queensland

(L to R) Tony Wadeson, COL (Retd) Greg Stokie RFD, Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM

Wreaths Laid during Service

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