Tour student, Megan Mabin, 16, decided she wanted to be a part of the school’s Anzac tour after enjoying the stories she learnt in Yr 10 History. After signing up for the tour, she delved into her own family history and this is where she learnt of her uncle’s grandfather, James Avery, who was killed in WW1.

As a young, novice historian, Megan began her research into James’ life and war history and it became a wonderful and enriching journey, although some interesting questions still remain.

James was born on 7 September, 1886 in North Melbourne to parents Samuel & Agnes Avery. He moved to Western Australia in search of work and was living there with his wife, Eriminnie and five children when he attempted to enlist into the AIF in early1916. However, he was rejected due to “defective teeth”. James attempted to enlist again in September and this time was successful. Clearly, army standards had relaxed, as his Medical History record contains the hand written comment, “teeth to be attended to in camp”. Stories from Megan’s family indicate James enlisted to better provide for his children - four girls and a boy.

He left Fremantle on board the HMT Berrima on 23 Dec., 1916 with the 8th Reinforcement to the 51st Battalion and, after spending some time in training camps and hospital in England, he was taken on strength into the 51st in France on 3 August, 1917. In his first major action, James was involved in the 13th Brigade’s attack north of Polygon Wood on 26 September. James’ first action proved to be his last as he was killed after having reached the battalion objective on the southern outskirts of the village of Zonnebeke.

Megan’s research led her to the Red Cross Missing & Wounded files, where she found that James’ death was described in some detail.
A good friend of James’, Pte Reid, stated, “We reached our objective and dug in and while doing this Avery was sniped. I saw him fall and all he said was “Oh God, I am done for”, and then he died.”

This account is supported by L/Corp McAuliffe, who stated, “We ….. were digging in and making a bombing post when I saw Avery hit by a sniper in the neck. I went to him; he was two yards away; and he died in my arms. We put him in a shell hole and buried him right away.”

Pte Campbell added, “He was buried just near where hit … He was very popular amongst the boys.”

James was buried with his helmet and a note on his identity marking the grave. However, in an all too common World War 1 scenario, this battlefield grave was lost & James is now honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper.

In attempting to learn more about the 51st Battalion’s movements on the 26th September, Megan accessed the newly digitised WW1 battalion diaries on the Australian War Memorial website. It was in these files that Megan found the document that would bring her closer to James’ spirit and provide a new and emotional experience for the Remembrance Tour students. The 51st’s diary for the battle includes a trench map which clearly marks the objective line of James’ C Company. Megan immediately corroborated information from the map with the Red Cross reports. The reports clearly stated he was buried close by where he died and the map provided a specific location.

She then compared this map with a modern day map, and with my help and that of FFFAIF Belgian member, Johan Durnez, she able to determine the approximate position of James’ battlefield burial. It was just to the south of Zonnebeke Lake which was near the prominent feature of the brickworks.

This was an exciting find, however, what Megan came up with next added a whole new dimension to her journey. Page 28 of James’ service records is a letter from the army dated 4 March 1922 informing Eriminnie that the epitaph she had requested on Memorial Form ‘A’ had too many words. Megan was very confused by this letter as James’ burial was unknown.

Notwithstanding this, the letter clearly stated Eriminnie’s preferred epitaph. It was then that Megan decided that she would like to deliver James’ eulogy at the position where he died and was buried. She now had a clear (and unexpected) understanding of what Eriminnie wanted to say to her lost husband and she was determined to deliver those words in person at the spot where James died.

On 26 September, 2008, Megan’s journey of family research brought her to Zonnebeke.

The owners of the brickworks built a small chateau after the war and the site we were interested in was in the grounds of the chateau. Thanks to the efforts of Johan Vandervalle, we were given permission to enter the chateau grounds so that we could be as close to C Company’s objective line as possible. Whilst the exact spot where James died and was buried will never be known, Megan and the group knew they were very close. The fact that Megan stood in that spot on the 26th September, 91 years to the day since that fateful bullet pierced James’ throat, made the whole experience even more poignant. It was here that Megan delivered a heartfelt eulogy and, for the first time, delivered Eriminnie’s words from her ‘lost’ epitaph.

Though absent from among us
You are always in our thoughts
And we who loved you dearly
Still keenly feel your loss

Megan’s tour journal provides a wonderful reflection on the way that theoretical research slowly developed into deep personal connection and understanding:

“On the way to the chateau grounds where James died I was so emotional. I couldn’t believe it. I had waited so long for this day. When I then first saw the area I was totally overwhelmed. Sad, because James deserves a grave. But I feel honoured now to have fulfilled Eriminnie’s wishes. I believe that they both would have been watching and hopefully I did them proud.”

“I can’t wait to tell my uncle. I will tell him that it was the most peaceful place. James would be so happy there.”

After this truly emotional tribute, the group visited Buttes New British Cemetery in Polygon Wood, where a number of commemorations took place. Megan felt a special bond as she believes that if James’ body was recovered, he would most likely be buried here.

“I laid a poppy there on an unknown grave to symbolize him. I knew it was unlikely to be him, but I just had a feeling, like I was drawn to him.”

Two days later, the Remembrance 2008 group conducted its special service at the Menin Gate to honour tour men whose names appear on this imposing memorial. Megan spoke briefly at this service, with one last goal - to repeat Eriminne’s words where John’s name is honoured. This she did, and her quest was complete.

“I’ve said enough now. James is at peace. His epitaph has been heard at two different places. Hopefully Eriminnie and James heard it wherever they are.”