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Independent Islands => Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Sark => Topic started by: Siouxsie on Friday 20 February 09 04:04 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
My grandfather served in the Australian Army and in May 1919 he was granted leave (with an extension in July until 31 Aug 1919) to do agricultural work under Lieut. Benest on St Hellier.
My mother has only just found out about this side of my grandfather's war adventures and would like to know more.
Would love to know where these soldiers lived during this time, who Lieut. Benest was, what "agriculture" work were they doing and how they were received by the islanders.
My grandfather's name was John Thomas Hutton (known as Jack).
Cheers
Susie
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Hi,
As I have had no response to my post, I am wondering if anyone can point me to somewhere that could help me.
Cheers
Susie
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Hi Suzie
Not sure whre you could go with this request.
The library has microfilm copies of the newspapers for that time but would require somone to gop through them as it's nit something they would do.
Your best bet is to make contact with the Societe Jersiaise at:
http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/
They make have some records which might answer your questions.
Stewart
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Dear Stewart,
Many thanks.....I will follow this lead up.
Cheers
Susie
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I've just read my last posting. I really should read what I've typed before pressing the post button!!! What a load of gibberish. Hope you made sense of it.
Stewart
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Hi Susie
I've just been reading the minutes of the Historical Section of the Societe Jersiaise from their March meeting and suddenly saw:
6.3.5.1 RM/M-LB – reported that in 1919 an Australian soldier worked in Jersey in agriculture under Lieutenant Benest.
I will be going to the next meeting later this month and will try and find more information.
Stewart
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Hi Susie
I've just been reading the minutes of the Historical Section of the Societe Jersiaise from their March meeting and suddenly saw:
6.3.5.1 RM/M-LB – reported that in 1919 an Australian soldier worked in Jersey in agriculture under Lieutenant Benest.
I will be going to the next meeting later this month and will try and find more information.
Stewart
Dear Stewart,
Many thanks for your interest....I have written to the Societe Jersiase and they said they would put it on their agenda....would love to know what is said!
Cheers
Susie
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Hi Susie
It appears that the Island was used as a rehabilitation centre for "shell shocked" victims after WWI.
There is a book Brahms’ Waltz by Monk Gibbon that details the rehabilitation in Jersey of an Irish Officer in the British Army from shell shock. This should provide background for your research.
http://www.clentbooks.co.uk/si/3068.html
Stewart
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Dear Stewart,
Many thanks..........I have now heard that Australian soldiers were asked to volunteer for Agricultural leave as there weren't enough ships to take them all home at the end of the war, so they had to wait for the ships to return.
I know from my grandfather's records that he didn't have shell shock, but he did volunteer as he had worked on his sisters farm prior to enlisting.
Cheers
Susie
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http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=last_name%3dbenest%7cscope%3dlieutenant&catid=10&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=*
Lt Benest could be one of these 4.There is also a Pte Benest listed on NA site with the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry.
Ady
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Hi Susie,
A chap called Ian Ronayne has just put an article in the local Jersey paper about 'Memories of Aussie troops' in the Island (Jersey) during WW!.
It gives his contact details: ironayne@gmail.com
or website: www.greatwarci.net
Hope this helps. I am trying to find similar info. myself, so goodluck with your research!
Marianne
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Dear marianne,
Many thanks...........I have sent him an email.........hopefully I will get some information back.
Cheers
Susie
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I have heard back re the article in the Jersey paper....
"Regrettably, what appeared in the Jersey paper was not an article, but an appeal for information on the Australian troops in Jersey after the First World War. Hopefully, there will be an article in due course once I have gathered as many facts as possible.
I will certainly send you whatever I end up with on this subject."
.....now can't wait to see if he gets any information from his request!!!
Cheers
Siouxsie
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Hi - I am working on a project at the State Library in NSW - we have about 20 volunteers transcribing WWI diaries. They have recently done the diaries of John Thomas Hutton, who was from Carnsdale - it sounds like the same person - see http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=148501
He writes very evocatively about his experiences - if he is your grandfather I can email you the transcripts of his diaries.
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Hi RobyH,
Wow.....he sure is my grandfather and I would love a copy of the transcripts. He enlisted from Carnsdale which is where he was working for his sister's husband Jim Knight and he was living with Great Aunty Mary and Jim. i do have a copy of the diaries, but his handwriting isn't the easiest to read and the transcripts will be a wonderful addition to my family history.
I have sent my email details to you in a private message.
Again....many thanks,
Cheers
Siouxsie :D
As a PS.....the photo on the right is of John Thomas's daughter Rosary holding me.
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Hi - so he didn't name his first daughter Hope?! He thought of doing that in one of his diaries. He sounds like a very likeable person, the way he expresses himself is really amazing. What became of him after the war?
The library catalogue record is here - http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemdetailpaged.aspx?itemid=422289
Images of the first diary are attached to the record (scanned from microfilm). Images of the other 2 diaries will also be online soon, and so will the transcripts.
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Dear RobyH,
No, he didn't name her Hope.......but Rosary, as she was a wee thing at birth and the nuns came and looked our for her as they had done for the whole family when his father relocated them to Corowa father his mother was admitted to the Psych Hosp. in Tasmania (although all three children died without knowing that).
The nuns were very kind to the family and Great Aunty Mary ended up teaching at the Catholic Convent. My grandfather named my mother Rosary to honour the nuns, but strangely remained a staunch C of E........and left my mother to explain her name to everyone who thought it should be Rosemary!
Many thanks for sending me the link......it will be wonderful to read the transcripts.
How wonderful that there is a dedicated group translating these diaries......and what fun to be able to play in the Mitchell.......as a Librarian, it is my favourite library!
Cheers
Siouxsie :D
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Hi Siouxsie,
I'm not sure if you are still actively searching more about his topic but I have just found this wonderful photo of Australian soldiers in Jersey at this link on TROVE:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/193459051?q=australian+soldiers+WW1+Jersey&c=picture&versionId=211877076
I am following this thread of conversation with interest.
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https://channelislandancestry.com/tag/lieutenant-benest/
Have you seen this?
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https://channelislandancestry.com/tag/lieutenant-benest/
Have you seen this?
Many thanks, Christine.......I had previously written to the Channel Islands Historical people and had no reply, other than they would ask around, so I have just emailed Ian Ronanye and hope he is still researching.
Cheers
Sioux
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Hi Siouxsie,
I'm not sure if you are still actively searching more about his topic but I have just found this wonderful photo of Australian soldiers in Jersey at this link on TROVE:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/193459051?q=australian+soldiers+WW1+Jersey&c=picture&versionId=211877076
I am following this thread of conversation with interest.
Many thanks.........still searching but perhaps not as actively as I should! Great photo, alas, my grandfather isn't amongst the happy chaps.
Cheers
Sioux.
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Hi Susie
It's been a long time but did you ever manage to get more details, particulary on Lt Bisent?
Regards
Stewart
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Hi Stewart,
Nothing.....but I might just give it another red hot go!
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Hi
Now I have to thank the members of the Societe Jersiaise who have come up with a strong lead. So this is not down to me!
The book - The Brahms Waltz gives an insight, and an interesting overview, of life in post WW1 Jersey with glimpses of the social scene of the day.
On page 11 Monk Gibbon writes that “The island representative of the Ministry of Labour, Lieutenant Benest, despatched me to the far side of the island to Rozel Manor”.
On page 25 of Monk Gibbon’s book he notes a letter from Harold G Benest, Lieut. & Adjutant , Ministry of Labour Appointments Department, Channel Islands District.
Harold's medal card and service record can be found on Ancestry.
The photo shows Australian troops outside St Helier House Hotel in La Motte Street, later the Berkshire Hotel and now gone.
A collegue has had an enquiry from a descendent of one of those in the picture.
Stewart
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What a wonderful photo Stewart........alas, my grandfather is not one of those happy chaps......but knowing him, he was probably out trying to woo the ladies or place a horse bet with a beer in his hand!
I will follow this lead up a bit more.......perhaps it will garner me more insight into his time there.