HENRY (Harry) Asher was a 24-year-old, married Bowral school teacher when he headed off to the western front in 1915.
Lieutenant Asher spent more than two years in battle in France and Belgium.
He was revered by the soldiers in his section who became known as Asher’s babes.
Sadly, he never returned home from the war (WWI).
He was killed by falling debris in Baillieu when an enemy plane bombed the town in 1917.
A Bowral homestead was named Aubigny by a grieving
mother when she learned of the death of her young son, Harry, who was laid to rest in the Aubigny Cemetery on the Somme in France.
The diary transcripts of another young Highlands man
Frank Moses is a record of the troubles and tragedy faced by soldiers during the war.
These are just some of the interesting items uncovered by Exeter historian, Linda Emery.
For eight years, Mrs Emery has been researching the lives
and experiences of about 1200 WWI soldiers identified on
honour rolls in schools, village halls and memorials across the Southern Highlands.
She has gathered photographs, newspaper articles, embarkation and war records from national archives and contacted relatives.
Mrs Emery and her husband, Langdon, even visited about 50 cemeteries in France and Belgium to track down the graves of many Highlands soldiers killed in action.
She hopes to highlight the tales of the soldiers in a book
expected to be released by Anzac Day 2010.
Mrs Emery aimed to piece together a social history of
Highlands soldiers in WWI.
In the meantime she continues to track down the stories of the battle weary men she now fondly refers to as “my
boys” and has already sourced information on about 1000 of the Highlands soldiers.
However, she conceded she was at the most difficult end of her research with the possibility that information related to the remaining soldiers on the honour rolls might never be found.
She said some names on the rolls are spelt incorrectly, others might have been included simply because they were working in the area when they enlisted, even though they had no close ties with the community, and the more common names of some soldiers such as J Smith made it difficult for identification.
“About 180 Highlands soldiers died during the war,” she said.
“Twenty-three of these men died at Gallipoli and many more lost their lives in other areas, including the western front. “Others returned home from the war damaged men and died much younger than they should have.”
Mrs Emery said she was constantly moved by the stories
of her boys, and was equally inspired by the high regard
given by the French to all Australian soldiers.
“My visit to the French and Belgium cemeteries was a very emotional experience, but in many ways it was uplifting as I realised the respect given to the boys,” she said.
“The French were amazed that so many young men
travelled from so far away to help them fight for their home during the war.
“The people of France have since lovingly cared for and
maintained the cemeteries that are a constant reminder of the fallen soldiers.
“There are nearly 1000 cemeteries and memorials to
Commonwealth soldiers in northern France and Belgium,
in small villages and communities, and in the vast fields and farmlands.
“I was amazed that not one of the cemeteries we visited had graffiti or even a scrap of rubbish in them.
“They were all beautifully maintained. Even the visitors
books located in every cemetery were in excellent condition and some had been there for many years.”
Mrs Emery said that while there were many amazing, and
often tragic, stories linked to the boys, her research of the honour roll soldiers had been an incredible experience.
She said she was especially moved during her time in
France and Belgium.
“It was amazing to be on the land where our boys did battle - it was a chance to understand the terrain and truly comprehend the battle that took place among the villages,” she said.
“I also believe the cemeteries in these countries and the many headstones that pay tribute to the fallen soldiers
are the greatest anti-war statement I have ever seen.”
Highlands ANZAC Day service times
Berrima
5.30am: Dawn Service at the War Memorial.
10.30am: ANZAC Service at the War Memorial.
Bowral
5.45am: March steps off from Camerons Newsagency to the War Memorial for dawn service.
10.30am: March steps off from Coles car park to the War Memorial.
11am: ANZAC Commemoration Service at the War Memorial.
Celebrates ANZAC Sunday on April 26 with a church service at St Jude’s at 10am.
Bundanoon
6am: Dawn service at the Memorial.
10.30am: Main march steps off to the Memorial. Gather at the CWA Hall in Railway Avenue at 10am, fall in at 10.25am.
11am: Wreath laying service at the Memorial followed by ANZAC Commemoration Service in the Memorial Hall.
Exeter
9am: March and ANZAC Service at Exeter Park.
Hill Top
6am: Dawn Service at the Memorial Hall. Light breakfast to follow.
Mittagong
5.30am: Dawn Service at the Cenotaph on the Hume Highway. Assemble at 5.15am. Breakfast at Mittagong RSL Club after the service. Tickets from the club.
10.30am: March from Visitor Information Centre to the Cenotaph.
11am: ANZAC Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph.
Midday: Lunch at Mittagong RSL Club for sub-branch members and their partners.
Moss Vale
10.40am: March leaves Queen St for the World War II Cenotaph outside the Services Club. Form up at 10.30am.
11.00am: ANZAC Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph.
Sutton Forest
8am: ANZAC Commemoration Service at the National Service and Reserve Forces Memorial, corner Illawarra Highway and Golden Vale Road. Form up at 7.45am at All Saints Church on the Old Illawarra Highway for march to the service. This year’s theme is a dedication to Navy personnel and services.
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